 strong, intelligent characters, 2008-06-28
Lynn Kerstan is an author whose books I generally enjoy very much, but unfortunately, she hasn't had anything new out for a while, so I'm picking up her backlist here and there.
Lord Hugo Duran is in the wrong place at the wrong time, and is captured in India after another Englishman stole the priceless golden leopard deemed necessary to the nizam's rule. He's sentenced to death as a spy and thief, but is granted conditional freedom when he says he's had a dream that he's to restore the leopard.
So he has one year to find the golden leopard or die, and to that end, he returns to England with an assassin as a bodyguard/valet and unseen "others" keeping him under constant watch. Unfortunately, the time of the journey is also included in that year, so he's down to a matter of weeks once he arrives in England.
To find the leopard, he applies to Lady Jessica Carville, whose heart he once broke, and who now works for Christie's auction house as an expert in antiquities.
This is not your usual historical romance. It's more an adventure, on the order of Indiana Jones. It's over-the-top and intense, and a fabulous page-turner.
Hugo and Jessica are both strong, intelligent characters, and neither is inclined to sentiment--maybe that's why I liked them so much. They're larger than life, both of them strong enough to keep their emotions to themselves to accomplish their goals. And despite their determination, they find themselves falling in love again, fighting it all the way.
The character of the assassin Shivaji is a lovely plus--he's mysterious and possessed of an iron-clad resolve to kill Hugo, yet they become friends of a sort.
The resolution of Hugo's dilemma is due to brains and cleverness, and is very satisfying.
All in all, an absolutely wonderful read.
 Romance Reader, 2005-04-20
Am I the only one who noticed that Kerstan has her hero jump into the ocean at midnight a mile from shore and then sink to the BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN to see which way TO SWIM FOR SHORE? And how did an Indian servant manage to have his "master" put in chains and fed bread and water on a British ship with other British passengers? And why did the hero not devise a way to escape his captor when he was allowed out ON HIS OWN in London? Why didn't the hero just shoot his captor when they were together on a hunting field AND THE HERO HAD A GUN after the captor told him he was going to kill him regardless? And how, in 19th century country Britain, did a big gang of foreign ninja's on horses avoid detection by the locals---any locals, anywhere in Britain?
The hero is an idiot, and the plot about as realistic as a Bugs Bunny cartoon, only not as funny. I do not recommend this book and am frankly amazed that no one else noticed or were bother by the ridiculous plot.
enjoyable romance with "real" characters..., 2005-03-26
unlike some of the other reviewers, I really enjoyed this romance. The book actually had a plot-unlike some regencies which are a series of event goings thrown in with a few love scenes. The hero and heroine are older, realistic characters-no gorgeous 19 year old virgins here. I liked the fact that the heroine takes control of her life instead of wallowing in self pity after she's abandoned by the hero years earlier-in fact she becomes an accomplished business woman.
The storyline of finding the golden leopard was exciting, the sub characters-assasins from India-are interesting and add to the exotic flavor of the book and the love scenes are very sensual and erotic-unusual for a regency romance. If you love regencies but are looking for a bit more adventuresome plot, then I recommend this book-4 1/2 stars!
Good, but a tad uneven, 2003-04-13
I thought for sure I would love this book, and I did for the most part. It starts out very intriguing on the plot side, but the beginning till nearly the middle doesn't allow much time for Jessie and Duran to be together. Alot of plot maneuvers dominate the book until just before midway point when they make love for the first time. It jarred me a bit because this important scene was told in flashback *after* it occurred. Then every love scene from that point on (and there were many!) got more and more graphic in description and style. Not that I'm complaining. I like steamy books. But it felt a little uneven as a result. Almost as if the author suddenly became aware of the fact she skimped on romance in the beginning, then tried to make up for that in the second half by loading on the love scenes in every opportunity available. That said, however, this is a very good story. Just a tad....off.
Very uneven, 2003-03-21
It could be because this book is part of a series, but I got the feeling as I read that there were things missing. Of course it could also have been because she lost track of her plot and did n ot tie up all the loose ends. The books alternative between sweet romance and very sensual, and the heroine is not someone I ever get to really know and like. That could be because the hero Hugo is the central character in the book from the opening pages, but I never really understand what she sees in him. He is an excellent character, if a bit uneven in places, and not the total Alpha male who ravishes everything in sight. Still I cannot figure out why he would ever have left her so shamefully-even the reasons given do not ring true considering how much chemistry the two of them evidently have in bed. Some of the subplot with rescuing the sister from a bad marriage is quite heavy handed and you can see the ending coming a mile off. A lot of it reads like a pastiche of other books like Collins' Moonstone and several bad Hollywood films. I wouldn't mind seeing Hugo again in another novel (or in my local bar!!) but the rest left me cold. An entertaining and fast read, but don't expect any depth or real suspense.
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