The Pretender

Rating:
Summary: Almost excellent
Review: The Pretender by Barbara Miller started out very well. Juliet Sinclair hears a huge crash in the Library. When she rushes in she sees her dear Father lying dead on the floor and her evil cousin Redmond calmly stoking the fire. "Heart attack" says Redmond but Juliet suspects murder. Her immediate goal is to find a Protector-type husband for her beautiful, younger sister Ariel. Draco Melling, recently of the Kings Dragoons, seems to fit the bill but Juliet is too obstinate to see that she and Draco are a perfect match for each other rather than Draco and Ariel. So starts this almost excellent novel which had so much potential but BOGGED DOWN dreadfully through the middle. Draco is an absolutely wonderful, teddybear type Hero with soulful brown eyes. Secondary characters - Ariel, brother Harry, etc are fleshed out well and contribute to the background. But nothing really happens!!! Where's evil Redmond? He only takes a couple of unsuccessful potshots at the Sinclair family and is not active enough to be a threat. Juliet, for all her "smarts" is pretty dumb when it comes to finding true love. There's Draco - Mr. Perfect - standing right in front of her, constantly declaring himself and she just keeps pushing him away. (Sigh...) On top of this, the Trent/Amy story quickly became tedious for anyone who had not read Miller's previous book. And lastly, why is the book called the Pretender? It would have been better named The Protector. I'll give Barbara Miller another try later but this book was a bit of a disappointment.

Rating:
Summary: Almost excellent
Review: Though the slave trade has been outlawed in England for a decade, but by 1817 the odious business remains thriving. Draco Melling wants to end this nastiness by uncovering the identity of the ringleader. He also believes that same felon is the mastermind behind the stealing of ships and cargo. Finally his prime suspect is his enemy Redmond Sinclair.

At the same time Draco's mother desires a grandchild and selects Ariel Sinclair as her daughter-in-law. Ariel's sister Juliet supports the concept as she believes that only a strong male can keep her sibling and hopefully her brother safe from their father's killer, cousin Redmond. Though not seeking a bride, Draco falls in love but with the wrong sister as he desires Juliet. She returns his deepest feelings, but will sacrifice her own happiness for Ariel even as Draco soon finds his inquiries and the safety of the Sinclair sisters converging.

THE PRETENDER is an action-packed Regency romance that attains its acme when Draco is pursuing his case and protecting the siblings rather than when he woos Juliet. The couple is a delight yet their courtship slows down this historical thriller. Still sub-genre will derive joy from Barbara Miller's entertaining action packed tale and demand a sequel or two from the author.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: action-packed Regency romance
Review: Though the slave trade has been outlawed in England for a decade, but by 1817 the odious business remains thriving. Draco Melling wants to end this nastiness by uncovering the identity of the ringleader. He also believes that same felon is the mastermind behind the stealing of ships and cargo. Finally his prime suspect is his enemy Redmond Sinclair.

At the same time Draco's mother desires a grandchild and selects Ariel Sinclair as her daughter-in-law. Ariel's sister Juliet supports the concept as she believes that only a strong male can keep her sibling and hopefully her brother safe from their father's killer, cousin Redmond. Though not seeking a bride, Draco falls in love but with the wrong sister as he desires Juliet. She returns his deepest feelings, but will sacrifice her own happiness for Ariel even as Draco soon finds his inquiries and the safety of the Sinclair sisters converging.

THE PRETENDER is an action-packed Regency romance that attains its acme when Draco is pursuing his case and protecting the siblings rather than when he woos Juliet. The couple is a delight yet their courtship slows down this historical thriller. Still sub-genre will derive joy from Barbara Miller's entertaining action packed tale and demand a sequel or two from the author.

Harriet Klausner