Sunday, November 11, 2012

THE PERILS OF PLEASURE by Julie Anne Long



Publisher:   Avon
Date published:   January 29, 2008
ISBN:  978-0061341588
Genre:   Historical Romance
Book format:  Paperback
Obtained via:  Publisher
Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com



Colin Eversea has been sentenced to die for the crime of murdering another man. That the other man’s family and Colin’s have a long history of a feud that has caused strife to both families is but a factor in his pending death. As he begins the march to the hangman’s scaffold Colin is told to trip and fall at the 5th step. Counting the steps he does so and soon finds himself in the midst of a daring rescue. When a mad dash through London’s streets concludes he finds himself before a woman with a gun. Before he can gain answers as to just what she is about, someone breaks into their hiding place and attempts to kill Colin’s rescuer.

Madeleine Greenway has known loss. Terrible, mind numbing loss. In her climb out of grief her ability to plan and carry out some amazingly creative plans has kept her afloat. Now she is mere pounds away from her journey to America where she plans to keep a farm and in a way, move on with her life. But Madeleine has a tender heart and a desire to do the right thing. When Colin saves her life she begins to believe in his innocence and joins with him to prove he did not kill Roland Tarbell. Along the way, despite her attempt to view Colin as merely business, for the first time in a long while Madeleine begins to feel. Can she keep Colin safe long enough for him to prove his innocence?

THE PERILS OF PLEASURE is my first Julie Anne Long read. With a fun mix of Castle and Beckett type bantering amidst a bit of Mary Shelley, Ms. Long offers a different kind of romance. While the mix of CASTLE with Frankenstein may seem a romance gone bad. In actuality it is a fun sort of mix. Ms. Long’s special blend of humour comes out in the characters, particularly through Madeleine.

Despite that humour I didn’t connect with either character.  I liked Madeleine’s competence and Colin’s impish look at life, but neither was anyone I’d go out of my way to get to know. For the most part I didn’t feel they connected to each other either. There was a decided lack of emotion between them.  I kept waiting for the romance to happen. Instead there was a long journey to find their answers, once found, they were a non-event. Suddenly Colin is in love with Madeleine, but I didn’t see it happen.

I struggled through reading most of the book. It is definitely historical because of the mode of travel and a few other references, but I’m not entirely sure which era it takes place in. That in itself isn’t a bad thing because it can be enjoyed by both historical or contemporary fans.

I’m curious where the author will take the rest of the series.


This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

 https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-theperilsofpleasure-722761-162.html?referrer=509710ad75b78Perils of Pleasure available from All Romance Ebooks

 


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