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Sweet Revenge
At twenty-five, Princess Adrianne lives a life most people would envy. Beautiful and elegant, she spends her days dabbling in charities and her nights floating from one glamorous gala to the next. But her pampered-rich-girl pose is a ruse, a carefully calculated effort to hide a dangerous truth.
For ten years Adrianne has lived for revenge. As a child, she could only watch the cruelty hidden behind the facade of her parents' fairy-tale marriage. Now she has the perfect plan to make her famous father pay. She will take possession of the one thing he values above all others—The Sun and the Moon, a fabled necklace beyond price.
Yet just as she is poised to take her vengeance, she meets a man who seems to divine her every secret. Clever, charming, and enigmatic, Philip Chamberlain has his own private reasons for getting close to Princess Adrianne. And only when it's too late will she see the hidden danger…as she finds herself up against two formidable men—one with the knowledge to take her freedom, the other with the power to take her life.
For ten years Adrianne has lived for revenge. As a child, she could only watch the cruelty hidden behind the facade of her parents' fairy-tale marriage. Now she has the perfect plan to make her famous father pay. She will take possession of the one thing he values above all others—The Sun and the Moon, a fabled necklace beyond price.
Yet just as she is poised to take her vengeance, she meets a man who seems to divine her every secret. Clever, charming, and enigmatic, Philip Chamberlain has his own private reasons for getting close to Princess Adrianne. And only when it's too late will she see the hidden danger…as she finds herself up against two formidable men—one with the knowledge to take her freedom, the other with the power to take her life.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 1, 1988
2298 people are currently reading
6594 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.6k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 516 reviews
April 19, 2013
While it needs to be acknowledged that atrocities have been committed against women overseas in the name of Islam, it also needs to be acknowledged that such practices have no basis in the religion itself. More than 1400 years ago Islam afforded women rights comparable to those in our contemporary international human rights documents. It is not Islam but other factors, notably cultural practices alien to the religion itself, which are the cause of the mistreatment of women. (Sydney Morning Herald, "Grim picture of sharia hides its useful aspects", Ghena Krayem and Haisam Farache, February 18, 2008)
Statements such as these are now common in our media. They assure us that the harsh treatment of women in Islamic countries is the result of the culture and not of the religion of Islam.
Statements such as these are now common in our media. They assure us that the harsh treatment of women in Islamic countries is the result of the culture and not of the religion of Islam.
dnf
May 24, 2019Nope, I can't with this one. The islamophobia inherent in the main character's back story is horrific, and I'm at the point now, 70 pages of back story behind me, where, even if the jewel heist part is amazing and no more islamophobic bullshit happens (unlikely), I'll still have to one star. I don't need this in my brain.
September 5, 2019
Layla was right, this is one of the best Nora Roberts stand alone.
November 12, 2022
This is the Nora Roberts book that Janet Daily extensively plagiarized from. In the beginning this book has an angsty Danielle Steel feel to it. Why anyone would want to plagiarize from it is beyond me, at least at the beginning. The plot is interesting, and the journey is a twisty ride. Nora has used the Jewel Thief in several of her books and she adds a twist this time, which I love. The story is told in three parts and each part makes you want to read more until you can't put it down. The characters are an interesting mix and are slow to revel their motivations, a lot of cat and mouse going on. While definitely dated, it still has a social story that resonates today, and the plot is just pure Nora. The closed societies of the Middle East and the restrictions on women in the name of religion and culture are very much present today.
Phoebe Spring is the most beautiful, exciting actress to grace the big screen, ever. When she is swept off her feet by the handsome King Abdu of Jaquir the world sees a fairy tale come true. But the reality was far different for Phoebe and her daughter Princess Adrianne. When Adrianne is eight, Phoebe pulls herself out of her drug and alcohol haze long enough to escape, but she just brings her prison with her. The woman who charmed the world was broken and nothing could fix her. Adrianne is forced to grow up fast and do whatever it took to care for Phoebe. Playing off her title and social position from the time she was sixteen Adrianne slipped in and out of glamorous gatherings leaving the participants a little lighter in the purse. Doing so while plotting her revenge against the evil King Abdu. Her plan is to relieve him of the one thing that he values above all others - the fabulous, priceless necklace The Sun and the Moon, which he gave in love to her mother and stole from her in hate.
But leave it to a man to throw a wrench into her carefully laid plans. They say it takes one to know one and from the instant Philip Chamberlain laid eyes on Princess Adrianne he knew exactly who and what she was. Having grown up poor, he used the same means to drag himself out of poverty that Adrianne used to support her mother. He had his own reasons for getting close to her, but it was never about his job, it was always about her and the spell she cast over him from the moment he saw her. Now he just needs to convince her that she needs a partner on the job of a lifetime.
Phoebe Spring is the most beautiful, exciting actress to grace the big screen, ever. When she is swept off her feet by the handsome King Abdu of Jaquir the world sees a fairy tale come true. But the reality was far different for Phoebe and her daughter Princess Adrianne. When Adrianne is eight, Phoebe pulls herself out of her drug and alcohol haze long enough to escape, but she just brings her prison with her. The woman who charmed the world was broken and nothing could fix her. Adrianne is forced to grow up fast and do whatever it took to care for Phoebe. Playing off her title and social position from the time she was sixteen Adrianne slipped in and out of glamorous gatherings leaving the participants a little lighter in the purse. Doing so while plotting her revenge against the evil King Abdu. Her plan is to relieve him of the one thing that he values above all others - the fabulous, priceless necklace The Sun and the Moon, which he gave in love to her mother and stole from her in hate.
But leave it to a man to throw a wrench into her carefully laid plans. They say it takes one to know one and from the instant Philip Chamberlain laid eyes on Princess Adrianne he knew exactly who and what she was. Having grown up poor, he used the same means to drag himself out of poverty that Adrianne used to support her mother. He had his own reasons for getting close to her, but it was never about his job, it was always about her and the spell she cast over him from the moment he saw her. Now he just needs to convince her that she needs a partner on the job of a lifetime.
December 17, 2015
Style and Language
There are only a few books by Nora Roberts that deserve to be called “excellent novel”. Sweet Revenge is one of them. The plot is haunting, the figures are exiting and the authors writing style simply said brilliant.
Over two lines of action shows Nora Roberts how Adrianne´s life at the palace was and how her mother’s decision changed it and in the other the life of Philip. He is a thief and specialized when it comes to jewels and diamonds. Both of them have one thing in common: their devoted mothers. Mothers, who would do everything to keep their child from being harmed. How they do it, and what they have to do to achieve their goal shows Nora Roberts in a wonderful sensitive way. Even the cruelest scenes are written in that tone and it is up to the reader to see and make up his/her mind for themselves.
Alone the scene, where Adrianne talks to her father in her US apartment and is, well, blunt and without the behavior that she has to show when she´s in the palace with him, alone that one is worth an Oscar. Or the scene, where Philip talks to the king – WOW!!!
Ok, I´m not that much into religion, but the one Nora Roberts used in this novel is on one hand a good choice to bring some Opposites not only to the figures, but also the plot. On the other hand that religion brings some spice into the story. Although Adrianne lives her western heritage from her mother, she is embossed by the religion that is lived in Jaquir. The combination of both, western lifestyle and the lifestyle of the Orient, handles the author in a very entertaining and sensitive way.
Characters
Strong, very unique, some of them are weak, others nothing but superficial but every single character is convincing and seems very real. Although I have to admit, that there was, at some point during reading, where I could have smashed the King with pleasure against a wall and where I could have called him a lot of names! That character is quite something and I don´t mean in a good way. He is evil, cruel and does things, that are against the law and if the public would know about them, he would be no longer king of the country.
Adrianne´s feelings for him are not less intense. But she has a heart and her way of seeing things and how she cares about others, is something that makes the big difference. Her struggle to get revenge and hate in balance without losing herself completely is quite something to read. I was very impressed when I read why she does what she does and why she can´t let go of that last piece in her plan before she kind of retires.
Result
What a brilliant and great novel! The story was fantastic many years back, when I´ve read it the first time, and it was now – if not even greater. What a thrilling and fantastic read. Highly recommended!
November 2, 2018
A solid 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4.
My first Nora Roberts book and I have to say I enjoyed it. Wasn't really sure what to expect, as she seems to be a very prolific writer in several different genres, but it was an emotional and interesting read, even if I got pretty angry (on behalf of the heroine and her mother) at times.
Inter-cultural marriages are always difficult, but the description here of this one was quite black and white, and I was a bit surprised at .
I am not Muslim so I cannot comment on the veracity of the life of women described in the fictitious Islamic country here, but I would imagine it is not far from the truth in some of the stricter Islamic societies, where cultural norms have overtaken actual religious requirements. (All the same, I was feeling pretty grateful to have been born a woman in the West after reading this! I guess that's my own cultural bias speaking!)
The relationship between Adrianne and Phillip was a tad problematic for me, too, as he came across quite Alpha at times, and I wasn't sure how that was going to be a good thing. On the other hand, he had to break through a lot of barriers to reach Adrianne, and maybe that was the only way. I am no psychologist!
Most importantly, I remained invested in the outcome and enjoyed the writing style of the author. I have a couple of her JD Robb books on my Kindle, but haven't read them yet. Think I will get on to them now.
My first Nora Roberts book and I have to say I enjoyed it. Wasn't really sure what to expect, as she seems to be a very prolific writer in several different genres, but it was an emotional and interesting read, even if I got pretty angry (on behalf of the heroine and her mother) at times.
Inter-cultural marriages are always difficult, but the description here of this one was quite black and white, and I was a bit surprised at .
I am not Muslim so I cannot comment on the veracity of the life of women described in the fictitious Islamic country here, but I would imagine it is not far from the truth in some of the stricter Islamic societies, where cultural norms have overtaken actual religious requirements. (All the same, I was feeling pretty grateful to have been born a woman in the West after reading this! I guess that's my own cultural bias speaking!)
The relationship between Adrianne and Phillip was a tad problematic for me, too, as he came across quite Alpha at times, and I wasn't sure how that was going to be a good thing. On the other hand, he had to break through a lot of barriers to reach Adrianne, and maybe that was the only way. I am no psychologist!
Most importantly, I remained invested in the outcome and enjoyed the writing style of the author. I have a couple of her JD Robb books on my Kindle, but haven't read them yet. Think I will get on to them now.
February 26, 2016
Já não lia um livro da Nora há séculos e este foi uma boa escolha! Fiquei uma vez mais até de madrugada a ler completamente embrenhada na história que em alguns momentos me fez lembrar "Jogo de Mãos" e "A Dama negra" embora esses continuem a ter um lugar especial no meu coração!
Gostei de conhecer Adrienne de Jaquir completamente teimosa e persistente na ideia de vingança por causa de um passado traumático e Phillip Chamberlain um ex-ladrão experiente que reconhece um igual ou melhor do que ele...
Há que reconhecer que a primeira parte do livro parece saída de um filme, como era possível tratar as mulheres assim, todos temos uma ideia que as mulheres no Médio Oriente eram "zero" mas não era preciso tanto...
... toda a ideia em torno da fuga daquele mundo acaba por levar ao crescimento de uma Princesa Adrianne que só pensa em vingar-se do pai a todo o custo e para isso treina durante uma década até aperfeiçoar o golpe final, roubar o colar que é por direito da mãe "O Sol e a Lua" do cofre do pai!
Não contava com o facto de Phillip ligado a Interpol se colocar no caminho dela e formarem uma parceria tão real para poderem dar esse golpe, gostei de Phillip, foi um verdadeiro "Noro" como já não lia há algum tempo na Nora e teve a paciência par desvendar o coração duro desta mulher que nunca confiou em homens!
Gostei de conhecer Adrienne de Jaquir completamente teimosa e persistente na ideia de vingança por causa de um passado traumático e Phillip Chamberlain um ex-ladrão experiente que reconhece um igual ou melhor do que ele...
Há que reconhecer que a primeira parte do livro parece saída de um filme, como era possível tratar as mulheres assim, todos temos uma ideia que as mulheres no Médio Oriente eram "zero" mas não era preciso tanto...
... toda a ideia em torno da fuga daquele mundo acaba por levar ao crescimento de uma Princesa Adrianne que só pensa em vingar-se do pai a todo o custo e para isso treina durante uma década até aperfeiçoar o golpe final, roubar o colar que é por direito da mãe "O Sol e a Lua" do cofre do pai!
Não contava com o facto de Phillip ligado a Interpol se colocar no caminho dela e formarem uma parceria tão real para poderem dar esse golpe, gostei de Phillip, foi um verdadeiro "Noro" como já não lia há algum tempo na Nora e teve a paciência par desvendar o coração duro desta mulher que nunca confiou em homens!
April 7, 2020
Reading Nora Roberts is sort of like hanging out with a high school friend or a first love. Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Sidney Sheldon - they all were my first loves, and the ones that got me reading. Before I knew what love was, I traveled the world with these authors, watching the dashing hero and heroine find chemistry from the ashes of a difficult childhood to the sweet taste of thrilling romance. The details of this one don't matter, they are ultimately all the same. But I will share an outline anyway. Abused and Neglected Princess turned International Thief in Robin Hood Style, seeks to punish her father by stealing her mother's necklace - the Famed Sun and Moon. Handsome Dashing Ex Thief who works for Interpol falls instantly in love and thieving escapades lead to true love and redemption. Fun and familiar. Reading Nora transports you straight back to 1988.
Speaking of 1988, (I was 20), that's why I picked up this book. For a challenge, I needed to find a 1988 book to enjoy, and this one was one of five I got out from the library. The others included Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of the Game, Alice Hoffman's At Risk, Barbara Kingsolver's the Bean Trees, and Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. Remember these titles? I do. I think I made the right choice. But I like knowing that a lot of old friends are in the huge pile to be returned to the library - when someday it re-opens. When this nightmare is over, we will be having new adventures once again.
Speaking of 1988, (I was 20), that's why I picked up this book. For a challenge, I needed to find a 1988 book to enjoy, and this one was one of five I got out from the library. The others included Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of the Game, Alice Hoffman's At Risk, Barbara Kingsolver's the Bean Trees, and Joseph Campbell's The Power of Myth. Remember these titles? I do. I think I made the right choice. But I like knowing that a lot of old friends are in the huge pile to be returned to the library - when someday it re-opens. When this nightmare is over, we will be having new adventures once again.
September 11, 2017
La pluma de Roberts me reconforta, me ha gustado taaanto!
July 8, 2013
The essence of this book summarized in one sentence: Adrienne was angry that her father abused her mother, then she went and fell in love with a man who thought he's better than her and wanted to control everything about her life.
So many pet peeves, so little time (to list them all)...
I hate Philip. I absolutely hate him. If it's in the author's intention to make me hate him, then good job. I read the second half of the book grinding my teeth every time Philip showed up on screen which, unfortunately, was too many times IMO. Snooping around, stalking, manipulating, forcing opinions on someone else's, holding someone against their will, sugarcoating the need to control with "love", etc.
I'd ask for restraining order if I were Adrienne.
He's an infuriating, self-serving, egotistical, forceful, no good male...man that I hope would never meet in real life.
What I learned from this book:
So many pet peeves, so little time (to list them all)...
I hate Philip. I absolutely hate him. If it's in the author's intention to make me hate him, then good job. I read the second half of the book grinding my teeth every time Philip showed up on screen which, unfortunately, was too many times IMO. Snooping around, stalking, manipulating, forcing opinions on someone else's, holding someone against their will, sugarcoating the need to control with "love", etc.
I'd ask for restraining order if I were Adrienne.
He's an infuriating, self-serving, egotistical, forceful, no good male...man that I hope would never meet in real life.
What I learned from this book:
December 4, 2018
I wasn't sure how I was going to like this story since it started with a mother who has gave up everything to be with a man she thought love her but when your a woman in an Arabic country, things aren't as what you may think.
When Phibbe decided to take her eight year old daughter, Adrianne, away from the same life that she did and went back home to the States things went downhill.
After her mother's death Princess Adrianne only thought about the revenge she wanted for her mother. Adrianne made something of herself over the years but what she was actually up to would surprise you and was very dangerous. The only person who can ruin her plans is Phillip.
So much happens in this book. It keeps your interest throughout the story. You see the differences between the two countries but also the sameness too but no matter what love is always the key to our heart but also the key to vengeance.
Another well written book by Nora Roberts.
Re-Read for a challenge: 12/3/18 Still an enjoyable book.
When Phibbe decided to take her eight year old daughter, Adrianne, away from the same life that she did and went back home to the States things went downhill.
After her mother's death Princess Adrianne only thought about the revenge she wanted for her mother. Adrianne made something of herself over the years but what she was actually up to would surprise you and was very dangerous. The only person who can ruin her plans is Phillip.
So much happens in this book. It keeps your interest throughout the story. You see the differences between the two countries but also the sameness too but no matter what love is always the key to our heart but also the key to vengeance.
Another well written book by Nora Roberts.
Re-Read for a challenge: 12/3/18 Still an enjoyable book.
June 4, 2010
One of her best stand-alone books. I read this many years ago and just got around to rereading it. I had forgotten how great the story is. I love how everything came together.
Great book!
Great book!
June 16, 2015
Nora Roberts não desilude!
June 9, 2025
Okayyy… I honestly could have gone without this Nora Roberts book… it just wasn’t a favorite of mine nor does is come close.
let me start off with warnings as VERY very dark… in the beginning, I was thrown off by how it was intense so quickly without any warning.
Then around the 40% point I found. Myself becoming bored and wanting it to come to an end soon.. I didn’t really care for the characters or what was to come. Unrealistic aspects of love with the main character that really threw me off.
Wouldn’t recommend & truly this one deterred me from reading any of her earlier books.
let me start off with warnings as VERY very dark… in the beginning, I was thrown off by how it was intense so quickly without any warning.
Then around the 40% point I found. Myself becoming bored and wanting it to come to an end soon.. I didn’t really care for the characters or what was to come. Unrealistic aspects of love with the main character that really threw me off.
Wouldn’t recommend & truly this one deterred me from reading any of her earlier books.
July 7, 2017
I've always been a fan of Nora Roberts since my college years. she drew relationships with her pen and made them come to life on paper, and I'm not just saying man woman relationships, but brothers and mother and son and friends, everyone of those sparkled under her pen. yet after all these years I really couldn't imagine I'd be this disappointed in her. sweet revenge has still all the feelings inside, all the thrill and emotion, however it showed such lack of research concerning Islam. with so many verses from the Quran wrongly translated especially the one written in the opening quote " women are your fields, go then, into your fields as you please"???!!! we have no such verse in Quran. and depicting the Arab king as this sick lustful person who's both foolish and full of hatred to modernity and linking it to being a devout Muslim is abhorrent, being a devout Muslim would mean being open to everything that is new. that are our teachings, to learn and become better, a Muslim man is a gentleman, a kind person who knows etiquette and manners. and women are not cattle who eat and drink and speak of sex and children. they're well learnt intellectual minds who work and live our lives to the max. why describe their clothes as crows?? were not always in black, and we are adviced to abide by modest wear which can be really elegant and refined and we do it out of our own bidding, with no force, some choose not to wear hijab and some like to cover themselves, not because were weak beings who can't control our desires! But simple because we choose to share our beauty with our loves. honestly the whole book reaks of anti islam, why else link the call to prayer with hateful feelings of confinement whereas everyone who've actually heard would know what a sweet sound it is. our countries is not full of angry beasts who rape women so weak to fend for themselves and can't even protest. we're equals in our countries who get educated love and work and live and may be get married but we happen to have a different set of beliefs spiritually which I know should be respected if not accepted. I'm so offended by such a book and feel it's such a shame to intertwine such a beautiful story with such a grim gloomy setting of complete nonsense.
November 14, 2014
An absolutely brilliant book, a little sad, but well worth reading.
December 8, 2023
I was introduced to Nora Roberts in 1996 and pretty much exclusively read all her books between the years of 1997 and 2000. To me she was the OG of the trilogy, the contemporary romance thriller, and even with her pen name J.D Robb, the OG of the alpha male husband!!! So many things I loved about her writing was her Irish heritage and how she incorporated that into so many of her books. Her McGregor's series. Probably my first actual binge series of 8 or 9 books, I really haven't changed much!!
What makes Nora Roberts even more iconic is her research into her stories and how she can go from easily writing of the Irish hills and heritage to a completely different culture and a profession like jewelry thieves!!! This book, I read back in 1997 was probably one of my most memorable Nora Roberts books, so here I am 25 years later finally picking it back up!! I am not a re-reader at all. But I was so curious to see how I would feel about the book all these years later.
Verdict - absolutely loved it!! Made me realize how talented Ms Roberts is and noted that I should read something she has actually written say these last few decades!!!!! I am inspired to do it now!!! While reading this one I was continually mesmerized and reminded how deep she can bring you into a culture or profession. It's harder to find in writers these days. This particular book lays out with a few twists and it was different reading this time actually knowing the reveals already. So I had a little bit different anticipation than the first read - but still so enjoyable!!!
What makes Nora Roberts even more iconic is her research into her stories and how she can go from easily writing of the Irish hills and heritage to a completely different culture and a profession like jewelry thieves!!! This book, I read back in 1997 was probably one of my most memorable Nora Roberts books, so here I am 25 years later finally picking it back up!! I am not a re-reader at all. But I was so curious to see how I would feel about the book all these years later.
Verdict - absolutely loved it!! Made me realize how talented Ms Roberts is and noted that I should read something she has actually written say these last few decades!!!!! I am inspired to do it now!!! While reading this one I was continually mesmerized and reminded how deep she can bring you into a culture or profession. It's harder to find in writers these days. This particular book lays out with a few twists and it was different reading this time actually knowing the reveals already. So I had a little bit different anticipation than the first read - but still so enjoyable!!!
May 7, 2023
It taught me that when a woman lets herself love, she loses. It taught me that to survive, you rely on yourself, first and last.
April 3, 2010
This book was sitting on my shelves for so long, I completely forgot I ever bought it. And it was completely my loss. Have I known earlier that this book would make me love it so much, I would have devoured it in one sitting.
This is also the first ever Nora Roberts book I ever read, and I have to say, I completely loved it. Once I started reading it, I had a very hard time trying to put it down. Instead of sleeping really early, I opted for reading it more, trying to finish it sooner.
This book made me cry. My heart goes out to Princess Adrianne's mother, Phoebe. She suffered so much. And reading this book made me so thankful I was born in the States rather than in the middle east. It terrifies me just thinking that I could have been born there. I cannot imagine me, without freedom and just a slave to a man's desires.
But anyway, this book left me on the edge. It's like I couldn't really get enough of it. I really loved how Nora Robert's wrote it.
And because I loved this book so much, I would sure be picking up more Nora Robert's books in the very near future ♥
This is also the first ever Nora Roberts book I ever read, and I have to say, I completely loved it. Once I started reading it, I had a very hard time trying to put it down. Instead of sleeping really early, I opted for reading it more, trying to finish it sooner.
This book made me cry. My heart goes out to Princess Adrianne's mother, Phoebe. She suffered so much. And reading this book made me so thankful I was born in the States rather than in the middle east. It terrifies me just thinking that I could have been born there. I cannot imagine me, without freedom and just a slave to a man's desires.
But anyway, this book left me on the edge. It's like I couldn't really get enough of it. I really loved how Nora Robert's wrote it.
And because I loved this book so much, I would sure be picking up more Nora Robert's books in the very near future ♥
January 13, 2019
There was a lot of problematic things in this book, and at a certain point I was close to DNFing it
December 12, 2012
I have been buying books for the last year from a used-books seller, and I had passed it over on several occasions before I finally decided to buy it over the summer. Then I put off reading it for a couple of months before finally starting last month. And it was definitely worth the wait!
"Sweet Revenge" gave me a glimpse into the life of an aspect of Muslim culture that I've heard a bit of but never have really understood. Phoebe Spring,an American actress at the height of her fame, becomes enamored with, then marries, King Abdu of Jaquir, a fictitious country in the Muslim world in the Middle East.Little does she know what she is in for when she moves there.
Phoebe is one of several wives of the king. When she becomes pregnant, he is over the moon, however when she bears him a daughter,Adrianne, rather than a son and then soon discovers she can bear no more children, she is treated like an outcast in the palace and in the harem (a place in the palace where the wives and children of the king usually socialise). Phoebe then falls into a deep depression because apart from the rejection of herself and her daughter by her husband,she has lost her independence as a woman as well as her dignity, with repeated episodes of rape. She secretly takes drugs,which she obtains illegally,to get through each day.
One day, the King announces to Phoebe that he is going to Paris and he would like her to accompany him, for the sake of public appearances, which of course they both know as the reason. She pleads with him to have their daughter come too. Little does he know that Phoebe has come up with a plan...to leave him and Jaquir forever.
Upon arrival in Paris, Phoebe sends her good friend, Celeste in New York, a telegram desperately asking for help in the form of two tickets to the city. The next day, while out in Paris with Adrianne,they manage to flee their guards among a throng of Parisians and tourists, catching a cab to Charles de Gaulle,getting the plane tickets from an attendant, then boarding a plane to New York.Initially, I thought that this daring escape could have cost them their lives, and really it could have. Once in New York, Phoebe files for divorce.
Back in America, Phoebe thought she could have picked up where she had left off in her career,but the road is a lot more difficult than she imagined. Her comeback was never meant to be--she had to settle for bit crappy parts in films and even went as far as posing nude, trying to reclaim her glory days. And Phoebe never got better. She eventually succumbed to her demons,as Adrianne was trying all that she could to bring her mother back to whom she used to be: a wholesome and happy woman.This is when Adrianne decides she wants revenge, and she wants it bad.
At age 25, Adrianne is a master thief, stealing jewels to benefit causes she believes in.She started at age sixteen, as a means of covering payments for her mother's treatments in and out of rehab. She would moonlight as "Rose Shadow" better known as The Shadow,to cover her tracks as a thief and be presented as a rich, spoiled socialite in the media. On a trip to London for a heist of a coveted gem from a certain Madame, she crosses paths with a man who will change her life forever, Phillip Chamberlain, also a master of theft. Immediately, Adrianne catches his eye, not only beacause of her exotic looks but also because he suspects what she is doing. During her London stay, he follows her and his suspicions are confirmed. He eventually woos her at a party there,and oh my, their chemistry is intense! Adrianne tries with all her might to deny it, and him, but eventually realises that it is all too much to ignore!
I don't want to give anything else away,but the story gets more interesting from there!
Nora Roberts' books I don't often read, but this is by far the best of hers that I have ever read!
"Sweet Revenge" gave me a glimpse into the life of an aspect of Muslim culture that I've heard a bit of but never have really understood. Phoebe Spring,an American actress at the height of her fame, becomes enamored with, then marries, King Abdu of Jaquir, a fictitious country in the Muslim world in the Middle East.Little does she know what she is in for when she moves there.
Phoebe is one of several wives of the king. When she becomes pregnant, he is over the moon, however when she bears him a daughter,Adrianne, rather than a son and then soon discovers she can bear no more children, she is treated like an outcast in the palace and in the harem (a place in the palace where the wives and children of the king usually socialise). Phoebe then falls into a deep depression because apart from the rejection of herself and her daughter by her husband,she has lost her independence as a woman as well as her dignity, with repeated episodes of rape. She secretly takes drugs,which she obtains illegally,to get through each day.
One day, the King announces to Phoebe that he is going to Paris and he would like her to accompany him, for the sake of public appearances, which of course they both know as the reason. She pleads with him to have their daughter come too. Little does he know that Phoebe has come up with a plan...to leave him and Jaquir forever.
Upon arrival in Paris, Phoebe sends her good friend, Celeste in New York, a telegram desperately asking for help in the form of two tickets to the city. The next day, while out in Paris with Adrianne,they manage to flee their guards among a throng of Parisians and tourists, catching a cab to Charles de Gaulle,getting the plane tickets from an attendant, then boarding a plane to New York.Initially, I thought that this daring escape could have cost them their lives, and really it could have. Once in New York, Phoebe files for divorce.
Back in America, Phoebe thought she could have picked up where she had left off in her career,but the road is a lot more difficult than she imagined. Her comeback was never meant to be--she had to settle for bit crappy parts in films and even went as far as posing nude, trying to reclaim her glory days. And Phoebe never got better. She eventually succumbed to her demons,as Adrianne was trying all that she could to bring her mother back to whom she used to be: a wholesome and happy woman.This is when Adrianne decides she wants revenge, and she wants it bad.
At age 25, Adrianne is a master thief, stealing jewels to benefit causes she believes in.She started at age sixteen, as a means of covering payments for her mother's treatments in and out of rehab. She would moonlight as "Rose Shadow" better known as The Shadow,to cover her tracks as a thief and be presented as a rich, spoiled socialite in the media. On a trip to London for a heist of a coveted gem from a certain Madame, she crosses paths with a man who will change her life forever, Phillip Chamberlain, also a master of theft. Immediately, Adrianne catches his eye, not only beacause of her exotic looks but also because he suspects what she is doing. During her London stay, he follows her and his suspicions are confirmed. He eventually woos her at a party there,and oh my, their chemistry is intense! Adrianne tries with all her might to deny it, and him, but eventually realises that it is all too much to ignore!
I don't want to give anything else away,but the story gets more interesting from there!
Nora Roberts' books I don't often read, but this is by far the best of hers that I have ever read!
April 1, 2008
An early book by NR and a favorite.
Celebrated actress Phoebe marries King Abdu of Jaqir. He falls insanely in love with her, gives her a precious, celebrated jewel, the Sun and the Stars, marries her and whisks her away to live in his country. But what first attracts him to her also, strangely, repulses him. Her sexiness is unseemly in his muslim country and, worst of all, after the difficult birth of their daughter Adrienne, Phoebe can't give him a son.
What follows is years of abuse and misery as Phoebe is a prisoner in the harem, her husband's word is absolute law. And as a child Adrienne witnesses it all. But Phoebe manages to escape taking Adrianne with her. However, having been gone so long, Phoebe is no longer a celebrated actress just an old has been who can't find a job and gets taken advantage of by a smarmy agent. As Adrianne grows older and watches her mother struggle and sink into depression, her bitterness at her father grows. Law says that The Sun and The Moon (worth millions) is rightfully Phoebe's, but Abdu refuses to give it to her and watches from afar as Adrienne and Phoebe barely make ends meet.
Adrianne's burning desire is to retrieve the fabled necklace for her mother. And to do so she becomes a cat burglar. So famous does she eventually become that Interpol dispatches one of it's head agents to find the notorious jewel thief. Enter Philip Chamberlain the man who will catch Adrianne in more than one ways and gets pulled into her web of revenge.
When I first read this book eons ago, Rita Heyworth was my mental model for Phoebe Spring. Now as I think of her, she is a sad mash up of Rita and Anna Nicole Smith.
This book was a bit of a departure for Roberts at the time. This was heavily into the realm of Danielle Steele and Sydney Sheldon (actually when i read this book back in the 80s, I was forcefully reminded of Sidney Sheldon's book about a female jewel thief If Tomorrow comes because I was also at the height of my Sidney Sheldon love at the time). Globe hopping, glamorous people, and serious tear-jerky tragedy. The whole beginning of the book detailing Phoebe's fall from glittering star to neglected, abused wife is quite sad. And Adrianne's treatment by her father is also worthy of some vengeful thoughts.
At the time I read this, it was all pot-boilery goodness as far as I was concerned. And to some extent that feeling remains today. Although some distance and maturity now makes me question the over the top-ness of Abdu's villainy. There is no spark of humanity in him at all. None.
Celebrated actress Phoebe marries King Abdu of Jaqir. He falls insanely in love with her, gives her a precious, celebrated jewel, the Sun and the Stars, marries her and whisks her away to live in his country. But what first attracts him to her also, strangely, repulses him. Her sexiness is unseemly in his muslim country and, worst of all, after the difficult birth of their daughter Adrienne, Phoebe can't give him a son.
What follows is years of abuse and misery as Phoebe is a prisoner in the harem, her husband's word is absolute law. And as a child Adrienne witnesses it all. But Phoebe manages to escape taking Adrianne with her. However, having been gone so long, Phoebe is no longer a celebrated actress just an old has been who can't find a job and gets taken advantage of by a smarmy agent. As Adrianne grows older and watches her mother struggle and sink into depression, her bitterness at her father grows. Law says that The Sun and The Moon (worth millions) is rightfully Phoebe's, but Abdu refuses to give it to her and watches from afar as Adrienne and Phoebe barely make ends meet.
Adrianne's burning desire is to retrieve the fabled necklace for her mother. And to do so she becomes a cat burglar. So famous does she eventually become that Interpol dispatches one of it's head agents to find the notorious jewel thief. Enter Philip Chamberlain the man who will catch Adrianne in more than one ways and gets pulled into her web of revenge.
When I first read this book eons ago, Rita Heyworth was my mental model for Phoebe Spring. Now as I think of her, she is a sad mash up of Rita and Anna Nicole Smith.
This book was a bit of a departure for Roberts at the time. This was heavily into the realm of Danielle Steele and Sydney Sheldon (actually when i read this book back in the 80s, I was forcefully reminded of Sidney Sheldon's book about a female jewel thief If Tomorrow comes because I was also at the height of my Sidney Sheldon love at the time). Globe hopping, glamorous people, and serious tear-jerky tragedy. The whole beginning of the book detailing Phoebe's fall from glittering star to neglected, abused wife is quite sad. And Adrianne's treatment by her father is also worthy of some vengeful thoughts.
At the time I read this, it was all pot-boilery goodness as far as I was concerned. And to some extent that feeling remains today. Although some distance and maturity now makes me question the over the top-ness of Abdu's villainy. There is no spark of humanity in him at all. None.
February 8, 2012
This was my very first Nora Roberts book, and I can frankly say, she had me from the first sentence. After I picked up this book, I have read tons of Nora books, in fact I'm currently half way through the 44 book In Death Series. Well the books starts on a sad note, but we get motive, good motive, we get a clear picture. Then the books jumps to Addy being 25, and since in the beginning of the book she saw what she saw, we now understand what she does, steal. Steal for her mother, for preparation. Then when the book takes us to Phillip we also find motives, we find the reason he stole, his mother, to get her out of the hell hole they lived in, to the hell hole she let her life become just so she could have him, even if his father was scum. One of my favorite scenes is the one when a teenage Addy looses track of the beach ball and adult Phillip (given that he is aprox.10 years older than she) gives it to her...it's a moment of "little did they know"...and I love "little did he/she/they know". I also love the scene where Addy breaks into Phillips room, because there the phrase "it take thief to catch a thief" makes so much sense. In end I think they're perfect for each other, because even knowing what it would cost him, Phillip helps her get her revenge, even if he knows that his life was on the line, and even if she knows that her life is on the line as well, she trusts him, and she slowly falls in love with him - despite or because she is determined not to, she falls for him, and in end she realizes that he's not her father, that not all men are like her father, and that not all men live by "men give, women receive" and she accepts Phillip, and that I think is what makes the book great, the fact the the characters have life, realization, that they're not just some dolls that the author toys with, therefor if you want to curl up to a good book and enjoy a beautiful romance, here's a great book to do it with.
June 16, 2020
Edited review:
4 1/2 stars! This was such a fascinating read. Written in 1988, it takes place from the late 1960's to the late 1980's with back story, travelling from the middle east to New York, and of course England for Philip.
This reminded me of a James Bond movie. British man Philip, part of Interpol, ex jewel thief, is contracted to hunt down The Shadow, who has escaped Interpol for ten years, no one knows who he is. That is, until Philip discovers He is a She, one Princess Adrianne, daughter to an Arabic King and a much loved 1950's Hollywood movie icon - think of the likes of Grace Kelly who left Hollywood to marry a Moroccan King.
This story sweeps back to the 60's and 70's as we learn the heartbreaking back story that made Adrianne who and what she is, and also the back ground of Philip, the adoring son of a single mother with dreams and fantasies of Hollywood.
This was a thrilling ride! I think I know a lot about jewels now. And high tech theft of the 80's before computers and technology, mobile phones. There a lot of protest 1 star reviews, indicating problematic writing against muslims (this would be from the back-story dated back to the 1960’s of the heroine’s abusive “sheik” father), and I’m amending my original review here... Acknowledging that this was written nearly 40 years ago, and still, Nora has since apologised: “Let me add, as a personal note, that over the course of my life, the course of my career, the couple hundred books I’ve written, I may have–most likely have–said or done or written something that was offensive, racist, homophobic. Without intent–but intent doesn’t mean a damn to those hurt. So I’ll apologize without qualification.” (Link provided).
https://fallintothestory.com/my-pov-o...
Despite some problematic POV’s, of which I’ll put down to a sign of the times, I very much enjoyed this. It now sits with other favourites like The Witness and The Collector, and will continue to look forward to more of her back library.
4 1/2 stars! This was such a fascinating read. Written in 1988, it takes place from the late 1960's to the late 1980's with back story, travelling from the middle east to New York, and of course England for Philip.
This reminded me of a James Bond movie. British man Philip, part of Interpol, ex jewel thief, is contracted to hunt down The Shadow, who has escaped Interpol for ten years, no one knows who he is. That is, until Philip discovers He is a She, one Princess Adrianne, daughter to an Arabic King and a much loved 1950's Hollywood movie icon - think of the likes of Grace Kelly who left Hollywood to marry a Moroccan King.
This story sweeps back to the 60's and 70's as we learn the heartbreaking back story that made Adrianne who and what she is, and also the back ground of Philip, the adoring son of a single mother with dreams and fantasies of Hollywood.
This was a thrilling ride! I think I know a lot about jewels now. And high tech theft of the 80's before computers and technology, mobile phones. There a lot of protest 1 star reviews, indicating problematic writing against muslims (this would be from the back-story dated back to the 1960’s of the heroine’s abusive “sheik” father), and I’m amending my original review here... Acknowledging that this was written nearly 40 years ago, and still, Nora has since apologised: “Let me add, as a personal note, that over the course of my life, the course of my career, the couple hundred books I’ve written, I may have–most likely have–said or done or written something that was offensive, racist, homophobic. Without intent–but intent doesn’t mean a damn to those hurt. So I’ll apologize without qualification.” (Link provided).
https://fallintothestory.com/my-pov-o...
Despite some problematic POV’s, of which I’ll put down to a sign of the times, I very much enjoyed this. It now sits with other favourites like The Witness and The Collector, and will continue to look forward to more of her back library.
June 22, 2024
This book was published in 1988. The story itself starts in the 1970s. It is not a reflection of the world or Islamic countries of 2024.
It does portray a woman who suffered from domestic abuse. It does highlight that economic status does not matter when it comes to domestic abuse. It also reflects that abuse comes in different forms and is not limited to Western or Eastern cultures. That it is not tied specifically to religious practices.
It also shows that not all men of a background are abusive. The world is a complicated place. Each culture, religion, political faction, etc. has its good and bad and indifferent people. When asked by a sibling about how evil America is, she responds that, like everywhere else, it has good and bad people.
As with all fiction, there is an amount of disbelief that needs to be suspended.
It does portray a woman who suffered from domestic abuse. It does highlight that economic status does not matter when it comes to domestic abuse. It also reflects that abuse comes in different forms and is not limited to Western or Eastern cultures. That it is not tied specifically to religious practices.
It also shows that not all men of a background are abusive. The world is a complicated place. Each culture, religion, political faction, etc. has its good and bad and indifferent people. When asked by a sibling about how evil America is, she responds that, like everywhere else, it has good and bad people.
As with all fiction, there is an amount of disbelief that needs to be suspended.
December 4, 2020
This book started off really well with an American actress who gets married to a middle eastern prince. She gets bullied and raped by him and takes her daughter and escapes back to the States. However, once the young princess grows up the story was just bizarre to me. She turns out to a socialite thief and the Interpol sets another retired thief to catch her. They fall in love and on and on. There was no remorse about her stealing millions of dollars worth of jewellery because she was being Robin Hood and she had to support her drug addict and bipolar mother. She did all this to train and get revenge on her father. Anyway, I managed to finish the book by skipping lots of pages of descriptions of the breaking into the vaults and security systems.
June 23, 2018
maybe this book was good. maybe it wasn't. frankly, i couldn't tell because i once i finished the prologue i went into the rest of it with the intention of disliking it.
This was a clear attack on my religion.
i am usually a great fan of nora roberts; her female characters are strong independents in way that doesn't feel two dimensional but quite real, and i especially like her take on relationships and love in general. And yet..... how disappointing!
This was a clear attack on my religion.
i am usually a great fan of nora roberts; her female characters are strong independents in way that doesn't feel two dimensional but quite real, and i especially like her take on relationships and love in general. And yet..... how disappointing!
August 9, 2019
A worse case of Islamophobia and misrepresentation is hard to come across. Being a great fan of Nora Roberts, disappointed is not even a word. Attacking an entire religion, an entire culture just because you dont understand it, was unworthy of Nora Roberts. I give it one star only because i cant rate it lower. A poor copy of Sidney Sheldons If tomorrow comes given an Arabic twist
December 4, 2022
On one hand I quite enjoyed the banter between the protagonists, but at the same time I didn’t exactly feel enough invested into their story to really care about them.
I don’t know if the religious discussion in the story put me off or if the jewelry heist plot itself didn’t grab me.
Definitely not one of my favorites NR books.
I don’t know if the religious discussion in the story put me off or if the jewelry heist plot itself didn’t grab me.
Definitely not one of my favorites NR books.
June 4, 2016
Uma excelente surpresa, peguei neste livro com relutância, já que é um livro muito antigo da autora.
Para quem gostou de A Dama Negra e Jogo de Mãos, vai de certeza gostar deste livro tb, admito que dos 3 três, Tudo o Que ficou para Trás, foi o que mais gostei... :)
Para quem gostou de A Dama Negra e Jogo de Mãos, vai de certeza gostar deste livro tb, admito que dos 3 três, Tudo o Que ficou para Trás, foi o que mais gostei... :)
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