This is a review of the romance novel Passion’s Web by Cassie Edwards, featuring a pirate, Bryce Fowler, and a woman named Natalie Palmer.
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Passion's Web by Cassie EdwardsRating:
Published: 1984
Imprint or Line: Zebra Historical Romance
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Bodice Ripper Lite, Historical Romance
Pages: 468
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Blue Falcon
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
This review is of Passion’s Web by Cassie Edwards.
The book begins in Key West, Florida, with the book’s heroine, Natalie Palmer, and the hero, Bryce Fowler, meeting in a carriage. Shortly after they meet, Natalie and Bryce become lovers.
Backstory #1
Natalie lives with her father, Saul, a wealthy tobacconist. She also has an older brother, Adam. Natalie’s mother, Kathryn, passed away when Natalie was younger. The circumstances of her passing are one of many secrets—the theme of the book—that Saul is trying to keep from Natalie.
Backstory #2
Bryce–who has multiple aspects to his persona–has come to Key West at the request of his dying father, Tom. Bryce and his father have an estranged relationship. In addition, Bryce has to deal with his younger brother, Hugh, with whom he has bad blood.
The Plot
A New Orleans businessman, Clarence Seymour, hires Bryce to find three things. They are :an opium shipment and Seymour’s wife and daughter. They were were taken in separate incidents years apart. Bryce won’t be able to bring back Seymour’s wife—she, Kathryn, is dead—but he can bring back his daughter… Natalie.
Bryce kidnaps Natalie and takes her to New Orleans to meet Clarence. He’s happy to see her, but one person who most definitely isn’t is Brenda Seymour, Clarence’s other daughter, Natalie’s sister…and Adam’s lover.
When Natalie decides to go back to Key West, Brenda helps her. This effort ends with Natalie being forced to marry a man, Albert Burns, a former pirate.
Bryce saves her from this forced marriage. Then they return to New Orleans to discover, sadly, that someone has shot Clarence. He is later shot again.
Ultimately, the secrets Saul and Adam wanted to hide from Natalie are revealed. She and Bryce have their Happily Ever After.
Upside
I got through it.
Downside
Passion’s Web contains many of the same literary weaknesses that mark the rest of Mrs. Edwards’ work: shallow, undeveloped characters and storylines, unsatisfactory endings, and way too many exclamation points! At unnecessary times! It’s annoying!
Sex
There are a lot of love scenes. None are as hot as what Mrs. Edwards would come up with for her Native American romances.
Violence
Assault, battery, shootings, and killings occur. None of the violence is graphic.
Bottom Line
There are books I’m glad I got through because I paid for them and can now resign them to the dustbin of history—literally and figuratively. Passion’s Web is one such book.
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| Overall: | 2.1 |
Synopsis
ENCASED IN ECSTASY
The rays of the Key West sun against Natalie’s creamy skin was almost as hot as the heat of desire Bryce Fowler aroused in her. That he was a notorious pirate with a womanizing reputation did not matter. She was bewitched by him, obsessed with him, in desperate need of the tenderness of his caress and the urgent demanding rapture of his embrace. He was the man she had been waiting for, dreaming of — and she could only hope that this seafaring rogue would not break her heart…CIRCLED IN LOVE
Passion’s Web by Cassie Edwards
There was fire in his eyes and hungry passion in his blood when Bryce gazed upon the luscious beauty Natalie. There was something magnetic in her smile, something magic in her touch that made him want her more than any woman he had ever known. Her flesh was a treasure chest of endless pleasure, her lips as sweet and fragile as a rose. He took the gift of her innocence and made no promise of forever. But once he molded her body to his he was lost in the depths of her love, caught in the inescapable ecstasy of PASSION’S WEB
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Thanks, Blue Falcon. I shouldn’t say anything about “Passion’s Web” because I haven’t read it. Not my kind; I don’t read abduction romances. And your description and opinions don’t exactly shout, “Read it anyhow!”
But allow me to respond to a point you brought up in passing. Even if I pay for a book, I’m not going to finish it if I’m not enjoying it!