Johanna Lindsey – Love Only Once Review (Cinta Sejati Seumur Hidup)

This post is about the first book I read in engslish version and I absolutely LOVE it. As an Indonesian it worries me that I may not get the idea of the story. Johanna Lindsey prove me that my worries isn’t necessary. The words in this novel is simple and easy to understand, it helps that there are a lot of dialog between each person so we can quick learn the situation by their dialog or banter between Malory brothers.

This novel start by couple spat between Lord Nicholas Eden and his current mistress Lady Selena Eddington. Selena wants Nicky (Nicholas nickname) to escort her to the Shepford Ball but he refused. Then Selena said she will find someone who will replace Nicky.

Nicky and his friend Percy soon discover the man who replace his position in Lady E  arms is Lord Anthony Malory. Nicky wants to ruin Lady E nights by abducting her so she will not come to the blasted ball. He did exactly that and locked Lady E at his room and going to the ball with his friends. Little did he know he abducted the wrong person.

Nicholas shocked when he came to the ball and saw Lady E dancing with someone and realize that he must be take the wrong person. He quickly come back to his house and found that beautiful Lady Regina Malory is standing in his room. He felt an instant attraction with Regina Malory, too bad for him the facts leaks that Regina Malory is spent the night with him. The rules in that society makes him need to marry Lady Malory to save her reputation.

Nicholas don’t want to get married like.. ever!! Why? Because he is a bastard. They called Lords child that came outside wedlock is a bastard. Not many people know about this fact because his mother (The Lord’s Wife) told the society that she is indeed Nicholas mother, but she was a bitter woman and don’t want to show any affection towards Nicholas. Nicholas never know the woman who born him, thats why he don’t want to get married because he won’t like his child to have bastard stigma. Nicholas tried to convince Regina that he is not the right person for her and push Regina to cancel the engagement. But in the middle of this chaos he had been attacked by self proclaim gentle man pirate Captain Hawk.

Nicholas is the one who make Captain Hawk almost hang for his pirating activity. So he got beat up by the pirate and can further ask Regina to prevent their marriage. But poor Reggie didn’t have another choice because she already pregnant with Nicholas baby. Yes during his day convincing Reggie to step up from marriage world they get burned with passion and he took Reggie virginity. They end up get married finally but Nicholas abandon his bride on their first night and go away. Regina left to his house with his bitter mother who always antagonize her.

The unsatisfied Captain Hawk still hold grudge to Nicholas but he also can’t track his location. No one know about Nicholas whereabout anyway. So Captain Hawk think by abducting Nicholas’s wife he will come eventually to get her.

Regina Eden shocked when she got abducted by none other than his uncle Lord James Malory who broke the relationship between him and Malory clan when he go to pirating world. His brother disowned him and their relationship is destroyed. Regina was raised by her four uncle. The oldest is Lord Jason Malory, the second is Edward Malory, and than her mother is the third, after that James Malory and the youngest is Anthony Malory.

James is gave up pirating world for good and his family is accepting him back. But he cursed his destiny when he realized that his beloved niece have been married with his greatest enemy Nicholas Eden. And by knowing that Nicholas abandon his wife and kid make him even more angry. And chase Nicholas Eden to ask explanation for him.

When he found Nicholas as Captain Hawk he pretend to be the famous pirate and threatend Nicholas that she got his wife. James was satisfied by Nicholas reaction because he was sure Nicholas must really love his niece to show that kind of reaction. So he take Nicholas back to his wife.

Nicholas shocked when he saw Regina already have baby in her arm. He do seriously math thing in his head and don’t think that the baby is his because he isn’t touching his wife after the wedding. He also believe that if Regina already have his child when their wedding why don’t she said anything to him on their wedding night when he dump her..

There are a lot heart wrenching moment in this novel and I believe it best to read it by yourself to know the ending. There also discoveries of who is Nicholas real mother on the last part of this novel. I also enjoyed the banter among Malory brother.

This novel first edition is out on 1985, well its more than 3 decades ago but what can I, say romance just never die. And this is the cover of the book for Indonesia version. I like the simplicity of the cover and the interpretation of the title Love Only Once become “Cinta Sejati Seumur Hidup” that means that true love will last a lifetime is not right for me, “Cinta Sejati Hanya Datang Sekali” is more appropriate I think. Anyway I enjoyed read this book in both English or Bahasa. So for you Indonesian I highly recommend this lovely book.

See you on next post.. Soon.. XOXO..

<script data-ad-client="ca-pub-2024529276457199" async src="https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>