A Dangerous Compromise (Zebra Regency Romance)

Rating:
Summary: One of the silliest heroines. . .
Review: As a matter of fact, Clarissa reminds me a great deal of Lydia Bennett of "Pride and Prejudice." (In case you're not a fan, Lydia's the one who ran off with a rake who had to be bribed to marry her.)

Just like Lydia, Clarissa is shatter-brained and totally out of control. She is determined to marry a rake because she wants a Grand Passion. When her friend Jane questions the future faithfulness of a man who has had a lot of mistresses, Clarissa airily replies that Love for her will make him forget all of those women.

Most silly heroines have parents or guardians to keep them in check. This one does not. It really is not surprising that in a fit of pique over the hero's deception (the revelation that he is an honorable man and not a rake), she agrees to become the mistress of one of the worst rakes (who, ironically, becomes the hero of Ms. Donnelly's next book).

What self-respecting hero would run off to rescue such a brainless heroine? At this point, the book became a wall-banger for me.

Somehow, Lydia Bennett never appealed to me as a heroine. "Happy ever after" is much more believable with sensible romantic couples such as Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.

Rating:
Summary: a captivating read
Review: Shannon Donnelly has done it again! She's written a really brilliant sequel to her first book, "A Compromising Situation." "A Dangerous Compromise" is a rich and complex book, and quite a bit darker than the usual fare. For while this book is primarily about a young girl's very first foray into the social swirl that is the London Season, it is not the light hearted romp you might expect it to be. For Clarissa Dewhurst, the beautiful heroine at the heart of this novel, is a young woman full of doubts, questions and fears, and a rather foolish quest that is bound to land her in trouble. Somehow she's gotten it into her head that she can only find fulfillment and peace if she experiences a Grand Passion. And, she believes, only a rake can provide her with this Grand Passion. So, Clarissa has come to London in order to find her rake, make him fall in love with her, and the reform him. And when she finds out that her best friend's (Jane Preston) brother has plans of promoting a match between Jane and his best friend, Evan Fortesque, Clarissa is outraged and urges Jane to reject Evan, esp as this Evan Fortesque is not a rake, and is probably as boring as he is respectable.

Unfortunately, Evan overhears Clarissa's dismissive comments about him. Evan has spent the past few years taking care of his family estates and his family, and he is now in London for a well deserved holiday. And when he overhears Clarissa, he decides to teach her a lesson by presenting himself as a rake, and showing her what a rake is truly like, and how dangerous he can be. However Clarissa truly does fascinate him: she's an audacious mix of vulnerability and willful stubbornness, and Evan finds himself constantly stepping in to protect her form her own folly. And after a while, the reason he constantly seeks her out, whether it is to teach her a lesson or if it is because he cannot stay away from her, becomes completely mixed up in his mind. And then Clarissa attracts the attention of a true rake, St. Albans. Suddenly Evan finds himself flirting in earnest with Clarissa in order to make sure that Clarissa does not fall under St. Albans's spell, and in order to keep this very fascinating young lady for himself. But what will happen when Clarissa discovers that Evan is not the rake she thinks he is?

Plot-wise, "A Dangerous Compromise" is very straight forward read. However the reason to read this novel lies in the complexities of the characters depicted in this novel. To begin with there is Clarissa Dewhurst: is one of the most complex of young romance heroines I've ever come across -- mercurial in her humours, willful and stubborn; she is also generous and loyal, and very vulnerable. The bleak insights that Shannon Donnelly provides us with about Clarissa's childhood and her parents makes us empathise with this very bullheaded heroine, and hope that she discovers what she is TRULY looking for before it is too late. It also successfully explains her rather twisted fixation on finding a rake. Also I really liked that Shannon Donnelly made every character, secondary and primary, really interesting. Clarissa's best friend, Jane, for example. She does not figure much in this novel, but when she is onstage, we are treated to what a plainnish young woman, thinks and feels about being the best friend of a real beauty -- the alternating flashes of envy, love, and concern really come through. Likewise, I also liked her portrayal of the rake St. Albans. Ms Donnelly lets us see why rakes are so dangerous by accurately portraying both the charming and the cold and ruthless aspects of his character.

"A Dangerous Compromise" is not your usual Regency romance fair. It's quite a bit darker, and far more rich and complex. And if you are a fan of the works of Maria Edgeworth and Mary Brunton, then you will definitely enjoy this wonderful novel.