39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Deliciously Angsty Tale of Seemingly Impossible Love, November 6, 2005
This review is from: The Mysterious Miss M (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)
"The Mysterious Miss M" is a very engaging love story between two attractive but refreshingly imperfect individuals set in Regency England. The book, apparently Diane Gaston's debut novel, reveals an author who is willing to step outside the current romance "formula" and to take some (very welcome) chances with her characters and plot.
The heroine of the story is Madeleine, the Mysterious Miss M of the title, a beautiful young gentlewoman driven by circumstances to become essentially a prostitute whose favors are "won" by patrons of her evil protector's gaming hell. Each evening, the gentlemen compete for the fantasy of seducing the lovely, masked Miss M. Trapped by her own recklessness into a life she despises, Madeleine manages to hold herself emotionally apart from what is happening to her body until she is "won" one evening by Lt. Devlin Steele, a charming soldier who treats her with such amazing tenderness that the barriers around her heart are broken down and she finds herself responding to his lovemaking with true passion. A handsome, charming calvary officer on leave from the Napoleonic Wars, Devlin seems to be the answer to Madeleine's dreams, but after one memorable night he leaves her to return to the War in Europe.
Three and half years later Devlin is alive but physically and emotionally scarred by his experiences at the Battle of Waterloo. While carousing his way through the London season, he returns to the same gaming hell where he first encountered Madeleine years before and, through a (rather unlikely) twist of fate, he happens to wins her from Lord Farley, her nefarious protector. But Madeleine comes with a lot more baggage than Devlin is expecting. She brings along with her her young daughter and a very mousy young maid named Sophie. She also brings along three and a half more years of cynicism and a even stronger ability to distance herself emotionally from the sexual act.
Madeleine is a very interesting heroine and an amazingly sympathetic one given her sordid past. I liked the fact that she had aided in her own downfall, a very unusual characteristic in a romance heroine with her type of history. Devlin is a wonderfully imperfect hero. The charming, rather feckless younger son of a Marquess, he is not even able to live within his income *before* his household expands to include Madeleine and her entourage. Ironically, in order to protect and financially provide for Madeleine and her daughter, Devlin finds that he must marry a "suitable" young woman so that he can inherit the money and property which his older brother holds in trust for him. Of course, Madeleine is far from "suitable", given her past and the fact that she is currently living under Devlin's roof, so Devlin must begin a search through the young ladies of the *ton* for a bride acceptable to his brother while all the while falling more deeply in love with Maddy. (I'll admit that I am a total sucker for this type of angsty set-up for seemingly impossible love.)
The story is well-written, the main characters unusual and well-drawn, and the plot interesting and full of emotional resonance; however, the book is not perfect. There are a few plot twists that are definitely *too* convenient, the villains are of the moustache-twirling variety (too relentlessly villainous for my taste) and the ending does not seem to match the rather gritty, more realistic tone of the rest of the story. But these are minor issues that detract little from the overall picture.
In summary, this is an unusual and engrossing historical romance with a very engaging hero and refreshingly flawed heroine.
Highly Recommended for readers who like somewhat darker romance with more emotional resonance and complex psychological explorations of the characters.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prepare to fall in love!, December 3, 2005
This review is from: The Mysterious Miss M (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)
Wonderful love story, great characters with an emotionally scarred hero and strong but vulnerable heroine, unique setting, intriguing plot, heart-tugging emotion, excellent writing, intense sensual love scenes, and a superb ending. The plot was interesting and it kept you interested in what was going to happen next. It has intrigue, passion, revenge, and "wow" sensual tension. Most of all is the character development. I love stories that are character driven and not just about lust. The relationship between the leads is endearing. I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and the author weaves a mystery into the story without slowing it down or interrupting the romantic flow. The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy. The interaction between the leads was great. They are well matched in temperament and intelligence. It was an interesting. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Engaging characters, attention to historical detail, and humorous dialogue will keep you reading long into the night. This is one of my all time favorite romance books. The thing I like about this book is how good of a man Lord Devlin Steele is. I fell in love with him the story. The story has a lot of depth in it. I felt sorry for the characters but didn't get depressed because there was a feeling of hope. I read The Mysterious Miss M after reading a couple of depressing or plain boring books and was refreshed by it. The Mysterious Miss M will become what I call fall back books. A book I can count on to be a joy to read. When ever I read a poorly written book. Read a fall back book after so I know I will enjoy it.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Read on one night....., November 16, 2005
This review is from: The Mysterious Miss M (Harlequin Historical) (Mass Market Paperback)
I read this in one night, then it filled my head for the rest of it. This book really gets you thinking. I was very intrigued by the idea of the story, and impressed by Harlequin publishing it. It was gritty, honest and showed us a side of regency life that others tend to stay away from. Maddie is such a wonderful heroine, she is honest about herself. I agree with many of the other reviewers. She takes responsiblity for her own downfall, although it was not completely her fault, and I do hope her rotten uncaring parents get their due! Devlin was such a wonderfully tortured hero, when he saved her, her child and Sophie I cheered for their happy ending. I am looking forward to the other two books with eagerness.
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