The Slightest Provocation [Paperback]

Pam Rosenthal (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006

As children of feuding Derbyshire landowners, Mary Penley and Kit Stansell eloped against their families' wishes. But neither their ardor nor their marriage could survive their own restless natures. Nine years later, Kit is a rising star in the military while Mary has made her way in a raffish, intellectual society of poets and reformers. A chance meeting re-ignites their passion, but still they have very different values. Yet when Kit uncovers a political conspiracy that threatens all of England, they agree to put their differences aside. Amid danger and disillusionment, Kit and Mary rediscover the bonds that are stronger than time, the selves who have never really parted-and the love that is their destiny.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In Rosenthal's new Regency romance, Mary Penley and Christopher "Kit" Stansell defied their feuding families and eloped. The two enjoyed one happy year before misunderstandings, miscommunication, and rumors of affairs leave them still married but pursuing separate lives. Now nine years later, Mary and Kit find themselves back in the same small corner of England where they first fell in love. Even though their desire for each other has not diminished one bit over the years, Mary and Kit are on opposite sides of a radical political movement that threatens not only the present British government but also any hope they might have for a future together. A delightful cast of entertaining secondary characters and a vividly detailed historical setting add depth and richness to Rosenthal's sinfully sensual story of a married couple falling in love again. The Slightest Provocation is perfect for those who like their historical romances sexy, smart, and with a dash of sharp wit. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Pam Rosenthal is a native New Yorker, but currently lives in San Francisco with her husband. Visit her website at: pamrosenthal.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 341 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451219473
• ISBN-13: 978-0451219473
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,768,137 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A many layered story, November 16, 2006

By 

Constant Reader (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Slightest Provocation (Paperback)

This is a story with many layers: of time, character, marriage, history and human relationships set primarily in 1817 England, as post-Napoleonic War recession caused discontent among the working classes. The main action begins with a meeting between long estranged spouses: free-thinking, strong willed Mary, who has spent the last nine years wandering among the intelligensia (Byron, Shelley, that crowd); and handsome, sardonic Kit, who is trying to incorporate the maturity he gained during his wartime service into his former life as a free-spirited wastrel. Mary and Kit, both of the upper class, eloped at a young age in the teeth of a family feud. After a year of passionate sex and frolic, they stumble into betrayals and part in anger.

Now, nine years later, they are both at another turning point: Mary is thinking of divorce in order to marry her current lover; Kit is turning his thoughts to a career with the Home Office. Yet, their passionate reconnection side tracks them both into a reconsideration of their past and their future.

Rosenthal tells the story of these two flawed and vibrant people through flashbacks and shifting points of view, including the perspectives of various well-developed secondary characters.

The book is called an "erotic romance" in some marketing which made me hesitate before buying it and lead me to expect something especially graphic and highly charged. However, while Rosenthal does treat readers to some briskly enjoyed encounters between Mary and Kit, those looking for the lengthy descriptions of Stephanie Laurens or the intense sensuality of Jo Beverley and Mary Balogh will be disappointed. Instead, the pleasure of this book comes from the growth of even the most minor characters.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkles with wit and originality. Bonus points for violating The Big Taboo, August 3, 2007

By 

shereads - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Slightest Provocation (Paperback)

What likeable people - despite their flaws, or maybe because of them.

Childhood sweethearts who wed impulsively, this couple have nobody but themselves to blame for the falling-out that separated them. No big misunderstanding, no interfering relatives, no traumatic event; just two impulsive, spoiled young people whose romance isn't strong enough to see them through the difficult first year of marriage. Flashbacks to his adulterous affairs and her disastrous revenge (with his best friend!) don't inspire much sympathy. Nine years later, a tentative reunion turns into a name-calling, vase-throwing battle of blame. But when the dust clears, it's as if old demons have been exorcised, making room for the emergence of the love that should have been.

Kudos to author Pam Rosenthal for adding a generous dollop of reality to this otherwise frothy treat. The sex-in-a-carriage scene that is a staple of historical romance is done here with as much humor as sensuality, rather like sex in the back seat of your father's Buick; both participants wind up admitting that they're probably too old for that sort of thing and will wait for a bed next time. Most impressive is the handling of romance's big taboo: a bout of impotence that has the heroine snapping, "It's not as if it's that important," and the hero stomping out in a snit.

A few hours and one ego-boost later, he's back in fine form. Demonstrating, as happens in real life, that perfection is not a prerequisite to grown-up romance.

8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of This Year's Bests, October 7, 2006

By 

C. Snyder "booklover" (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Slightest Provocation (Paperback)

There's not many reviews out yet, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Kit and Mary were young and so much in love. Alas, passion was not enough to weather the realities of life, and they separated nine years ago amidst deceit and scandal. This book is the story of the maturing of two strong-willed individuals and love's redeeming power over disillusionment and cynicism. The issues are realistic, and the road back home is neither straight nor simple.

Ms. Rosenthal integrates the story with the political and social discontent in Britain following the defeat of Napolean. The secondary characters are real people, with real issues, real emotions, and imperfect solutions.

The books appears to have been marketed as an "erotic romance", but I disagree. It may technically fit the definition because of the creative sexual encounters of this married couple. However, sex didn't permiate the entire book as one might have expected. The love scenes were tasteful and fit the temperature of the relationship at each point. The process of self-discovery within the historical context was key to this book, and the sensuality and sexual tension was thoroughly integrated into the overall plot.

This book is a keeper for me!!!