Review: ALEC HALSEY IS BACK!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 06 1, 2012
Once you meet Alec Halsey you can't avoid being charmed, if not totally under his spell. What I most like in him is that,  though living in Georgian London, he refuses to wear a powdered wig and has a passionate, free spirit.  But , honestly,  who could ignore his being tall, handsome, blue-eyed, with long black curls and olive skin?"He was the handsomest man she had ever set eyes on, with his black wavy hair, olive skin and a profile  which reminded her of a statue"Well, this is the effect he has  on Janie, a poor servant, but read the book and you'll discover no woman of any rank can resist his charms.Alec Halsey  is the protagonist of Deadly Affair by Lucinda Brant whom readers of FLY HIGH may  remember entering stage in Deadly Engagement (my review [...]).This second "crimance" ( blend of crime and romance) in Lucinda Brant's  Alec Halsey Series comes as a surprising continuation of the first book.  Ms Brant doesn't disappoint her readers, the fans of her brilliant historical  fiction,  and confirms her talent with this  sequel  to Alec `s and Selina's  adventures.This time we have more crime and mystery than love in the plot , however the few Alec/Selina moments are worth reading  and enjoyed. Of course, the rest of the story-line is  incredibly intriguing too and I found myself completely caught in Alec's efforts to solve the intricate mystery connected to the sudden death of Mr Blackwell.In Deadly Affair you  meet again some of the characters  from the previous novel, like Tam, Uncle Plantagenet Halsey or Selina Jamison-Lewis, but  there is  also an entire gallery of new well-drawn characters animating the 18th century scenario and complicating Alec's never - ordinary life.  You needn't  read Deadly Engagement to be able to enjoy Lucinda Brant's second instalment  in the series, there's enough background knowledge to help you follow  the story and avoid being confused. On the other hand, if you have read book I, you won't be annoyed with too many details about the past.I usually don't like reading series, I often feel the characters  loose their credibility and their original grip episode after episode or  it may happen that plots and turns become ripetitive. But that is not the case here.  I found this sequel  gripping and engaging, different from its prequel, extremely enjoyable and , hear hear, I can't wait for book number 3 in the series which Lucinda Brant is planning to write!And now, let's sum up why you shouldn't miss reading Deadly Affair:1. Irresistible male hero (yes, I know, I've already said it) and fascinating complex heroine you can totally sympathize with2. Perfect blend of history, mystery and romance (not the main feature, remember)3. Witty prose and well-reaserched historical/social environment4. Passionate  love-story never too sentimental, never  too easily predictable5.  A real page - turner , especially  when you start getting involved in  the hero's  investigations on the murder cases  (yes, more than one!)If I have to find flaws, I can think just of these two ones: too little romance for my tastes, too abruptedly closing in the end.But they are also the reasons why I can't wait to read  Book III: I want more Alec/Selina moments and I want to discover where the letter from France our hero has just received will bring him!Read first chapters[...]My complete review is up on my blog[...]