My first read of the new year - the big kahuna. Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. Currently the "in" book among romance readers - it topped both the AAR and Regency lists this year. I've had it in my TBR for years and never read it. Until now. Can any book live up to this buzz level?
Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase
(1995, Regency Historical) 1/5/05
Grade: 4.5
Since his mother left him at age eight, Dain has been determined to avoid emotional entanglements. If he wants a woman, he pays her. But when he meets Jessica Trent, he is immediately thrown into a tailspin. She doesn't fit any of his preconceptions about women. Proper spinster Jessica finds herself in the same situation - lusting after a man who is so wrong, but so right. What can she do but shoot him - and then marry him?
Snappy and fun, but with some emotional heft. Chase is the master of snappy dialogue - the book is full of laugh-out-loud lines. Both Jessica and Dain are witty and tough, but vulnerable. Classic characters and story, but this is why they're classic. The first part of the book gets somewhat bogged down after a while. It's fun, but there's too much mental lusting and too much self-flagellation by Dain. (I get it already, stop whacking me over the head!) It became tiring. The book gets better after Jessica and Dain get married, and is then delightful (and more emotional) up until the end. The "cute kid" denoument is predictable, but still heart warming. Not quite a keeper, but worth reading.
The Final Word: Although I prefer the more straightforward emotionalism of Balogh or Kinsale, Lord of Scoundrels was a fun read. It's not surprising it's so popular - it merges the classic tortured hero story with the humorous style of current authors.
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