TEST
If not for a plodding beginning we’d have a winner on our hands. But even so Ravishing in Red is still heads above the norm and it is all due to the magic pen of Madeline Hunter.
Take the plot, for instance. We’ve seen it before – no question we’ve seen it before. Audrianna Helmsleigh’s father was accused of negligence that resulted in the death of many British soldiers and subsequently killed himself. But Audrianna is trying to clear her father’s name and, when she sees a mysterious newspaper notice addressing her father and requesting a meeting at a deserted inn, Audrianna goes to investigate. And naturally, Lord Sebastian Summerhays, who is investigating the matter on behalf of the government, sees the ad and also goes to the deserted inn. They meet, he provokes her, she shoots him, they’re discovered, and wham bam there go their reputations.
I have to tell you, the first hundred pages or so make it really hard to care about anything in this book – including their mutual attraction, the mystery plot, and the secondary characters- because it is slow. And I mean sloooooooow. I put the book down four or five times because the characters seemed half asleep, their minds on something else while they were supposed to sizzle.
Then it happened. The moment I was waiting for (and which, realistically, I’d hoped would have kicked in a lot earlier). The Madeline Hunter I knew – of evocative, poignant writing; incisive characterization; and complex, rational plotting – reappeared, and there it all was. I loved the parts contributed by the future heroines (Audrianna’s housemates) and future heroes (Sebastian’s cronies), whose stories I anticipate with great enthusiasm. I loved the layered role played by Sebastian’s brother, the marquess. I even loved how the subplot was resolved with no rooftop chases or heroines held at gunpoint. As I said, it’s rational, and I crave rationality.
But most of all, I love that spirited Audrianna never lies to herself and never descends into stupidity. I love that Sebastian can have such a complex relationship with his older brother, and that he reacts with a combination of his brains, gut, and, well, lower gut. I love – and can you tell, already? – that Audrianna and Sebastian talk to each other, and that they are a match of the mind as well as body and heart. Their chemistry, once it ignites, is sublime. Theirs is a relationship that I can foresee years into the future.
Actually, the only thing I didn’t love, besides the laborious beginning, is the title. But even that makes sense, seeing as Audrianna and Sebastian reach a turning point in their relationship when she wears a red dress.
So, yes, go and buy the book. At worst, you’ll wade through the first third to get to the rest, which is vastly superior, layered, and rich. And at best, you’ll gain a book that is worth keeping – and even better, worth re-reading.
Grade: B
Book Type: European Historical Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 06/02/10
Publication Date: 2010
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.