Customer Reviews

The Reckless Barrister (Signet Regency Romance)

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

 

 

In theory, a plot involving an intelligent woman with a social conscience, an aristocratic hero who does something useful with his life, and a sub-plot involving poor working conditions in factories and mills is just the kind of storyline to appeal to me. So why did I find this book completely boring?

April Kihlstrom seems to lack the skills to tell a story in such a way that the reader's interest is captured. Neither of her two main characters came across as particularly appealing, and the supporting characters were little more than caricatures. I never became engaged with either the characters or the plot, and it was with great difficulty that I managed to finish the book. If I'd just borrowed it rather than paid good money for it, I wouldn't have finished it.

I should have known; Kilhstrom's earlier Westcott series was very hit-and-miss, the later books being very much poorer than the earlier ones. If she wants to know how to write a novel with likeable characters, involving plots and sub-plots and a little bit of social realism, she should take a career break and spend her time reading Mary Balogh's books.

This gets two stars rather than one, incidentally, because believe it or not I have read worse books - from authors like Loyd Black and Chesney who barely have adequate technical skills with writing and don't even attempt, in the Regency genre, to ensure that they get the period details accurate.

Emily Ashbourne is a feisty Regency heroine in the best traditions. Determined to avoid the marriage to a rich mill owner her father is trying to foist upon her, she engages the services of the handsome aristocratic lawyer, the Honourable Philip Langford, demanding justice for the mill workers. Sparks fly but thats the electricity, as she is swept of her feet by the hotheaded charm of the lovable rascal. Philip adopts a trial strategy little short of foolhardy when he fails to seek to amend his claim to include causes of action which post-date the issue of proceedings, but this only fans the flickering flames in Emily's heart. So too does Philip's roguish lack of attention to detail in his obviously unprepared cross-examination of the mill owner. Make no mistake, April Kihlstrom, author of The Slaphappy Surgeon and The Negligent Architect is back to her best with this Regency pageturner.

This was one of the most tedious books - and poorly told/written - that I have read in a long time. It took forever to finish and if I had not wasted my money on buying the book, I would have returned it to the Library after the first 20 pages. Save your money as I can not think of one amusing or interesting thing about this book!

Is Kihlstrom resting on her laurels after the popular Westcott series? It certainly looks like it; even the last couple of books in that series looked as if she was running out of steam and couldn't be bothered putting together an interesting or convincing plot.

This book was, frankly, boring. The characters inspired no interest in me whatsover, even though the plot as described on the cover and on this site should have interested me. Kihlstrom's attention to detail and to factual accuracy is also very poor. I enjoyed some of her Westcott books - although she's not on a par with Balogh, Oliver or Kelly, those books were entertaining. After 'The Reckless Barrister' I can safely say that I never intend to read anything by Kihlstrom again.

A lovely paced book of the true Regency tradition. If anyone wants to share a book with your mother or daughter with a real story line, this is it. I love the way the characters are developed and multi-leveled. It's one for my keeper shelf.