time travel

In AWAKEN, MY LOVE, Robin Schone mixes fantasy and reality to create that erotic perfection of which most people only dream.

Elaine Metcliff, a sexually unfulfilled, modern-day woman, wakes up one morning in the 19th century and in the body of the very frigid Morrigan, Lady Arlcotte. To say that Elaine wakes up in a situation akin to a nightmare would be the ultimate understatement. Aunt Hattie, her main caretakeer, is obnoxious in more ways than one. Her new "husband" appears to be displeased, though fascinated, with her. And her body now has a small deformity which is causing problems in mobility.

Meanwhile Charles, the 19th century husband is very unsatisfied with Morrigan's lack of sexual appetite. When he first sees Elaine, she's in Morrigan's body, so he has no way of knowing she's a different person. Yet he notices some things have changed and he begins an earnest pursuit of her.

First, Elaine tries desparately to return to her own "time." Then, as the undeniable persuasions of Charles' chase continue, she feels to submit to him would be adulterous. Finally, as she accepts her position and gives in to Charles' expert lovemaking, she experiences total fulfillment.

In addition to the fantasy of "body swapping," AWAKEN, MY LOVE is made more complicated and interesting by the issues of child abuse, demonic possession, insanity and overly zealous relatives.

Ms. Schone mixes real romance with beautifully written eroticism. It's well worth reading.

I don't usually read Robin Schone books. Well, actually, I have read all of her books, but have decided they are too dark and explicit for my tastes. But after getting rid of Gabriel's Woman and The Lover (yes - I had to keep The Lady's Tutor), I had let Awaken My Love, Schone's first novel, sit unread for well over a year. Now, after reading it, I think this is the best of Schone's books. As are all of her books, it is far from the norm as far as romance writing goes. It is very entertaining reading although it has a most unusual time travel twist. I usually don't care much for time travel stories but this is a definite exception.

Charles Mortimer, Lord Arlcotte, is the extremely appealing hero. He has a very strong personality, alpha extreme, but is just so downright cool that you want to melt as you read about him. He has a great problem on his hands. His young bride has never let him even touch her since their marriage a year ago. No matter - he is determined to have a heir. He decides she will come to his bed and learn to like his touch. He WILL warm his cold frigid wife. After their joining however, he is quite discouraged. She apparently despises him. Imagine his surprise when he finds his wife emerging from her bath. Charles knows something is awry - Morrigan has not taken a full bath since their marriage. She is different somehow and although he is still angry over her distaste of him, he cannot seem to resist tormenting and teasing her. He is continually drawn to this oddly different Morrigan and is encouraged to proceed with her education despite her protestations. He can see the difference in her eyes - he senses she will now accept his advances.

Elaine Metcliffe is a twentieth century gal, thirty-nine years of age, who is a computer analyst married to a really boring guy. They have been married for years and he has never been too interested in their love life and has no desire for children. One morning she awakens to find herself in another time and another body. Her body is no longer the slightly chubby body close to forty - it is a very young and slender body of a woman named Morrigan. An old hateful nag is apparently her maid - one who acts like a mad, religious zealot, constantly shouting about Morrigan's sins and her need for cleansing and forgiveness. Attempting to adjust to this highly distressing change of events, Elaine (Morrigan) asks to take a bath and all hell breaks loose. Insisting on a bath and then dressing in one of Morrigan's many beautiful gowns, gains the attention of everyone in the household. Morrigan has only worn one ill-fitting gray dress for the past year. She has never desired to wear any of the beautiful clothes her husband gifted her with as her trousseau upon their marriage. And certainly she has never taken a bath! Elaine is startled when she sees an extremely handsome and obviously very virile man standing in her room as she is finishing with her bath. Soon she discovers this is now her husband and he is very angry with her for some reason.

So begins the sensual education of Morrigan (and actually Elaine as well since she is a sexually repressed twentieth century woman). Highly intrigued by her husband's lessons, she also feels unfaithful to her twentieth century husband. Charles, on the other hand, is alternately thrilled at his wife's apparent sexual awakening and angered by her denial of it. But he has become very determined in his quest and will brook no argument. This portion of the book, which is the majority of it, is overlaid with tenderness as Charles comes to appreciate and cherish his strange wife. This is what sets Awaken My Love apart. Although nothing is spoken of love early on, the leads' relationship develops slowly into one of trust and respect. It is that which drives the overall tone of the book. Yes, true to Robin Schone, the sensual scenes are just that - very sensual and numerous. They rate a 5.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for sensual rating guidelines). I can think of only one other book I have rated 5.0 in this matter. I had read in the reviews of Awaken My Love that it was not as sensual as Schone's other novels. Well, yes - it may not be as explicit as her other novels, but it is still highly sensual - make no mistake. It still rates far above the average romance novel in this aspect.

Elaine is somewhat too meek in her role as Morrigan. Sometimes, I wanted to shout "Speak up Elaine!". Her inability or lack of willingness to stand up for herself was the only irritating thing about the story. Occasionally she would demand attention or her way but far too seldom. But this was not a story full of disagreements or misunderstandings. It is the story of a relationship, written in a definite spicy manner, but a precious one all the same. I am sure there is some hidden psychological yearning behind the heroine's age and it feeds well into a fantasy of once again living in a body eighteen years younger yet with the wisdom of a thirty-nine year old woman. It only adds to the overall charm of the book. I have read that this is an expensive book once you find it. It is well worth the effort to find it and only a few dollars more than you expect to pay for a used paperback. It is a definite keeper.

I read The Lady's Tutor by the same author before getting this novel and have to say that the writer has improved much with time. Awaken my Love is her debut novel and is a Time Travel / paranormal romance which showed a lot of promise in the beginning but left too many loose ends. Elaine, waking up in beautiful Morrigan's body, is way too intimidated by everyoe. Although the possibility of being committed to an insane asylum loomed large to influence her actions, she didn't show much spine for a large part of the novel. Charles at times seemed really attractive as a hero and at other times just too much like a nutcase himself . . . shooting between romancing his wife to insulting her! And did he ever figure out anything was wrong, considering that Elaine for a few pages was so very convinced that he did?? The erotica is good and this is what Schone is noted for in her later works. The humor is good but as a time travel it did fall a bit short. In that area it is still hats off to Karen Marie Moning but where it comes to her later erotic romances Schone leaves other authors behind in the dust!!