Review: a great short read
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 17, 2012
I really liked this novella. Like Ms. Dare's other books, it starts light and frothy. Her heroine has a wonderful voice and a great perspective on the society around her. I laughed out loud at least twice. When a wounded and muddy man comes crashing through the door at the ball where our heroine, Violet is busy being a wallflower, and right into her arms, we know the story is about to take a dramatic turn. And as the relationship between Violet and the maybe spy is revealed, we also get Ms. Dare's trademark depth of emotion. Because these characters have a past, I absolutely believed that they could complete their emotional journey in just one night. I loved the hero, who was so damaged by his brother's death that he trotted off to become a spy for King and Country (and Wellington!). He endured privation to come  back a changed man. And Violet was an intrepid heroine who matched his bravery, and even stood up for herself against him when necessary. So--well done! I have read and enjoyed Ms. Dare's full length books in the past. While a novella can't never match a novel for scope, I loved this short journey back into her world.