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Nov122010
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Turbulent Sea’ by Christine Feehan
by Carolyn • Posted in 2 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Christine Feehan, Paranormal Romance, Romance
Title: Turbulent Sea (Drake Sisters #6)
Author: Christine Feehan
Publisher: Piatkus Books (UK) / Jove (US)
Publication Date: July 2008
Paperback: 480 pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Zosia
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RATING: 4/10
BOOK COVER SUMMARY:
The star: Joley Drake was born with a legacy of unexpected magical gifts, but it was the gift of singing that made her an overnight sensation—a rock and roll goddess trapped by fame, fortune, and ambition. Heated by the flush of success, Joley could have any man she wanted. But there’s only man who can give her what she really needs.
The bodyguard: Ilya Prakenskii, cool, inscrutable, dangerously sexy, and working in the shadow of his infamous reputation—that of a secret Russian hit man on the payroll of a notorious mobster. He’s the last man Joley should get close to, yet when her life is threatened on tour she has nowhere left to turn. But in the seductive safe keep of Ilya’s embrace, is Joley really as secure as she imagines?
REVIEW:
If it was up to the hero, I’d give this book one star. He made me furious.
Firstly, I do really like this series. The relationships are always full of powerful attraction and strong emotion, and the hero and heroine of this book were no different. In many ways this was one of Christine Feehan’s most engrossing books, as Ilya has a strong presence, and he truly does seem to care deeply for Joley. So it was very disappointing that some of his actions were despicable.
I’m a little perplexed why Ilya Prakenskii has such a fan following. Sure, he’s all sexy and stuff, but I could never overlook his lies and deception.
Anybody who knows about the Drake sisters knows that there are seven in every generation. The poor seventh daughter is fated to have seven daughters; she has to take sex very seriously because birth control will not work for her. More than once in this series the seventh sister – Elle – has expressed her unhappiness at her situation. Thoughtlessly, other characters have implied she would be doing the wrong thing by not having the babies. It seemed to matter little to anybody that Elle had a great career and her own dreams. I think that’s a horrible expectation to place on someone.
The heroine of this book, Joley, is the sixth sister, and has no intention of settling down and having children. She’s quite unique for a Christine Feehan character, and one of those rare romance novel heroines who resists the relationship. I enjoy Feehan’s books, even though there are many similarities between them. All her female characters, from the ‘vampires’ to the shapeshifters to the enhanced soldiers, to the magical sisters in this series, are fated to be with one man, and they almost always give in without much of a fight. I admire Joley for wanting to maintain her independence, and disliked the hero immensely for finding ways to force her hand.
So how does this seven babies business relate to the hero? Well, Ilya is from a family of magical sons. He’s the seventh son of a seventh son, and birth control won’t work with him. In the third book of the series, he ‘marks’ Joley’s hand, binding her to him. She has no say in this matter. He then proceeds to begin a sexual relationship with her – not telling her about the fact he’s trapped her into his fate and made her pregnant.
I don’t know about anyone else, but if some guy made me pregnant I’d kinda like to know about it!
Essentially their magical connection means Joley cannot live without Ilya. It also means she has no choice but to spend the rest of her life as his broodmare. Independent, world-travelling, rich and famous singer Joley has everything swept out from under her and the hero doesn’t even bother to tell her.
Call me crazy, but I don’t find a man who forces seven pregnancies on an unwilling woman to be a particularly appealing hero.
When Joley finds out the truth, it’s because her sisters bring it up in a conversation with Ilya, not because he makes the decision to come clean with her. At Joley’s stunned reaction, Ilya simply kisses her and says,
“I told you not to rely so much on your birth control.”
When she replies that she doesn’t want children, and that she doesn’t want to go through seven pregnancies and labours, all Ilya says in his defence is, “We’ll be fine.”
Uh, no Ilya. YOU might be fine. You’ve got a famous, multi-millionaire wife to pay the bills, lots of sex and a big family on the way. Too bad Joley wants other things from life, because now you’ve trapped her. What’s worse is Joley never gets an opportunity to show her uncertainty or – more importantly – her anger at being lied to by omission and caged into a life she’s said all along she does not want.
Big families are a big favourite with Christine Feehan; so many of her books focus on the theme. In this book she does not show any real understanding of women with different ideas of what makes a good life. I honestly don’t think she comprehended the mindset of a woman who REALLY DOESN’T WANT CHILDREN. She won’t simply capitulate when she finds the ‘right’ man to knock her up, any more than a woman desperate for babies will happily let go of that dream at the drop of a hat.
I’ve read about many readers becoming annoyed with Joley for not immediately giving in to Ilya’s seduction. Here’s the thing: Joley didn’t get the memo Ilya was the hero of the book and she was the heroine. He should have to convince her he’s worth being with. Why should Joley just drop at the feet of the man so determined to dominate her and dictate to her? I liked Joley all the more for behaving like a real and intelligent person rather than a silly romance novel heroine.
All that said, this is an emotional and engrossing romance, and though Christine Feehan’s wordy writing style can take a little getting used to, I am a big fan. Feehan’s heroes are always extremely alpha, and almost always very appealing; in principle Ilya fits nicely into that category. If situations had been different – if Ilya has been honest from the outset – I would really have liked him as a hero. He might have been one of Feehan’s best. The story flowed nicely and I identified with Joley. I especially like the sense of family that runs throughout this series.
But how could any woman forgive what Ilya does to Joley in this book?
I certainly can’t.
VERDICT:
This is another solid entry in the romantic and sometimes charming Drake Sisters series, however I cannot rate it as highly as I’ve rated the other books because I consider the hero’s behaviour to be unforgivable. Even so, there is much to like about the second last Drake Sisters entry.
SOURCE: This book is from Zosia’s personal library.
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7 Comments
Ahh Zosia, at times I share your frustration with Christine Feehan's writing style. I too really enjoy her books, but they are without a doubt very old fashioned at their core.
They scream Alpha male, the woman has to want children, and she has to want to be protected.
I read this one a while ago, but I had high hopes for Ilya and he too let me down.
I find I have to be in the mood for these books otherwise they irritate me. But sometimes they can be comforting & cosy if that makes sense?
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Loved the review, and I cracked up at the pregnancy rant. XD
Totally agree that if the guy comes with such a..um..package, he should say something. And YES, Joley should get pissed and angry! I hate that when heroines get really angry, all the that's "supposedly" needed is for the male to kiss or have sex for her to cool down. Seriously? Intimacy would be the last thing on my mind if I was pissed.
Again, awesome review. =)
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I share your frustration. I've read one of the Drake Sisters books (lab scientist hero and doctor heroine, I believe) and I liked it, although her style is wordy in a meh kind of way. I do like her stuff, but I'm with Laura in that I have to expect it and want to read it…or I just don't enjoy it as much.
Also, her mentality doesn't fit as well with the urban/paranormal romance genre now that it's more modernized. So it feels off. Still, gotta love her to some extent…
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I'm so glad there're other people out there who feel this way! I've read so many reviews of this particular book and everyone loved it and loved Ilya and loved their relationship and loved their happy ending.
I sat there thinking, "Huh?! I can't seriously the only person in the world who has a problem with being impregnated against my will seven times??!!"
I do have a real soft spot for Christine Feehan and love many of her books. It's just you often have to switch off your inner feminist! I loved these two characters before their book, but after it I wasn't so happy about them!
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Oh, and I just reread my review. Wow, was I ever on a roll there with my rant!!
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Hehe – nothing wrong with a good old rant!
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Thanks for warning me about these books. (
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"Call me crazy, but I don’t find a man who forces seven pregnancies on an unwilling woman to be a particularly appealing hero."
I would call him a villain and not a hero at all.
Why didn't Joley have an abortion? Or was that not discussed at all?
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