Rating: 
Summary: Great read
Review: This book was a little different from the style of romance I usually go for. Lindsey, Rogers, Graham, and one of my latest reads by Cynthia Simmons,"Anything, my Love" But different though it was I loved it and it was very well written.
Rating:
Summary: Great read
Review: This book was a little different from the style of romance I usually go for. Lindsey, Rogers, Graham, and one of my latest reads by Cynthia Simmons,"Anything, my Love" But different though it was I loved it and it was very well written.
Rating: 
Summary: Historical anachronisms drag reader from exciting romance
Review: When her brother is taken captive by the French, Elspeth Clayton knows she must rescue him--even if she must risk being 'ruined' to society and take up with Gervaise Valerian, a dandy who may even be involved in treason against the Hanover King of England. Pursued by British agents, French soldiers, and an assortment of cut-throats and assassins, Elspeth and Valerian set off across France on a rescue mission--for Elspeth's brother and for Valerian's 'aunt.' Author Patricia Veryan keeps the action moving, with adventure and swordfighting on almost every page. She also does a fine job developing the growing awareness and attraction between the two characters allowing Elspeth's initial unfavorable reaction to gradually transform itself as Valerian reveals his true qualities. Fans of historical fiction are likely to be jarred, however, by the numerous anachronisms that Veryan introduces into her story. The frequent references to the 'Guillotine' make no sense in a novel set in 1749, decades before Dr. Guillotine earned his fame at the start of the French Revolution. Elspeth's maid's reference to 'germs' seems prescient given that Louis Pasteur was in his 20s at the time and had not yet made his famous discoveries--prescient or simply a mistake. The finding of coffee, then a luxury beverage, in the cheapest taverns and Valerian's references to himself as a 'Milquetoast' after a figure of the early 20th century also work to pull the reader out of the history. Indeed, after finding these, I started looking for more--and found that I was paying more attention to historical errors than to the plot. Despite its research defects, THE RIDDLE OF THE DEPLORABLE DANDY is an enjoyable adventure with engaging characters and romance.
Rating:
Summary: a little short on romance but a good swashbuckling read
Review: While I rather enjoyed "The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy" -- Patricia Veryan is one of my favourite Georgian/Regency romance authours, and I've loved most of her novels -- honesty compels to admit that with this latest "Riddle" installment, the adventure-intrigue subplot has been developed at the expense of the romance subplot. The novel begins, excitingly enough, with the capture of Vance Clayton, a soldier of fortune and a courier, by the French authorities. Because of his family's reduced financial circumstances, Vance has been forced to become a soldier of fortune (so that he can support his mother and sister), and his current assignment is to act as courier to Madame de Pompadour (the French king's mistress). Madame has a penchant for interring in matters of state, and her enemies at court and the government would give anything in order to obtain proof of her interference. And because the English government is reluctant to interfere in this matter, it is beginning to look as if Vance will be executed as a foreign spy. Not however if his sister, Elspeth and his friend, Nicholas Evans, have anything to do with it. Together, they begin to plan a rescue operation in order to liberate Vance from the French. However things go spectacularly wrong when first, Nicholas is injured thus rendering useless for the rescue mission, and when Elspeth has another disasterous run-in with Gervaise Valerian that almost curtails her rescue attempt! Elspeth and Gervaise have already met and run afoul of each other, and neither have a really good impression (nor are they too keen) of each other (in fact it is Elspeth who labels Gervaise as the 'Deplorable Dandy'). Imagine their shock then when each discovers that their reasons for making the trip to France are actually tied together, and that they actually need each other in order to ensure the success of their missions. Readers who are fans of the "Riddle" series will remember Gervaise from "The Riddle of the Shipwrecked Spinster" and know why Gervaise is so keen to get to France. However, for the sake of maintaining the suspense, I'll leave out what Gervaise's mission is so that readers who have not yet read that installment will still be able to enjoy this novel -- all is explained after a couple of chapters anyway. Now, Gervaise and Elspeth must put aside their private opinions of each other and join forces in order to ensure the success of their missions. Will they be able to do so? Or will the Deplorable Dandy's autocratic actions prove too much for Elspeth? Story-wise, "The Riddle of the Deplorable Dandy" was quite the read -- esp if you enjoy swashbuckling Georgian novels. Patricia Veryan did her usual masterful job in allowing for the 'action' and the story to develop at an even and swift pace, mainataining the supsense, and in allowing for her characters to evolve and come to life. Only two things marred the overall pleasure my enjoyment of this novel. 1) that the romance subplot did indeed suffer because of the adventure subplot. From not thinking very much of each other, Gervaise and Elspeth were suddenly quite taken with each other, exchanging many surreptitious glances and always concerned for each other's welfare. Not that I wanted any heavy scenes. To the contrary. But I would have liked it if the romance subplot had been more developed. And 2) that Elspeth suddenly behaves in a naive and foolish way towards the end of the book, trusting a couple of people who suddenly turn up in France, even when every instinct in her body should have been screaming at her to be more careful! (I cannot explain in more detail without giving away things!) On the whole though, I'd say that this latest "Riddle" novel is a winner, and one that anyone (romance addict or not) would enjoy immensely.
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