Dance of Desire

by Catherine Kean

Book Overview

Desperate to save her brother Rudd from being condemned as a traitor, Lady Rexana Villeaux must dance in disguise at a feast for the High Sheriff of Warringham. Her goal is to distract him so her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 193281535X
• ISBN13: 9781932815351
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Medallion Press
• Length: 442 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 4.4" x 7.0"

Customer Reviews

A delightful read

Relationships are what it's about for me, and Catherine Kean has captured a strong heroine willing to do whatever it takes to save her brother, even sacrifice herself to a man of questionable reputation. As with any romance, there is little doubt that there will be a happy ending, but the journey makes the read a pleasure. The author flavors the adventure with vivid descriptions that carry you back through the centuries as two people discover their love.

Fast-Paced Historical Romance......Loved it!!!!

This book held me from beginning to end. Usually I find myself skipping ahead because I get a little bored, but not with this one. It starts off in England in 1192. Lady Rexanna is desperate to clear her brother's name. There is a missive with her brother's signature which offers proof that he is traitor to the crown; of course Rexanna believes his signature is forged. In order to get her hands on the missive she and a trusted friend plan to sneak in the High Sheriff's keep where it is being held. She learns that there is a party at his keep where an exoctic eastern dancer plans to perform in front of him. Lady Rexanna pays the dancer to stay away and she goes in the costume in her stead. She dances with so much emotion and intrigue that Fane Linford, the High Sheriff is immediately taken with her. He decides he must have her. Terrified that she will lose her virginity to him, she sneaks off without finding the missive. Fane figures out her identity and is determined to have her, to make her his wife. The King grants Fane any wife of his choice for his great deeds and heroism in the Holy Lands. So when he goes to Lady Rexanna and tells her she will be his wife by word of the King, she can not refuse. The rumors say he is a barbarian, and she is not happy about the marriage. He also holds her brother's life in his hands, and she decides maybe marrying him can have some benefits. After marrying him she quickly realizes that he is not a barbarian, but a gentle and loving husband, eager to please her. This makes it hard for her when she starts loving him because she feels she is being traitor to her brother, she feels torn. Fane is such an extraordinary hero. He is strong and confident, tall and handsome. He is also patient and loving. He is so good to Rexanna, even when she deceives him. I just loved his love that he had for her. Rexanna was a strong heroine. She was very determined and loyal. She was also very sensual, hence the dance of desire. This read had many twists and turns. It was full of rich historical details, and showed how a strong warrior can also be capable of great love. The ending was great, had me wondering till the end. This book is a must read.

Captures the Essence of Romance

So many romance novels (and romantic movies for that matter) are plagued with bad dialogue and trite situations. "Dance of Desire" is a refreshing change for a historical romance. The heroine, Rexana, and the hero, Fane, are well-developed characters with their individual strengths and vulnerabilities. Even the supporting characters, such as Rexana's brother, servant, and former suitor have their own personality quirks. Catherine Kean engages all the senses in "Dance of Desire." We can vicariously experience the scenes of danger, fear, sadness, joy, and desire in rich detail. The Middle Ages is a fine background for this particular story of treason and class struggle. There's much attention to small details here (e.g., their clothing, food, and bathing), and it's a better story (and more satisfying romance) because of it. First and foremost, this is a wonderful romance novel -- the kind that sweeps you away as you read, and stays with you long afterwards. Leslie Halpern, author of Reel Romance: The Lovers' Guide to the 100 Best Date Movies and Dreams on Film: The Cinematic Struggle Between Art and Science.

Beautiful Debut Novel

In her debut novel Dance of Desire, Catherine Kean provides readers with a gripping, sensual and powerful tale of one woman's dance to clear her brother's name and one man's desire to see a traitor hung. Lady Rexanna Villeaux knows her brother Rudd is innocent of treason towards the crown. Even though there is a signed and sealed document with her brother's signature on it, she has vowed to see his name cleared. Her daring and bold plans involve dancing for the High Sheriff and seducing him enough that his mind is distracted while someone else retrieves the document. But things go awry for Rexanna, not only does she dance for the High Sheriff, she also feels the chemistry and pull of attraction and desire. Now caught between two men she love deeply, her challenge and the desire to see her brother free is even stronger. But can she do it without losing the love of the man she has come to call husband? Fane Linford, High Sheriff, is honour bound to catch the traitors and see them hanged in his area. He knows there is a plot underfoot; he has the documents in his hand that labels all who are involved. After capturing the traitors and imprisoning them he has a feast where a beautiful dancer catches his attention. Her sways and steps entice him, making him want her, but when she out wits him during this dance it is he who provides the last step by confronting her on the issue and marrying her. Married to Rexanna a woman who fills his soul, he is torn from wounds of the past, and the right thing to do. His wife is adamant that her brother is no traitor and he is adamant he is by signed documents. Will he be able to hang her brother and still keep her for his wife when it is all said and done? When Rexanna realised that she was falling in love with her husband Fane, she became very torn in her loyalties to the crown, her brother and to her husband. She loved all three equally and did not want to see either her brother or her husband in harms way. She fought a good battle, disobeyed orders all the time but it was overlooked by her husband Fane who knew she was following her heart and truly believed in her brothers innocence. She grew close to Fane in this novel, he told her secrets that he's never told anyone. Through those secrets she discovered that he was not the person people were making him out to be. She was truly torn when it came down to betraying her husband or betraying her brother. Fane greatly desired Rexanna and was patient throughout this book, teasing her along the way, trying to seduce her and finally claiming her as his own. It proved to be a steamy and erotic moment when desire finally won over while making it one of the most carnal and fulfilling love scenes I have ever read. Intriguing, gripping, fast paced, sensual and beautiful. Are all words that I can use to sum up this novel, Dance of Desire. Catherine Kean's debut novel is a pure treat to read if you are a medieval reader and lover of that era in romance. Her characters are mult

A Wonderful Historical You Won't Want To Miss!!!

Ms. Kean has managed to pen a very good historical romance that deftly combines strong characters with a very good storyline that will transport the reader back in history to a time where loyalty and honor were bylaws of living and these elements of life could and at time did dictate how a life was lived. Lady Rexana has had to make a very hard decision. There is a parchment with a forged signature of her brothers in the hands of the barbarian High Sheriff of Warringham, Fane Linford's Keep. If the Sheriff sees this parchment her brother Rudd will be called a traitor and he is the only family she has left in the world. He protected her once before, and she owes it to him to do the same. She knows in her heart that he is not a traitor to the Crown. Under the guise of a dancer from the East, Rexana plans to me a diversion so a loyal member of their household may slip in and retrieve the damning evidence. Instead her act draws the eye of Fane, and he is captivated by the little dancer. Soon Rexana is dancing a very different dance with steps that must be taken carefully or all will be lost. Fane has lived a harsh life. He knows that the world sees him as a harsh barbarian. But the truth of the matter is he longs to find peace and love. He thinks he has found this in the eyes of his little dancer. When he finds out that she is actually the sister of a man that is planning to overthrow the King he decides to take matters into his own hands. He wants Rexana and he will do what he has to in order to win her heart. First, he must convince her to marry him, and he does knowing that she comes to him without love in her heart. He is willing to believe that he can change her mind. He must for he wants her heart, mind, body, and soul. Hopefully she will realize that he is not the enemy but instead the one that will be able to protect her from those that are planning evil in the kingdom. Rexana and Fane are larger than life characters that take control of the story and tell their own tale in a way that will draw the reader in and transport them back to England in 1192 This is truly a story in which the reader can escape and be thoroughly entertained. Ms. Kean is true to her characters by making Rexana strong, and stubborn but at the same time endearing. Fane is a hero in every sense of the word. The way he courts his lady love is truly romantic and the fact that he has not lost that soft part of himself after his harsh life is amazing. I highly recommend Ms. Kean's debut effort. This is a story that will cause you to fall in love with historical romance.