Customer Reviews

The Slightest Provocation

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

 

 

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.

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.

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!!!

Marquess Walter Stanstell expected his young naive wife Emilia to produce his heir and his spare. Following her doing well in 1771 providing him with "Wat", she realizes she is no different than the nearby livestock to her spouse, so she cuts a deal to give him one more purebred male and then he is to never touch her again; she will turn to other men but any offspring Walter must recognize. Walter agrees and nine months later Will is born followed by Belle, Kit and Georgy.

Over the years Walter and his neighbor Lord Penley became embroiled in a dispute. The two patriarchs warned their respective family members to stay away from their enemy, but Mary Penley and Kit Stanstell continued secretly to see one another until they fell in love and eloped. However, both were too immature to withstand family pressure until their relationship collapsed in spite of their desire for one another. Kit escaped to the military while Mary turned to the intelligentsia.

Almost a decade later, the pair meets only to immediately realize they remain in love, but agree on nothing else as he believes in national security while she considers freedom for all is more important. Trouble looms and Kit needs Mary's help to prevent a deadly scheme that threatens both their values as England is in jeopardy.

This Regency romantic suspense is an exciting tale of how Romeo and Juliet find a second chance at love while trying to save England. The story line is fast-paced from the time that Kit and Mary reunite and reignite their desire for one another and never slows down until the final post confrontation between the lead couple over the still timely security vs. freedom issue. Though the rationale seems reasonable, some will ask why Mary feels that strongly but none will question that Pam Rosenthal provides a very entertaining and enjoyable historical tale.

Harriet Klausner

The correct title of this book review would be 'sheer self indulgence.' I really enjoy Pam Rosenthal's romances; like really. Think of them as the dark chocolates of the book world: rich, sensual, intense, multilayered, sensual [did I already say that?]. Rosenthal's books are historically well grounded, and I enjoy her forays into English and French history. Enough said, here's a brief summary of The Slightest Provocation.

The basic story line is the destined-for-each-other-from-childhood couple who marry early, love passionately, foolishly quarrel, and angrily part, and now meet again as adults. Nine years after Kit Stansell and Mary Penley separate, they meet again in a French inn and have a passionate reunion [sigh]. But passion just isn't enough when political opinions differ. Each of them, of course, is involved in nineteenth century English politics. While the political/historical story provides a framework for the novel, it's the well drawn, likeable characters that make it move. And move it does. This was one of those rare books that I hated to see end.

In the southeast corner of Derbyshire, Mary Penley, daughter of a wealthy brewmaster, and Christopher "Kit" Stansell, younger son of the Marquess of Rowen eloped rather than fight the animosity their feuding families held for one another. Both young and carefree, the first year of marriage was all fun but then the passion and lust dimmed as misunderstandings, affairs, quarrels and their defiant and restless natures caused them to separate. Nine years later a chance meeting (skillfully arranged by the dowager Marchioness) would see Mary and Kit rekindle the embers of their long ago passion. Older and wiser Kit had proven himself on the field of battle and now looks toward a responsible future in the home-office. Mary had surrounded herself with the intellectual and reform side of society so once again they are aligned on opposite sides. When a political plot is uncovered threatening the government and foundations of their society, they work together to put aside their differences in averting a catastrophic fallout. Quite possibly learning that compromise could be the catalyst to granting them a second chance at love.

*** When looking for originality and elegance of writing, look no further as Pam Rosenthal is going to deliver that in spades in her very stimulating THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION. Utilizing some very deep character studies, she doesn't sugar coat the protagonist's actions but displays all their human frailties including adultery, gambling, drinking, drugs, and affairs on both sides. It was emotionally sad to see the Mary's disillusionment as Kit bowed to peer pressure and went along to living a conventional `ton' marriage by gambling and running around with his cohorts.

Mary after putting up with the rumors and consequences of Kit's affairs, thought to pay him back by getting caught sleeping with his best friend. So began the separation that lasted nine years. During that time both had time to grow so that when at last they come together, they had both grown enough to recognize the substance of each other along with rediscovering the lust, and the attraction that still burned bright enough to re-ignite old flames that never died.

Being older and wiser, they weren't quite ready to surrender all at once but Rosenthal's brilliant pacing let them find each other in a well-crafted erotic dance that was positively stimulating in her lushly detailed politically charged historic backdrop. Additionally, Rosenthal populates the story with engaging secondary characters, uses her trademark elegant prose, and gives you a hearty helping of some beautifully raw sensuality. Definitely a keeper.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

I dont know what I really expected from this book, but I never found it.... it was really lacking in depth. Maybe I missed something following up to all these people and events. Its written like I should already know everything. The detail just wasnt there. I dunno, numerous sex-romps followed by marital bickering and resentments just didnt do it for me. ....Id really prefer 1/2 a star .... oops.

The cover of this book, published by Signet, is nothing like the cover here on Amazon; for my sake, I wish it had been more like the one pictured here. Instead, Signet chose a cover detailing an exquisite 1820s oil painting, portrait of a lovely young woman in a white frothy gown and tiny pearl bracelet (entitled "Margaret, Countess of Blessington"). The cover charmed me. The book did not. The word "smut"---a word I've never thought to use before---is the only description I can think of. Do you like to read about how to perform oral sex? Read this book as you will get a very fine description. If you like to read books with the word "thrust" "juice" "arch" "mewling" "pumeling" "spilling himself" and words describing a man's sex organ and a woman's sex organ in words that are not usually uttered by the most foul mouthed people, read this book. Oral sex? "There was a moment, he thought; yes, there it was---where she'd stop to lick her lips and wet her mouth...she was proud of her skill...wanting to do a good, capable job where it mattered most. Softening her jaw, she'd make herself all moist velvet down to her throat before allowing him to guide her down over himself. He'd been waiting for this moment..." p. 163.

The heroine and hero of this book are married in their early 20s, spending the first year of their marriage having sex in many different ways and in many different places. Voracious is the word that is used. Aside from their sexual experiences, their personalities appear to be seriously immature, and they separate after the 1st year of marriage. For 9 years, they have not seen each other and now schedule a meeting after a 9 year separation. Upon seeing each other, the heroine's "needs" "ignite". After seeing him (after 9 years) EACH NIGHT she paces the floor as a caged animal, eyes wild, snapping at her maid, and not able to sleep without laudenum "for want of him". May I emphasize, she appeared to be a perfectly normal person prior to this meeting and then....as I say she "ignites". Frustration so severe that laudenum is required to sleep every night? Oh my. They thus "have" each other (the book's language) as often as humanly possible in as many places as possible. It made me laugh outloud. I did finish the book, the garishness was so extreme as to fascinate me that a book existed purely for the ridiculous characterizations and the crude descriptions of body parts involved in sex.

Oh, was there a story? There was a minor story line which had a grain of interest and should have been the focus of the book.

Signet should be put out of business for putting the lovely oil portrait on this book...the version on Amazon is much more accurate. If you feel yourself about to ignite, I hope you have some laudenum at hand.