Review: Splendid and Spicy Novella!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 23, 2012
Exciting and all too brief, A BREACH OF PROMISE by Victorica Vane is a splendid novella with a spicy historical romance. Great characters and intense drama makes this a story you shouldn't pass up!Marcus, Lord Russell, has the perfect arrangement. With a distant fiancée waiting in the wings, he avoids the perils of matrimony and the burden of warding off unattached ladies. It was perfect, until he receives a letter from his betrothed, Miss Lydia Trent, six years later, demanding she be released from their arrangement. Rather than be relieved, Marcus is outraged.Unable to accept the fact that a woman is declining to marry him, Marcus sets out to reclaim his bride-to-be. Yet Marcus is unprepared for what he finds. He may have left an innocent young lady six years ago, but he has returned to find a headstrong, beautiful woman in her place. Unfortunately, she is a woman that is refusing all his usual methods of seduction...at least at first. As each encounter strengthens their passion, Marcus must do everything he can to bring Lydia back to him. Hoping that it isn't too late and he hasn't lost Lydia's love forever.I loved the premise behind the story. What's not to love about a jilted rake that finally returns home to claim his stubborn fiancée? While this easily could have been expanded into a full novel, Ms Vane does a fantastic job of giving you a full story in a small number of pages. A BREACH OF PROMISE delivers the magic of romance, the passion of an erotica novel and the exquisite detail of a charming historical. It's all there and more as you are introduced to some surprisingly fascinating characters.To say I was impressed with Lydia's development as a character would be an understatement. Being an erotic novella, I was truly worried she would wilt in the arms of her hero and that would be that. Yet, Ms Vane completely surprised me with a fierce and bold heroine that stood her ground against Marcus. Which in my opinion is exactly how it should be, because honestly, you can't love Marcus at first. He is a bit self-centered and unkind in the beginning, and in A BREACH OF PROMISE, he truly does redeem himself. What I loved experiencing is his perspective towards this mere girl he has no problem leaving behind only to encounter the woman he never thought she could be. Marcus was the classic bad boy turned good guy and I loved every moment of it.A BREACH OF PROMISE is a stellar novella that features the right amount of spice and the perfect amount of classic romance. What is easy to love about this story are the fabulous characters who share a stunning attraction that smolders throughout the pages. Victoria Vane has a beautiful and distinguished prose that not only reveals the complexities of her characters, but also demonstrates the breathtaking charm of the time period. While this story may be brief, overall, A BREACH OF PROMISE has everything you could want and more.Lisa @ The Romance Reviews