THE DEDICATED VILLAIN

Rating:
Summary: most salacious Veryan I have read
Review: as a Christian 'romance' reader, I have particularly liked Veryan as someone generally "safe" to read, who does NOT usually put salacious things in her novels - this novel, while enjoyable on every other page, unfortunately was marred by a passage where the "hero" begins to seduce a commoner, right down to grabbing certain anatomical parts! This was kind of shocking to me as someone who has read MOST of what Veryan writes, especially since I appreciate that she tries to put items in her books about God and about morality, and criticizes the whole notion of secret societies and secret/evil plotting against your fellow man. The "hero" DOES realize and repent what he was doing was wrong, but it was still a bit disappointing for me as a reader to have her put this in - I think she could have gotten the point across without getting quite so graphic, for her Christian fans - we have so few authors out there who are not blatantly in the "Christian" category (some of whom are are thin on plot and big on prosletyzing, to the point of driving the reader to pulling their hair out, especially if they are not of that theological persuasion!) that Veryan has been a 'breath of fresh air' of a 'safe' yet thoroughly enjoyable author, mostly. Other than THAT it was a well written book.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Book
Review: I've just recently "discovered" Patricia Veryan and have enjoyed most of her books. I was intrigued by "Otton" in one of her previos books and had to get my hands on this one, no easy feet since it was out of print. I was not dissapointed however.

This wasn't one of those horrible books where the hero and the heroine spend most of the time hating each other and then magicaly fall in love. Instead you "watch" while their friendship and affection grows into love. There are no overly dramatic scenes, and you've got to love the reluctant hero. It was a great book and going into my keeper pile.

Rating:
Summary: Terrific Fast Paced Historical Romance Adventure
Review: Setting - England 1746 ----- It has been a wonderful journey and finally, in this the sixth novel of the Golden Chronicle series by Patricia Veryan, we are seeing the sometimes odious, sometimes sweet, and at all times handsome, womanizing, rogue Roland Fairleigh Mathieson aka, Otton get his comeuppance! This very dedicated villain, has never really loved before and at times you might have come to hate him. Other than his poor deceased mother and his faithful, and wonderful horse, Rumplestiltskin, or fondly referred to as Rump, he has never loved or been loved! Although, as bad as he has been portrayed in the previous novels, there has always been some spark of good that he would let slip through and in this book you will see his 'epiphany' of sorts, brought on by the love of the irresistible force of Fiona Bradford!

For those of you who have not read previous novels in this series, not to worry as this book can stand alone and though he's been portrayed as quite the rake, he has always been amusing and finally a hero! Roland is again in search of the fortune gathered by the Jacobites but never delivered to Bonnie Prince Charlie in his disastrous attempt to overthrow the king of England. For so many months, he had been thwarted in his attempts to discover the ciphers that would lead him to the treasure, the one time he actually does something really heroic in coming to the rescue of a drowning woman he happens upon a caravan troupe of actors whose main purpose was to transport the treasure back to it's rightful owners. Roland, thinking how fortuitous and to go along for the ride, in the end stealing the treasure for himself, begins to see himself through Fiona's eyes and discovers that he does want to change, and the real treasure, to become the man worthy of her love.

This non-stop page-turning adventure has to be my very favorite of the six volume Golden Chronicle series. Even if I had not read the others, there has always been something special about this 'dedicated villain' and his horse Rump! Veryan gives you the most marvelous hero, believing himself worthless, yet such a reluctant hero! Fiona, artless, and believing him to be what he truly was - a hero! You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you will certainly find that you will not forget - this very special dedicated villain! --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com

Rating:
Summary: fabulous ending to a great series
Review: This is the last in the 6 book series and shows the downfall into love of The Dedicated Villain, Roland Fairleigh Mathieson, [...] grandson of the Duke of Marbury. Handsome as sin, an astounding swordsman, and completely devoted to his own well-being and the pursuit of the easy life, Roland is a man who has made life difficult for others in the first 5 books of this series but he meets his match in Fiona Bradford, a pint sized dynamo. The man who has sneered at others who have fallen in love and who has sworn that no woman is worth more than a week of his time falls hopelessly in love. The whole series is about the treasure that was gathered from the supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the attempts of one band of people to gather it together and move it to a safe place, all while hounded by the British military and civilian treasure-seekers, among whom is our hero. If caught, they will be tortured, tried and executed for high treason. Roland has sought the treasure for 5 books and now finds himself bound by his word of honor to help those who are trying to move it to a final safe place to await distribution back to those who gave it. Fiona, along with her father, grandmother and a small group of others, is one of those helping to move it.

Roland finds himself in a difficult position. He loves Fiona and knows that as a rake he is unworthy of her but thinks that his love for her might be enough to reform him. But he is a [...] who lives by his wits and who has been estranged from his grandfather and who despised his noble father. What does he have to offer her? And how can he convince her indomitable grandmother to approve his suit. Fiona is positive that this is the love she's waited for and refuses to listen to those who try to tell her that he will only break her heart.

This is a fun, and in places wittily funny book. It is also a swashbuckling adventure of the old school. In addition to the great primary romance, it has a wonderful secondary one between two characters from the 2nd book in the series, Journey to Enchantment. I have to admit to getting a little teary-eyed when Thaddeus Briley finally gets his lady. This is a fabulous series and one that I strongly recommend.