Review: Not your typical regency
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 16, 2012
For one thing, when the story begins, Oscar and Agatha have already become intimately involved, both aware that it could go nowhere. To be honest, I didn't like Oscar much until the last section of the book where he finally got a backbone and took control of his life. A betrothed hero trying to persuade his true love to become his mistress isn't my favorite scenario in a romance novel.There are extenuating circumstances, however, and as conscious of his social status as Oscar is, his betrothal was contrived by his fiancée's brother-in-law, who seems extraordinarily possessive. Oscar discovers that he has been deceived about many things in his life, and that there are much worse things than becoming embroiled in scandal.While the hero didn't thrill me at first, the hints of mysteries and scandals did keep me turning the pages. There is a secondary romance here, between the hero's mother--who has a lover of her own--and a vicar who seems to have played a significant part in her past. Besides the exceedingly odd relationships between the family of Oscar's betrothed--and I would like to have seen that played out a bit more--there is a mysterious gentleman who claims that his relations--a prominent ducal family--have kidnapped or murdered his siblings and could be after him as well. (Since this mystery is never resolved, I'm persuaded that this story will appear in a future novel.)Agatha is a sympathetic character and a likable heroine. There are times when I wanted to slap her for being so willing to succumb to Oscar's advances--and even inviting them herself--but that makes her human. She's devoted to the welfare of seven children in a nearby orphanage, who manage to teach Oscar a lot about love and what is really important in life.The protagonists ofBroken (The Distinguished Rogues ~ Book 2)play a significant part in this couple's relationship, leaving me so intrigued that I went on to read their story, no matter that it was out of order. I actually enjoyed that one even more! There are brief references toChills (The Distinguished Rogues ~ Book 1), which I enjoyed last summer.Ms. Boyd will remain on my list of favorite authors.