Reviewed by Francine.
In this risqué debut novella the Lady
Elise Fairmont is a feisty heroine, and with a one-time lover returned to town,
the Earl of Thornston is notably her Achilles Heel. He seems little changed,
his eye to her person is as familiar and sensual in its delivery as it ever was,
and where overt familiarity with a dear male friend can become little else, Lord
Kilman, poor fellow, is ever in hope of more. But Elise has filled the lonely
years in turning her own experience of rakish behaviour to that of spying on
ruthless dowry hunters within the beau monde. She has thus thwarted the
ambitions of the gamblers, the rakes, and the ne’er do wells, whom she brands
as cads. Unknowingly she has gained a few enemies, and danger lies in wait whilst
lady friends are ever in gratitude for her kindly intervention.
But who can save her when things
go awry and the ne’er do wells seek to harm her former fragile reputation by
means most foul? As much as she has endeavoured to remain immune to the Earl of
Thornston for his taking flight from her life ten years previous, his
reappearance has served to stir emotions she had thought were long since buried,
therein her dilemma unfolds. Although Harold’s absence has mystified and pained
her, love has never waned, of that he is sure, and subsequent heroism becomes
him when Elise needs him most. In all kindness to the author, this debut
novella is a fun read!
Reviewer asides: Given this is a
debut novella there is every likelihood Rachel will progress to more in depth
study of the Regency era and all that it has to offer. The description of Gentleman
Jack’s was excellent, but I do have little quibbles with the story. Regency era
descriptions, i.e. the occasional fashionable item Elise and others were
wearing would be nice, and colourful surroundings of differing rooms – all those things add
extra depth to sense of time and place within historical romance novels. It is
too easy to forget Jane Austen wrote novels contemporary to her time, whereas 21st
century women want to know colour of gown, hat et al. Writers of historical
novels, I assure you, never cease researching for every book written.
