As others have noted, this book is nowhere near the quality of the earlier Malloren novels. A couple of the illustrious family members are brought in to keep the claim, "A New Novel in the Malloren World," from being false advertising. This may seem an uncharitable sentiment on my part, sorry.The villain was not a surprise, and it seemed a real shame to kill off the nice young man at the beginning of the story. Of course, both he and his teen wife were naive and ought not to have been married and living independently at their ages.The hero seemed like a nice man, but to have seen something redeeming in the young widow seems a big stretch for a man who served in the Navy for quite some years.I guess someday I'll go back and read the earlier Malloren series because I really liked the characters and their meatier storylines. A solid 3 star. An enjoyable, if slightly dull read. Dull meaning it felt like I read it before with some slight alterations. I really liked Dracy. He's a sinister looking man, with his badly scarred side of his face from combat on a war ship. He's really a nice guy who's low on cash, trying to build up his run down estate. Georgia is another story. She's likable, but very young to be already widowed at 19. She's high spirited, which ALWAYS gets her in trouble & she has to learn a lesson at least twice before it sinks in (or so it seems like!). There's the mystery of her husband's death by duel & a villain who never really seems to me to that villainous. We have brief appearances by Lord Rothgar, Dianna, Portia & Bryght. I'm thinking the Torrismondes also have had a story, but I have to go back & see if I've read it. The names didn't ring a bell. The story kind of drags on, then ends rather abruptly IMO. Not a bad book, but Jo has done better.
What do You think about Una Condesa Atrevida (2013)?
Some witty dialogue, some clever historical details.
—NaokyNeko
Another keeper from the ever excellent Jo Beverley.
—k123
Can she quiet the rumors? Will he make them worse?
—melvy
