Customer Reviews

Counterfeit Gentleman (Signet Regency Romance)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I immensely enjoyed this book. After reading the last negative review on this title, I had to put in my support for this title. I liked Ms. Dolan's characters and found them immediately appealing. I admit the storyline was not all that realistic, but I liked the adventure aspect. Ms. Dolan reminds me a bit of Carla Kelly's characters, in that they are truly unique, three dimensional, and very memorable. This one will be a keeper on my shelves.

I picked up the book because the author's last name is the same as mine (are there better reasons?) I found the book funny, without being stupid, with enough mystery to add spice to the romance. I've gone on to enjoy several other books by Ms. Dolan.

Definitely a very silly book. We have an attempted murder of the heroine, an ex-smuggler hero who happens to be around to save her, a merry band of loyal ruffians at the hero's disposal, an aunt who's a stickler for etiquette, noble spies who come to the hero's aid, a society dragon with a mischievous, matchmaking streak, an evil half brother, a murder trial and a partridge in a pear tree.

Since there are only so many pages to work with, the romance takes a back seat to all the plotting. They both fall in love with the other fast and hard, but I saw no reason why beyond finding the other good looking. They don't flirt, have long conversations or even fight. He fishes her out of the ocean, draws her a bath and brushes her hair and she's decided he's the other half of her soul. For his part, he was sporting a chubby while treading water with her during the rescue because, you know, *they fit so perfectly*.

But, you know what? The book manages to be a ton of fun. It doesn't take itself too seriously, so it was pretty enjoyable if read as a farce. The zany characters and over-the-top villains give it a sort of silly vaudeville vibe, and if you check your brain at the door, it's a fun trip.

Yet another writer who doesn't get her historical details and contemporary mores correct; there were too many things which made me blink in this book.

Apart from that, the story was uninteresting and ludicrous. Wealthy woman's relative tries to kill her by drowning her. She's rescued by some sort of pirate/robber, with whom she - naturally! - falls in love. She decides that she needs to marry in order to protect her fortune, so she marries her criminal. And then tries to pass him off as an aristocrat!

I'm sorry, but please!

A one-time read which went straight into the charity bag afterwards.