Review: Reading People
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 5, 2012
Denise Domning's Almost Perfect is an entertaining Regency read rich in descriptive detail. The author endears us to the hero, Lucien Hollier, who was in love with Cassie Conningsby six years ago. He didn't request her hand because of her reprobate father's reputation. Instead he married an "appropriate" woman and lived to regret his choice when she fell prey to a lascivious Earl.Cassie also married unhappily, heartbroken over Lucien's rejection. Both are now widowed and their paths cross again.Their tortuous journey to admit they are still deeply in love and can commit to each other despite society's disapproval is undertaken amid a rich cast of supporting characters. Lucien and Cassie seemed destined to constantly misinterpret each other's actions. The plot revolves around Cassie's extraordinary ability to win at cards and the theme of reading people correctly is used cleverly and to great effect.The story heightens our awareness of the vulnerability of women to the consequences of the actions of men who hold sway over them.This novel is an interesting departure from Domning's very enjoyable medieval books.