Cry for Passion [Paperback]

Cry for Passion is a love story about Jack's ambition, Rose's sorrow, and both their feelings of guilt and grief in finding love again. It has been several days since I finished reading this book, and it took me that long to decide what to write in the review. I have great admiration for Robin Schone's writing, and many of her books have made their way to my permanent keeper shelf, but her newest series The Men and Women's Club of which Cry for Passion is the third installment has not captured my interest as her previous endeavors.

I didn't know what it was that I have not liked as much... the writing is masterful, the characters are well developed, a tight and interesting plot with no loose ends, but I finally came to the conclusion that it was the style of her writing in these books and the conversational dialogue between characters that was different, and as a result was what I was not really liking. Ms. Schone dedicates this book to "justice and those who pursue it...", and after I realized it was the style of writing, and applied this dedication to her work, as well as all that was occurring during the Victorian period, things fell into place and I was more accepting of how she choose to write their stories.

Jack and Rose first met during a trial where he is the lawyer and she is being questioned on the witness stand. This beginning greatly influenced the style in which their story is told because much of their conversations (outside of the courtroom) have the feeling of interrogating each other and read much like a court transcript would. As their relationship progresses their dialogue slowly changes from lawyerly questioning to conversations between friends and lovers, but still remains sorrowful and reflective.

Rose's life is one of heart wrenching betrayal by all whom should protect her...father, brother husband, and ultimately the political justice system. The suffragette movement is at the heart of her story, as well as her right as a human, not a possession, to belong to the Men and Woman's Club, her rights to love and passion, and her rights over her own body and the choice not to have children. Rose's story seems more of a cry of sorrow than passion, as evidenced by this quote from the book:

"Happiness should not be painful..." p. 285 Cry for Passion

All of the Men and Women's Club are written in much of the same style, and I believe that it was a deliberate choice on Ms. Schone's part to write the books in this manner to reflect the character's struggles for the choices that they make, their independence against the rigid strictures of the Victorian period, and the sweeping changes as a result of the suffragette movement. At the end, I liked the story much more than I did at the beginning, and my only criticism would be the style of writing and the interrogatory dialogue. If you have not read Robin Schone before, I highly recommend The Lover, Gabriel's Woman, The Lady's Tutor, or my personal favorite, her novella in the anthology Captivated: A Lady's Pleasure. These are all on my keeper shelf, whereas Men and Women's Club series is more of an acquired taste.

Ratings:

Romance: 1.0
Passion: 2.75
Kleenex: 2.0
Overall: 3.0

If you have not read Scandalous Lovers, this is still going to take your breath away, but it will be so much more powerful if you read Scandalous Lovers, which is the back story for this book.

I have read every book by this author. Robin Schone is in a class all her own. This is far more a feminist historical novel than an erotic love story, but it is also an amazing erotic love story. This story is a must read if you have any interest in 19th century British legal history, especially as regards women, morals, and the sexual roles of men and women, how that relates to class, the rights and power (or lack thereof) of women in various strata of society.

Like it's predecessor, Scandalous Lovers, I put it in a category of it's own, and something akin to A Handmaids Tale in the feminist power it has. It also presents the awakening understanding of men to the need for change in how women are treated and the need for women to have power over their lives in society. This story is rich in history and presenting one the incredible social, political and personal evolution of an incredible woman's (Rose)sensual, sexual, and over all life awakening after being married for 12 years to a man who has ignored her for 11 of those years because he has become steril. She realizes he has relegated her to role of a breeder whose services he no longer requires. She challanges the prosecuting attorney who, in the court proceeding in Scandalous Lovers, ruthlessly but inadvertently makes her a person sconed by society, to help her obtain a divorce. She wants to experience passion and not be viewed as having the limited role in life as a procreator. Like Scandalous Lovers, this love story takes my breath away, not only from a sensual or sexual standpoint, although there is ample heat in that department, but rather from the heart wrenching personal and private and shared perspectives of both a man and a woman trying to find a passionate, close relationship, in Victorian England, and the awakening to their sensual selves, and their true needs, desires, and inner selves. The heart and gut wrenching realization, that there is no way they can legally pursue their relationship without serious consequences, including destroying both Rose's and Jack's positions in society.

This is a magnificent book! The author has a sound and impressive knowledge of British history, especially of this time period, and of British Law of the time. I finished this book in one day and cannot stop thinking about it and Scandalous Lovers, which I reread just before this book. This is definitely NOT light escapist erotic fiction, but it is a page turner. I know this is a book I will read again, and again, and again. No one out there writes like this author!

I don't know if anyone else is aware, but if you email Robin Schone, she will reply to you personally. I found this out 2 years ago when I read "Scandolous Lovers", the first book in her Women and Mens Club series. She writes the most wonderfully descriptive love scenes I have ever read and I own all of her books. "Cry for Passion" continues the stories of the members of the club who have been subpoenaed to testify on Frances Hart's behalf. They lose families, jobs, and friends trying to do what was right. It details the relationship between Rose Clarring and Jack Lodoun (the prosecuter in Frances' case). She leaves her husband for Jack and the drama that ensues is pure Victorian Melodrama at its best. Ms. Schone once again draws our attention to the mistreatment of women during this period and entertains us with a really good love story.