Review: A must-read Regency romance
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 23, 2013
Arlie Whitman has never been anyone's damsel in distress.  She is a strong, independent woman prone to wearing breeches and speaking her mind.  Sound like your everyday woman?  Maybe.  But not in 1810.  Life changes for Arlie when she becomes the ward of the reputed rakehell Dominic Santrell, the Earl of Rochford.  Arlie must learn to be a proper lady and Dominic must resist the urge to take his beautiful young ward to bed.In this Regency romance the reader is transported to early 19th century England.  Julia Templeton is a master at keeping us immersed in the language and culture of the time without making this a tedious read.  The personality and dialogue of each character serves to add a richness to this work.  There are no superfluous characters.  Each person represented has a rich depth to them and makes you want to know more about everyone, from the elegant and titled nobility to each servant and supporting character.One of the greatest things when reading this novel was the advantage of the dual POV from the main characters.  We are treated to the thoughts and feelings of both Dominic and Arlie, giving us a real feeling for the irresistible pull between them as they struggle to stay apart.  The exquisite torture felt by both characters as their undeniable attraction grows leaves the reader with the sense of a personal stake in the relationship.  When things go well we are as relieved as the characters themselves; the same is true for our frustration at their troubles.The dialogue is flowing and meaningful, the sex steamy and well-written and the sense of being transported back in time is priceless.  I would recommend this to any fan of romance novels of any type.  My only question at the end of this book is what will Julia Templeton do next and how soon can I read it?Perhaps someday we will see a Langley/Rose novella.  I think there is something there...