Review: Fun enjoyable historical romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 12, 2012
Samantha Kane has written a fun enjoyable historical novel full of interesting characters and laugh out loud conversations.London 1817Julianna Harte has had an interesting upbringing; during a time of need her father was a jewel thief and would steal and sell items to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.  It is not until her father marries the Baroness Linville that their fortunes change and they are able to enjoy the good things in life.  Julianna helps fund a foundling home in the poorest part of London that her father help start and still provides a small stipend for.  She had been fortunate that the owner of the building has been very gracious to hold off on collecting the rent that is due.  Unfortunately the building was recently purchased by an unknown man and he wants the rent or he will evict her.  She is desperate to get funding before she has to go to her father and the Baroness and confess she needs help.  So she decides to put to use what she learned from her father while growing up.She recently met the infamous Mr. Alasdair Sharp a member of a group of men called The Saint's Devils who are notorious rakes around town.  Julianna hears about a precious jewel that Alasdair has been keeping in his home, a priceless pearl called The Stewart Pearl. The jewel has been in Alasdair's family for several decades and he believes it is safe in his house.Julianna sneaks into Alasdair's home and takes the pearl, believing she is about to get away with it when she hears a man's voice telling her to stop or he will shoot.  Alasdair is not sure at first who is breaking into his home, it is not until Julianna speaks is he aware she is a woman, so he does what most rakes do, he proposes a deal.  He will trade the pearl for a night in his bed; he believes that when the night is over she will be so captivated with him that he will be able to provide other means of support for her so he does not have to relinquish the pearl. She agrees, however the night does not go as he hoped because she is gone in the morning and the pearl with her.Alasdair is in a frantic search for the mysterious thief and goes to his friends for help to search for Julianna, who happens to be right under his nose. The story takes off when Alasdair figures out who Julianna is and they are off in search of the pearl, which she sold.  A truly fun light read, I enjoyed the relationship between Julianna and Alasdair, although they were both under false impressions of what they wanted in life and what the true meaning of love and family is, the realization that forgiveness is a gift of love comes across beautifully.  The characters are very enjoyable; I loved how Alasdair and his two friends, Sir Hilary St John and Roger Templeton, relate to each another.  They are hilarious and the banter is laugh out loud funny.  Sir Hillary has a bit of a mysterious air about him and Roger who is just back from the "continent" is a highly amusing lush.  Julianna's friend from the streets, Wiley and Alasdair's Uncle also are great additions and I look forward to see all of them in upcoming stories.Review also posted at Ramblings From a Chaotic Mind