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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another enjoyable Becket tale, April 5, 2007
This review is from: A Most Unsuitable Groom (Hqn Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
I expected this to follow the similar pattern of the other Becket novels, but was pleasantly surprised. Spencer's story is not one of leaving Romney Marsh to find love (although, in a roundabout way, that's what happened), but instead love found him. Mariah is a strong partner, not a placid and obedient woman, and she shows care and compassion for the Becket clan and Spencer as a man. She doesn't automaticallly understand him, but takes the time to get to know him. I do agree with the one editorial review that questioned her actions in leaving her newborn child in an apparent effort to please her in-laws. That is one of the reasons that this received 4 stars instead of 5.
In trying to understand Mariah's reasons for making some pretty stupid mis-judgments, I've come to the conclusion that part of what drove her to strive so hard for Spencer's acceptance (and the acceptance of the Beckets in general) had to do with her being entirely alone in the world, and also not having the example of other mothers (or her own) to guide her. She made note several times of being unable to nurse William and how that made her feel, and also her feelings of being lost in the world (similar to Spencer). After some thought, it seemed to me that these two things led her to rely on others to watch William so that she could focus on Spencer. After all, she was with William for months (about 3 during the time frame of the story), and was only away from him for a total of about 5 days to a week (the night in Calais and the 4 or so days in London). That's not really all that unreasonable under the circumstances as she explained them. Not to mention that it appeared she suffered from some level of post-partum depression and seemed somewhat eager to change the helplessness she felt in her life.
I was disappointed with the pretty stupid mistakes she made during the story, some of which seemed to have some pretty bad outcomes. Other than that I was pleased with Spencer as a character and how he turned out. I wasn't sure how Ms. Michaels was going to find him solace after reading about him before. By the end of the book it seemed that Mariah would be the perfect foil for him.
I do love the way Kasey Michaels brings life to her characters and makes the history of the story as real as any contemporary novel. She is one of my favorite authors and she always writes a compelling story.
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6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
A Most Unpleasant Read, August 13, 2007
This review is from: A Most Unsuitable Groom (Hqn Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
Ugh. I read a lot, and I read a lot of genres. When I pick up a romance novel, it's to relax, to enjoy and to soak up the relationship of the hero/heroine. It's not to plod through poorly written scenarios like this one.
The hero (Spencer) is very likable, and his dilemma (feeling constrained by his family and its plight) is understandable. The heroine (Mariah) is fine, nothing particularly unusual in her plucky determination, her fiery red hair or her refusal to keep herself out of danger. However, what should be an intriguing plot about a plot to assassinate the crowned heads of Europe (and release Napoleon from Elba, and take over England, in that order), just ... plods along mercilessly. The characters with which the hero/heroine find themselves surrounded by are wooden at best. At worst, the shadowy, mystery figure of the family patriarch (Ainsley) is just a cardboard cutout whom we're told is important and interesting and brilliant and troubled, but we aren't shown any of that. The book is at its worst when the author attempts, in slapdash fashion, to fill in the backstory of the main family.
I know this book is part of a series, although I have not read any of the others, and that they must be relatively popular. For all that, I don't recommend this book in the least, and I shan't be picking up any of Kasey Michaels' other books.
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5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Plot, No Characters, July 3, 2007
This review is from: A Most Unsuitable Groom (Hqn Romance) (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read quite a few of Kasey Michael's books but this one just isn't worth the effort. Very unlike her. I have read other of the Becket of Romney Marsh books and liked them, but this one just didn't ever "take". I confess I didn't even finish it. This is Spencer's story but his restlessness never seemed real, the heroine is a strong, capable woman who turns into a lovestruck, dithering idiot within two or three pages for no reason I could figure out, the whole smuggling plot line just didn't make any sense and then having Napoleon thrown in with everything else just made it all complicated. Too much war plotting, not enough characters. Lots of veiled references to the Becket's history, but nothing that seemed to have anything to do with the current story. I'd give this one a miss.
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