A Rogue's Embrace (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: Really 2 & 1/2, but pleasant enough to move up to 3 stars
Review: Both of the other reviewers made excellent points. In fact, I enjoyed the interplay between the main characters so much (in spite of the mounds of historical inaccuracies) that I almost rated the book higher. Attention to history and social mores of the day and to tight plotting and improved style could easily move King into higher rankings.

Relationship-wise, the book was a pleasure to read. Even knowing the outcome of sub-plots in advance failed to detract from the excellent couple. However, the previous viewer is quite correct in the book's most damning flaw: marriageable-age single men and women would NEVER have been allowed to be alone together as depicted in this book. Her reputation would have been ruined and/or he would have been forced to marry her. Worse, other couples were daily in the same situations. Daily carriage travel and all the other complaints of that reviewer are also too true. In addition, the brother's dastardly turn is not given enough base to be truly creditable and the secondary characters could be better developed. For example, the Colonel is the hero's good friend, but you'd never know it if the author hadn't said so. Many things happen only to advance the plot, without really springing from the characters or previous actions. Finally, King repeats too many pet phrases, eventually causing the reader to nearly groan at their use ("tumble in love" being a prime example).

Having said all that, however, I enjoyed the central couple enough that I was able to return to the story every time my disbelief refused to be suspended. The central idea of the book and the general plot used to bring the couple together were fresh and interesting. Better execution, especially regarding historical accuracy, could have made this a fine book indeed.

Rating:
Summary: Mildly entertaining romance - shame about incredible setting
Review: Fenella Trentham has been captivated by the Marquess of Perryn for the past five years, ever since she came upon him blind drunk in the maze at his country estate - and kissed him. Ever since, she's tried to forget him and fall in love with someone else, but she can't get him out of her mind.

For his part, Perryn can't imagine why he's so intrigued with Fenella, especially as he knows that she isn't the lady of his dreams. He's still searching for the golden angel who rescued him from the pit of despair five years earlier, when he was grieving for the death of his lover. So why does his Fennel, as he calls her, matter to him so much?

Someone else thinks she knows, and so when Perryn and Fenella are guests at her house party Mrs Altringham devises a plan to throw them together. She holds a charity treasure hunt, in which her guests must pair off and spend two weeks travelling around the countryside in coaches, collecting items to sell for charity. The best collection will win a prize. Fenella, being naturally competitive, wants to win - but is appalled when her host's machinations pair her up with Perryn, with whom she fights almost every time they meet, and whom she has an almost irresistible desire to kiss. Can they possibly spend two weeks in close proximity without killing each other?

The romance is actually quite well done; Fenella and Perryn go through appropriate phases of impatience and irritation with each other, moments of inexplicable desire, and spend time getting to know each other very well - enough to learn some surprising things about each other. But the setting is so incredible that I can't rate this book any higher than two stars.

First, a lady and a gentleman - not related to each other - alone in a carriage for hours at a time? Where were the chaperones? This is simply not possible. Equally, where were the chaperones at the houses the teams visited? Men and women seemed to be alone together without a single person batting an eyelid.

Second, it's equally impossible that the teams could have been out every day. Carriage-travel was exhausting in the early nineteenth century; the roads were dusty and full of holes, and no matter how well-sprung a carriage was, there is simply no way that Mrs Altringham's guests would have turned out day after day to travel from place to place. And travelling on the day after a ball (which would have ended late) and on a Sunday? Simply not possible.

Third, how could Perryn have possibly held a ball at his country estate four days into the expedition? Fenella notes that he would have needed at least two weeks to organise it - and yet he, like her, didn't know that they would be going on the expedition, and ending up at his home, until the night before they left. Silly plot hole, that.

The narrative is not, as another reviewer suggested, in any way reminiscent of Jane Austen. I was jolted out of the story on several occasions by Americanisms and anachronisms in narrative and dialogue, and by grammatical errors. There were also elementary errors in word usage: King, 'disinterested' does not mean *un*interested!

The subplot regarding Fenella's brother seemed forced and unnecessary. Finally, it was very strange that we never learned Perryn's first name!

wmr-uk

Rating:
Summary: Quite entertaining!
Review: Miss Fenella Trentham fell in love with the Marquess of Perryn five years ago on a moonlit night in his rose garden. Never mind that he was horribly drunk at the time or that he seemed to be wasting all of the gifts he had been given by birth. There was something about his kisses and, well, something about him that Fenella fall hopelessly in love with Perryn. For his part, Perryn remembered only that an angel had visited him and her words and kisses had led him to change his life for the better.

Five years later, Fenella and Perryn have encountered one another at many balls and neither has been able to shake the inexplicable attraction they have for one another. This time, they encounter one another at a house party given by their mutal friend, Mrs. Almington. They encounter one another by chance in her rose garden and their attraction is fueled by the most amazing kisses. Mrs. Almington, for her part, has always believed that Fenella and the Marquess belong together and so she has set upon a matchmaking scheme.

Following Mrs. Almington's grand plan, Fenella and Perryn find themselves matched together on a scavenger hunt to create a collection to be auctioned for the poor. Along the way, they must spend every travelling moment together. While they bicker and tease one another, their attraction continues to grow. Fenella, however, cannot find it in her to trust Perryn given his roguish tendancy to flirt with anything in skirts. But as their trip continues, she finds herself falling deeper in love with him and feeling more as if she could not live without him.

A Rogue's Embrace is a charming book that will have you smiling from the first page. The attraction between Fenella and Perryn is evident from the beginning and their lighthearted teasing makes an enjoyable book. The only draw back was a slightly sinister appearance by a family member. However, this does not detract from the overall experience of the book. Quite entertaining, you will find this easy and fun read. Valerie King's talent at writing regencies and at creating a reading experience reminiscent of the language of Jane Austen will keep you coming back for more.

Rating:
Summary: Quite entertaining!
Review: Miss Fenella Trentham fell in love with the Marquess of Perryn five years ago on a moonlit night in his rose garden. Never mind that he was horribly drunk at the time or that he seemed to be wasting all of the gifts he had been given by birth. There was something about his kisses and, well, something about him that Fenella fall hopelessly in love with Perryn. For his part, Perryn remembered only that an angel had visited him and her words and kisses had led him to change his life for the better.

Five years later, Fenella and Perryn have encountered one another at many balls and neither has been able to shake the inexplicable attraction they have for one another. This time, they encounter one another at a house party given by their mutal friend, Mrs. Almington. They encounter one another by chance in her rose garden and their attraction is fueled by the most amazing kisses. Mrs. Almington, for her part, has always believed that Fenella and the Marquess belong together and so she has set upon a matchmaking scheme.

Following Mrs. Almington's grand plan, Fenella and Perryn find themselves matched together on a scavenger hunt to create a collection to be auctioned for the poor. Along the way, they must spend every travelling moment together. While they bicker and tease one another, their attraction continues to grow. Fenella, however, cannot find it in her to trust Perryn given his roguish tendancy to flirt with anything in skirts. But as their trip continues, she finds herself falling deeper in love with him and feeling more as if she could not live without him.

A Rogue's Embrace is a charming book that will have you smiling from the first page. The attraction between Fenella and Perryn is evident from the beginning and their lighthearted teasing makes an enjoyable book. The only draw back was a slightly sinister appearance by a family member. However, this does not detract from the overall experience of the book. Quite entertaining, you will find this easy and fun read. Valerie King's talent at writing regencies and at creating a reading experience reminiscent of the language of Jane Austen will keep you coming back for more.