- Paperback: 292 pages
- Publisher: Libros International (15 Mar 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 1905988257
- ISBN-13: 978-1905988259
- Product Dimensions: 20.1 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,705,818 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
Without Reproach: a love story (Sexy Spanish Nights)
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| |||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Authors
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.
Product Description
Product Description
Without Reproach sparks into life during the onset of autumn, at La Finca Pedralama, a beautiful Spanish villa nestling under the sierras of the Costa Blanca. Jenny Bucknall, slender and fiery, in her twenties, a woman of ideals, intolerant of injustice, still looking to carve a place for herself in the world. Eduardo García is a successful businessman and has been selected as candidate for the next Parliamentary elections. Someone is sending Eduardo menacing letters. Jenny, inherits a share in La Finca Pedralama from a Spanish artist she has never met. Jenny's psychological problems start when she sees the finca for the first time, and recognizes certain parts. Worse, there is a nude painting of her in the entrance hall. Eduardo, is also a beneficiary of the Will. Conflict erupts out of Eduardo's single-minded resolve to preserve the finca for the García family and Jenny's equal determination not to give it up. She sees the finca as a chance of making something of her life. He sees her as a gold-digger The contradiction of aggression and tranquillity, of angry and obsessive feelings amid the calm surrounds of the beautiful Sierras, heightens the mood of WITHOUT REPROACH Jenny finds herself struggling with Eduardo on several levels; her escalating attraction towards him, his promiscuous reputation, his belief that she may be involved with the threatening letters. Jenny tries to unearth what connects her to the mysterious finca, but there are always dark secrets. Her growing belief is that there is a conspiracy against her. The enigma spirals as her relationship with Eduardo develops.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The main character is Jenny Bucknall, who is recovering from a car crash when she discovers she has inherited half of La Finca Piedra from a Spanish artist, Juan Garcia. The mystery is that she didn't know her benefactor and nobody seems able or willing to help her get to the bottom of it. When she's well enough, she visits the finca and is stunned to find a great deal of the place is familiar, yet she'd never been there... Worse, she finds hanging on the wall a nude portrait of her - executed by the dead Juan.
While there is no great villain of the piece, there is an unpleasant writer of anonymous letters who seems to know more than Jenny about Juan's past and possibly hers too.
The co-owner of the finca is Eduardo, the younger half-brother of Juan. Attractive and used to getting his own way, Eduardo is in politics and doesn't want Jenny there. He's determined to buy her out. She stubbornly refuses, drawn by the mystery of the finca. This stubbornness and independence causes her much grief as, like a moth to the flame, Jenny is drawn to Eduardo...
The blurb suggests that some aspects of the book are racy; in fact, they're erotic, and well done. Indeed, this is an adult bittersweet romance with an intriguing mystery at its core.
Barnett has infused these two main characters with life. Like other accomplished novelists, Barnett has made his characters live with the reader and inhabit your mind during the reading process. His familiarity with Spain and the people is evident and lends authenticity to Jenny's emotional journey of discovery; discovery of self and the long concealed past.
There are no easy answers, it seems; I found this to be a satisfying well-written novel.
While there is no great villain of the piece, there is an unpleasant writer of anonymous letters who seems to know more than Jenny about Juan's past and possibly hers too.
The co-owner of the finca is Eduardo, the younger half-brother of Juan. Attractive and used to getting his own way, Eduardo is in politics and doesn't want Jenny there. He's determined to buy her out. She stubbornly refuses, drawn by the mystery of the finca. This stubbornness and independence causes her much grief as, like a moth to the flame, Jenny is drawn to Eduardo...
The blurb suggests that some aspects of the book are racy; in fact, they're erotic, and well done. Indeed, this is an adult bittersweet romance with an intriguing mystery at its core.
Barnett has infused these two main characters with life. Like other accomplished novelists, Barnett has made his characters live with the reader and inhabit your mind during the reading process. His familiarity with Spain and the people is evident and lends authenticity to Jenny's emotional journey of discovery; discovery of self and the long concealed past.
There are no easy answers, it seems; I found this to be a satisfying well-written novel.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
First off I would like to say thank you to the author for sending this book to me for free to review. I did read it all and this review has not been influenced by anyone and these are my own thoughts and opinions.
Maybe it was just me but I really didn't like the main character of Jenny. When I first started reading it I liked her but her character got worse throughout the book. She was whiny, annoying, jumped to conclusions all over the place and to be honest she didn't treat Eduardo very well, in fact she was a right cow towards him. And for me all of these things made her extremely unlikeable.
I did actually like Eduardo and you could understand why he would think what he thought because its probably what most people would think. He wasn't the character Jenny kept painting him out to be and I didnt understand why they had to keep things a secret from everyone...i dont know a lot about politicians but am quite certain they are allowed girlfriends.
The suspense for me wasn't there either. It started off quite promising but by the end I had almost forgotten about the mystery letters. It wasn't consistent and when explained at the end why the letters were being sent, it felt very flat and I wasn't satisfied with the reasoning behind them.
The whole story in the end didn't flow right for me, it kept jumping around. In one scene she is saying how much she needs to get away and in the next paragraph its morning and she has woken up in his bed....then before I knew it, 3 years had passed. I think when the time skips forward like this it needs to say ".... years later" it makes it easier and less confusing.
Now I am not saying there is not potential with this author but because of these things I just couldnt enjoy the story the way I wanted to but I wouldn't give up with this author just yet, I would still try something else from them in the future.
Maybe it was just me but I really didn't like the main character of Jenny. When I first started reading it I liked her but her character got worse throughout the book. She was whiny, annoying, jumped to conclusions all over the place and to be honest she didn't treat Eduardo very well, in fact she was a right cow towards him. And for me all of these things made her extremely unlikeable.
I did actually like Eduardo and you could understand why he would think what he thought because its probably what most people would think. He wasn't the character Jenny kept painting him out to be and I didnt understand why they had to keep things a secret from everyone...i dont know a lot about politicians but am quite certain they are allowed girlfriends.
The suspense for me wasn't there either. It started off quite promising but by the end I had almost forgotten about the mystery letters. It wasn't consistent and when explained at the end why the letters were being sent, it felt very flat and I wasn't satisfied with the reasoning behind them.
The whole story in the end didn't flow right for me, it kept jumping around. In one scene she is saying how much she needs to get away and in the next paragraph its morning and she has woken up in his bed....then before I knew it, 3 years had passed. I think when the time skips forward like this it needs to say ".... years later" it makes it easier and less confusing.
Now I am not saying there is not potential with this author but because of these things I just couldnt enjoy the story the way I wanted to but I wouldn't give up with this author just yet, I would still try something else from them in the future.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
what a wonderful book, i just couldn't put it down. Very raunchy in places. i'm looking forward to reading other books by the same author.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A THOROUGHLY GOOD READ
a superbly written romantic novel, with great conflict between the characters. well composed, just the right length, excellent location, realistic characters and a believable... Read more
Published 3 months ago by A. Athersmith
My 1st rom susp by a male author was far better than some by female...
Of the responses that I got to my recent 'avid reader seeks books in return for review', this was probably the one that appealed to me most: intrigue, romance and hot steamy sex. Read more
Published 11 months ago by ROROBLU'S MUM
Forbidden passion, mystery and intrigue - this story has them all
Have you ever desired someone you really don't like? Set in the magnificent hills of the northern Costa Blanca, this story covers a sweeping range of emotions. Read more
Published on 17 Oct 2008 by Mauren Elizabeth Moss
Superb
What a great find and what a debut.
Finished Mr. Barnetts book in just one day. I cant say fairer than that. The book is a real page turner. Read more
Finished Mr. Barnetts book in just one day. I cant say fairer than that. The book is a real page turner. Read more
Published on 1 July 2008 by Mrs. B. M. Dix
Highly recommended!
I enjoyed this book tremendously, though didn't get the ending I desired. I look forward to the next instalment as I understand there will be a follow-up to this novel.
Published on 26 April 2008 by S. Maling
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
