Customer Reviews

The Last Hellion

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've enjoyed Loretta Chase since she used to write Regencies for Walker Publishing. Her research is first-rate and her characters full-blown and believable. The sexual tension she generates between her protagonists is always exciting and rewarding, too. Grenville and Mallory are made for each other, of course. Lydia Grenville was born to heal Mallory, the Duke of Ainswood's, tortured soul. They both lost children they adored---Lydia her little sister, Mallory his young nephew, and the losses bring them together. But, first, sparks fly as the two challenge and bring out the best (or is it the worst?) in each other and titillate the ton (English high society) with their very public antics and capers. There's a great dog in the story, too, great in size and great in personality. Loretta Chase is not one of those romance writers who comes out with a book every few months, but when she does come out with one, it is "cherce" (to quote Spencer Tracy describing Katherine Hepburn in one of their films). Chase's novels are "cherce" and worth the waiting. Unforgettable, too.

Dickens would be proud of this captivating story with its twists and turns and family secrets, and a hero and heroine who must come to terms with their troubled pasts before they can be truly happy. Lydia Grenville, raised in poverty, lost her mother and sister as a child and was then abandoned by her wastrel father. She is now a crusading journalist for a popular London publication, and doesn't think very highly of men. Vere Mallory, Duke of Ainswood has his own turbulent history. His parents died when he was nine, and he is the last of his direct line, whose male heirs have all succumbed to untimely deaths. Since the death eighteen months ago of the previous Duke, his boy cousin, Vere has essentially been in a state of depression and denial. He has led a life of dissipation, shirking his responsibilities to his title and to his young female cousins who are his wards. He does not think very highly of women.

The meeting of the two opposing forces of Vere and Lydia is a wonder to behold. At times highly humorous, at times deeply moving, the dialogue is always engaging in the way the inimitable Ms. Chase does so well. Vere's oft-muttered epithets for Lydia are hilarious, and yet there are also times of amazing tenderness. This book has a fine cast of supporting characters, particularly the continuing character of Bertie Trent, who finally gets to prove his worth. The Last Hellion is a very satisfying romance and is highly recommended.

I swore off Daniel Steele due to death scene images that depress me years later. Be forwarned, the prologue to The Last Hellion may lead to symptoms of melancholia. The cure, I'm happy to report, is found by reading the rest of this wonderful story. Grenville is more than a match for Vere, both in Vinegar Yard and in the bedroom. My favorite part was the wedding night when our hero pounded on his best friend's bedroom door: "The door swung inward and six and one-half feet of dark, arrogant, half-Italian, so-called friend advanced to fill the doorway. 'Ah, Ainswood. Come for instruction, have you?'" Hilarious. I was also glad to see Bertie from Lord of Scoundrels get some respect. His thought processes are disturbingly familiar. Do yourself a favor and read Lord of Scoundrels, The Last Hellion and Captives of the Night. Great reads, all.

Loretta Chase is, in my humble opinion, the best thing on the market in the genre. I haven't read anything by her that hasn't been worth the time or money. But this is my least favorite of her books, so far...

The characters never gelled for me. Vere wasn't quite rough and emotionally retarded, but at the same time he wasn't quite perceptive and open, either. He's supposed to be violent, full of filthy language and monosyllables, and lecherous. But he follows the heroine around like a puppy dog pretty much from the first page, and doesn't seem to have any qualms about it. He takes to love and devotion like a duck to water. It's a little incomprehensible.

Lydia was feisty, intelligent, witty, all in all one of Chase's better heroines. She's got a pretty distinct personality; more masculine and domineering than the average, but appealingly so. Her problem is that her excuses to avoid entanglements with Vere were really weak. She's hooked pretty early on, so a whole lot of the book stumbles from one feeble protestation to another. Considering how emotionally mature, brave, and impetuous she is, her behavior is a little incomprehensible.

I think that the book loses a lot of its momentum about halfway through because of this.

The book is competent, well-paced, well-written. But the characters don't quite seem whole & I have to say that all in all, I didn't want to know about Bertie's softer side after what I'd read about him in Lord of Scoundrels.

This book had a lot of promise. The characters were both very strong which made for some interesting dialogue. But the lulls in between just made this book drag on endlessly. I'm surprised I made it through. I like strong willed people, I can handle a heroine like Lydia, in fact I like her kind more - especially when up against someone like Vere. But the romance wasn't there, the last plot twist, I'm convinced happened because Chase had some page quota to achieve. Once the couple was married, this was a shock in itself, proposal, race and marriage all within maybe 10 pgs? Sorry I read this on my Kindle, so not sure how many pages were actually there. Anyways, once they were married, that's when it went from SOME lively dialogue to nothing but mind numbing boring. In fact I caught myself skimming towards the end more then anything else.

When Robbie's sisters just appear in the middle of the book, reading the Argus like it was their shrine, it just felt like they got planted in there with no apparent reason. And then some 80 pages later they're planted again. And then it becomes rather obvious, SPOILER, their running away was going to collide head first with Lydia's nemesis. So then Lydia saves them - yay! Although I stopped caring at that point and whooopss there's another 20 pgs to fill. Lets now go look at Lydia's past...whada'ya know here's another surprise twist to make the ending a little happier.

I'd rather the tension between Lydia and Vere played out more. It was like they'd get together, one would say something cutting and rather then resulting in some passion, they walk away from each other. But you never really knew what either was thinking.

Lots of promise, only to disappoint.

Vere Aylwin Mallory, the seventh Duke of Ainswood, is a throwback to his family's wilder generations. Having buried too many loved ones recently, he has sworn to care for no one else and proceeds to live a life of debauchery in London. Of course, it would take a strong and unique heroine to tame him and Lydia Grenville is all that and more. Lydia works as a reporter for The Argus, writing about the plight of the lower classes. From the moment they meet, Lydia confuses, torments, aggravates, and generally drives Vere insane.

I was so engrossed in their story that I was determined to stay up last night until I reached the end. I got to bed after 2am but it was a night well spent. This is a truly wonderful story of two obstinate people too blind and stubborn to realize that they are falling in love. An extra bonus is that I got to catch up with characters from previous Loretta Chase books. Sebastian and Jessica Ballinger from LORD OF SCOUNDRELS are here, as well as Jessie's dimwitted but lovable brother, Bertie Trent.

Loretta Chase is a fantastic author who has always delivered the goods. Once you meet Vere and Lydia you will want to enter Loretta's world. A world filled with some of the most fascinating characters you'll ever meet between the pages of a book. If you want to laugh and cry -- usually at the same time -- and see gorgeous men taken down a peg or two by impudent women with fiery tempers, don't miss THE LAST HELLION.

TheSchemer

I simply love her heroines... Jessica from the Lord of the Scoundrels and now Lydia in this book. She is full of purpose and independent. Perhaps a little wild in the historical standard, but a great story character. I agree with the last reviewer about the secondry characters and loved the appearance of Dain and Jessica. Vere thought that he was helping Lydia, but kept getting her mad by interferring with her activities. The story is fast paced withmany characters, I enjoyed that fact, however some readers may find it choppy and fragmented. I can't wait for another book from Ms. Chase. Bring us more incredible heroines!

This is a fun read. It has some of the most hilarious scenes in it, so don't read it in a quiet library. But you will laugh out loud.

Lydia Grenville is a crusader against illegal prostitution in England and spends most of her time writing scathing articles to that affect. She also rescues young country girls from the hands of sexual abductors whom lure the girls under false pretenses.

Vere Mallory, the unprepared Duke of Ainswood battles his own insecure demons with drink, gambling, and wenching. He stumbles upon Lydia by intervening during a brawl between she and a well-known dangerous madame. He was infuriated with Lydia's outspoken candid personality but madly intriqued with her also. Thus the chase begins. He begins to 'watch her back' while she ventures into the various dens of aniquity scooping stories or rescuing girls. Why does he care so much? He himself doesn't understand. She challenges him in all things, including marriage if losing a race. She exasperates him to the point of tying her to a bed and locking the door. But first he has to catch her!

This is a fun read!! I would not say that it is overly romantic, or realistic, but definitely fun, fun, fun!!!

I fell in love with the characters. Ainswood (Vere) was so cynical, irreverent, funny, hurting, and eventually healed by opening himself up to love -- but still a hellion! Grenville (Lydia) was a strong, opinionated, bookish heroine, who was loved exactly for who she was -- no changes desired. The admiration, affection, and love between them grew gradually and realistically throughout the book, despite a rational reluctance by either to acknowledge the other as more than a nuisance to society. What an unlikely pair!

I smiled throughout the book at the tongue-in-check humor used by the author -- not only witty but at times hilarious. Lydia wore black for her wedding! The secondary characters added depth and the various sub-plots kept things moving at a quick pace. While the book was a light and entertaining read,it nevertheless moved the heart as a good romance should.

This is the second book I've read by Loretta Chase, after "Lord of Scoundrels". The first is a type of classic and also outstanding. "The Last Hellion" was a delightful surprise. It was every bit as good, if not better. It will stay with a very few other books that I will not give to the library.

It's not a perfect polished little gem like Lord of Scoundrels, but what other book is. This book is more unwieldy in structure and suffers from some unevenness of tone, but has delightful plotting and perhaps more deeply felt emotion than its predecessor. It is beautifully written and well researched.

Two antagonists, neither of whom, in part because of great personal losses, quite fit into their early 19th century world meet by accident, fight their way from misunderstanding to misunderstanding to find love.

This book is better than the current crop of Chase novels, which are themselves better than most.

(What keeps happening to my reviews of this book?)