TEST
The longest 384 pages of my life. What more is there to say?
We start with Lady Elizabeth Hutton, a newly orphaned heiress changing places with her equally beautiful lady’s maid in order to give Elizabeth free roam of her castle while her maid is locked away by the evil Viscount Bannaster. Bannaster covets Elizabeth’s wealth along with the earldom that is to pass to her husband upon marriage. Since the evil viscount sent away her army on a fool’s errand and installed his own soldiers, Elizabeth is powerless unless her betrothed comes to the rescue.
John Russell, black sheep and third son, inherited a crumbling castle, a title, and a fiancée after the deaths of his two older brothers. He made his own way on the continent since his teens and returned as soon as he heard of his new circumstances and Elizabeth’s plight. But he has no ready money and no army in order to storm the castle and rescue his lady. He devises a plan to enter Elizabeth’s castle incognito in order to find a way to help her.
So, Elizabeth is walking around the castle posing as a maid and John is playing an injured bailiff who was attacked by thieves near the castle. They meet, not knowing the real identity of the other; sparks fly, and misunderstandings ensue. This really could have worked if…it…wasn’t…(yawn)…so boring!
The pages muddle together and nothing really happens. We have some banter between the leads and the ever present lustful thoughts. Not much else happens until John reveals who he really is to Elizabeth (but he thinks she’s just some scrumptious little maid who he can’t get out of his mind). Instead of Elizabeth feeling grateful and relieved that her betrothed has returned and wants to save her, she keeps up her disguise and decides she cannot trust John about either who he is or what he wants to accomplish. The rest of the book is John trying to prove his honesty and honor to a spoiled, controlling brat he feels compelled to love. Poor man.
I’m not sure if this is a new trend in romance, but I’m really wondering what has happened to the sympathetic heroine. The woman you could relate to and understand even if she made a few wrong choices along the way. Elizabeth might be the most irritating I’ve come across in a while. She’s a hypocrite for not trusting John because of how he gained entrance into the castle. Remember, you’re in disguise, too, sweetheart. And worse yet, she’s doesn’t come clean about her identity until he stumbles across it. Her dialogue is sprinkled with cold stares, narrowing glances, and angry looks. All towards John, who does nothing to warrant Elizabeth’s sudden change into a shrew. Elizabeth’s treatment of John in the last third of the book did get my blood going a bit, making me less inclined to stare into space or contemplate mopping my floor mid-sentence. But is anger really the only emotion you want to experience while reading a romance novel?
Also problematic was Elizabeth’s stand that no force be used when rescuing her. She doesn’t want anyone hurt. It’s very diplomatic for her to have this standpoint, but in the 1400s is it terribly realistic? It all leads to one of the worst wallpaper jobs I’ve ever seen (and I bought my house from an aging couple who decorated mid-seventies). Elizabeth, through John, is able to enlist her army to come to her rescue and stand against Bannaster, but she will have nothing of it. She had hopes that her betrothed would come to help. He did. She still didn’t want his help. I throw my hands up at this girl.
I initially thought I would be grading somewhere is the D range. However, I couldn’t think of one good thing to say. Closest I can think of – and this is a stretch – is that John seems like a decent sort: slightly tortured, self-made, and has a sexy scar, but his character was so flat my interest barely registered.
To summarize, we have an annoying, pompous, spoiled heroine, a slightly dashing, but vague hero, a plot that is more potent than NyQuil all wrapped up in the tackiest wallpaper you’ve ever seen. My recommendation: Don’t bother.
Grade: F
Book Type: Renaissance Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 05/03/07
Publication Date: 2007
Related Reviews
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.