by Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: Sep 25, 2012
Source: sent by publisher and publicist
My Rating: 4 of 5 Stars
Summary from goodreads.com:
Neville Roscoe, notorious and enigmatic, lives resolutely outside society, bound only by his own code of honor - until challenged by his desire for the one woman he cannot have.
Miranda Clifford is a lady imprisoned by rigid respectability - until tempted by a passion beyond her power to deny.
Flung together in peril, through danger and intrigue, they discover a love impossible to ignore ... or keep.
My Review:
This is the first book I've read by Laurens, and I must say I enjoyed it quite a lot. I attempted to read one a few years ago, but I felt like the story was lost in all the Regency era manners and witticisms, so I only read a few chapters. While this story is still a hefty 450 pages long, I feel like it wasn't as bogged down with bows and how do you dos.
The characters were very likable. I worried that the hero would be that old fashioned 70s and 80s style of creep, since the author has been writing for so long. But Roscoe was actually quite modern, and a very stand up kind of fellow. He sacrificed so much for his family from the very beginning of the book, it was really admirable. Miranda wasn't an old fashioned heroine, either. She was very strong, but also able to admit when she had made a mistake. Both characters deal with a very real sort of dilemma, what to do when you don't feel needed anymore.
Sometimes, the wordiness was a bit unnecessary, but I'm glad that we were able to know so much about the main characters, and the side characters as well. The book moved along quickly despite the somewhat daunting length, since most historical romances are about 100 pages shorter.
Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 (I may not like 80s era romance stories, but this 80s era cover is sooooo pretty!)
Writing: 4/5
Bottom Line: I am looking forward to reading more from this author in the future, and I am wondering why it took me so long to give her books a try!
Check out the author's website: http://www.
Follow along with the rest of the tour here: http://tlcbooktours.com/2012/09/stephanie-laurens-author-of-the-lady-risks-all-on-tour-septemberoctober-2012/
I don't read a lot of romances but I do love forbidden love type stories. This sounds interesting, thanks for sharing! :)
ReplyDelete~Sara @ Forever 17 Books
That is a hefty page count for a romance novel, but it sounds like they did a good job considering how many of these you read. I'd consider you very knowledgeable on that subject. If you say it's done right, then I'd definitely take your word for it. I think the cover is pretty, too. Doesn't remind me of the 80's romance novels at all. I think it looks very pretty, not overdone.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the characters. Sometimes when the books get wordy or seem to include details I just don't care about, I skip right over and go back to the dialogue. Especially at 450 pages! Nice review!!
Heather
That's an interesting dilemma: what to do when you don't feel needed anymore. I have an aunt that is caring for her aging mother (my grandmother) and I worry about what my aunt will do when no one is relying on her on a daily basis. I think I might recommend this book to her and see what she thinks of it! Ha!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on this tour!
Wow that's long!! And you know, I've never tried Stephanie Laurens either!! LOL but this one sounds better than the one I tried a few years ago- I can't remember which one was it probably because I didn't get far into it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the review, dear!!
This sounds pretty good, and not something I would have thought to pick up on my own!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed, it sounds like a nice story.
ReplyDeleteHappy reading,
Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog
I wouldn't pick up this book on my own but I love your review!
ReplyDeleteI've read this author before I think but I don't remember much about it. For historical romance this sounds like a large read. I really wonder what all goes on. Great review :)
ReplyDelete