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22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another wonderful and touching Foley read!, January 9, 2003
After meeting Billy Blade in "Lord of Ice", I was so looking forward to this book that I was a bit worried that it would not live up to my expectations. I worried for nothing. I loved this book. As others have pointed out, contrary to the title, this is really Billy's story and if Billy doesn't touch your heart either you don't have one or it's made of stone! After fleeing his abusive father at 13, Billy eventually winds up a gang leader in London's slums. He may be a criminal, but he's got principles, taking responsibility for his people and also covertly assisting the government on occasion - that's how he knows Jacinda's spy brother Lucien. And Lucien is the only person who knows his true identity - second son of the Marquess of Truro and St Austell! That Lucien sure can keep secrets! Lady Jacinda is the spoiled baby sister of the Knight clan. Her protective older brothers are practically smothering her and when they arrange a marriage to Ian, Lord Griffith, it's more than she can bear. Though she adores Ian, he's more like another brother to her and so she decides to flee to Paris. At a coaching inn she's pickpocketed and pursues the thief into an alley - and into the middle of a turf battle between two of London's toughest gangs. She is discovered by Billy and taken back to his headquarters refusing to tell him who she is or why she's out alone in the streets. Over the next few hours they talk, with Jacinda sharing more than she intends about her hopes, plans and her infamous mother, while both notice a budding attraction. Jacinda is amazed to find that he actually listens to her - something no one else does. I fell in love with Billy when he says to himself in astonishment "she likes me"! How cute. But when Billy discovers who she is, he returns her to her family much to her displeasure. Events force Billy to reunite with his father and reclaim his title, Earl of Rackford, and so Billy and Jacinda meet again. He pursues her, she tries to elude him for she has her own plans. But a relationship develops and it's very sweet and fun to watch. He evolves from street tough to gentleman while she matures after seeing Lizzie's heartbreak at the hands of her rogue brother Alec as well as learning more about Billy and his difficult past. Their mutual affection and respect make you root for this great couple! As always, I look forward to the next installment. It's Lizzie's so we'll see if Alec can redeem himself! And once again we are teased with mention of black sheep Jack whose story I am just dying for! I love this family - reading these books is like spending time with old friends. Keep 'em coming Gaelen!
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Foley does NOT disappoint -- EXCELLENT read!, January 5, 2003
Jacinda Knight, sister to the infamous Knight brothers featured in books such as "The Duke", "Lord of Fire," and "Lord of Ice" is a headstrong, spirited girl who attempts to flee London instead of facing an arranged marriage to a very nice, but brotherly-type man. By pure accident, she meets Billy Blade, a gang leader, on the London streets at night. Billy is captivated by Jacinda's charm, wit, and beauty, and after a course of events, decides to pursue her.. as the Earl of Rackford, his birthright. This, I'd have to say, was one of Gaelen Foley's best works.. if not the VERY best. From page 66, I was in love with Billy.. sensitive, gorgeous, charming.. with a slight shy streak that is so arresting. This is more Billy's story than Jacinda's, in fact.. because even though you will love Jacinda as the heroine, you will see Billy mature from a street thief to an Earl. You will feel his embarassment, his longings.. An extremely touching read, and one that I'd highly recommend. Even if you haven't read the previous books in the series (I mentioned them above), you will not feel lost to the storyline. Another book that I highly recommend in this series is "Lord of Fire", which is also extraordinarily written, about the sensual Lucien Knight, and prudish Alice. Enjoy!
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Billy Blade shines, Lady Jacinda underwhelms..., April 25, 2006
The year is 1816. Lady Jacinda Knight runs away from the Knight estate to escape an arranged marriage with Ian, who is a good friend of her family. While she waits for the coach that will take her away from London and closer to Paris, she is robbed by a young trickster. Chasing the boy takes her straight to the London slums, where she witnesses a gang brawl. And that's where she meets the infamous "Billy Blade" for the second time (the first time was in Lord of Ice). She had felt instant attraction and curiosity for the man when she first met him at her house, but now she fears the street-smart, handsome blonde with a Cockney accent. However, Billy Blade isn't what he appears to be at first. To many, he is a Robin Hood type of criminal who likes to help the poor and the working class, but in reality, Billy Blade is the Earl of Rackford, and hides a terrible childhood that keeps him from returning to the nobility for many years. There are various twists throughout the novel. This novel entertained me like the other offerings in the Knight series. It is filled with romance, eroticism and suspense. I loved Billy Blade. He is an interesting, gorgeous and sexy character from beginning to end, but he is especially appealing during the second half of the book. He shows just the right amount of complexity and flaws to make him real and palatable for the reader. And even though I am not partial to blond-haired heroes, and despite the fact that the Knight twins are my favorite heroes in the series thus far, I found him very attractive and very compelling. I pictured the very scrumptious Christian Bale as Billy Blade. Lady Jacinda, on the other hand, is a major disappointment. Throughout the entire series, she is portrayed as spirited, independent, rebellious and uninhibited (well, as uninhibited as a virgin could possibly be), and other than defying her brothers and running away in the beginning, she is docile, ladylike and downright underwhelming. Miranda from Lord of Ice showed more strength of character in the aforementioned book than Jacinda did in this one. The only "spirited" personality trait she seems to possess is arrogance. The subplot centering on her best friend Lizzie and her feelings for Alec was good though unsurprising to me because I read Devil Takes a Bride (book five) before reading this one. As for the setting, I like that Foley concentrates on developing London's underbelly. That to me was far more entertaining than the overdone storylines centered on the ton and its parties and balls. I liked that bit of the novel very much. This offering had its villains as usual, and for once I wish Foley would concentrate on the relationship between the protagonists as she had done with The Duke, as opposed to spending so much time with suspenseful sequences that are over the top at times. All in all, Lady of Desire is middling compared to the other offerings in the Knights Miscellany series. Billy Blade and the dark, slumming streets of London are the real highlights here. One Night of Sin (book six) is next for me. I look forward to reading wild Alec's story.
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