Review: Dropped the ball on George
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 29, 2014
O.K. so, the first story wasn't so bad.  Even though the lead female goes from just meeting the crazy man in the asylum, to giving him a good fondling all night.  While being barricaded in a bathroom during a riot, in said asylum.  Then she ignores him while running around asking people about him.  People who are clearly covering things up, and would never give her the truth anyways.  Fast forward, she moves in the guarded cell with him!?  All while also taking care of her catatonic, pregnant sister.  She then plans and fulfills an elaborate escape for all of them.  Altogether it was a good read though.  It definitely kept me intrigued.  Worth a read.Finally we get to the intriguing, taciturn spy, who goes around being hero in the shadows, George.  His story made me so angry I could scream.  I don't know where to start.  Let's start with the leading lady Miss Dane.  I really didn't have many issues with her, other than her naivety early on (which is usual).  Her secrets, wanting him to love her, not her money, that was weak and ridiculous.  And one rash, disastrous decision when heartbroken, that made no sense to me.  George on the other hand, was not the same character we've come to love in this story.  He was only slightly brutish (in the beginning), never really demanding (even though he was boss of that whole side of town).  Speaking of being king of the criminals, why is he running with her to get her off the street?  Why is the boss of the criminals hiding from a handful of drunken degenerates intent on rape?  He seemed too tame and forgiving to terrible employees.  George wasn't very taciturn, spilling his guts about how he felt for Miranda to everyone.  Needing Viola's opinion and help?  (I'll get back to Viola in a minute.)  He's been surrounded by women for how long, and he needs help in knowing what his love would like?  I don't think I was ever so angry than when George suddenly turned childish asking for permission and advice.  This man is "old enough to be her dad", in his forties, a master government spy, boss of the whole criminal side of town, and older than half the men in this series.  George somehow seems to turn inexperienced and young in the presence of the other rakehell men in the series.  Which to me is absolutely ridiculous.  Going as far as Lawrence calling him "lad".  Then at the end, calling him "old chap".  Make up my mind will ya.  Not to mention he didn't notice the similarities with Miranda and her sister.  He is a government spy, trained to watch, seek info, etc., his lover was some big mystery?  Oh, and wasn't Dane's sisters twins.  I thought they were a late pregnancy that his father claimed weren't his.  Didn't his mother die in that child birth?  Kind of hard to have another child when your dead.  This story completely erased the fact they were twins, which would've shown George exactly who Miranda was. I was so disappointed in how MacMurrough changed his character.  It was not for the better in my opinion.Now, to the wicked witch of this story, none other than one of the rakehell's wives.  Yes, I'm talking about Viola.  Personally I didn't like her and Alister's story to begin with, now I really hate her.  The jealous little twit should've been told off by her husband and Miranda many times over.  George not noticing Miranda's discomfort with the twit was stupid (he was trained to notice things as a spy).  It should've been a big red waving flag.  Viola's jealous tantrums are the direct reason for Miranda's nightmarish ordeal.  And she was no better than Georgina in her vindictive envy.  Personally I think Miranda should've came back and beat and abused Viola's a*s just like she had been.  I damn for sure wouldn't have forgiven her.  And why must all these women in this series have to endure such horrific tragedies?  All is wrapped up in a little bow at the end.  Except for a few hanging chads such as Sebastian, Dr. Antony, Oliver, Lucinda, etc..  I'm sure they'll be used later, perhaps in a new series.  Worth a read, even though I was terribly disappointed.  You won't want to miss the wrap up of this series disappointing or not.  This would've earned 4 stars had George remained true to his character.