Review: Disappointing
Rating: 2 out of 5
Date: 06 9, 2014
The blurb is a fair summary of circumstances leading to the present.  Edward is privately suffering severe bouts of PTSD and therein lies his dilemma.  He loves Kat and is now in a position to press his suit but he refuses lest Kat witness his 'fits' and think him crazy.  He doesn't want her subjected to his 'weakness'.  Meanwhile, Kat has now given up on Edward and become betrothed to Viscount Sinclair.Into the mix we also have a young woman of minor Spanish gentry who has been summoned to England to receive awards and accolades from the Prince Regent for her gallantry during the peninsular conflict.  She's a sizzler who's earlier had an on-again-off-again affair with Edward.  Now they're just friends.  She is referred to as the Amazon throughout the novel.I pre-ordered this having thoroughly enjoyedSeducing Charlotte (Entangled Scandalous).  With that novel, I was willing to cede license to a new, promising author.  This one, however, is the fourth book and there are some expectations.Research and editing are patchy.  The author makes us aware of her knowledge of some obscure, interesting facets of the period.  But then she hits us with laughable anachronisms, e.g., he donned his "riding pants."  Really?  The story is sprinkled with modern slang, as well.  I enjoy novels written in modern English, but there is no place for modern slang.  These things yank me right out of the tale.  If it's to be called "historical", please get the basic facts straight.Some problems can be overcome by a good story; this storyline had potential, but it just missed the boat with me.  Plot points seemed contrived, character development was shallow, the prose didn't flow smoothly.  I didn't feel the emotional connection of the characters.***SPOILER ALERT***Sinclair's sole function was 1) be besotted by Kat and 2) have the hots for the Amazon.  The Amazon was around to 1) make Kat jealous of her perceived involvement with Edward, 2) tryst with Sinclair, showing him to be a mindless cad, and 3) get caught with Sinclair, giving Kat an out. Contrived, and something less than elegant story construction.  And while I'm griping, what's with the cobalt blue cravat?  Tacky.  Edward was with the Amazon.  I got it.  So did Kat.  He didn't have to appear in a cravat matching the Amazon's dress.  No bludgeon needed.And an estate in ENGLAND named Waterford?  Possible, I suppose, but without some explanation, an Irish place name for an English estate doesn't ring true.  Explanation is key here.***END OF SPOILER***I'm sorry about this dismal review.  I'm even sorrier that I didn't love the novel...I expected to..