Lady Reckless

TEST

Some romances (and other fiction, for that matter) surround the plot with detail – describing surroundings, people, customs, and quirks to make the story true to the location. Admittedly if not done carefully, this can bog a book down, but done right, it can sweep a reader into the location of the book enough to actually make her think for a moment she has really been there. There are also, unfortunately, romances that, without certain names of people and location, could be set anywhere. Lady Reckless is one of the latter.

Glynis Muldoon, a modern cowgirl and owner of a large ranch in Kansas, is out on horseback when a major storm breaks. The storm somehow sweeps her back into Ireland, year 1832, and into the arms of Carrick des Marceaux, otherwise known as “the Dragon.” Carrick is more than a fighter for Irish freedom, however. He was also born with his mother’s gift of the sight, and has seen his own death, which is to take place that very year. Glynis is soon caught in the middle – she wants to get home as soon as possible and she also wants to help this man whom she is finding more and more irresistible.

Glynis is definitely the shining part of this book. She is strong, pragmatic, determined, stubborn, and has that wonderful quality I wish we all had – she is completely un-self-conscious about her body and its needs. Another strong point was dialogue between Glynis and Carrick – for the most part – is quick and well written. They squabble, they tease, they fight, and they seduce beautifully with words.

A strongly written and well-rounded heroine should have a hero to match, but Carrick doesn’t come close. He and the other characters seem flat compared to Glynis. The descriptions of Kansas in the early part of the book are wonderful, but the descriptions of Ireland in the latter part of the book do not match it. In fact, the descriptions of Ireland fall so flat that I could hardly tell that the characters were in Ireland if it hadn’t been for the names. Also, while the prelude to the book is wonderfully absorbing, the ending is a bit on the hokey side.

Ms. Lafoy obviously loves Kansas and horses – in Lady Reckless that love is wonderfully apparent. She has created a heroine who is easy to like and respect. Although the hero and the atmosphere may not be ideal, Lady Reckless might be worth the read for the heroine alone.

Reviewed by Rebecca Ekmark

Grade: C+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date: 28/01/99

Publication Date: 1998

Recent Comments …

  1. excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.

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