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5 out of 5
by
Dina
from
Romancelandia, RL, Brazil | May 17, 2009
AMAZING! That's the word that came to my mind when I finished this book. I'm always a bit wary when I start reading a book that's been highly praised by "everyone", as sky-high expectations can turn an otherwise excellent read into a "somewhat disappointingly good" read, so I didn't know what to expect from Bound by Your Touch when I picked it up. Well, I'm glad to say that "everyone" was right and I'm joining the chorus. I loved everything about this book: James, Lydia, the secondary characters, the story...
Lydia was the oldest daughter of Henry Boyce, an archaeologist who spent a great part of his life working in Egypt. A confirmed spinster at the advanced age of 26, Lydia was her father's business manager and took care of his trading affairs in London while he was away in Egypt. Raising funds to support her father's research was one of her responsabilities, so Lydia was more than annoyed when James barged into one of her fund-raising meetings with some important and rich men and interrupted her speech. James's sole goal in life was to annoy his father, the Earl of Moreland, any way he could and, unfortunately for Lydia, his father was one of the important and rich men in attendance to her meeting and James didn't care where or when he managed to achieve his goal. James and Lydia didn't exactly make sparks fly in that 1st meeting, but they were intrigued - or should I say, annoyed - enough to dedicate a thought or two to each other. A few days later, the possibility of her father being involved in trading forgeries and smuggling precious gems from Egypt led Lydia to seek James's cooperation and that was when the story really took off.
I fell in love with Lydia right from the start. When I finished reading the Prologue, I was already rooting for her HEA. How could I care so much for her so soon? I can only "blame" Ms. Duran's writing skills for that. As I read the following chapters, I grew to love Lydia even more. On the surface, she seems to be all prim, proper and good, but she nurtured a well-deserved dislike of her sister Sophie, who stole and married the man she loved. I liked the fact that Lydia wasn't "perfect". I mean, aren't we all tired of the saintly heroine who, despite everything and everyone, is always understanding and forgiving? That jealous sister of her betrayed her, and Lydia was more than welcome to harbor some resentment over it. Not that she was mean or anything, but she didn't regard her sister's betrayal as something "unimportant".
As for James, I had a hard time with him at first. He was handsome and charming, but his self-destructive behavior was, like Lydia stated at one point, childish. He was constantly drunk - or trying to get drunk - and his life was dedicated to embarass and cause pain to his father, there was no other purpose in it. He had "everything" but did nothing useful with it. Or so it seemed. Slowly but gradually, I got to know what drove him and, even though I couldn't fully support the way he chose to deal with it, I understood him and, like Lydia, fell in love with him. To borrow her words, "Everyone is brave in his own way. You must not blame others if they don't fit your mold."
Lydia and James came from two very problematic families, to say the least, so it was no wonder they were dysfunctional to some extent. I like to think that it was their meeting each other that "saved" them from the dead end lives they had been living but, in the end, each dealt with his/her problem on his/her own. I admit I was "shocked" when James left Lydia and told her he wouldn't help her with her father, even knowing her life might be in danger. A knight in shining armor he wasn't, and that was unusual.
***** SPOILER ALERT *****
The ending was bittersweet and, again, unusual. "We will be rather alone, Lydia thought. She would not want her father at their wedding. And they would not be spending holidays at Moreland's house. Not for some time yet, at least. But there was Ana. In a few years, perhaps Stella would be with them as well. And their own children, eventually. A new cycle, a new chance to make things right." There was no "deus ex machina", no miraculous resolution for James's strained relationship with his father or Lydia's damaged relationship with her sister Sophie and, ultimately, her father. I usually don't like when I'm left with "unfinished businesses" at the ending of a book, but I really didn't mind it this time around. James and Lydia had their HEA, there was no doubt about it, and everything else would work out... eventually.
***** END OF SPOILER *****
This book went straight to my keepers shelf, and I can't wait to get my hands on Ms. Duran's next book.
19 people found this review helpful
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5 out of 5
by
Katie(babs)
from
Bloomfield, NJ | Jan 18, 2009
Lydia Boyce is a spinster and firmly on the shelf at twenty-six. She loved a man once, but he married her sister instead. With Lydia’s father in Egypt finding priceless artifacts, she is the matriarch of her family. She wishes she could be in Egypt with her father, but has much responsibility in England. Lydia will try to find funding for the Egypt Exploration Fund which will enable her father to continue his excavations. But things go badly when her father is accused of trading fraudulent pieces.
James Durham, the Viscount of Sanburne loves to shock people, especially his father. He loves to bet on horses, get into boxing matches and enjoys being friends with some very undesirable people. He has a new target on his list and that is Lydia. He rudely interrupts her important talk at the Archaeological Institute where he wants to show his father a priceless artifact. Lydia knows it is a fake and after that James sets his sights on her. He thinks his father and Lydia are in cahoots together to make him look bad. But then he finds out that her father may be a fraud. Lydia cannot believe her precious papa would do such a thing. She will get to the bottom of this. And because James enjoys annoying Lydia, he will join her in her hunt for the one responsible in discrediting her father.
There is no point in Lydia trying to investigate on her own. James won’t let her out of his sight. Soon these two have teamed up. James can’t help but show his appreciation toward Lydia, which confuses her greatly. She won’t allow herself to fall in love with James. James is the type of man who enjoys the hunt and he will try and make Lydia his willing prey because she will be his salvation
Meredith Duran has made quite the splash in the historical romance world. In Bound by Your Touch, she has written an intelligent and witty romance that will be one of the must read books of the year. The dialogue is crisp and lively and her characters are in a word, lovely.
James is like a naughty little boy who enjoys getting in trouble. Lydia is the complete opposite. When these two come together, it is too good for words. Talk about opposites attracting! The banter and interactions between James and Lydia brings this story alive. They both see something special with one another that no one else can see.
Bound by Your Touch exceeded all my expectations and more. I bow down to Meredith Duran and her expertise at writing a book that makes me want to read it all over again.
12 people found this review helpful
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5 out of 5
by
Mitzi
from
Loomis, CA | Jul 12, 2009
Lydia Boyce is a spinster. Her father is an archaeologist (always away from home) and she is in charge of relating his newest findings and securing financial support so he can continue with his projects. She considers herself smart, but not beautiful like her 2 sisters. She's already been burned once (thinking herself in love, but the man choose to marry her younger sister)and now has no desire to get involved with any man.
Viscount Sanburne (very handsome and a rebel) hates his father and is always trying to cause him embarrassment (you'll discover the reason along the way). If his father says go left, he would go right just to spite him. His father is a collector of antiquities, so Sanburne buys an artifact and brings it to the conference where he interrupts Lydia's lecture and in order for her to get some control over the discussion, she declares the artifact a fake.
Only, she finds out that this artifact supposedly came from her father and was accidentally sent to Sanburne. Now she must figure out what is going on and who is trying to ruin her family's name.
Viscount Sanburne is attracted to the spinster and they end up teaming together to find out the truth. But the truth is not always what you want it to be...is it????
I normally like my romance books a little spicier than this one, but this book is so good, that it really doesn't matter. Duran's writing style reminds me of Diana Gabaldon. She uses a lot of wonderful discriptions to enhance her story.
Here is an example of one of her witty discriptions: Lydia has little respect for Sanburne and considers him a rogue, wastrel, spoiled bum, etc. BUT he is attracted to her and so he asks her what she thinks of him (although at this point he's not sure why he cares what she thinks of him)??? She says: You're a butterfly...Aimless by nature, useless by choice and highly decorative." "Annoying, when you flap into someone's face." WHAT a great way to describe a beautiful man with no direction!!!
I gladly give this book a 5 star rating. It's a shelf-keeper IMO.
Mitzi
7 people found this review helpful
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5 out of 5
by
Kate
from
Castro Valley, CA | Jun 17, 2009
Many people have raved about this book, I am merely one of them. This was probably the most anticipated book - for me - of the summer.
***SOME SPOILERS POSSIBLE - read at your own risk***
Lydia is a bookish spinster, a "bluestocking", who assists her father in raising funds for his archaeological expeditions. Society alternately pities and scorns her. But James, Viscount Sandburne, is intrigued by what lays beyond her stiff exterior - because he finds himself very very attracted to Lydia, even though he thinks she may be involved in a plot with his father. It turns out that Lydia's father is the one everyone's eyes are on, and now he has to earn her trust before she risks her life protecting her family.
Ms. Duran explores a lot of deep issues - what is faith? Is it a gift, or something one earns? How about love? These two clearly enjoyed getting under each others' skin, but when they come to realize their love it is at first with a grave understanding that nothing is going to be simple anymore. And then they embrace the joy after they each go through tremendous pain - and this is the best - ON THEIR OWN. In fact, hers is still continuing when the final chapter finishes! Some would say that denies them their HEA, but I strongly disagree. Part of HEA is being with each other through incredibly difficult times.
The writing itself is beautiful. I love the way Duran seamlessly weaves the character's thoughts into her narration. It is so easy to see when we are in James' thoughts and then Lydia's. And she likes to leave you wondering sometimes.. to which I have no objections. :)
Well done, Ms. Duran!
3 people found this review helpful
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5 out of 5
by
Camille
from
Melbourne, Australia | Jul 20, 2009
Duran's language is beautiful and sophisticated- this is no flowery romance author! She is witty and there are definite laugh out loud moments with her so eloquently put paragraphs. Hero James Durham- Lord Sanbaurne is an especially delicious specimen of rake, he's able to match wits with the feisty, straight-laced Lydia Boyce too. The chemistry between these two is fantastic, can't wait to see them get together!
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Absolutely beautiful, Duran is definitely an author to watch out for. James' struggle to accept that his sister is in a psych facility by her own volition and years wasted on blaming himself and his father in contrast to Lydia's blind faith in her father makes for a heartbreaking ending. Add the not seen much at all plot on fraud and Egypt and we have a stand out romance novel.
Can't wait to read about Phin's story.
2 people found this review helpful