Action: ♠♠♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣♣♣♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦.♦ / Suspense: ♠♠♠♠.♠
Action: 3.5 / Emotion: 4 / Romance: 4 / Sensuous: 2.5 / Suspense: 4.25 // Laughter: 0 / Teary: 1
1. a puzzling or inexplicable occurrence or situation
2. a person of puzzling or contradictory character
What an appropriate name for the second book in Dee Davis's The Last Chance Trilogy -- Enigma. When met Payton Reynolds, the very complex hero of Enigma (in Endgame, first book of the trilogy), was sure that his story would be deeply emotional and moving as Davis explained how this quietly strong man dealt with the emotional scars that had to be as distinctive as the one that spanned his face. Was very impressed with the way Davis slowly peeled back the layers of Payton's personality as his story was told to the spunky, 'strong enough to handle Payton' heroine, Samantha "Sam" Waters by his two best friends Gabriel "Gabe" Roarke and Nigel Ferris.
Payton hid his deep emotional intensity behind a facade of stoicism and the appearance of not caring about anyone or anything. Because Davis spent so much time dealing with the emotional issues in Payton's past instead of featuring his very macho Delta Force skills, he could have come across as a wimp. And while, Payton did not have that same mysterious aura that surrounded him in Endgame, he still came across as a strong, intelligent, 'don't mess with me' alpha hero. Instead of trotting out Payton's history by featuring extensive flashbacks, Davis cleverly revealed the turmoil of Payton's feelings (regarding the devastation that resulted during the hostage extraction in Iraq (that bonded the three friends)) -- Davis revealed Payton's guilt and anguish by looking at those parallel feelings as they were currently being experienced by Sam as she plotted her way through Enigma.
Was disappointed that Davis choose not to feature Payton's skills and prowess as a warrior and protector during his story. The only time Payton got to display his finely-tuned operative skills was in the very beginning of the book, when Davis wrote a concise, attention-grabbing action scene. After that, any action that occurred (quite often of the police procedural variety) could be attributed to the very independent heroine of the book.
Should have felt more of an emotional connection to Sam because of her love and hero worship of her father. Even though Sam was a natural when it came to bomb building and defusing, she was walking in her father's footsteps. In fact, Sam wore Bill Waters' "master blaster" insignia around her neck. Where was the anguish when Sam remembered the loss of her father five years ago -- to cancer.
Sam also lost her mother at the same time because her father was the glue that held the family together. No father meant no family. Sam eventually realized, though, that just because she wasn't anything like her mother, nor did she understand Elizabeth, she could still have a relationship with her -- if she took off the "do not touch" sign. That was the one aspect of Sam's personality that was off-putting. Her determined insistence that she did not need to be protected. She tended to get irrationally angry if anyone (particularly Payton) tried to shield her from the horrors that can be found at a bomb site. What Sam sees as independence and strength, was more like a "hands off -- there is nothing I can't handle by myself" sign.
Sam is the mirror image of Payton -- except, instead of being a hunk of macho male -- she's a self-contained dynamo wrapped in a tiny package of femininity. An avowed adrenaline junkie, Sam has learned that it was too difficult to try and sustain a personal or intimate relationship and has concentrated all her efforts on the job she loves as an Explosives Enforcement Officer with the ATF. After Sam successfully defuses a bomb at a preschool in Waleska, Georgia, Sam's boss informs her that she is being loaned out to industrialist Cullen Pulaski for his Last Chance task force.
Cullen needs a bomb specialist on the team because the powers that be wanted to find the man who bombed the Prager hotel in San Antonio, killing three high-ranking senators. Enjoyed the picture Davis painted of the returning team members through the eyes of Sam as she watched them reunite in Austin. Love the fact that Davis includes characters from the previous book -- that they didn't drop off the face of the earth now that their story had been told. It was wonderful to watch a now six-months pregnant Madison interact with her husband, Gabe (still the team leader).
Liked the way that Davis has developed Madison's character as she moves through this book. Madison is still as sharp as ever and adds great insight as to the possible psyche of the bomber. But, now instead of trying to be "top dog," Madison assumes a nurturing role. Madison's relationship with Gabe is not as volatile and they have no problems displaying their peacefulness with one another. Another role Madison easily assumes is one of befriending Sam. Because Madison sees the attraction developing between Sam and Payton, she lets Sam know that Payton is a worthy man, who deserves a chance at happiness.
Davis displays a wonderful talent by creating moments of romance and inspiring a beautiful wistfulness within the reader by having Sam acknowledge the scar across Payton's face as something to be cherished. Can just imagine the sense of acceptance and healing that Payton feels during his intimate moments with Sam:
reaching up to trace the line of his scar. "I'm ready if you are." (page 166)Davis did not skimp on the sensuality either. There is heat, sizzle and passion when Payton and Sam make love. Davis does a great job of meshing the emotional, sometimes vulnerable, connections with the spice during lovemaking. Then she throws in a line that just ties everything together:
"I'm positive," . . . her thumb caressing the line of his scar. (page 173)
her fingers tracing the pattern of the scar, the gesture oddly intimate. (page 181)
She reached up to touch his face . . . "I'm not going anywhere . . . " (page 185)
"She accepted him as is -- period." (page 242)Harrison Blake remained an interesting and integral part of the team. Harrison seemed to spend more time interacting with Sam than any other team member (except Payton, of course). Davis is slowly revealing that there are unplumbed depths to Harrison as he exhibits his incredible talent on the computer while he works closely with Sam in the lab where she reconstructs the fragments of the bombs that are being set off with regularity throughout the book. Harrison is a fascinating character and am anxious to read his story (Deadly Dance, Book 6 of The A-Tac Series).
Even though Cullen was the man behind the team, he did not play a bold, integral part in this book. Liked the fact that Davis utilized Cullen to put the characters back together for another book, but for the most part, left him working in the background. Davis found a way to put Nigel back on the team after she had him booted out at the end of book one (Endgame). Nigel had unearthed some devastating news that he felt Payton needed to know regarding the Iraq operation that had cost him so much.
Davis does a phenomenal job of keeping the suspense level of the book at a constant level of intensity by giving the bomber, J.T., a point of view voice during the entire book. J.T. reveals to the reader the reason for each bomb, while the task force had to spend time shifting through bomb fragments and unplanned-for events that lead to misdirection. Was constantly wondering who J.T. was and why he felt such a close connection to Sam. Did Sam date him? Did she work with him? What was in his childhood that made him this way? (Feeling very Madison-like.) Another thing that Davis did really well was fleshing out J.T. -- making him feel real, vivid and memorable. For instance: J.T. loves Nolan Ryan: {1} has a bobble head of Nolan on his dash; {2} Nolan's jersey on his wall; and {3} broke into Nolan Ryan museum.
All in all, Enigma, is an entertaining, suspenseful, romantic read. Will leave it on "to be re-read" list, since reading it a third time has to be just as engaging as the first and second reads.
--Vonda M. Reid (Tuesday, April 10, 2012 : 2:10 a.m.) [224]
♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦
The Last Chance Trilogy
| # | Date | Title | Hero | Heroine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | 03-2005 | Endgame | Gabriel "Gabe" Roarke / CIA | Madison Harper / FBI |
| 02. | 06-2005 | Enigma | Payton Reynolds / CIA | Samantha "Sam" Waters / AFT EEO |
| 03. | 09-2005 | Exposure | Nigel Ferris / MI6 | Melissa Pope / CIA |
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Enigma Quotations:
| 39 | "Payton Reynolds made the strong and silent type look chatty." |
| 43 | "In his world there were two kinds of women. Those who used sex to their advantage, and those who couldn't use it because they didn't have it." "Sam had it. But apparently no one had sent her the memo." |
| 250 | "everyone dealt with life in different ways." |
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Characters Found In "Enigma"
| Character | Description / Relationships |
|---|---|
| Payton Reynolds | [Hero] CIA black ops specialist: (21) years of training in stealth; mind completely centered on task at hand (22) tall; well built; grace of more than a casual athlete; moved quickly, quietly in constant state of vigilance; green eyes; sleek black hair; jagged scar bisected his face from brow line to chin (31) 3 tours with Delta Force; CIA (33) dark; quiet intensity (39) doesn't trust easily, when does, friend for life (40) not a rule follower (45) an inner stillness; inner sight that saved his ass more than once (53) dark brows (56) somber intensity (58) testosterone-laden intensity (61) intricate pattern of scar tissue laced across his left shoulder, stretching down his abdomen and across his bicep to his elbow; knife wounds; bullet holes (63) haunted; content in own skin (67) quiet insight (68) green eyes (69) mother died when he was 11 (70) felt deeply, despite protestations to the contrary (73) preferred action to reaction; more patience than most (77) outward displays of emotion scared him (92) kept world at arm's length; lived in the moment (114) before Iraq, boisterous, funny; afterward totally different; everything turned inward; using his strength as shield against world (145) dangerous; perceptive (170) grew up in army; believes in chain of command; code of honor (199) |
| Samantha "Sam" Waters | [Heroine] best bomb specialist around: not a 'sit on the sidelines' kind of girl (14) tiny (15) AFT EEO (Explosives Enforcement Officer) (16) with ATF couple years (17) youngest EEO in history of division; hotshot; not a team player; cut teeth on Oklahoma City bombing (30) never backed down (33) mental chess her game of choice (40) started out in crime scene investigation; first step from city-based work to national was FBI Emergency Response Team; adrenaline junkie (42) loner; looked fragile, almost delicate (43) straight shooter (48) wore father's master blaster insignia on chain (69) pretty anal; doesn't take orders well (72) exuberant (92) Texas A&M (104) loved job; physiology, psychology of bombs (105) meticulous to a fault (111) kept world at arm's length; lived in the moment (114) self-contained (118) hazy blue eyes; dusting of freckles across her nose (182) free spirit; ambitious (224) |
| . . . | . . . |
| Ronald Adkins | [No Appearance] Ruth's boyfriend; dating six months; attended University of New Mexico (227) |
| Kay Armstrong | [No Appearance] Elizabeth Water's friend (220) |
| Angela | [Brief Appearance] teacher at day care (334) |
| Amanda Atherton | [Brief Appearance] Walter's wife (76) ringed hand lined with age (115) woman of strength (116) |
| Walter Atherton | [Brief Appearance] FBI Director (76) considered Sam his protégé (101) lived in McLean, Virginia (110) |
| Winston Belker | [Brief Appearance] wealthy; local nut job; shows up at political functions, usually drunk (210) |
| Mariam Akhtar Benold | [No Appearance] Payton's wife; dead for years (48) fast and furious relationship; French journalist; very smart; very beautiful; loved living on the edge (144) Mariam Akhtar Benold; born in Iran; father a French trader; mother a Persian; father working for French underground; sold her services to highest bidder (257) |
| Harrison Blake | [Major Secondary Character] based in Austin (28) bulk of career working for computer forensics company called Phoenix; indispensable to Last Chance; genius with megabytes and cyberspace (29) looked like sexy English professor; bedhead tousled hair curling aimlessly around his ears and neck; odd combination of green and brown eyes; "the boy next door with intelligent eyes" (40) hell of a researcher; tenacious (49) computer whiz; hell of a team member (80) in Madison's class at Quantico; left FBI for Phoenix; fine lines framed face and mouth; lost sister to home intruder when in high school (96) cornerstone of his charm: boyish enthusiasm and intelligence (97) something comforting (118) took everything in stride (297) |
| Jason Briggs | [One Appearance] Waleska, Georgia / 20-something bomb technician (14) |
| John Brighton | [No Appearance] force behind Pheonix; smartest man Harrison ever knew; stress of big business nearly killed him; turned to crime solving instead (96) |
| Maggie Carmichael | [One Appearance] Waleska, Georgia / jilted Frank; teacher at First Baptist Preschool (14) |
| Aimil Cortez | [One Appearance] Peruvian jungle / Payton's assassination assignment / wanted in six countries; exorbitant price on head (21) |
| Ruth Cramer | [No Appearance] Sam's mother's boarder (70) Cramer: (215) attended University of New Mexico; from Clayton (near Texas border); parents own feed store (227) |
| Farley Dawson | [Brief Appearance] Senator; sits on appropriations (28) Ruskland's enemy (43) Episcopal (139) |
| Elliot Drummond | [Brief Appearance] friend of Sam's; used to work together in bureau; cautious; by-the-book; everything in proper place; tall; lanky (148) |
| Nigel Ferris | [Major Secondary Character] [Hero of Book 3] British Special Forces (141) craggy face; pencil-thin mustache; MI6 to the core; Payton's fried, lot of history (255) neatly trimmed beard and mustache; English accent (260) |
| Billy Fletcher | [No Appearance] first grade bully at Sunset Elementary (277) |
| Joe Franklin | [No Appearance] senior officer in Abilene bomb squad (296) married; three kids; worked with Sam (297) |
| Uncle George | [No Appearance] Maggie's husband; farm in Oklahoma (221) |
| Goodacre | [No Appearance] Payton's Delta Force team mate (177) |
| Randy Howson | [No Appearance] worked arson for fire department (296) now works in Fargo, ND (297) |
| Frank Ingram | [No Appearance] Waleska, Georgia / rejected suitor; planted bomb at First Baptist Preschool (13) |
| Big John | [No Appearance] Houston, Texas / knee-caping bookie (88) |
| Melanie "Mel" Johnson | [Brief Appearance] teacher at day care on West Lynn; bigger than Sam; had to stay behind with Sam (335) |
| J.T. James Thomas Riker | [Major Secondary Character] unknown bomber (11) intelligent; sense of humor (59) real pro; planned long time; meticulous work; precise (91) Madison's profile: above average intelligence; possible chart-breaking IQ; loner; not good in social situations; attended, but didn't finish college; tried to find work with explosives (police or military); disdainful of authority; not prone to relationships; loyal when does (131) wiry man (157) good; arrogant; paranoid (165) obsessively neat, clean, orderly (246) perfectionist (250) James Thomas Riker (320) born in Detroit; father an assembly line worker; mother a beautician; 5 siblings (321) sunken eyes; sallow skin; receding hairline (346) |
| Robert Keith | [Brief Appearance] Senator; ranking member of Ruckland's party (28) Ruckland's enemy (43) Robert Keith (82) |
| Mackenzie | [No Appearance] Payton's Delta Force team mate (177) |
| Aunt Maggie | [No Appearance] Elizabeth Water's sister; farm in Oklahoma (221) |
| Edwin Marcus | [Brief Appearance] his M.O. matches Prager bomb; Sam helped put him away 3-y-a; 3-time loser; liked pipe bombs; out on bail; living in Houston (85) didn't kill people (89) |
| Captain McBane | [One Appearance] Waleska, Georgia / fire chief; ranking officer at scene (15) |
| Henry Norton | [No Appearance] fired; lost wife to cancer; Sam defused bomb he set in Abilene (267) |
| Joe Patemo | [No Appearance] his M.O. matches Prager bomb; serving life in Colorado penitentiary (85) |
| Cullen Pulaski | [Major Secondary Character] industrialist (20) always cut right to chase (27) political weight; money; not team player; tackled life with own rules (30) probing gaze; mind obviously moving ahead to next move (40) not a rule follower (45) control freak; attention to detail, personal involvement biggest contributors to his success (100) |
| Kevin Reynolds | [No Appearance] Payton's brother; 3 years younger; killed in Iraqi raid (70) |
| Andrea Roarke | [One Appearance] new baby (359) |
| Gabriel "Gabe" Roarke | [Major Secondary Character] [Hero of Book 1] headed up Last Chance; worked counter-terrorism for CIA (28) overprotective (29) dark as Payton; complex mix of machismo and power; glacier-eyed gaze; "one didn't cross easily" (39) not a rule follower (45) had nose for dives (47) used to making decisions unilaterally; alpha male machismo (61) Iraq increased intensity of his no-nonsense attitude (80) spent entire professional life working in shadows, taken a toll (146) relentless when wanted information (228) |
| Madison Roarke | [Major Secondary Character] [Heroine of Book 1] Gabe's wife; Cullen's goddaughter; 6 months pregnant; FBI profiler with uncanny knack for seeing the world through eyes of vermin (29) tall; blond; seemed off-putting; compassionate eyes; inspired loyalty among friends (39) thoughtful gray eyes (40) not tainted by father's money (49) wore pregnancy well; glowed; tough (79) |
| Zachary Robertson | [No Appearance] his M.O. matches Prager bomb; paralyzed himself during his last bomb (85) |
| Senator Joseph Ruckland | [Brief Appearance] killed in San Antonio bombing (21) Joe; highest ranking democrat in country (28) Joseph; Texas senior senator (37) fought in Vietnam; Baptist church (139) |
| Raymond Seavers | [Brief Appearance] Sam's boss (20) |
| Jack Sloane | [One Appearance] Ruckland's head man (133) Armani suit; wire-rimmed glasses; tone held combination of reserve and approachability (134) gray eyes; ladies man (135) |
| Tyler | [No Appearance] Payton's Delta Force team mate (177) |
| Bud Walker | [Brief Appearance] senator from New Mexico; republican; fifth term (137) politically perfect smile (205) arrogant (206) |
| Wallenski | [No Appearance] Payton's Delta Force team mate (177) |
| Bill Waters | [No Appearance] Sam's father; man's man; career Army; served in war-ravaged corners of the world; a master blaster; there wasn't an ordnance out there he couldn't defuse; cancer killed him 5 years ago; the spark in their family; the glue that held them together; an inner stillness; inner sight that saved his ass more than once (53) |
| Elizabeth Waters | [Secondary Character] Sam's mother; lived in Albuquerque; Bill the love of her life (53) faded blue eyes same color as Sam's (218) 62-y-o (243) |
| Carl Ziegler | [No Appearance] took over ERT when Walter promoted; Elliot's boss; top hazardous device forensics; hard taskmaster (149) |
♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦
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Enigma Reviews:
| Rated | Posted | Site | Notes, Comments, Etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.00 | 06-....-2005 | A Romance Review | |
| 4.50 average | {6 reviews} | Amazon | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 3.00 | 06-30-2007 | Babbling Book Reviews | |
| 4,75 average | {4 reviews} | Barnes & Noble | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 2.88 average | {8 reviews} | Good Reads | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 4.60 average | {2 reviews} | Library Thing | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 4.28 average | {13 reviews} | Paperback Swap | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 4.50 Top Pick | 06-....-2005 | RT (Romantic Times) Book Reviews | 2005 Romantic Intrigue Nominee |
| 4.50 average | {2 reviews} | Shelfari | as of: May 15, 2012 |
| 4.45 | 05-15-2012 | Wolf Bear Does Books | shorter post on Amazon, B&N, FictionDB, GR, LT, Shelfari |
♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . ♦
♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
♥ Willing to share Cheat Sheet
♦ in whole or in part
♦ WordPerfect or PDF
♣ Will add your Enigma review link to table, just ask
Monday, March 26, 2012
Sally MacKenzie -- The Naked Duke
Rated: ♥ . ♥ {1.80}
Action: ♠♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦ / Suspense: ♠♠♠.♠
Action: 2.5 / Emotion: 1 / Romance: 3 / Sensuous: 1 / Suspense: 3.5 // Regency Flavor: 2.5 / Laughter: 2 / Tears: 0
Kudos to the person who decided on the titles in The Naked Nobility Series. The word "naked" is very catchy . . . the perfect word to make a romance reader want to read this series. The titles are quick, easy, and memorable.
Abject apologies to Sally MacKenzie for not liking her debut book, The Naked Duke, the first book in The Naked Nobility Series. This is going to be a particularly difficult review to write. Mainly because hate to trash an author who struggled so to get her first book published. And apparently MacKenzie has succeeded in entertaining many readers with her books because, to date, she has eight books and two novella's published -- which is proof positive that her books are well worth reading. So take these words with a grain of salt and understand that this review is biased by personal preferences.
Sally MacKenzie did a phenomenal job of grabbing interest by writing an inspiring, exciting, refreshingly new idea for an introductory scene. The penniless, red-haired Philadelphian Sarah Marie Hamilton alighted from the stagecoach at the Green Man posting inn having ridden for days from Liverpool after disembarking from the Roseanna -- the ship that brought her to England. Sarah's politically-minded, republican father, David Hamilton, had ignored his daughter her entire life, but upon his deathbed told her to go to his brother, the Earl of Westbrooke. The weary, worn, drably-dressed Sarah was thankful when a tall, red-haired man convinced the proprietor to let her stay and showed her to a room, insisting his room was down the hall.
James William Randolph Runyon, Duke of Alvord (Marquis of Waltingham, Earl of Southgate, Viscount Balmer, Baron Lexter) was in the private sitting room of the Green Man inn contemplating his future when his two best friends, Major Charles Draysmith and Robert "Robbie" Hamilton joined him for drinks. Charles and Robbie were opposed to James's consideration of the Duke of Rothingham's daughter, Charlotte Wickford (frequently called the"Marble Queen"), as his future wife. James told his friends that he felt he must marry quickly and beget an heir before his black-hearted cousin Richard Runyon (and current heir) succeeding in killing him for his title.
James was pleasantly surprised to find a doxy in his bed when he went to his room. Since she didn't rouse when he first laid down, he decided to sleep first before enjoying himself. The next morning James awoke to the doxy beating him about the head with a pillow and his seventy-something Aunt, Lady Gladys Runyon and her constant companion, sixty-something Lady Amanda Wallen-Smyth being at the forefront of the people gathered at his door to see him naked in bed with a very naked Sarah.
Found this opening gambit original, cute, fun, and intriguing. James sent the crowd away, saying they would meet later in the private sitting room to straighten out this misunderstanding. Even though James explained to Sarah that her reputation was completely shattered, she still refused to marry him. Sarah's reasons for not wanting to marry this strange duke were tri-fold. First her father and the Abington Sisters (who ran the Abington Academy for Young Ladies that she'd drudged for) convinced her that all titled Englishmen were, basically, worthless. Second, as an American she did not feel qualified to fill the role of duchess. And, third, Sarah wanted to marry for love.
It was also cute and original that the tall, red-headed gentleman who mistook Sarah for a doxy and sent her to James's room the night before was none other than her cousin, the new Earl of Westbrooke. (David Hamilton's brother, Robbie's father had died last year.) When James and Sarah joined the others in the sitting room, it was decided that she was stay at the Alvord Castle as a temporary companion to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Runyon, James's exuberant seventeen-year-old sister, while James pressed his suit for marriage.
If a reader can manage to persevere through the next, tiredly mundane, and less than stellar pages as James tries to convince Sarah she is the woman for him (with modern-day innuendo and constantly sporting an arousal) . . . they will find that the second half of the book is not quite as dull. MacKenzie failed to draw any emotion as Sarah, who was physically drawn to the gorgeous hunk of duke who was pursuing her, constantly rebuffed his advances and didn't understand the constant references to bedsport.
James, Aunt Gladys, Lady Amanda, Charles Drayton, Lizzie and Robbie have now gone to London to introduce the heretofore non-dancing, "had no fun in her entire life" Sarah to the ton. Sarah dances with Richard, who sews seeds of discontent into the romance he sees blooming between Sarah and James. He tells Sarah about James's nickname, Monk, and that he inherited it because he was anything but. Add to that, Sarah constantly overhears about James's amazingly creative sexual exploits. Sarah is even more determined that she cannot marry a rake -- a man who would be unfaithful.
Too many little things about the book didn't feel correct. {1} Aunt Gladys and Lady Amanda falling under Sarah's quaint, sad charm on the short carriage ride from Green Man inn to Alvord Castle and believing she is the perfect wife for James. {2} One little wimpy scene where Sarah fussed about being outfitted in an expensive wardrobe. A more stubborn, realistic heroine would have thrown numerous fits. {3} How could the only son of the Duke of Alvord be allowed to go to war? {4} MacKenzie subjected readers to this "just plain wrong" feeling emanating from Sarah the day after she confronted James about his hated nickname:
Previously mentioned that MacKenzie make James a "perfect" duke. She even went so far as to brand him with the stigma of being a twenty-eight year old virgin. James's reasons for his rejecting his father's first attempt to introduce him to the world of womanizing rang true, but his motivations to remain chaste afterwards felt forced. This facet of James's personality just wasn't believable. A gorgeous, rich, powerful, charismatic Duke still a virgin at twenty-eight! Nope! Didn't buy it!
The pace and interest in the book stepped up a bit as MacKenzie introduced the point-of-view character, Philip Gadner, Richard's valet. Philip has been in love with Richard since he was seventeen. Philip is the tool MacKenzie uses to witness Richard's constant rages and future plans in his obsessive desire to wrest the dukedom from his hated cousin. Mean-spirited, almost mad, Richard is featured as unredeemable as James is perfect.
Throwing another villain into the mix helped keep the suspense and interest alive in the story. Richard decides to blackmail the corrupt, ruthless New York whore trader, William Anthony Dunlap into publically ruining Sarah. Richard gets the tall, beautiful man invited into the houses of high society (another not quite believable action), to dance with Sarah and lead her to the garden for a little rape and ruin. As expected, he fails in this endeavor.
One would think that after an entire book peppered with countless pages of almost unquenchable lust oozing from the pores of James and Sarah, that when they finally made love, there would be sizzle and heat. But, opps, remember, James is a virgin. Guess that is the reason for the lack of zest and zing. But it could be because the sexual desire throughout the entire book is a bit drool:
Even though The Naked Duke, Sally MacKenzie's first book in The Naked Nobility Series was not a total wash (did finish the book), would not recommend it. Yes, pick up and read this book if you have no other book handy, but otherwise, look elsewhere for a great read.
--Vonda M. Reid (Saturday, March 17, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.) [222]
The Naked Nobility Series
The Naked Duke Quotations:
Characters Found In "The Naked Duke"
Sally MacKenzie
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The Naked Duke Reviews:
Notes:
♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
♥ Willing to share Cheat Sheet
♦ in whole or in part
Action: ♠♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣ / Romance: ♥♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦ / Suspense: ♠♠♠.♠
Action: 2.5 / Emotion: 1 / Romance: 3 / Sensuous: 1 / Suspense: 3.5 // Regency Flavor: 2.5 / Laughter: 2 / Tears: 0
Abject apologies to Sally MacKenzie for not liking her debut book, The Naked Duke, the first book in The Naked Nobility Series. This is going to be a particularly difficult review to write. Mainly because hate to trash an author who struggled so to get her first book published. And apparently MacKenzie has succeeded in entertaining many readers with her books because, to date, she has eight books and two novella's published -- which is proof positive that her books are well worth reading. So take these words with a grain of salt and understand that this review is biased by personal preferences.
Sally MacKenzie did a phenomenal job of grabbing interest by writing an inspiring, exciting, refreshingly new idea for an introductory scene. The penniless, red-haired Philadelphian Sarah Marie Hamilton alighted from the stagecoach at the Green Man posting inn having ridden for days from Liverpool after disembarking from the Roseanna -- the ship that brought her to England. Sarah's politically-minded, republican father, David Hamilton, had ignored his daughter her entire life, but upon his deathbed told her to go to his brother, the Earl of Westbrooke. The weary, worn, drably-dressed Sarah was thankful when a tall, red-haired man convinced the proprietor to let her stay and showed her to a room, insisting his room was down the hall.
James William Randolph Runyon, Duke of Alvord (Marquis of Waltingham, Earl of Southgate, Viscount Balmer, Baron Lexter) was in the private sitting room of the Green Man inn contemplating his future when his two best friends, Major Charles Draysmith and Robert "Robbie" Hamilton joined him for drinks. Charles and Robbie were opposed to James's consideration of the Duke of Rothingham's daughter, Charlotte Wickford (frequently called the"Marble Queen"), as his future wife. James told his friends that he felt he must marry quickly and beget an heir before his black-hearted cousin Richard Runyon (and current heir) succeeding in killing him for his title.
James was pleasantly surprised to find a doxy in his bed when he went to his room. Since she didn't rouse when he first laid down, he decided to sleep first before enjoying himself. The next morning James awoke to the doxy beating him about the head with a pillow and his seventy-something Aunt, Lady Gladys Runyon and her constant companion, sixty-something Lady Amanda Wallen-Smyth being at the forefront of the people gathered at his door to see him naked in bed with a very naked Sarah.
Found this opening gambit original, cute, fun, and intriguing. James sent the crowd away, saying they would meet later in the private sitting room to straighten out this misunderstanding. Even though James explained to Sarah that her reputation was completely shattered, she still refused to marry him. Sarah's reasons for not wanting to marry this strange duke were tri-fold. First her father and the Abington Sisters (who ran the Abington Academy for Young Ladies that she'd drudged for) convinced her that all titled Englishmen were, basically, worthless. Second, as an American she did not feel qualified to fill the role of duchess. And, third, Sarah wanted to marry for love.
It was also cute and original that the tall, red-headed gentleman who mistook Sarah for a doxy and sent her to James's room the night before was none other than her cousin, the new Earl of Westbrooke. (David Hamilton's brother, Robbie's father had died last year.) When James and Sarah joined the others in the sitting room, it was decided that she was stay at the Alvord Castle as a temporary companion to Elizabeth "Lizzie" Runyon, James's exuberant seventeen-year-old sister, while James pressed his suit for marriage.
If a reader can manage to persevere through the next, tiredly mundane, and less than stellar pages as James tries to convince Sarah she is the woman for him (with modern-day innuendo and constantly sporting an arousal) . . . they will find that the second half of the book is not quite as dull. MacKenzie failed to draw any emotion as Sarah, who was physically drawn to the gorgeous hunk of duke who was pursuing her, constantly rebuffed his advances and didn't understand the constant references to bedsport.
"I am having a little trouble thinking clearly. The image of your hair against the white of my pillow is quite, um, elevating." (page 84)Although did not feel any emotional connection to the "perfect" James (a duke that had not one, single, solitary negative attribute), the fact that never felt a moment of emotional connection to Sarah was even more disheartening. Surely reading about a destitute woman, on her own, in a foreign country, with no signs of finding employment, living with strangers would dredge up some concern. Never did warm up to Sarah. She never felt real. Never felt any of her supposed angst.
"I believe your brother was giving Miss Hamilton a few extra riding tips," Major Draysmith said with a straight face, though his eyes were dancing wickedly. (page 113)
James, Aunt Gladys, Lady Amanda, Charles Drayton, Lizzie and Robbie have now gone to London to introduce the heretofore non-dancing, "had no fun in her entire life" Sarah to the ton. Sarah dances with Richard, who sews seeds of discontent into the romance he sees blooming between Sarah and James. He tells Sarah about James's nickname, Monk, and that he inherited it because he was anything but. Add to that, Sarah constantly overhears about James's amazingly creative sexual exploits. Sarah is even more determined that she cannot marry a rake -- a man who would be unfaithful.
Too many little things about the book didn't feel correct. {1} Aunt Gladys and Lady Amanda falling under Sarah's quaint, sad charm on the short carriage ride from Green Man inn to Alvord Castle and believing she is the perfect wife for James. {2} One little wimpy scene where Sarah fussed about being outfitted in an expensive wardrobe. A more stubborn, realistic heroine would have thrown numerous fits. {3} How could the only son of the Duke of Alvord be allowed to go to war? {4} MacKenzie subjected readers to this "just plain wrong" feeling emanating from Sarah the day after she confronted James about his hated nickname:
She saw him just a few yards away and faded further into the palms. Mr. Belham might have difficulty locating her, but she'd rather risk that than James snubbing her." (page 162)James has been pursuing Sarah relentlessly and she thinks James will snub her simply because she called him Monk to his face?
Previously mentioned that MacKenzie make James a "perfect" duke. She even went so far as to brand him with the stigma of being a twenty-eight year old virgin. James's reasons for his rejecting his father's first attempt to introduce him to the world of womanizing rang true, but his motivations to remain chaste afterwards felt forced. This facet of James's personality just wasn't believable. A gorgeous, rich, powerful, charismatic Duke still a virgin at twenty-eight! Nope! Didn't buy it!
The pace and interest in the book stepped up a bit as MacKenzie introduced the point-of-view character, Philip Gadner, Richard's valet. Philip has been in love with Richard since he was seventeen. Philip is the tool MacKenzie uses to witness Richard's constant rages and future plans in his obsessive desire to wrest the dukedom from his hated cousin. Mean-spirited, almost mad, Richard is featured as unredeemable as James is perfect.
Throwing another villain into the mix helped keep the suspense and interest alive in the story. Richard decides to blackmail the corrupt, ruthless New York whore trader, William Anthony Dunlap into publically ruining Sarah. Richard gets the tall, beautiful man invited into the houses of high society (another not quite believable action), to dance with Sarah and lead her to the garden for a little rape and ruin. As expected, he fails in this endeavor.
One would think that after an entire book peppered with countless pages of almost unquenchable lust oozing from the pores of James and Sarah, that when they finally made love, there would be sizzle and heat. But, opps, remember, James is a virgin. Guess that is the reason for the lack of zest and zing. But it could be because the sexual desire throughout the entire book is a bit drool:
His mouth came down to stop her acid words. His tongue flashed in on her gasp of shock and plundered her sweetness. He felt her sag against him and his hands slid down her back to cradle her bottom. He brought her closer against the part of him that ached so badly for her." (page 181)Several other personal quirks added discontent to the story. First did not feel that MacKenzie invested as much time researching the Regency era as other authors (such as Nicole Jordan, Madeline Hunter, Mary Balogh). There was a decided lack of realism to the dialogue. The book just didn't have that "Regency" feel. Second, although could determine that the story took place some time after Waterloo (1815), wished MacKenzie had given a specific date in which the story took place. Third, didn't know how old Sarah was. The fact that she was a spinster was not very revealing. Fourth, had no idea in which part of England this story took place. Where is the Green Man inn, Alvord Castle, the Westbrooke estate?
Even though The Naked Duke, Sally MacKenzie's first book in The Naked Nobility Series was not a total wash (did finish the book), would not recommend it. Yes, pick up and read this book if you have no other book handy, but otherwise, look elsewhere for a great read.
--Vonda M. Reid (Saturday, March 17, 2012 : 11:34 p.m.) [222]
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The Naked Nobility Series
| # | Date | Title | Hero | Heroine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | 02-2005 | The Naked Duke | James William Randolph Runyon Duke of Alvord | Sarah Marie Hamilton Penniless Philadelphian |
| 02. | 03-2006 | The Naked Marquis | Charles Draysmith Marquis of Knightsdale | Emma Peterson Vicar's Daughter |
| 03. | 04-2007 | The Naked Earl | Robert "Robbie" Hamilton Earl of Westbrooke | Lady Elizabeth "Lizzie" Runyon Best Friend's Sister |
| 04. | 04-2008 | The Naked Gentleman | John Parker-Roth | Margaret Peterson |
| 05. | 02-2009 | The Naked Laird in: Lords of Pleasure | Lord Kilgorn | Lady Kilgorn |
| 06. | 05-2009 | The Naked Baron | Baron Dawson | Lady Grace Belmont |
| 07. | 06-2010 | The Naked Viscount | Edmund Smyth | Lady Jane Parker-Roth |
| 08. | 02-2011 | The Naked Prince in: An Invitation To Sin | Lord Damian Kenderly | Josephine Atworthy |
| 09. | 06-2011 | The Naked King | Stephen Parker-Roth | Lady Anne Marston |
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The Naked Duke Quotations:
| 69 | "Like they accept everyone -- with false smiles and backbiting and the hope that you'll do something really dreadful so they can talk about you . . ." |
| 208 | "She was tired of being alone. She was tired of trying to be strong." |
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Characters Found In "The Naked Duke"
| Character / Location | Description / Relationships |
|---|---|
| James William Randolph Runyon Duke of Alvord, Marquis of Waltingham, Earl of Southgate, Viscount Balmer, Baron Lexter | [Hero] golden eyebrows (13) war hero; 28-y-o (16) warm amber eyes; golden hair; sculpted lips (21) fine dusting of golden hair, slightly darker than that on head covered chest; muscles in flat belly (25) broad back (26) dark blond hair; mellow, deep, magical, warm honey voice (26) quite tall (28) long lashes tipped in gold (82) assumed title at 25 (83) Cambridge; in Spain in 1811 until April 1813, fought at Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca (105) strength in his face; assurance; unconscious power (121) clean strong angle of jaw (140) vast financial and political power (160) strong back that tapered down to narrow waist (246) muscles bulging in upper arms (247) |
| Sarah Marie Hamilton | [Heroine] red hair (8) Philadelphia (13) beautiful; long fiery hair; high cheekbones; long lashes; elegant neck; young; innocent; smooth, warm skin (18) delicate cure of wrist and forearm; soft hair, short through with threads of gold; peach-tinged skin, not freckled; nose a little blunt; lips a little thin (19) nice, soft educated voice (24) tall; came to James's shoulder (28) narrow waist; delicate ribs; lovely small breasts; prickly independent American girl; refused to follow British rules (77) Marie (212) |
| . . . | . . . |
| Abigail Abington | [No Appearance] tall, thin sister (12) Abington Academy for Young Ladies; Sarah drudged there for the sisters (37) |
| Clarissa Abington | [No Appearance] short, stout sister; gray ringlets (12) pudgy fingers (13) Abington Academy for Young Ladies; Sarah drudged there for the sisters (37) |
| Albert | [Rare Appearances] new footman James hired for protection; shorter; beefier; Bow Street cauliflower-shaped nose (217) |
| Alf | [Rare Appearances] Dunlap's hired henchman (239) |
| Billy Amesley | [No Appearance] pockets to let; married Harriet Drummond (65) |
| Mr. Belham | [Rare Appearances] fetching drink for Sarah at ball // young (161) not the most handsome; "looked as though he had been pulled into this world by his nose, with his forehead and chin left t catch up. They had not done so."; small chin; prominent nose (164) |
| Tom Bellington | [No Appearance] New York City; Dunlap killed (223) |
| Charlie Bentworth | [No Appearance] Pearson's cousin; in Navy (86) |
| Betty | [Rare Appearances] Lizzie's maid; good with needle (57) |
| Walter Birnam | [No Appearance] James's excellent steward (76) |
| Lady Felicity Brookton | [One Appearance] in ladies room at Palmerson ball // came out this season; one of Sarah's least favorite (195) 17-y-o; pampered, protected by rich, influential papa (202) |
| Lady Carrington | [No Appearance] Sarah was bait for Richard at her ball (284) |
| Mrs. Croft | [Rare Appearances] dressmaker in village (57) |
| Walter Cunningham | [No Appearance] Boston; Dunlap killed (223) |
| Lord Dearvon | [One Appearance] old soldier; bald pate; hairy ears; at accident site |
| Dolly | [No Appearance] madame of Dancing Piper; greeted James's father warmly; huge breasts; small woman |
| Major Charles Draysmith | [Major Secondary Character] [Book 2 Hero] James's good friend; broad hands; curly brown hair (13) 30-y-o (16) shorter; broader (28) Light Dragoons (71) second son; Cambridge; excellent officer; nothing in common with brother (112) handsome man; military bearing emphasized width of shoulders; light blue eyes with dark rims were striking (136) |
| Harriet Drummond | [No Appearance] no beauty (64) landed Billy Amesley because a heiress (65) |
| William Anthony Dunlap | [Secondary Character] New York whore trader; competent; ruthless (157) liked his women fleshy; his boys young and skinny (158) 35-y-o (160) hired shrewd businesswomen to spy as they run his businesses; loved power more than wealth and sex (161) tall man; one of most beautiful Sarah had ever seen; thick chestnut hair; dark brown eyes; finely sculptured features; small scar by right corner of his mouth; slip bump on classically straight nose (163) predatorily male (164) accomplished dancer; entertaining conversationalist (165) dangerous (178) Anthony (215) |
| Earl of Easthaven | [No Appearance] frequent guest at Dunlap's businesses (160) |
| Earl of Eldridge | [One Appearance] playing cards with James at Carrington ball (287) |
| Miss Julia Fairchild | [One Appearance] gossip (196) in ladies room at Palmerson ball // 17-y-o; pampered, protected by rich, influential papa (202) |
| Mrs. Melinda Fallwell | [One Appearance] Amanda whispered something to her at Palmerston ball(194) one of Amanda's particular friends; gossip (288) |
| Fanny | [No Appearance] Dancing Piper girl Dolly selected for James (150) painted lips; rotting teeth; smelled of garlic, onions, sweat, Richardson; mid-to-late 30s; sizeable breasts drooped (151) ample stomach (152) |
| Oliver Featherstone | [One Appearance] road bare-assed down Bond Street on a bet (72) gravelly rough whisper (200) |
| Philip Gadner | [Point of View Secondary Character] Richard's valet; in love with Richard at 17; tired of Richard's rages at 30 (118) bony knees (119) |
| Gilly | [No Appearance] doxy Richard injured on his visit to The Rutting Stallion |
| David Hamilton | [No Appearance] Sarah's father (12) old earl's younger brother (24) intensity; compelling (30) physician; very active in politics; impractical; gave money away freely; asked no fees from patients (31) |
| Robert "Robbie" Hamilton Earl of Westbrooke | [Major Secondary Character] [Book 3 Hero] James's good friend; Sarah's cousin (9) tall man; reddish hair (9) slightly glazed hazel eyes; lopsided grin; found bottom of brandy bottle (10) broad shoulders; twinkle in eye; deep dimple in right cheek (11) |
| Elvira Hammersham | [One Appearance] signing at Hammersham soiree; could not carry a tune (227) |
| Harrison | [Rare Appearances] James's proper valet (245) |
| Duke of Hartford | [One Appearance] particularly lustful conversation at Hammersham soiree; short; elderly; dressed in height of fashion (225) 80-y-o; deaf as a post (226) |
| Lady Huffington | [One Appearance] attended Alvord ball; calculating eyes (126l) |
| Jakes | [Rare Appearances] innkeeper; greasy hair (9) |
| Jonathan | [Rare Appearances] new footman James hired for protection; over 6' tall; shoulders as wide as door; hands size of melons; Bow Street (217) |
| Paul Draysmith Earl of Knightsdale | [No Appearance] Charles' older brother (112) Paul; born Earl of Northfield; became Earl while at Eton; life not his own (138) |
| Pierre Lafontaine | [No Appearance] Paris; Dunlap killed (223) |
| Landers | [No Appearance] James's schoolmate in Dancing Piper (153) |
| Layton | [Rare Appearances] Alvord butler; very proper; very elderly (54) thick mane of white hair; very imposing nose (55) |
| Lady Leighton | [One Appearance] first guest to meet Sarah at Alvord ball; said about time she returned from Americas (123) |
| Earl of Lugington | [No Appearance] Chuckie Phelps's father (160) |
| Susan MacDonald | [No Appearance] Sarah's mother; soft voice; flame-colored hair; her father a Philadelphian flour merchant (48) |
| Mrs. Mandley | [One Appearance] Robbie's housekeeper (110) |
| Lady Rosalyn Mannerly | [One Appearance] in ladies room at Palmerson ball // gossip (196) 17-y-o; pampered, protected by rich, influential papa (202) |
| Earl of Mardale | [No Appearance] daughter coming out; fine figure of a man (65) |
| McGee | [One Appearance] James's stable hand; short man; gray hair (104) |
| Molly | [Rare Appearances] local doxy; bright red hair; purplish bruise (42) |
| Honorable Felix Muddleridge | [One Appearance] involved in accident with James and Robbie (298) |
| Nan | [One Appearance] local doxy (42) |
| Newton | horse James got when came down from Cambridge (105) |
| Lady Palmerson | [One Appearance] hosting ball; faded blue eyes (191) |
| Marquis of Palmerson | [No Appearance] hosting ball (190) |
| Walter Parks | [Rare Appearances] James's investigator (183) little man; excellent soldier; excellent shadow; grown up poor in Totfield Hills; learned to be obtrusive (214) |
| Viscount Paxton | [One Appearance] playing cards with James at Carrington ball (287) |
| Becky Pearson | [One Appearance] James took Sarah to visit Pearson's // James's tenant; Tom's wife; short; comfortably plump (87) |
| Billy Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's 8 month old son (87) |
| Jane Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's daughter; large brown eyes (86) |
| Maggie Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's daughter; large brown eyes (86) |
| Ruth Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's 2-y-o daughter (87) |
| Thomas Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's son; twin (85) |
| Timothy Pearson | [One Appearance] Tom and Becky's son; twin (85) |
| Tom Pearson | [One Appearance] James took Sarah to visit Pearson's // James's tenant; Becky's husband; James's childhood friend; short; stocky (87) |
| Colonel Pendergrast | [One Appearance] at Palmerson ball; jaw-me-dead conversation (199) |
| Chuckie Phelps | [No Appearance] Lugington's heir; ended up dead in Dunlap's Paris house with Dunlap's drawers around his neck (215) |
| Pythagoras | semi-retirement; huge brown horse; James got on his 15th birthday (105) |
| Sir Joshua Reynolds | [No Appearance] painted portrait of David Hamilton and his parents |
| Mr. Roland Richardson | [No Appearance] James's Greek don; Fanny's current customer (150) |
| Rosebud | horse for Sarah to ride (103) |
| Duchess of Rothingham | [Rare Appearances] disliked Sarah; wanted James for her daughter // short; sharp, beaky nose; calculating eyes; Charlotte's mother (126) |
| Duke of Rothingham | [No Appearance] Charlotte Wickford's father; hinted about marriage to his daughter at Whites (17) |
| Rufus | [One Appearance] hackney driver (290) |
| Lady Elizabeth "Lizzie" Runyon | [Major Secondary Character] [Book 3 Heroine] James's sister (39) seventeen; bit of a handful (40) James's sun-streaked hair (52) volatile mix of poise and exuberance (53) |
| Lady Gladys Runyon "Aunt Gladys" | [Major Secondary Character] James's Aunt // wrinkled face; bright inquisitive eyes (22) James's father's older sister; tall; angular; over 70-y-o (22) raised James after his mother died when he was 11 (36) heart of gold (38) |
| Richard Runyon | [Major Secondary Character] attempting to kill James to become Duke of Alvord // James's black-hearted cousin (13) long, pale face; high-bridged nose; icy blue eyes; looked like devil in her father's copy of Paradise Lost (7) black hair (42) Runyon (43) thin black eyebrows (45) hates James with a passion bordering on insanity; a nasty customer (79) devious (97) sharp angles of nose and cheekbones (158) whiff of madness about him (159) |
| Captain Rutledge | [No Appearance] James used his ship to remove Dunlap from England // captained Flying Gull (267) |
| Scruggs | [Rare Appearances] Alf's partner; henchman (305) |
| Lady Amanda Wallen-Smyth | [Major Secondary Character] short; wrinkled face; bright inquisitive eyes (22) Gladys' constant companion; mid-60s; small; delicate looking; gossip ferret; shrewd brown eyes (23) |
| Mrs. Stallings | [Rare Appearances] Alvord housekeeper; short; plump; brown hair beneath cap liberally streaked with gray; solid form (55) |
| Lord Stevenson | [One Appearance] biggest prig (195) stopped Symington from claiming his dance with Sarah at Palmerson Ball (195) |
| Lucinda [Symington] | [No Appearance] Symington's wife (130) |
| "Simple" Symington | [Several Appearances] looking for new wife; pursuing Sarah // short balding man; prominent stomach; widower (130) ample eyebrows (131) bulbous nose; liver, onions, garlic breath (131) three strands of hair over pink scalp (175) |
| Thomas | [One Appearance] Alvord footman (56) |
| Baron Tundrow | [One Appearance] playing cards with James at Carrington ball (287) |
| Lady Wainwright | [One Appearance] holding ball Sarah and Runyon's attended (179) |
| Charlotte Wickford | [Secondary Character] James's plans to propose; "Marble Queen"; cold as stone (15) duke's daughter; been out a few years; will know how to run household (16) blond hair; did she have blue eyes; petite; never said much of interest (17) delicate features; cool, serene manner; looked like expensive porcelain doll (127) |
| Wickam | [No Appearance] James's schoolmate in Dancing Piper (153) |
| Wiggins | [Rare Appearances] Alvord London butler (120) |
| Viscount Wycomb | [One Appearance] involved in accident with James and Robbie (298) |
| {no name} | coachman; small brown eyes, warm with concern, thick graying brows; beefy fingers (8) |
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The Naked Duke Reviews:
| Rated | Posted | Site | Notes, Comments, Etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| C+ / warm | 02-26-2005 | All About Romance | |
| 3.51 average | {35 reviews} | Amazon | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| 3.34 average | {9 reviews} | Barnes and Noble | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| 3.00 | 12-06-2004 | Books For A Buck | also on: Amazon [qv] |
| 2.50 | 02-13-2010 | Book N Around | also on: Library Thing |
| -- | 09-24-2007 | Book Think | Lengthy, but interesting interview |
| 3.00 | 05-13-2011 | Books With Love | On "The Naked Nobility Series" |
| 5.00 | -- | Fallen Angels | [qv] |
| 3.17 average | {53 reviews} | Good Reads | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| 3.38 average | {4 reviews} | Library Thing | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| 64 | -- | Mrs. Giggles | |
| 3.91 average | {28 reviews} | Paperback Swap | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| -- | 05-06-2009 | Risky Regencies | Interview |
| 2.60 | 08-24-2010 | Romance, Old School | also on: Good Reads |
| 5.00 | 04-05-2008 | Romancing The Book | link on: Library Thing, Shelfari [qv] |
| 3.56 average | {9 reviews} | Shelfari | as of: March 25, 2012 |
| D | 04-07-2005 | Smart Bitches, Trashy Books | R-rated vocabulary |
| -- | 03-03-2005 | Smart Bitches, Trashy Books | Article linked to review |
| -- | 05-11-2005 | The Best Reviews | {positive inflection} |
| 3.50 | 03-16-2011 | The RomanceAholic | shorter post on: Amazon |
| 2.00 | 03-04-2005 | The Romance Reader | |
| 1.80 | 03-26-2012 | Wolf Bear Does Books | shorter post on Amazon, BN, GR, LT, Shelfari |
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♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
♥ Willing to share Cheat Sheet
♦ in whole or in part
♦ WordPerfect or PDF
♣ Will add your The Naked Duke review link to table, just ask
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Suzanne Robinson -- The Engagement
Rated: ♥ ♥ . ♥ {2.80}
Action: ♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣♣.♣ / Romance: ♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦ / Suspense: ♠♠.♠
Action: 1.5 / Emotion: 2.5 / Romance: 2 / Sensuous: 2 / Suspense: 2.5 // Historical Flavor: 3 / Laughter: 7 / Teary: 1
The Engagement, Suzanne Robinson's second book in The English Gunslingers Duet was a disappointment. Was so looking forward to reading Nick's story after meeting him in book one, Lady Dangerous. Robinson started out the book with a bang, but it quickly developed into a whimper of "I love [him] [her], but . . ." thoughts.
The premise for the story line was a clever one -- just imagine the pairing of an ex-thief from St. Giles and a duke's daughter. There could have been all kinds of witty repartee and fascinating twists and turns to take in the story. There were a few twists and turns, but mostly the book consisted of misunderstandings and stand-offs between the hero and heroine.
Robinson quickly drew the reader into Nick Ross's life as he turned his horse, Pounder, around to gallop back to his best friend's ranch in Texas when he heard gunfire -- to stop a drunk, rifle-bearing ranch hand from killing Jocelin Marshal. While Jocelin was being tended by the doctor and his heavily-pregnant wife, Liza, stood by his side, a letter from the Duchess of Clairemont (Jocelin's mother) arrived from England announcing twenty year old Lady Georgiana Marshal's engagement to eighty-something year old John Charles Hyde, the Earl of Threshfield.
To stop the wounded Jocelin and pregnant Liza from crossing the ocean to stop his hair-brained sister from making such a mistake, Nick agreed to go to England and end the engagement. Nick arrived at the Threshfield estate, again galloping Pounder across the oak-lined avenue to land in front of Georgina with an impressive display of horsemanship, then proceeded to call her "George" and told her to pack her bags, it was time to go.
The flavor of the rest of the story could almost be reduced to Georgiana's thoughts as she figured out that this slow-drawling speaker was Mr. Ross, friend of her brother.
Robinson told no revealing, sympathy-inducing stories about Georgiana as she grew up under the rule of her tyrant of a father, who subdued and ruled his more intelligent sensitive wife by the simple virtue of his being male. No sense of Georgiana's sorrow was established when Robinson briefly explained about the one instance where Georgiana felt a moment of magic because Lord Silverstone asked for her hand in marriage -- only to find that Silverstone felt he was making a great sacrifice by marrying a giantess. Robinson failed to engender sympathy with the few paragraphs about Georgiana feeling inadequate and vulnerable as a clumsy debutante in society because of her height.
Robinson tried to stir up a bit of a connection with Georgiana by having her explain to Nick during several of their confrontations that she was not a typically-spoiled blue blood -- that her life was not all tea and crumpets as her father sought to marry her off to a man who would then own her. Certainly it is not fair that personal experience ensured that could understand and sympathize more with Nick's mother and sister than with poor, misunderstood Georgiana. Nick's mother was no less owned by her brutal husband, yet the reader is supposed to feel just as sympathetic for Georgiana, who didn't spend her life rubbing her hands raw scrubbing floors and fireplaces.
Even thought it was easy to understand where Nick was coming from when he believed himself beneath Georgiana on the social scale (the story did take place in class-conscious England), Robinson pulled about as much sympathy for Nick as she did Georgiana. There was just no deep emotional connection to these two protagonists as they fought their mutual attraction. Nick pursued Georgiana relentlessly and when they finally made love (with some sizzle and heat), he felt guilty for betraying the man who saved his life. Then Nick and Georgiana spent the remainder of the book angry at the other because she thought Nick wouldn't marry her because she was so tall and Nick thought her stiff spine meant she was embarrassed that she had lowered herself to be with St. Giles refuse.
Robinson threw in some secondary characters to add some plot and intrigue to the story line -- and give Nick a reason to stay close to Georgiana. A prominent secondary character was Georgiana's betrothed, the Earl of Threshfield. Threshfield took great glee in tormenting his family by telling lies and leaving them to wonder what they would inherit upon his death. Threshfield displayed his intelligence and freely spoke his mind -- even telling Nick that he should wait to pursue Georgiana after she was a widow.
Thresfield's family members were a unique collection of aristocrats. Thresfield's nephew and heir, Evelyn Hyde, was the typical handsome aristocrat, who acted just like Georgiana's father -- had that air of entitlement and assumed he was superior due to an accident of birth. Additionally, Nick jealously noticed the lustful glances Evelyn constantly threw Georgiana's way. Basically, Evelyn was an unremarkable character.
The only reason Evelyn married the rolly-polly, beringed, social-climbing Lady Prudence Hyde was for the immense marriage settlement he received. What found really amazing was that these two characters even managed to beget a son. Nick not only noticed Evelyn's lustful glances, but he had to dodge Prudence's prurient interest as well.
Georgiana spent the bulk of her time in the Egyptian Wing with Evelyn and Prudence's son, Ludwig Hyde. Ludwig and Georgiana were indexing the Earl's vast collection of artifacts. The egg-shaped Ludwig was so passionate about his Egyptian studies that he was very absent-minded about the social amenities -- often appearing late for meals, with an artifact in hand.
Threshfield's unmarried sister was also in residence. The elderly Lady Augusta Hyde approached Nick when he first arrived believing him to be sent by Wellington to get rid of Georgiana, Napoleon's spy. Nick later learned, after fleeing with Georgiana into the woods when Augusta started shooting at her, that this was a regular occurrence.
Augusta was not the only gun-toting senior in the story. Lady Lavinia Stokes was Georgiana's breeches-wearing spinster aunt (the duke's sister). Aunt Livy was Georgiana's chaperone on her visit to her betrothed's county house. It was Aunt Livy who prevented Nick from riding off with Georgiana when he first rode up to Thresfield House. Although Aunt Livy was not richly developed, she seemed to be the only sensible-headed individual in the book.
Robinson did add a little intrigue to the story by weaving in accidents that revealed that someone was out to kill Georgiana. There were enough Hyde relatives in residence and Thresfield was enjoying playing with their psyche's by telling lies that had them up in arms regarding their individual inheritances to give readers several suspects.
Robinson failed in her attempt to bring Nick's learned valet, Theophrastus Pertwee, to the same degree of interest and humor that she met with in Lady Dangerous with Jocelin and Loveday. Pertwee engendered no interest and only added to the Nick's penchant to quote more verse -- a prominent feature in all Robinson's books.
One other minor, barely necessary character was the addition of Dallas Meredith. Dallas was on Jocelin's ranch at the beginning of the book and Nick kept noticing the silent exchanges between Jocelin and Dallas as they discussed Georgiana. Then Dallas popped up at the end of the book to deliver letters to both Georgiana and Nick and explain what all those silent glances were about. (How did Jocelin even get Nick's letters so quickly? Wouldn't it take at least a month for mail to get from England to Texas?)
In spite of Robinson's valiant efforts to write an enjoyable book, The Engagement will never be a must-read book -- would only recommend it to someone who wanted to read Nick and Georgiana's story after meeting them in Lady Dangerous (book one of The English Gunslingers Duet). (Have a feeling that Robinson enjoyed writing this particular book because she spent a lot of time describing many of the artifacts found in the Egyptian Wing.)
A Pet Peeves Moment: Hate it when authors change the spellings of characters and locations that span more than one book.
--Vonda M. Reid (Friday, March 16, 2012 : 1:04 a.m.) [221]
The English Gunslingers Duet
The Engagement Quotations:
Characters Found In "The Engagement"
Suzanne Robinson
♠ Website
♣ pseudonym used by: Lynda S. Robinson
Suzanne Robinson Book List:
♠ Fantastic Fiction
♣ FictionDB
Lynda S. Robinson Book List:
♠ Fantastic Fiction
♣ FictionDB
The Engagement Reviews:
Notes:
♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
♥ Willing to share Cheat Sheet
♦ in whole or in part
Action: ♠.♠ / Emotion: ♣♣.♣ / Romance: ♥♥ / Sensuous: ♦♦ / Suspense: ♠♠.♠
Action: 1.5 / Emotion: 2.5 / Romance: 2 / Sensuous: 2 / Suspense: 2.5 // Historical Flavor: 3 / Laughter: 7 / Teary: 1
The premise for the story line was a clever one -- just imagine the pairing of an ex-thief from St. Giles and a duke's daughter. There could have been all kinds of witty repartee and fascinating twists and turns to take in the story. There were a few twists and turns, but mostly the book consisted of misunderstandings and stand-offs between the hero and heroine.
To stop the wounded Jocelin and pregnant Liza from crossing the ocean to stop his hair-brained sister from making such a mistake, Nick agreed to go to England and end the engagement. Nick arrived at the Threshfield estate, again galloping Pounder across the oak-lined avenue to land in front of Georgina with an impressive display of horsemanship, then proceeded to call her "George" and told her to pack her bags, it was time to go.
The flavor of the rest of the story could almost be reduced to Georgiana's thoughts as she figured out that this slow-drawling speaker was Mr. Ross, friend of her brother.
"Georgiana wasn't the daughter of a duke for nothing. Giving this barbarian a chilly nod, she turned on her heel and spoke to the Threshfield butler, who had come out of the house upon the arrival of the stranger.If ever there was an action and phrase sequence that Robinson over-used during the entirety of Georgiana's story, it was Georgiana stiffening her spine and remarking about her standing as "the daughter of a duke."
"Randall, send this person on his way." (page 20)
Robinson told no revealing, sympathy-inducing stories about Georgiana as she grew up under the rule of her tyrant of a father, who subdued and ruled his more intelligent sensitive wife by the simple virtue of his being male. No sense of Georgiana's sorrow was established when Robinson briefly explained about the one instance where Georgiana felt a moment of magic because Lord Silverstone asked for her hand in marriage -- only to find that Silverstone felt he was making a great sacrifice by marrying a giantess. Robinson failed to engender sympathy with the few paragraphs about Georgiana feeling inadequate and vulnerable as a clumsy debutante in society because of her height.
Robinson tried to stir up a bit of a connection with Georgiana by having her explain to Nick during several of their confrontations that she was not a typically-spoiled blue blood -- that her life was not all tea and crumpets as her father sought to marry her off to a man who would then own her. Certainly it is not fair that personal experience ensured that could understand and sympathize more with Nick's mother and sister than with poor, misunderstood Georgiana. Nick's mother was no less owned by her brutal husband, yet the reader is supposed to feel just as sympathetic for Georgiana, who didn't spend her life rubbing her hands raw scrubbing floors and fireplaces.
Even thought it was easy to understand where Nick was coming from when he believed himself beneath Georgiana on the social scale (the story did take place in class-conscious England), Robinson pulled about as much sympathy for Nick as she did Georgiana. There was just no deep emotional connection to these two protagonists as they fought their mutual attraction. Nick pursued Georgiana relentlessly and when they finally made love (with some sizzle and heat), he felt guilty for betraying the man who saved his life. Then Nick and Georgiana spent the remainder of the book angry at the other because she thought Nick wouldn't marry her because she was so tall and Nick thought her stiff spine meant she was embarrassed that she had lowered herself to be with St. Giles refuse.
Robinson threw in some secondary characters to add some plot and intrigue to the story line -- and give Nick a reason to stay close to Georgiana. A prominent secondary character was Georgiana's betrothed, the Earl of Threshfield. Threshfield took great glee in tormenting his family by telling lies and leaving them to wonder what they would inherit upon his death. Threshfield displayed his intelligence and freely spoke his mind -- even telling Nick that he should wait to pursue Georgiana after she was a widow.
Thresfield's family members were a unique collection of aristocrats. Thresfield's nephew and heir, Evelyn Hyde, was the typical handsome aristocrat, who acted just like Georgiana's father -- had that air of entitlement and assumed he was superior due to an accident of birth. Additionally, Nick jealously noticed the lustful glances Evelyn constantly threw Georgiana's way. Basically, Evelyn was an unremarkable character.
The only reason Evelyn married the rolly-polly, beringed, social-climbing Lady Prudence Hyde was for the immense marriage settlement he received. What found really amazing was that these two characters even managed to beget a son. Nick not only noticed Evelyn's lustful glances, but he had to dodge Prudence's prurient interest as well.
Georgiana spent the bulk of her time in the Egyptian Wing with Evelyn and Prudence's son, Ludwig Hyde. Ludwig and Georgiana were indexing the Earl's vast collection of artifacts. The egg-shaped Ludwig was so passionate about his Egyptian studies that he was very absent-minded about the social amenities -- often appearing late for meals, with an artifact in hand.
Threshfield's unmarried sister was also in residence. The elderly Lady Augusta Hyde approached Nick when he first arrived believing him to be sent by Wellington to get rid of Georgiana, Napoleon's spy. Nick later learned, after fleeing with Georgiana into the woods when Augusta started shooting at her, that this was a regular occurrence.
Augusta was not the only gun-toting senior in the story. Lady Lavinia Stokes was Georgiana's breeches-wearing spinster aunt (the duke's sister). Aunt Livy was Georgiana's chaperone on her visit to her betrothed's county house. It was Aunt Livy who prevented Nick from riding off with Georgiana when he first rode up to Thresfield House. Although Aunt Livy was not richly developed, she seemed to be the only sensible-headed individual in the book.
Robinson did add a little intrigue to the story by weaving in accidents that revealed that someone was out to kill Georgiana. There were enough Hyde relatives in residence and Thresfield was enjoying playing with their psyche's by telling lies that had them up in arms regarding their individual inheritances to give readers several suspects.
Robinson failed in her attempt to bring Nick's learned valet, Theophrastus Pertwee, to the same degree of interest and humor that she met with in Lady Dangerous with Jocelin and Loveday. Pertwee engendered no interest and only added to the Nick's penchant to quote more verse -- a prominent feature in all Robinson's books.
One other minor, barely necessary character was the addition of Dallas Meredith. Dallas was on Jocelin's ranch at the beginning of the book and Nick kept noticing the silent exchanges between Jocelin and Dallas as they discussed Georgiana. Then Dallas popped up at the end of the book to deliver letters to both Georgiana and Nick and explain what all those silent glances were about. (How did Jocelin even get Nick's letters so quickly? Wouldn't it take at least a month for mail to get from England to Texas?)
In spite of Robinson's valiant efforts to write an enjoyable book, The Engagement will never be a must-read book -- would only recommend it to someone who wanted to read Nick and Georgiana's story after meeting them in Lady Dangerous (book one of The English Gunslingers Duet). (Have a feeling that Robinson enjoyed writing this particular book because she spent a lot of time describing many of the artifacts found in the Egyptian Wing.)
A Pet Peeves Moment: Hate it when authors change the spellings of characters and locations that span more than one book.
| As Found In: | Lady Hellfire | Lady Dangerous | The Engagement |
| Family Surname . . . . . | . . . . . . . . . . . . . . | Marshall . . . . . | Marshal_ . . . . . |
| Battle Location . . . . . | Balaclava . . . . . | Balaklava . . . . . | Balaklava . . . . . |
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
The English Gunslingers Duet
| # | Date | Title | Hero | Heroine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01. | 03-1994 | Lady Dangerous | Jocelin Paul Marshall, Viscount Radcliffe | Elizabeth "Liza" Maud Elliot |
| 02. | 06-1996 | The Engagement | Nick Ross (St. Giles raised) | Lady Georgiana Marshal |
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
The Engagement Quotations:
| 42 | "You're a mean-spirited little snake who hides his appetite for cruelty behind a guise of honesty. You admire frankness? Here's frankness -- you have no chin, sir, and you're short, but neither of these mattered to me. However, I do object to marrying a self-important ass." |
| 46 | "if the lord had done his lovemaking right, he wouldn't be worried about his wife finding a replacement" |
| 167 | ". . . daughters stiffened their spines and got on with the business of living, even if life seemed to offer only the prospect of unending, bleak grayness." |
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
Characters Found In "The Engagement"
| Character / Location | Description / Relationships |
|---|---|
| Nicholas "Nick" Ross | [Hero] grew up in festering sore of east London; dodged father's fists; learned to scavenge in refuse bins for food; picked pockets; robbed houses to buy moldy bread and rancid meat for mother and sister; town house near Grosvenor Square in London; several country houses in several counties (2) disreputable accent and language (7) perseverance; intelligent; charm the ladies without even trying (11) tall; lean; long, shaggy chestnut hair streaked with sun-bleached amber; gun belt slung low on his hip (19) dark blue gaze (20) rough low, throaty voice; sun-brown; sweaty; two days' worth of beard (21) elegantly savage protégé of Jocelin (21) blue eyes tinged with sapphire; wide shoulders; shallow indentation in the middle of his chin (21) charm of Byron linked with the ruthlessness of a Cossack; list of society conquests (29) sunset-blue eyes; handsome; mysterious past; ladies and duchesses quiver in their boots when he rides by in Hyde Park (46) transformed into an aristocrat; smelled of sandalwood soap (49) "a tall, muscled impudent inferior" (50) long, slim fingers; gold ring engraved with winged griffins (83) hair a deep, warm brown, like antique wood, sun-lightened strands formed a spray of polished bronze and amber though the darker hue; fine, almost imperceptible frown line marked a path from his nose past his mouth; straight, neat brows ran parallel to his mouth; wide, yet slender lips; sculpted hollows in his cheeks below the jawline (101) belligerently firm jawline; taller than Jocelin; strong shoulders and arms; a born master (102) bravery; impudent humor: championed misused children; emancipation from iron rule of Society (166) father traded him for settlement of a debt (186) tawny beauty; irreverent humor (195) off-center smile (229) |
| Lady Georgiana Marshal | [Heroine] black hair; emerald eyes; tall enough to tower over most men; gold-rimmed spectacles gave her look of blue-stocking; nose and cheeks were sprayed with light freckles; tripped over her train as she'd back out of the royal presence; stepped on toes of dance partners; spilled tea on callers; sneezed in face of prince consort, Queen Victoria's husband (9) tall young woman, attempted to hide her stature by walking bent forward; gold wire-rimmed spectacles brightened her already astonishing green eyes; studious air prevented people from discerning the vulnerability in those jewel-bright eyes; air of stately dignity (13) had never been able to distance herself from sympathetic pain (18) not a great beauty; too determined; delightful nose (27) thick length of hair (42) love of ancient world (45) steel spine (61) good at planning (74) spine straight as a fence post; shoulders square; nose in the air (90) sensitive; vulnerable (115) |
| . . . | . . . |
| Catherine of Valois | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] widow of Henry V, married Owen Tudor (195) |
| Owen Tudor | [Actual Historical Character / No Appearance] clerk of the wardrobe (195) |
| . . . | . . . |
| Duchess of Clairemont | [No Appearance] duchess; Georgiana's and Jocelin's mother; prolific writer (8) more intelligent and sensitive than duke; duke had to approve the newspapers, books, magazine she read, the clothes she wore, the friends she made; rarely saw more than a few pounds of real money at any one time (43) |
| Duke of Clairemont | [Secondary Character] Georgiana's father; bungled his finances (18) emerald eyes; erect military bearing; "surveyed the world and everyone in it with the cold disinterest of one who knew that he ranked above all that he observed (263) |
| Lady Mary Drille | [No Appearance] selfish; soft-brained; left her husband of 23-years to chase after Nick (109) |
| Lady Augusta Hyde | [Secondary Character] Threshfield's unmarried sister; bats in her belfry // half-century old apparel; the Hyde eagle's-beak nose; air of daintiness; red-rimmed bean-brown eyes; high squeaky voice (31) earl's unmarried sister (32) |
| The Honorable Evelyn Hyde | [Major Secondary Character] Threshfield's nephew and heir; Ludwig's father (44) disliked threats to his inheritance (45) handsome (53) younger, more energetic replica of Earl (54) air of entitlement; assumed he was superior due to an accident of birth (60) |
| Ludwig Hyde | [Major Secondary Character] Evelyn and Prudence's son; indexing Earl's antiquities (14) domed, slightly bald head shaped like a cabbage; egg-shaped body (14) wispy mustache (15) took refuge in Egyptian wing to evade spiteful great-uncle and parents (45) cabbage-shaped head; parents wanted him to give up studies (78) forgot times; kind; gentle; mannered; well-born (228) |
| Lady Prudence Hyde | [Major Secondary Character] Evelyn's wife (44) far-reaching plans that ended in acquiring a dukedom for Evelyn (45) short like queen; ran to fat; rings on fingers; features repeated roundness of body; circular eyes (52) bulbous nose; mouth that pinched into tight , round little button; customary snipping tone (53) dumpy little person; Evelyn only married for immense marriage settlement; dressed in height of fashion; sallow complexion; oak-brown hair (53) bean-colored eyes (54) |
| Sir Nigel Mainwaring | [No Appearance] justice of the peace; Evelyn's old school chum (185) |
| Jocelin Marshal Viscount Radcliffe | [Brief Appearance] [Book 1 Hero] (4): Nick's closest friend (1) more brother than friend; jet-black hair; "Jos"; failed at ruthlessness; served in Crimea; crusaded against debauchers of children (4) sparkling emerald eyes; military bearing; Horse Guards (6) heir to dukedom; difficult family life (7) |
| Liza Marshal | [Brief Appearance] [Book 1 Heroine] Jocelin's wife; ash-blond hair; hazel eyes; pregnant (3) |
| Uncle Yale [Marshal] | [No Appearance] Duke of Clairemont's younger brother // progressive ravages of a disease visited on the promiscuous (17) plague was eating his brain (18) |
| Dallas Meredith | [Brief Appearances] ranch hand (4) from Deep South; blue-blooded (7) Dallas was grandson of Threshfield's youngest brother; sent to American in gambling disgrace (263) |
| Nellie | [Brief Appearance] upstairs maid; caught glimpse of Nick (46) |
| Theophrastus Pertwee | [Secondary Character] Nick's valet; orange hair slicked down with oil; monocle dangled from ribbon on his coat; clothing pristine and free of wrinkles; so thin as to resemble a stick insect; father had been a stuffy old schoolmaster (33) glided as if moving on oiled wheels (34) implacable glance (37) |
| Poison | [No Appearance] ranch cook (5) |
| Pounder | Nick's horse (2) enormous roan horse (19) |
| Randall | [Minor Secondary Character] Threshfield butler (20) |
| Rebecca | [Secondary Character] Georgiana's maid (39) short; delicately fashioned (70) receding chin (76) |
| [Mr.] Ross | [No Appearance] Nick's father; coachman; drank himself out of every position he held; taken his failures out on his wife and children; flew into rages (35) |
| Tessie Ross | [No Appearance] Nick's sister (35) died at the hands of a man who bought her for an evening; just a little girl (168) |
| Lord Silverstone | [Brief Appearance] asked for Georgiana's hand after one dance; she was in daze until first conversation; heir to a great title; beautiful in a round-chinned way; Georgiana smitten with his artistic sensibilities, refinement, heavy-lidded and sad brown eyes; shorter than Georgiana (40) |
| Snead | [One Appearance] Duke of Clairemont's henchman // mountainous man; broken nose; fists the size of beef joints (265) |
| Lady Lavinia Stokes | [Major Secondary Character] Georgiana's spinster aunt (10) Aunt Livy (17) silver hair; face devoid of all but the finest age lines; wore breeches, riding coat and boots (22) married young to a man more interested in his horses than her; refused to be put on marriage block when widowed (43) steel spine (61) |
| John Charles Hyde Earl of Threshfield: | [Major Secondary Character] vicious old blister; old enough to be Georgiana's grandfather (8) chief delight in life is tormenting his family; great deal of income, independent of entail, holds over family; collects strange objects from all over the world; cackles when he laughs; rolls around in creaky wheelchair; spry old skeleton when he wants to be (10) brilliant mind; amazing imagination; allowed bitterness derived from his own uncaring parents, and a love of power over people to sour his soul (45) still tall; over 80 years; majestic Hyde nose; thick white hair swept back from his forehead (47) ever-present glitter composed in part of devilment, curiosity and cynical amusement in watery eyes; silver eyebrows (48) contrary (52) mean old conniver (198) |
| Nan Tusset | [No Appearance] stay maker in Worthbridge (143) |
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
♠ Website
♣ pseudonym used by: Lynda S. Robinson
Suzanne Robinson Book List:
♠ Fantastic Fiction
♣ FictionDB
Lynda S. Robinson Book List:
♠ Fantastic Fiction
♣ FictionDB
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
The Engagement Reviews:
| Rated | Posted | Site | Notes, Comments, Etc. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.00 average | {2 reviews} | Amazon | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 3.00 average | {1 review} | Barnes and Noble | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 3.50 average | {2 reviews} | Good Reads | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 3.13 average | {8 ratings} | Library Thing | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 3.30 average | {9 ratings} | Paperback Swap | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 3.00 average | {2 reviews} | Shelfari | as of: March 24, 2012 |
| 2.80 | 03-24-2012 | Wolf Bear Does Books | shorter post on Amazon, B&N, GR, Library Thing, Shelfari |
♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦ . . . . . . . . . . ♠ . . . . . . . . . . ♣ . . . . . . . . . . ♥ . . . . . . . . . . ♦
♥ Disclaimer: I Purchased This Book
♥ Very Subjective Rating
♥ Willing to share Cheat Sheet
♦ in whole or in part
♦ WordPerfect or PDF
♣ Will add your The Engagement review link to table, just ask
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