A Rogue's Promise

Rating:
Summary: a good read even though prose style was a bit modern
Review: "A Rogue's Promise" has two very strong points in its favour: 1) it possesses a really appealing heroine, and 2) the romance subplot (which actually is the primary storyline) is a really strong and endearing one. However, it also suffered from one huge flaw that might make some avid Regency romance buffs wince -- Peggy Waide's prose style (unfortunately) does need some polishing -- it was a bit too modern and Americanized, and after a while this really jarred. However, if you're not too much of a stickler, I can assure you with some certainty that this novel will chain and entertain.

Lady Joanna Fenton is in a bind. Her feckless brother, Randolph is missing along with a priceless Chinese statue. Because of Fentons precarious financial situation (Randolph seems to have a gambling habit, and their mother is busy spending money they don't have on a Season for younger sister, Penelope), Joanna has decided to auction off the statue. With the date of the auction drawing closer, and with Randolph and the statue missing, Joanna doesn't know which way to turn or what to do. (On top of it all Joanna has begun receiving threatening messages on Randolph's behalf.) So that when a friend recommends that she hire adventurer MacDonald Archer to help her locate the missing statue, Joanna eagerly seeks the man out. What she didn't count on was that Archer would revive in her all her old dreams of love, desire, marriage and children. And unbelievably, Archer seems to find her (plain, ordinary Joanna) fascinating and desirable too. Should she believe this adventurer's sweet words? But with time running out and the Fentons' fortunes on the line, Joanna has no time for daydreams and dalliance. Or does she?

The mystery subplot was pretty much the usual fare -- so don't expect too much from it. What really made this novel memorable was that the romance subplot dominated. Far too often novels such as "A Rogue's Promise" focuses more on the mystery/spy subplot. The romance subplot than degenerates to some really graphic sex scenes in which the romantic element is either totally absent or lacking. Fortunately, this was not the case with this novel. Peggy Waide made the effort to paint a romance plot that was both sensual and romantic and her effort is paid off in spades! Another thing that I really liked about this novel was Waide's portrayal of the book's heroine, Lady Joanna Fenton. Joanna is the kind of heroine that most will find easy to empathise with and approve of. In spite of the fact that she's been reduced to being her family's unpaid housekeeper and accountant, that her family quite frequently takes her for granted, and that her dreams of falling in love and marrying have been shattered, Joanna is not someone who sits about the place feeling maudlin and sorry for herself. She's not someone who acts and behaves like a martyr either. (There is a wonderful scene a few chapters from the end between Joanna and her brother. I won't reveal the details of this scene so as not to spoil it but I mentally cheered). Indeed, she's a wonderful mix of sense and vulnerability. And I couldn't help but root for her to have it all!

I rather liked "A Rogues' Promise" in spite of its prose style. It niggled, but I managed to overlook it (more or less). And if you can do the same, well then I cannot recommend this novel heartily enough.

Rating:
Summary: London 1816 - Very highly recommended
Review: Miss Joanna Fenton boldly enters a tavern frequented by smugglers and dockworkers seeking MacDonald Archer. Her family faces financial ruin, and Joanna needs help to locate her brother and a Chinese artifact scheduled for public auction. Her responsible shoulders have born the burdens of her family since her scandalous season several years ago, and she intends to keep any further scandal at bay until her younger sister can be safely married. To her surprise, Mac's educated speech belies his surroundings. Soon Joanna finds herself shockingly attracted to this stranger who can be alternately charming or intolerable.

MacDonald Archer plans to trade the lucrative life of smuggling for the respectability of ordinary shipping. The money, the adventure and the danger no long hold the allure they once did, leaving Mac plagued with a nagging restlessness. Then he meets Joanna, and sees beyond the ordinary exterior that other's dismiss. Suddenly he is intrigued by this bodacious woman intent upon the salvation of her family. Although he has little tolerance for blue bloods, Mac is fascinated by the puzzle Joanna presents with her contrast between vulnerability and determination. Soon he finds himself traipsing through the underbelly of London in Joanna's company, seeking the life threatening answers to the disappearance of both her brother and the artifact.

Peggy Waide's historical novel A ROGUE'S PROMISE is one of the most fun and sizzling Regency romances I have had the pleasure to read. ROGUE'S PROMISE proves Waide's gift for creating strong characterizations. Joanna's drab exterior conceals a woman of passion and fire, fiercely determined to protect her family and equally bold in her growing love for Mac. Mac is fantasy material with his worldly ways and sensual touch. With a page-turning combination of romance, suspense, and danger, ROGUE'S PROMISE is impossible to put down. Indeed, if you only add only one Regency romance to your shelves this year, you will want to make it A ROGUE'S PROMISE. Very highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: powerful historical tale
Review: Though she kept the debt collectors away for quite a long time, by 1816 Joanna Fenton is desperate as creditors hover closer and closer to ruining her family. Her brother has vanished and the Chinese sacred two-headed dragon statuette is stolen. She needs help so she boldly goes where no woman has gone before. She enters a dive of a pub seeking to gain the assistance of nearly retired smuggler MacDonald Archer.

Mac's plans to become respectable as an above the board shipper ends the moment he meets the intrepid Joanna. He follows her as she takes him on a tour of London that would frighten dockworkers. As they work in close proximity on recovering the artifact, they fall in love, but both have reasons to avoid commitment.

ROGUE'S PROMISE is a strong Regency romance that never allows the audience to catch their breath. Yet while all that action is occurring, the talent of Peggy Waide shines through the plot as she provides the audience with two complete lead characters whose motives are understood and make sense. Ms. Waide endows readers with a powerful historical tale worth reading by anyone who enjoys good writing.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: powerful historical tale
Review: Though she kept the debt collectors away for quite a long time, by 1816 Joanna Fenton is desperate as creditors hover closer and closer to ruining her family. Her brother has vanished and the Chinese sacred two-headed dragon statuette is stolen. She needs help so she boldly goes where no woman has gone before. She enters a dive of a pub seeking to gain the assistance of nearly retired smuggler MacDonald Archer.

Mac's plans to become respectable as an above the board shipper ends the moment he meets the intrepid Joanna. He follows her as she takes him on a tour of London that would frighten dockworkers. As they work in close proximity on recovering the artifact, they fall in love, but both have reasons to avoid commitment.

ROGUE'S PROMISE is a strong Regency romance that never allows the audience to catch their breath. Yet while all that action is occurring, the talent of Peggy Waide shines through the plot as she provides the audience with two complete lead characters whose motives are understood and make sense. Ms. Waide endows readers with a powerful historical tale worth reading by anyone who enjoys good writing.

Harriet Klausner