Journal Entry 1 by Sidney1220 from McLean, Virginia USA on Thursday, November 15, 2007

Received from pbs.

12/23/07 Reserved for romance VBB round 19.
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Historical romance master Kleypas reintroduces Cam Rohan, the wealthy half-Gypsy first seen in 2006's Devil in Winter, in her latest page-turning Victorian. Rohan, manager of a London gentleman's club, decides to do a favor for the distraught Amelia Hathaway, who is scouring brothels in search of her wastrel brother, Leo. Rohan, weary of his usual diet of beautiful-but-boring lovers, is bemused by and attracted to Amelia, a staid and proper spinster, and so he sets about making a presence of himself at the ramshackle Hathaway estate, sowing sexual tension as he does. As the standoffish relationship between Rohan and Amelia evolves into romance, the reappearance of Amelia's former suitor throws an intriguing wrench in the works. The author's sensitivity to the prejudice endured by the Roma (Gypsies) adds a measure of grim reality that is creatively offset by Rohan's discussion of Roma beliefs and superstitions. Kleypas's effortless style makes for another sexy exploration of 19th-century passion and peccadilloes, riveting from start to finish. (Oct.)
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Journal Entry 2 by Sidney1220 from McLean, Virginia USA on Monday, December 24, 2007

This is one of the few Lisa Kleypas books that did nothing for me. It didn't really have a plot- okay, it did, but more often than not it feels like a series of contrived situations concocted for the purpose of throwing Amelia and Cam together, and I didn't feel a whiff of sexual tension between the two leads despite the numerous sex scenes. As for the characters, I found Amelia kinda annoying, and Cam didn't really do much except show up at the appropriate time to rescue the damsel in distress. Compared to the other heroes in the Wallflower series, he appeared really young and kind of a lightweight- not enough of a presence of make an effective hero.

All in all a disappointment after the success that was the Wallflower series.

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1/15/08 Reserved for penelopewanders. 

Journal Entry 3 by penelopewanders from Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Monday, February 11, 2008

Zowie, a new Kleypas. It arrived here safely today, thanks to the VBB, and thanks so much... I see Sidney was not blown away by it, but I have to read it anyway as Kleypas does generally have keeper status on my shelves. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 4 by penelopewanders from Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Monday, October 06, 2008

Hadn't read a Kleypas in ages... enjoyed this, although a few hours after finishing it I felt like I had to go back and check because there were so many loose ends - notably Win and Merripin, but I gather they're the main characters for the second in the series. Fun read, and as I'm fascinated by things Romany it was enjoyable to read that aspect of the book, but it remains pretty lightweight. 

Journal Entry 5 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Having read the third, I wanted to reread this before sending it off to a moocher.
I have the impression I enjoyed this much more the second time around, and as another reviewer pointed out, Kleypas does have a way of telling her tale which is very effective.  

Journal Entry 6 by penelopewanders at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland on Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Released 1 yr ago (3/15/2011 UTC) at Hasliberg, Bern / Berne Switzerland

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to the UK via bookmooch. Enjoy!