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Sleeping Beauty
Once, a long time ago, Coco Wild learned to never allow a man's kiss to move her, for that way led to downfall. A slender beauty with alluring eyes, she built impregnable defenses around her emotions. The men who came to adore her, fought to conquer her and learn her mysteries, made her the toast of London, but none were able to rouse her passions.
But that hard-taught lesson is about to unravel because of Sir James Stoker. Back in England with a treasure of gold from his adventures, newly knighted by Queen Victoria herself, and feted everywhere, the handsome explorer has the world at his feet. He's exactly the man Coco might have dreamed about when she was young: a tall, fair hero with a charming smile. Now he's turned his energy toward winning her, the most desirable and the least attainable woman he knows; and Coco's afraid James may just find his way past the thorns that have so long protected her from the world, and awaken her slumbering heart...with just one kiss.
379 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
About the author
Judith Ivory
15 books326 followersJudith Ivory "accidentally" acquired two degrees in mathematics, then sold her first novel in 1987 and closed up the math books for good. She lives in Miami Florida, with her two children, two cats and a dog.
"Judith Ivory" is the pseudonym of author Judy Cuevas (real name).
The pseudonym was first used by her after publication of her last book as "Judy Cuevas," in 1996 - Dance. Her first book, Starlit Surrender, which was published under her real name of Cuevas, was re-released under her pseudonym of "Ivory" in 2006 under the title, Angel in a Red Dress.
"Judith Ivory" is the pseudonym of author Judy Cuevas (real name).
The pseudonym was first used by her after publication of her last book as "Judy Cuevas," in 1996 - Dance. Her first book, Starlit Surrender, which was published under her real name of Cuevas, was re-released under her pseudonym of "Ivory" in 2006 under the title, Angel in a Red Dress.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
July 31, 2019
Once upon a time, discriminating HR readers had a lot of choices in their romance-reading matter. For example, we had Judith Ivory, Laura Kinsale, a Mary Jo Putney who actually wrote good books, a Mary Balogh who didn't bore the socks off me, and more. This book is a 1998 Judith Ivory work and it stands up to the 21 years since its publication.
This is my second read. The first one was many years ago of my paperback edition. A couple of years back I snapped up the Kindle edition at a good price but never got around to reading it till now. And, yes, it's still good, IMO. What really makes this love story special is the swoony hero, Sir James Stoker. He's the sexiest beta hero ever. He's young, just barely 30 years old, but he's an accomplished explorer and academic. Just returned from an African expedition in which only he of the many Englishmen who ventured there returned home alive, he's now the darling of English society and of Queen Victoria, who has bestowed a knighthood on him with the possibility of an earldom in his future.
James's life is good. Couldn't be better. How high this son of a coachman has risen in the world. Highly respected at the university where he works, his future is assured. Then he meets 37-year-old Coco Wild. She's beautiful, sophisticated, alluring, but not accepted by the upper crust. Coco, you see, is a retired courtesan whose reputation will always cling to her. Born poor but extremely beautiful, in her youth she lived with her aunt, who worked as cook in an upper-class household.
Coco, in her very early teens, was seduced by the master of the household and became pregnant. But she's a survivor. She went off to Paris to live and raise her son. Her beauty allowed her to thrive as the mistress of a succession of wealthy men. She even married an older, distinguished gentleman who gave his name to her son. Now a widow, Coco is in England for a lengthy visit.
I guess there are readers who won't appreciate this heroine, thinking her immoral. I didn't find that to be the case. She's pragmatic. She has her own code of conduct and ethics and morals, much of which struck me as admirable. And, as stated earlier, she's a survivor. There isn't really much a woman in the 1800s could do to live on her own and raise a child, after all.
But what Coco isn't is a romantic. She's our Sleeping Beauty who has closed herself off to any possibility of love. And, of course, it's up to our handsome, charming, optimistic, gallant young hero, James, who falls for her deeply, madly, and truly, to wake her up. This is nicely written (except for a few grammar mistakes which might be typos) and is very romantic.
The story also has some intrigue and betrayal, involving James and his African expedition and some men who have a connection both to him and to Coco, to add a bit of plot tension. This is, of course, a fairy tale with a fairy-tale ending, but, really, who doesn't like that for lifting one's spirits?
Now I'm off to read all my Kindle editions of those Ivory books I read long ago.
This is my second read. The first one was many years ago of my paperback edition. A couple of years back I snapped up the Kindle edition at a good price but never got around to reading it till now. And, yes, it's still good, IMO. What really makes this love story special is the swoony hero, Sir James Stoker. He's the sexiest beta hero ever. He's young, just barely 30 years old, but he's an accomplished explorer and academic. Just returned from an African expedition in which only he of the many Englishmen who ventured there returned home alive, he's now the darling of English society and of Queen Victoria, who has bestowed a knighthood on him with the possibility of an earldom in his future.
James's life is good. Couldn't be better. How high this son of a coachman has risen in the world. Highly respected at the university where he works, his future is assured. Then he meets 37-year-old Coco Wild. She's beautiful, sophisticated, alluring, but not accepted by the upper crust. Coco, you see, is a retired courtesan whose reputation will always cling to her. Born poor but extremely beautiful, in her youth she lived with her aunt, who worked as cook in an upper-class household.
Coco, in her very early teens, was seduced by the master of the household and became pregnant. But she's a survivor. She went off to Paris to live and raise her son. Her beauty allowed her to thrive as the mistress of a succession of wealthy men. She even married an older, distinguished gentleman who gave his name to her son. Now a widow, Coco is in England for a lengthy visit.
I guess there are readers who won't appreciate this heroine, thinking her immoral. I didn't find that to be the case. She's pragmatic. She has her own code of conduct and ethics and morals, much of which struck me as admirable. And, as stated earlier, she's a survivor. There isn't really much a woman in the 1800s could do to live on her own and raise a child, after all.
But what Coco isn't is a romantic. She's our Sleeping Beauty who has closed herself off to any possibility of love. And, of course, it's up to our handsome, charming, optimistic, gallant young hero, James, who falls for her deeply, madly, and truly, to wake her up. This is nicely written (except for a few grammar mistakes which might be typos) and is very romantic.
The story also has some intrigue and betrayal, involving James and his African expedition and some men who have a connection both to him and to Coco, to add a bit of plot tension. This is, of course, a fairy tale with a fairy-tale ending, but, really, who doesn't like that for lifting one's spirits?
Now I'm off to read all my Kindle editions of those Ivory books I read long ago.
March 15, 2023
4.5 stars. A really good read. I like Judith Ivory's writing style and her complex, interesting and very believable characters.
James was a beautiful, shining young man. An overachiever who also happened to have honour, integrity and humanity. He fell deeply in love with Coco, the beautiful and sophisticated older woman that every man wanted. And somewhat reluctantly, she fell in love with him too. They had fantastic chemistry. Coco had made some dodgy choices in her life, but as a young woman her choices had been very limited, and she did what she had to, to make her way in the world.
BTW, this book is surprisingly steamy for the 90s when it was first published. The sex scenes are very well written with no purple prose, and overall, the book hasn't dated IMO. It could have been written yesterday.
I liked Ivory's take on England's colonial attitudes. As a geologist, James had experienced Africa first hand, ending up living with the locals when the rest of his party lost their lives. The English considered he had 'gone native', but in fact his experiences allowed him an insight into the local people that the average Englishman didn't have and didn't care to have. James felt genuine concern and compassion that others thought was 'soft' or useless. As 'superior' and 'civilised' Englishmen they believed they had a perfect right to destroy the Africans' homeland in their desire to strip it of its natural resources. I liked James' humanity and his efforts to do what he could to protect the homelands of the people who had befriended him and helped him survive.
The fairy tale thread running through the book added some interest without overwhelming the story. It was a nice touch. And the end of the story is lovely. Romantic and satisfying, with a nice allusion to the fairy tale as well.
This was a BOTM for March 2023 for the Historical Romance Book Club, 'Fairy Tale Inspired' theme.
James was a beautiful, shining young man. An overachiever who also happened to have honour, integrity and humanity. He fell deeply in love with Coco, the beautiful and sophisticated older woman that every man wanted. And somewhat reluctantly, she fell in love with him too. They had fantastic chemistry. Coco had made some dodgy choices in her life, but as a young woman her choices had been very limited, and she did what she had to, to make her way in the world.
BTW, this book is surprisingly steamy for the 90s when it was first published. The sex scenes are very well written with no purple prose, and overall, the book hasn't dated IMO. It could have been written yesterday.
I liked Ivory's take on England's colonial attitudes. As a geologist, James had experienced Africa first hand, ending up living with the locals when the rest of his party lost their lives. The English considered he had 'gone native', but in fact his experiences allowed him an insight into the local people that the average Englishman didn't have and didn't care to have. James felt genuine concern and compassion that others thought was 'soft' or useless. As 'superior' and 'civilised' Englishmen they believed they had a perfect right to destroy the Africans' homeland in their desire to strip it of its natural resources. I liked James' humanity and his efforts to do what he could to protect the homelands of the people who had befriended him and helped him survive.
The fairy tale thread running through the book added some interest without overwhelming the story. It was a nice touch. And the end of the story is lovely. Romantic and satisfying, with a nice allusion to the fairy tale as well.
This was a BOTM for March 2023 for the Historical Romance Book Club, 'Fairy Tale Inspired' theme.
February 17, 2017
4.5 stars
After reading Untie My Heart I wasn’t ready to part with Judith Ivory just yet. Thank you, Wollstonecrafthomegirl, for bringing this story to my attention. I loved it.As with most of her work, the author departed from nearly every romance formula in creating this wonderfully nuanced, multilayered romance –romance that paired a “retired” courtesan with a young explorer, darling of the society.
This is a character-driven romance at its best. The author made me care for the characters. I was invested in them, I understood their aspirations and motivations, I wanted them to succeed, and I was rooting for their HEA.
Coco:
“I’m finished with half-attentions and dark stolen moments, Dr. Stoker. I’m done with being someone’s unadmitted guilt. What I loved about my husband—the reason I married him—was that he loved me in the light of day, in front of everyone. I deserve that.”
James:
“I don’t know what you mean by experience or maturity exactly. But I know what it feels like to be so intent on surviving that your skin won’t be still, that it ripples and stands your hair on end while a watchfulness breathes inside you so sharp it makes your nerves feel like pins in your veins. I’ve had more experience than most men twice my age, more experience than I’d like.”
Together:
She felt happy, so happy. And he…oh, he…. He seemed like a wonderful discovery at the end of a maze she had had trouble getting through. But here she was, at the right place at last.
It takes a man with a heart as big as James' to love a woman with reputation like Coco unconditionally. The romantic tension, the chemistry between the two was so high it was a thrill to watch and wait for them to finally unravel.
The only quibble I have is with the ending. It was just too conveniently wrapped up, too over-the-top. I would prefer more ambiguity similar to let say A Gentleman Undone.
If you're in the mood for non-stop action and adventure, this book isn't for you. But if you’re looking for a character-driven romance with simmering tension and mature protagonists, definitely try this one.
March 22, 2023
Read:3/22/23
4.5 stars
RTC
4.5 stars
RTC
July 30, 2015
This was a decent and fairly non-typical historical romance. The writing was a bit distant, but that did not hinder the story too much as the characters were well drawn, likable, and had believable issues with their relationship. Not a lot happened outside of the romance so the pacing of the story felt a little slow. Fortunately is was slow, but not overly dull.
Fresh from his successful geological trip to Africa, where he returned with gold in abundance, England's new hero James Stoker has just been knighted by Queen Victoria and appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The charming 30 year old has the world at his feet and there are even rumors he will be given an Earldom in the near future. All that is threatened when he falls for the scandalous retired courtesan Coco Wild after a chance meeting at the dentist. At this stage in her life Coco is financially independent and determined to stay that way!
All in all I was happy with this unusual couple and enjoyed the story without ever being overly excited by it.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Violet Primm. She did a good job and I enjoyed her slight French accent for Coco.
Fresh from his successful geological trip to Africa, where he returned with gold in abundance, England's new hero James Stoker has just been knighted by Queen Victoria and appointed Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge. The charming 30 year old has the world at his feet and there are even rumors he will be given an Earldom in the near future. All that is threatened when he falls for the scandalous retired courtesan Coco Wild after a chance meeting at the dentist. At this stage in her life Coco is financially independent and determined to stay that way!
All in all I was happy with this unusual couple and enjoyed the story without ever being overly excited by it.
Rating: 3.5 stars.
Audio Note: This was narrated by Violet Primm. She did a good job and I enjoyed her slight French accent for Coco.
March 8, 2011
3.5 stars.
Dammit, here's what happens when you accidentally read too many books with the same theme in a short period of time!
WARNING: BIG TIME SPOILER for anyone who has read The Duke but not this book, or this book but not The Duke
I quite enjoyed this book -- the writing was good, the characters different than the norm, and the setting was Victorian rather than Regency, which makes a HUGE difference in terms of setting. I really liked both characters and their relationship (and the conflicts that came with it) seemed very real. My problem came at the end - normally I would have loved it, it would have made me go "awwwww", and made me sigh. The thing is, I read The Duke just a couple of weeks ago, and. I feel like Eric Cartman:
And now I'm kind of disappointed in The Duke too.
Dammit, here's what happens when you accidentally read too many books with the same theme in a short period of time!
WARNING: BIG TIME SPOILER for anyone who has read The Duke but not this book, or this book but not The Duke
I quite enjoyed this book -- the writing was good, the characters different than the norm, and the setting was Victorian rather than Regency, which makes a HUGE difference in terms of setting. I really liked both characters and their relationship (and the conflicts that came with it) seemed very real. My problem came at the end - normally I would have loved it, it would have made me go "awwwww", and made me sigh. The thing is, I read The Duke just a couple of weeks ago, and. I feel like Eric Cartman:
And now I'm kind of disappointed in The Duke too.
January 13, 2015
This one gave me all the feelings. Everything you want in a romance. The right amount of wit, description, angst, sex, fear, love, happiness. It was perfect. Couldn't put it down, must know what's going to happen: perfect. Coco, the heroine, is An Experienced Woman. She's essentially been a high priced prostitute for most of her life but she's unashamed of it. She's finally made some serious money after marrying well and now she's living the life she wants. She has agency and she is a fully drawn character and I loved her. James, the hero, is significantly younger than Coco but also brilliantly characterised. His attempts to win her over are endearing and beautiful without ever being too much. The descriptions of places are beautiful, you feel like you're walking along the River Cam in a rainstorm. Judith Ivory can set a scene like no one else, except, maybe, Sherry Thomas. And the ending - it's neatly tied up, perhaps a bit too neat, a bit too convenient, but I don't care because the characters deserved the HEA and I'm glad they got it in the style they did.
February 17, 2013
Way too much pondering. Needed more depth of plot and depth of relationship development.
It seemed like nothing happened in the first half of the book.
Too often the author used artificial means to draw out conflicts. Someone in love did not act the way someone in love would act. Example: a bad guy is going to frame James for two crimes. Coco hears this. She and James are in love. When Coco next sees James she does not warn James about the bad guy’s plans. She thinks to herself James is smart he can take care of himself. She tells him nothing! Later things happen, but I couldn’t get over her initial silence.
Another example: Coco was supposed to meet James. She did not show up, so James went to find her. He sees her leaving a man’s home. Instead of asking what she was doing there, he goes through lengthy ponderings and assumes she was seeing the man for sex. He says something insulting to Coco. She replies that she was visiting her aunt who worked there. Why did she visit her aunt instead of meeting James? Apparently the aunt meeting went longer than she planned. That may be reasonable, but I saw it as something contrived for James to worry, be angry, and ponder about.
Later James was supposed to meet Coco, but he didn’t show up. There was no reason he couldn’t have gone to her for a moment to explain the problem.
I did not understand the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale comparison. Coco was a courtesan with many lovers in her past. James is her new love. There is a bit of the older woman, younger man thing, but it’s not significant. She is 37. James is 30. At times she worries that she is too old for him.
NARRATOR:
I plan to avoid any book narrated by Violet Primm. Her voice sounds like an elderly smoker. Not soft enough for Coco the heroine. She would say part of a sentence in a screechy high pitch and another part in a grimy growling low tone. This was for men and women. Her voice was irritating and grating.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 11 hrs and 11 mins. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 7. Setting: 1877 London and elsewhere in Europe. Book copyright: 1998. Genre: historical romance, older woman younger man.
It seemed like nothing happened in the first half of the book.
Too often the author used artificial means to draw out conflicts. Someone in love did not act the way someone in love would act. Example: a bad guy is going to frame James for two crimes. Coco hears this. She and James are in love. When Coco next sees James she does not warn James about the bad guy’s plans. She thinks to herself James is smart he can take care of himself. She tells him nothing! Later things happen, but I couldn’t get over her initial silence.
Another example: Coco was supposed to meet James. She did not show up, so James went to find her. He sees her leaving a man’s home. Instead of asking what she was doing there, he goes through lengthy ponderings and assumes she was seeing the man for sex. He says something insulting to Coco. She replies that she was visiting her aunt who worked there. Why did she visit her aunt instead of meeting James? Apparently the aunt meeting went longer than she planned. That may be reasonable, but I saw it as something contrived for James to worry, be angry, and ponder about.
Later James was supposed to meet Coco, but he didn’t show up. There was no reason he couldn’t have gone to her for a moment to explain the problem.
I did not understand the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale comparison. Coco was a courtesan with many lovers in her past. James is her new love. There is a bit of the older woman, younger man thing, but it’s not significant. She is 37. James is 30. At times she worries that she is too old for him.
NARRATOR:
I plan to avoid any book narrated by Violet Primm. Her voice sounds like an elderly smoker. Not soft enough for Coco the heroine. She would say part of a sentence in a screechy high pitch and another part in a grimy growling low tone. This was for men and women. Her voice was irritating and grating.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 11 hrs and 11 mins. Swearing language: mild including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 7. Setting: 1877 London and elsewhere in Europe. Book copyright: 1998. Genre: historical romance, older woman younger man.
June 5, 2018
Really beginning to think Beast was a fluke. I really enjoyed my first Judith Ivory novel and because of that, I immediately downloaded everything else of hers that was available to me. Only to be very meh about the second one and end up DNFing the third out of sheer boredom. She does have a very unique take on retellings, but she'll have to do better than that to hold my interest.
September 29, 2015
This is a lush, romantic story of a (retired) courtesan who falls in love with a younger man. And the man just happens to be England's current hero, having returned from three years in Africa bearing valuable scholarly research as well as a fortune in gold.
James has a brilliant academic career, and perhaps an earldom, ahead of him, but none of that will happen if he publicly takes up with Coco. As for Coco herself, she's become wealthy and entirely independent and has no desire to subject herself to a man's dominion.
The lead characters are engaging, although I must say that the villain was cartoonish and crumpled without putting up a fight. But the love story is deep and complex and ultimately very satisfying.
James has a brilliant academic career, and perhaps an earldom, ahead of him, but none of that will happen if he publicly takes up with Coco. As for Coco herself, she's become wealthy and entirely independent and has no desire to subject herself to a man's dominion.
The lead characters are engaging, although I must say that the villain was cartoonish and crumpled without putting up a fight. But the love story is deep and complex and ultimately very satisfying.
February 17, 2010
Judith Ivory has a gift for making her characters sparkle. I feel as if I could reach out and touch them. These characters react to situations in a manner that I WANT THEM TO, and I love that.
It took me awhile to get through this story. For one thing, I kept trailing off into reverie as I read. I would think about the setting and time, and how unjust it was to women and lower classes. I would think how fortunate I am to live in contemporary times. I would think about how well Judith Ivory acknowledges these disparities, a thing that other authors never do to my satisfaction.
Another reason that it took me longer to read this than usual is because there is little plot progression for the majority of the story. It's still a beautiful, well-written, beautiful, wonderful story...it just doesn't zip. But it doesn't need to. I'd rather immerse myself a bit longer in GORGEOUS writing, than have a fast plotline that I will soon forget.
I love the Sleeping Beauty parallels. This really is a fairy tale.
It took me awhile to get through this story. For one thing, I kept trailing off into reverie as I read. I would think about the setting and time, and how unjust it was to women and lower classes. I would think how fortunate I am to live in contemporary times. I would think about how well Judith Ivory acknowledges these disparities, a thing that other authors never do to my satisfaction.
Another reason that it took me longer to read this than usual is because there is little plot progression for the majority of the story. It's still a beautiful, well-written, beautiful, wonderful story...it just doesn't zip. But it doesn't need to. I'd rather immerse myself a bit longer in GORGEOUS writing, than have a fast plotline that I will soon forget.
I love the Sleeping Beauty parallels. This really is a fairy tale.
April 3, 2021
I really had no idea what this book was about, expecting it to be a typical HR feel-good book. But, this certainly is not that, at least not until the very end. It reads like a contemporary novel about university sordid politics, professional ambition, and what compromises one must make to succeed. I was a little disappointed at the end, it did wrap up into a pretty little bow and frankly, that part seemed a bit forced. That being said, I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
August 1, 2015
What a dear, courageous, breathtaking beta hero we have in James. May he and Coco live the fairytale ending she demanded... When I rated this from memory, I gave it four stars instead of five, only because Judith Ivory has written alpha heroes who stayed more vividly in my memory. But after relistening to the audiobook, superbly narrated by the perfectly named Violet Primm, I'm adding the fifth star it deserves for making me cry and laugh and yearn.
September 6, 2017
I didn't think I would like this but I did. The hero was great sweet, brilliant and in many ways naive. I was a little unsure about the heroine before reading the book but she did win me over, she was jaded, manipulative and yet hopeful. She did her very best to not fall in with the hero but she did. I did like how she made no apologies for her life choices. She was a young girl swept away by a man and afraid to live the tough life her sisters led. So as a mother of an infant, she did the best she could and kind of found a power in that.
February 15, 2010
I love Judith Ivory. Everything she writes is magic.
This book wasn't quite as memorable as Untie My Heart, but it was still excellent. It made me think about how lucky I am to live NOW instead of THEN and those thoughts really endeared me to the heroine. I would so TOTALLY have been a whore if I had been born in the 1800s. It was the only way for a woman to be truly independent (sexually and financially). I even empathized with her bad tooth since the same thing happened to me two years ago and the pain would come and go and I put off the root canal as long as I possibly could (and then, just like Coco, I had to be practically knocked out before I could get the tooth fixed).
I also adored the hero in this book. So sweet! I loved that he was so sexually inexperienced and that it didn't matter because his enthusiasm seemed to make up for it. It made him seem very alive - like you could almost see him bouncing happily down the street with a shit-eating grin on his face.
A genuinely enjoyable reading experience. I wish Judith Ivory was still writing!
This book wasn't quite as memorable as Untie My Heart, but it was still excellent. It made me think about how lucky I am to live NOW instead of THEN and those thoughts really endeared me to the heroine. I would so TOTALLY have been a whore if I had been born in the 1800s. It was the only way for a woman to be truly independent (sexually and financially). I even empathized with her bad tooth since the same thing happened to me two years ago and the pain would come and go and I put off the root canal as long as I possibly could (and then, just like Coco, I had to be practically knocked out before I could get the tooth fixed).
I also adored the hero in this book. So sweet! I loved that he was so sexually inexperienced and that it didn't matter because his enthusiasm seemed to make up for it. It made him seem very alive - like you could almost see him bouncing happily down the street with a shit-eating grin on his face.
A genuinely enjoyable reading experience. I wish Judith Ivory was still writing!
March 5, 2010
This is a "must read", a classic even, in romance reading circles. So, I did my duty and read it and must say a lot of the book left me cold. The characters, though not always entirely likable, aren't your standard hero/heroine. The heroine is a mistress and a bit older than the hero but she's a bit too standoffish for my liking. Still, the writing was quite beautiful and I can see why it's held in such high regard.
I have this on audio and will reread it one day when I'm in a better mood (ha, ha) and see if my opinion changes.
I have this on audio and will reread it one day when I'm in a better mood (ha, ha) and see if my opinion changes.
March 4, 2018
This book enforces something that I always knew: atypical HRs aren't for me. I just couldn't get lost in the story, the characters weren't as captivating... All in all, it didn't work for me.
April 5, 2023
I save Judith Ivory books for the occasional special treat, since her books are so few and her writing is so superb, and she doesn’t write anymore. It will be a sad, sad day when I have read the last one…but that day isn’t here yet.
In Ivory world, the characters are always extraordinary people, complex, who don’t fit the mold, and sometimes struggle to fit into the world they live in, even if that world is created by their own choices. “Sleeping Beauty” is loosely framed around the various versions of the fairy tale, only the beauty is an infamous retired courtesan who only wants peace and the prince is a Cambridge geologist newly knighted and renowned for being the sole survivor of an expedition into darkest Africa from which he returned with a fortune in gold. The story builds from interesting to enchanting to engrossing to exciting, and I’ve never been so delighted by the appearance of a man-sized mechanical bat. I could not put this book down in spite of how much I wanted it to last and last. Color me sleep-deprived but satisfied.
In Ivory world, the characters are always extraordinary people, complex, who don’t fit the mold, and sometimes struggle to fit into the world they live in, even if that world is created by their own choices. “Sleeping Beauty” is loosely framed around the various versions of the fairy tale, only the beauty is an infamous retired courtesan who only wants peace and the prince is a Cambridge geologist newly knighted and renowned for being the sole survivor of an expedition into darkest Africa from which he returned with a fortune in gold. The story builds from interesting to enchanting to engrossing to exciting, and I’ve never been so delighted by the appearance of a man-sized mechanical bat. I could not put this book down in spite of how much I wanted it to last and last. Color me sleep-deprived but satisfied.
September 13, 2021
Re read 2021
April 5, 2024
I've read six Judy Cuevas/Judith Ivory books so far, and this is my least favorite. Don't get me wrong: This is still exquisitely written, far above most other historical romance, and there were some really powerful and beautiful scenes.
That said, I had some pretty major problems with it in terms of a) the depiction of Africa and Africans and b) some of the narrative choices she made.
This is the story of Coco (37) and James (30). Coco, we learn, is a courtesan and has in her clientele bishops, aristocrats and even royalty. James is a rising academic star who recently returned from a geological expedition in Africa, where he went through an eye-opening and also traumatic time. He sets his sights on Coco, who initially rejects him because he seems really green—she is wrestling with the aging process and is jaded with life, and she sees him as a pup who can't offer her much. Little does she know he will awaken her in all sorts of ways.
With older historical romance (this was released in 1998), you have to expect some missteps, because our tolerance for racism, colonialism, chauvinism, etc. has lessened drastically even in just 25 years. And Ivory seems to be on the right path, making James sympathetic to his African friends (no country is given, just a tribe name), despite the fact that the British establishment at the time (the 1870s) is steeped in colonialism and his academic colleagues think nothing of going in and stealing the gold from under the Africans' feet at any cost. However, there are mentions of the tribe being cannibals, and he mentions that he slept with two widows, "if that counts." These people seem to have functioned as a growth experience for him, which doesn't sit well with me.
Second, James exhibits some stalkerish behavior toward Coco that made me feel uncomfortable, even though one particularly egregious incident led to a scorching and powerful sex scene in a kitchen. Later in the book, he is also quite cruel to her, saying flat out that he's the best she can do given her past, and he also shames her for her sexual history. If I were Coco, that would absolutely have been a red line for me, especially as resentment of that sort would be hard for him to get over in the long run.
As far as craft, Ivory made some choices that felt a little hackneyed to me. In one part, Coco deliberately withholds important information from James; we are supposed to think that it's because she prides herself on her discretion, but this is someone she ostensibly wants to spend the rest of her life with. He is not a client. So that didn't quite work for me. And then the ending felt rushed and a little easy—their problems go away in an instant. I know Ivory could have done better than that; one of the things I love about her books is that her characters never behave in ways you think they will, and events rarely transpire predictably. Here, that wasn't the case.
This is still a must-read for a Judy completist like myself, but I ended it feeling disappointed, for all its potential.
That said, I had some pretty major problems with it in terms of a) the depiction of Africa and Africans and b) some of the narrative choices she made.
This is the story of Coco (37) and James (30). Coco, we learn, is a courtesan and has in her clientele bishops, aristocrats and even royalty. James is a rising academic star who recently returned from a geological expedition in Africa, where he went through an eye-opening and also traumatic time. He sets his sights on Coco, who initially rejects him because he seems really green—she is wrestling with the aging process and is jaded with life, and she sees him as a pup who can't offer her much. Little does she know he will awaken her in all sorts of ways.
With older historical romance (this was released in 1998), you have to expect some missteps, because our tolerance for racism, colonialism, chauvinism, etc. has lessened drastically even in just 25 years. And Ivory seems to be on the right path, making James sympathetic to his African friends (no country is given, just a tribe name), despite the fact that the British establishment at the time (the 1870s) is steeped in colonialism and his academic colleagues think nothing of going in and stealing the gold from under the Africans' feet at any cost. However, there are mentions of the tribe being cannibals, and he mentions that he slept with two widows, "if that counts." These people seem to have functioned as a growth experience for him, which doesn't sit well with me.
Second, James exhibits some stalkerish behavior toward Coco that made me feel uncomfortable, even though one particularly egregious incident led to a scorching and powerful sex scene in a kitchen. Later in the book, he is also quite cruel to her, saying flat out that he's the best she can do given her past, and he also shames her for her sexual history. If I were Coco, that would absolutely have been a red line for me, especially as resentment of that sort would be hard for him to get over in the long run.
As far as craft, Ivory made some choices that felt a little hackneyed to me. In one part, Coco deliberately withholds important information from James; we are supposed to think that it's because she prides herself on her discretion, but this is someone she ostensibly wants to spend the rest of her life with. He is not a client. So that didn't quite work for me. And then the ending felt rushed and a little easy—their problems go away in an instant. I know Ivory could have done better than that; one of the things I love about her books is that her characters never behave in ways you think they will, and events rarely transpire predictably. Here, that wasn't the case.
This is still a must-read for a Judy completist like myself, but I ended it feeling disappointed, for all its potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
I'll probably always default to 5 stars for Judith Ivory. Her books are so different, plot and character wise, and this book is no exception.
July 27, 2018
Two of this author's books are ones that I rather like quite a bit, but I can't say that this author is one of my favorites because she doesn't have enough of a collection for that, and some of her books are only all right to me. But she is definitely memorable, and this book is a feast for the senses.
This was the second time I tried to read this book, and the first time I gave up because I didn't like the idea of a prostitute heroine who (gasp) actually enjoyed her work. The squeamish aspect of the book, I reckon, isn't that she's a former prostitute (or courtesan, as that sounds fancier) since there are many books with a repentant whore as the protagonist. The issue was that she came off seeming so indiscriminately free about it, especially in a time period when such a thing was ostracized. At one point in a room with at least 20 high ranking men, she had slept with a majority of them, some at the same time. It was just a little bit sordid to me, with nothing in particular to back up her reasons for launching into such a career. Granted, she was the second of four daughters of a paper mill worker, and got pregnant at age 15 to a married peer. These, obviously, are good reasons to become a courtesan if one had the ability, since there weren't many ways for women to make money and be independent.
The author tried to do a bunch of things with this book, first, with the prostitution. Second, with an older heroine (by about 7-8) years. Third, with the premise of a Sleeping Beauty (since she already has a book based on Beauty and the Beast), she was attempting to recreate a heroine who had been locked into a tower of men's making.
What was a hugely successful aspect of this book was the evocative descriptions that made this romance a feast for the senses. Primarily told from the viewpoint of the hero, with small snippets from the heroine in order to establish descriptions of the hero, the reader gets every pulsating emotion that comes with falling in love for the very first time. Readers, it was that alluring. We get their first platonic meeting at the dentist where a throwaway conversation turns to instant attraction. (And why not? When the two of them are described as runaway models/saint/scholar, it's only unbelievable that they don't have a cult following.)
We feel his every emotion--from piqued interest, to hesitant attraction, to unstoppable, breath-stopping lust. We even have the requisite conversations to cement just how in tune these two people are. Yes, I didn't like the heroine that much, but there was no denying just how charismatic she was. And no one could resist the hero, who was just too perfect to be borne, but with a touch of sweet naivete to make him slightly virginal. And yes, that was one of the focal points of the story, the fact that the Prince was about 100 years younger than Sleeping Beauty, and how the two were from a different era altogether.
It's not the greatest romance, to be honest. But the intriguing take the author did on the fairy tale and her lush descriptions, I felt the book seduced me. I was right there with him as he saw her for the first time and became ever more intrigued and obsessed. And I suppose in that sense, the author fulfilled that aspect of the fairy tale. Because why else would a prince with everything in his future (as the hero in this book) risk it for a cursed princess stuck in a castle surrounded by briar?
And there you have it. I didn't realize until just this minute how successful the author had been in recreating this weird fairy tale. Complete with the spindle. Because, you know, she was at the dentist to have a tooth out. Fancy that.
This was the second time I tried to read this book, and the first time I gave up because I didn't like the idea of a prostitute heroine who (gasp) actually enjoyed her work. The squeamish aspect of the book, I reckon, isn't that she's a former prostitute (or courtesan, as that sounds fancier) since there are many books with a repentant whore as the protagonist. The issue was that she came off seeming so indiscriminately free about it, especially in a time period when such a thing was ostracized. At one point in a room with at least 20 high ranking men, she had slept with a majority of them, some at the same time. It was just a little bit sordid to me, with nothing in particular to back up her reasons for launching into such a career. Granted, she was the second of four daughters of a paper mill worker, and got pregnant at age 15 to a married peer. These, obviously, are good reasons to become a courtesan if one had the ability, since there weren't many ways for women to make money and be independent.
The author tried to do a bunch of things with this book, first, with the prostitution. Second, with an older heroine (by about 7-8) years. Third, with the premise of a Sleeping Beauty (since she already has a book based on Beauty and the Beast), she was attempting to recreate a heroine who had been locked into a tower of men's making.
What was a hugely successful aspect of this book was the evocative descriptions that made this romance a feast for the senses. Primarily told from the viewpoint of the hero, with small snippets from the heroine in order to establish descriptions of the hero, the reader gets every pulsating emotion that comes with falling in love for the very first time. Readers, it was that alluring. We get their first platonic meeting at the dentist where a throwaway conversation turns to instant attraction. (And why not? When the two of them are described as runaway models/saint/scholar, it's only unbelievable that they don't have a cult following.)
We feel his every emotion--from piqued interest, to hesitant attraction, to unstoppable, breath-stopping lust. We even have the requisite conversations to cement just how in tune these two people are. Yes, I didn't like the heroine that much, but there was no denying just how charismatic she was. And no one could resist the hero, who was just too perfect to be borne, but with a touch of sweet naivete to make him slightly virginal. And yes, that was one of the focal points of the story, the fact that the Prince was about 100 years younger than Sleeping Beauty, and how the two were from a different era altogether.
It's not the greatest romance, to be honest. But the intriguing take the author did on the fairy tale and her lush descriptions, I felt the book seduced me. I was right there with him as he saw her for the first time and became ever more intrigued and obsessed. And I suppose in that sense, the author fulfilled that aspect of the fairy tale. Because why else would a prince with everything in his future (as the hero in this book) risk it for a cursed princess stuck in a castle surrounded by briar?
And there you have it. I didn't realize until just this minute how successful the author had been in recreating this weird fairy tale. Complete with the spindle. Because, you know, she was at the dentist to have a tooth out. Fancy that.
February 7, 2015
While this book doesn't supplant UNTIE MY HEART or THE PROPOSITION as my favorite Judith Ivory novels, it was memorable enough to revisit in the future.
Coco was an original heroine, and I enjoyed both her independence, her maturity, and her unrepentant past. Ivory was particularly clever with how she signaled Coco and James's happily ever after (normally a heroine sleeping with the hero is the sure sign of their devotion and HEA-ness, but for a former courtesan, that won't work).
As much as I enjoyed Coco, I enjoyed James even more. Seen through Coco's eyes, he is a singular hero. I loved the build up of their attraction, and their first love scene scorched off the pages. While many heros are proported to be guiless and forceful, the details Ivory choses for James truly made me see him that way. I'll certainly remember his charisma and sexual chemistry, in addition to those human scenes that allowed him to blossom as a character ( The bat at the opera comes to mind: "James screamed. No other word for it.").
Both Coco and James were in situations that seemed destined forheart break(in terms of society, politics, and realities of colonialism), but Ivory softened reality just enough to promise happiness without completely losing plausibility. A thoroughly entertaining and charming story.
Reread #1 (2/5/15): It's a strange quirk of historical romance that marks James a "beta male". Young, inexperienced with courtesans, just coming in to his own professionally, and modest about many sterling accomplishments. He's not just a professor, he's not just a rising star, he's an academic rockstar lauded by the queen herself. He's charming and confident, and he breaks down a door with his body when the woman he wants is on the other side. Oh yes, though historical romance dictates that this young man is a beta, his sexual chemistry is all alpha. Respectful, earnest alpha, but alpha all the same.
Coco was an original heroine, and I enjoyed both her independence, her maturity, and her unrepentant past. Ivory was particularly clever with how she signaled Coco and James's happily ever after (normally a heroine sleeping with the hero is the sure sign of their devotion and HEA-ness, but for a former courtesan, that won't work).
As much as I enjoyed Coco, I enjoyed James even more. Seen through Coco's eyes, he is a singular hero. I loved the build up of their attraction, and their first love scene scorched off the pages. While many heros are proported to be guiless and forceful, the details Ivory choses for James truly made me see him that way. I'll certainly remember his charisma and sexual chemistry, in addition to those human scenes that allowed him to blossom as a character ( The bat at the opera comes to mind: "James screamed. No other word for it.").
Both Coco and James were in situations that seemed destined forheart break(in terms of society, politics, and realities of colonialism), but Ivory softened reality just enough to promise happiness without completely losing plausibility. A thoroughly entertaining and charming story.
Reread #1 (2/5/15): It's a strange quirk of historical romance that marks James a "beta male". Young, inexperienced with courtesans, just coming in to his own professionally, and modest about many sterling accomplishments. He's not just a professor, he's not just a rising star, he's an academic rockstar lauded by the queen herself. He's charming and confident, and he breaks down a door with his body when the woman he wants is on the other side. Oh yes, though historical romance dictates that this young man is a beta, his sexual chemistry is all alpha. Respectful, earnest alpha, but alpha all the same.
November 13, 2023
Judith Ivory’s writing just speaks to my soul there can be a million things wrong with this book and a part of me will always love it. I recognize that being able to put aside the CWs and still really love a book comes from a place of privilege.
There are quite a few things wrong in this book, namely the colonialism and racism. On the one hand the hero, James, tries to be anti-colonialist and exposes the danger of the British Empire. But on the other hand, there’s just an abhorrent presence of racism and dehumanizing of the fictional Wakua tribe that’s just indefensible and ulcer inducing.
I also didn’t love the last 10% of the book and the way the big plotty conflict was resolved (a little too neatly and expediently).
But but there’s so much to love. Coco our heroine is so empathetic, intelligent, sexy AF, confident. She might be my first FMC in a historical who is a former sex worker and I found the way Ivory wrote her very compelling. James I was more ambivalent about but I think he was also drawn fascinatingly and I was invested.
Ultimately this is a total swoony romance with problematic elements that still made me feel big feelings.
There are quite a few things wrong in this book, namely the colonialism and racism. On the one hand the hero, James, tries to be anti-colonialist and exposes the danger of the British Empire. But on the other hand, there’s just an abhorrent presence of racism and dehumanizing of the fictional Wakua tribe that’s just indefensible and ulcer inducing.
I also didn’t love the last 10% of the book and the way the big plotty conflict was resolved (a little too neatly and expediently).
But but there’s so much to love. Coco our heroine is so empathetic, intelligent, sexy AF, confident. She might be my first FMC in a historical who is a former sex worker and I found the way Ivory wrote her very compelling. James I was more ambivalent about but I think he was also drawn fascinatingly and I was invested.
Ultimately this is a total swoony romance with problematic elements that still made me feel big feelings.
August 29, 2015
Oh goodness! the last time I read a book by Judith Ivory was almost 8 years ago, and it wasn't a very good one (now that I look back on it) Angel in Red Dress. I was expecting her to write similar to how she did the book I mentioned, but little did I know it was her first one. regardless, this book was amazing! I've never read an omega hero so well written! James James JAMES you ... sigh soooo cute James. I'm really glad Coco didn't make him suffer too much as I expected , he didn't deserve anything bad that may have happened to him. The villain was semi predictable but I was super glad that the author didn't focus on the villainy or attempt to make the H and h the Sherlock of this novel, rather she focused on the budding relationship between James and Coco, and that's all I ever ask about romance novels :) very highly recommend if you want something quick and sweet to read.
December 12, 2019
Big points for 30-year-old geologist hero and 37-year-old illustrator heroine! Then James goes from being happy to ragey, and the sex scene is a major ridiculous turnoff, and it’s all downhill fast. Plus some nice period-appropriate colonialism, which she was probably gonna rectify, but the library took it back before I could get that far and I didn’t care enough to download the audiobook again.
April 30, 2020
Another intricately woven and emotionally charged love story by Ivory. Coco, the wise seductress, and James, the empassioned Golden Boy, shaped by his experiences in Africa make memorable characters.
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April 3, 2024November 2023 read: I feel the same way about this book as I did the first time I read it.
sidenote: I didn't pick this up the first time I read the book bc I hadn't yet read Patricia Gaffney's Wyckerly trilogy . . . a vicar of Wyckerly and his wife make an appearance and I am CURIOUS! Did Judy write that as a wink to her friend Patty??
April 2023 read: This story made me very emotional. I just love Judith Ivory's characters, especially her heroines. They make me swoon with love and adoration. I swear, every book I read by Ivory has my new favorite heroine and Coco is no exception. She is smart, kind, a secret-keeper and beautiful. She has a kind of beauty that shines as it stuns. She has lived a life and much of it - but not all - is slowly revealed within the story.
Although I did love this book, there is some indefensible racist depictions of a fictional African tribe. James Stoker, the MMC, is a geologist back from Africa after an expedition gone awry. He and several other people were meant to survey the land for Queen and country and bring back samples (namely gold LOTS and LOTS of gold). Things turn badly and James is the only person left alive from the original crew. He spends time living with an African tribe (one made up by the author) and eventually returns home to England. Now that he is home, he is tasked with going thru all the documentation and samples collected so crown and country may return to the area James found all the gold. But James is reluctant to provide exact details of his location so he may protect the tribe he spent time with. This is all well done but the racist descriptions of the African people James spends time with is so cringe and jarring. I still love this book (and Coco!), though.
sidenote: I didn't pick this up the first time I read the book bc I hadn't yet read Patricia Gaffney's Wyckerly trilogy . . . a vicar of Wyckerly and his wife make an appearance and I am CURIOUS! Did Judy write that as a wink to her friend Patty??
April 2023 read: This story made me very emotional. I just love Judith Ivory's characters, especially her heroines. They make me swoon with love and adoration. I swear, every book I read by Ivory has my new favorite heroine and Coco is no exception. She is smart, kind, a secret-keeper and beautiful. She has a kind of beauty that shines as it stuns. She has lived a life and much of it - but not all - is slowly revealed within the story.
Although I did love this book, there is some indefensible racist depictions of a fictional African tribe. James Stoker, the MMC, is a geologist back from Africa after an expedition gone awry. He and several other people were meant to survey the land for Queen and country and bring back samples (namely gold LOTS and LOTS of gold). Things turn badly and James is the only person left alive from the original crew. He spends time living with an African tribe (one made up by the author) and eventually returns home to England. Now that he is home, he is tasked with going thru all the documentation and samples collected so crown and country may return to the area James found all the gold. But James is reluctant to provide exact details of his location so he may protect the tribe he spent time with. This is all well done but the racist descriptions of the African people James spends time with is so cringe and jarring. I still love this book (and Coco!), though.
October 14, 2010
Narrated by Violet Primm
Sleeping Beauty is one of my historical romance favorites and, as such, I eagerly purchased the audio version two years ago, although the sample assured that James’s nasal almost effeminate voice, as performed by the narrator, would prove a challenge for me. As I mentioned in our first Speaking of Audiobooks column, my initial listening session was over quickly – I just couldn’t handle my James speaking in that manner. However, since that post, two of our readers have mentioned their favorable impressions of the audio version of Sleeping Beauty and I decided recently to give it another try and, let me tell you, it was a success! Oh, I never entirely accepted James’s voice but the overall narration is so entirely pleasing in all other aspects that I found myself a bit swept away. As audio fans know, effective differentiation between the leads’ voices greatly influences one’s enjoyment of any audiobook and Ms. Primm’s performance of Coco, with a slight French accent, thoroughly distinguished Coco’s voice from that of James. Yet I was even more impressed with Ms. Primm’s beautiful delivery of the love scenes and in that aspect – she gets an A+!
Sleeping Beauty is one of my historical romance favorites and, as such, I eagerly purchased the audio version two years ago, although the sample assured that James’s nasal almost effeminate voice, as performed by the narrator, would prove a challenge for me. As I mentioned in our first Speaking of Audiobooks column, my initial listening session was over quickly – I just couldn’t handle my James speaking in that manner. However, since that post, two of our readers have mentioned their favorable impressions of the audio version of Sleeping Beauty and I decided recently to give it another try and, let me tell you, it was a success! Oh, I never entirely accepted James’s voice but the overall narration is so entirely pleasing in all other aspects that I found myself a bit swept away. As audio fans know, effective differentiation between the leads’ voices greatly influences one’s enjoyment of any audiobook and Ms. Primm’s performance of Coco, with a slight French accent, thoroughly distinguished Coco’s voice from that of James. Yet I was even more impressed with Ms. Primm’s beautiful delivery of the love scenes and in that aspect – she gets an A+!
May 13, 2010
Newly knighted Sir James Stoker has just returned from an expedition to Africa in which he found treasure and tragedy. Coco Wild is an older, scandalous courtesan, who's locked her heart away from anything that might hurt her. James could ruin himself by associating with her, yet they find each other irresistible.
This is my first Ivory, and I liked it quite a lot. Fairy tale associations are usually a plus for me, of course, but mostly, I really liked the hero and heroine and how well Ivory fit in their story to a larger plot about the fate of the African expedition.
(Since reading it, I have bounced off Untie My Heart and Beast, unfortunately, mostly due to too much of a power imbalance between the heroes and the heroines, which I didn't think was a problem in Sleeping Beauty.)
This is my first Ivory, and I liked it quite a lot. Fairy tale associations are usually a plus for me, of course, but mostly, I really liked the hero and heroine and how well Ivory fit in their story to a larger plot about the fate of the African expedition.
(Since reading it, I have bounced off Untie My Heart and Beast, unfortunately, mostly due to too much of a power imbalance between the heroes and the heroines, which I didn't think was a problem in Sleeping Beauty.)
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