Review: Better than the first book in the series but that's not saying much ...
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
as I didn't finish the first book, A Kiss of Lies.I realize, though, that the problem may not be the author but instead my expectations.  I expect that a period romance reflect something of the period in which it is supposed to take place.  Tossing in a couple of Lords and Ladies, Dukes and Duchesses, some cravats and pantaloons, corsets and ball gowns does not a make a period romance.  I expect that the characters act at least remotely in a way that mirrors the mores and standards of the day.  I expect that there will be a coherent plot that does more than act as a bridge to the sex.  Maybe this is a sub-section of the genre but if that is the case I need to head in a different direction.It is also possible I've set an impossible standard for the current crop of authors to meet and I freely admit that it isn't just this author with whom I am frustrated.  I compare, fairly or not, just about every book of the genre to one of my favorites, Lord of Scoundrels, which was a fabulous book that didn't rely on all the tired plot devices of spies, assassins, communication issues.Anyway, this wasn't my cup of tea.  There was too little really good plot and what there was seemed contrived and poorly thought out.  It could have been a wonderful story of two people forced to marry (I liked that part of the plot) and they take the time to get to know each other while solving the mystery of who is trying to kill Sebastian.  Instead they jump into bed and have a series of misunderstandings that could have been easily avoided had they communicated.  And then there was too little period to the period romance and  just nothing to make it memorable.