Comments on: REVIEW: Bold Destiny by Jane Feather

By: Jayne

Jayne — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 23:56:30 +0000

Nifty, thanks for the link to the new cover. Heavens! And I totally agree with you that it makes no sense based on the book inside. “Bold Garter Wearing.” Anyway, I hope you like it.

By: Nifty

Nifty — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 20:46:21 +0000

This book was just reprinted with a new 21st century cover that makes no sense whatsoever. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FOn4tLwqL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg

When I saw it at Target I picked it up because it has Jane Feather’s name on the cover…then I flipped to the copyright page and saw that it was from 1990, and that clinched the sale for me. I’m one of those readers who LOVES the history-rich romances from the 90s and deplores today’s “Avonized wallpaper romances.” When I read the reviews at Amazon, I KNEW I would probably enjoy this book. The positive reviews praised the history and detail; the negative reviews decried the history and detail. Ha! I can’t wait to get started on it. Something tells me this is going to be another Feather added to my keeper shelf.

By: Tara Marie

Tara Marie — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 21:54:40 +0000

I haven't reread this one in years, I may pull it out. Ms. Feather used to be an autobuy for me. Loved the V series and she has two good May/December romances Vixen and The Accidental Bride.

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:36:09 +0000

I wasn’t hinting, just trying to be helpful. But you’re very welcome.

By: Kristie(J)

Kristie(J) — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 13:22:03 +0000

For it’s time, I kind of prefer the older cover too. It sounds like one of those bold sweeping books so a bold sweeping cover kind of goes along with it. Of course the fact that Avon is using the same style (and despite what some say,almost the exact same cover tody) of cover in 2006 as they did in 1991 when bold and sweeping isn’t how I would describe the majority of their books anymore, shows a decided lack of growth. If that were the cover of a book they put out today, I would loathe it with a passion – as I do many an Avon cover *g*.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 11:46:14 +0000

Yes, I do prefer it. I mean look at it. It makes sense. They’re on an oriental rug about to do the dirty so it makes sense that his shirt is off. She’s wearing period style clothing and not on her knees worshipping at his crotch. He’s not standing outside in a blizzard with a cape whipping in the wind and no shirt on. He’s not bent over a saddle pommel trying to haul her ass up into the saddle…I think it’s a great old Avon cover. The newer one is so….blah. It gives me no hint of what the book might be about. Yeah, it’s more acceptable for public viewing and less likely to provoke comments from non-romance fans but it’s just, ….blah. :)

By: Miki

Miki — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 02:52:48 +0000

Thanks for the hint, Janine.

But, Jayne, I can’t believe you really prefer that cover! ;)

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:39:26 +0000

Miki, thank you! You’re a goddess.

But anyone interested in bidding on this copy should act fast. After all, it could easily be gnawed by rats. Yeech!

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 01:30:00 +0000

Here's a link, Miki.

By: Miki

Miki — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 23:32:25 +0000

Found that older picture on eBay, Jayne.

http://www.ebay.ph/viItem?ItemId=330092996023#photo

(Otherwise, can’t discuss the book. Haven’t read any Feather.

By: Janine

Janine — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 18:31:33 +0000

I should try this one, thanks Jayne. I remember reading one by Feather that was very boring and I have been put off her work ever since. Have you read anything in her V series? I ask because those are the ones I think I have collected from over the years, especially Virtue? It's been years since I read it but I loved Virtue. I have read four or so Jane Feather books and Virtue was my favorite.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 16:55:56 +0000

I loved The Far Pavilions, and this sounds similar in theme, so I’ll have to go dig it up.
Great review! Thanks!

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:36:12 +0000

No, I haven’t read any of the “V” series but have heard that they’re good. I enjoyed her Tudor spy series (even the much despised third novel) but found the last two books in the Bachelor series only average. There’s another book (Reluctant Lady?) which is a Regency smuggling book that was boring to me too. I think she’s definitely an author to get recommendations on individual book titles before glom buying/reading.

By: Keishon

Keishon — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:30:28 +0000

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:19:41 +0000

I guess that reviewer thought she was just going to get the standard “Avonized” romance with wallpaper history. I guess she didn’t realize that the older Avon books have lots of meaty historical detail. To each her own….

By: Kristie(J)

Kristie(J) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 15:12:26 +0000

Jayne: I checked out Amazon.ca after and saw it there. I put in an order. I had to laugh though. The book was a penny. The S&H was $6.49. Which since that’s in Cdn $’s still isn’t a bad price – all things considered.
And “wink, wink, nudge, nudge” that only makes it even more appealing “wink”. And I saw the low grade because of the war description and my eyes almost fell out of their sockets while rolling. Heavens forbid we wouldn’t want a tad of realism in a historical book that takes place in that part of the world. That would offend our tender sensibilities don’t you know. I thought you would have know that us women can’t handle the tougher things of life.

By: Jayne

Jayne — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 14:42:57 +0000

It was first published in 1990 and reissued in 1999 (which has the cover imaged here). This is another of my “I’ve read it before but recently found it while cleaning and decided I’d rather reread than vacuum” books. ;)

One interesting thing about it is that the hero is NOT the heroine’s “first” if you know what I mean. wink, wink, nudge, nudge

It does have a lot about war in it (but it’s not gory) and one reviewer at amazon lowballed it because of that.

By: Kristie(J)

Kristie(J) — Sat, 03 Mar 2007 14:25:51 +0000

Is this a recent reissue? I looked it up at Chapters and came up with nothing but the book sounds absolutely fascinating!