Vanity

Rating:
Summary: Nasty.
Review: A dark and sinister book filled with a threatening evil -- an evil kept below the surface. Jane Feather fills the novel with intrigue and devious schemes.

The setting is the late Georgian era. A time when frenzied male hedonism rules -- live big, play big. A time ravaged with over indulgence, whether it is food, drink, gambling or a brazen sexual encounter with another man's wife. I am always uncomfortable with adulterous themes, and I'm grateful few authors travel this path. Nevertheless, I suppose, in this story, it is a necessary ingredient -- an ingredient that bonds the contract our two characters have agreed to fulfill.

Jane Feather covers the era's historical view with careful planning. The author describes the prevailing fashions, the political views, and the distinct class divisions with superb detail.

Yet, I felt a problem with the book's outline. The author insinuates a strong sexual desire between our lovers, but the reader senses it is only a clever facade. We never explore true sexual tension. The sultry cravings and lustful desires are missing. The initial seduction scene is very uncomfortable -- it is murky and bizarre -- the hero drugs the heroine and then introduces her into an eerie sexual world. Disappointingly, the reader will not find flirtatious frolic among these pages.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Rating:
Summary: Not bad, not great
Review: Vanity is a solid read about an adventurous girl, who at a young age shoulders the burden of taking care of herself and her incompetent but scholarly father, and the revenge-plotting, true Earl of Wyndham whose title was wrongfully taken by his evil twin brother. When Octavia fatefully picks the pocket of notorious highwayman Lord Nick/Rupert/Cullum, she is literally dragged into his world of revenge and identity issues. Nick/Rupert/Cullum drugs her one night to "initiate" her into his "dark" world and to tie her to him by basically turning her into a nymphomaniac. To support herself and father, she agrees to help Nick/Rupert/Cullum by seducing the current Earl of Wyndham, unbeknownst to her - his evil twin brother. Of course, they fall in love despite themselves.

The characters don't exactly lack chemistry but neither do they fully have any. The problem lies in that Feather fails to establish any true empathy for the characters. Also, the subplots: Rupert's scheme to get Octavia's revenge for her, Letitia's observance of Octavia's trysts with her husband, Frank the chimney boy's appearances and disappearances, and Octavia's father's pretended ignorance do not really serve their purposes within the story. The last three, in particular, have no real place within the plot.

All in all, it is a pretty fast read if you want to bother with it; although, I would recommend other books before this one.

Rating:
Summary: Vanity was spell binding.Each page brings new excitement.
Review: Vanity was one of Feather's best.Octavia is a loveable person that you can easily identify with. She is all passion-motivated by love and willing to do what ever she is asked by her master lover Rupert-Lord Nick or Cullum.His main goal in life is to get even with his evil brother Philip no matter what the cost even the Love of his life. The love that grows between Octavia nad Cullum is unavoidable. What will it cost them? Read this powerful romance to find out. Loved it!