With This Ring [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Amanda Quick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998

RomanceLarge Print Edition*A Bestselling AuthorAs a writer of shocking Gothic novels, Beatrice Poole is no stranger to eerie goings-on. Yet she thinks its all poppycock when Leo Drake, Earl of Monkcrest, warns her about the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite. Nothing will stop her from investigating the disappearance of the Rings from her uncles home and her uncles death. Leo has never encountered a woman so willful, but this time Beatrice is on a collision course with evil . . .

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

"An author must decide early on whether to write for the readers or the critics, because there is generally no way to please both." So says the heroine of Quick's latest Regency romance, an "authoress" of "horrid" novels (gothic precursors of our pulp romances) who finds herself starring in a horrid of her own. Beatrice Poole, a young widow writing under the alias Amelia York, suspects her uncle of being murdered for his role in the search for a fabled treasure, the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite. Seeking out an antiquities expert, Beatrice finds herself allied with Leo Drake, a mysterious, sexy widower who may be her perfect match. The swiftly moving plot holds interest, and Quick (Surrender) gets her leading couple into bed with alacrity if, perhaps, with less panache than her readers expect. At one point Beatrice warns that "critics who accuse her of writing overwrought and overheated prose had not seen anything yet." The same is too true of Quick, whose camp sensibility goes only so far to excuse a tale in which "Pain and bad temper had fused into a dangerous flame in his eyes," and an aroused woman "dissolves into a warm puddle" and has eyes that "were wide, limpid pools."
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

The lonely, melancholy Leo Drake is accosted in his own Abbey one dark and very stormy night by the intrepid Beatrice Poole (aka Mrs. Amelia York, writer of "horrid" novels). Soon, Leo, Earl (and "Mad Monk") of Monkcrest, finds himself searching for the legendary Rings of Aphrodite, solving a mystery, swept up in a passionate affair?and definitely no longer bored. Intelligent, well-matched protagonists, Quick's lively, humorous writing style, and a plot that presents the typical romance and glitter of the Regency period unexpectedly laced with poison, murder, and a few surprising turns, result in a story that won't disappoint. Quick (Affaire, Bantam, 1997) is a popular, best-selling writer of lively, sexy historicals and readers will be waiting for this one. She lives in the Seattle area.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 508 pages
• Publisher: Thorndike Pr (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786214090
• ISBN-13: 978-1568657950
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,752,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

With a string of bestselling Regency and Victorian Era romantic-suspense novels under her quill, AMANDA QUICK (who also writes under the pen names JAYNE ANN KRENTZ and JAYNE CASTLE) entered the world of a highly secretive paranormal group, the ARCANE SOCIETY, with her novel SECOND SIGHT. The series moved into a contemporary setting when JAYNE ANN KRENTZ (Amanda's contemporary alter-ego) released the second book in the series, WHITE LIES.

This winter, the ARCANE SOCIETY continues with THE LOOKING GLASS TRILOGY. It begins with IN TOO DEEP by Jayne Ann Krentz this December. Amanda is working on QUICKSILVER, her Spring 2011 contribution is book 2 in the series. The trilogy will conclude when JAYNE CASTLE releases CANYONS OF NIGHT, the futuristic novel, in Summer 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick does it again!, October 6, 2004

By 

Amanda Carrell "Erotic Romance Author" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: With This Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

Don't be fooled by bland reviews, _With This Ring_ is classic Amanda Quick. Teeming with the usual mystery, romance, adventure and passion readers have grown to love, _With This Ring_ is right on par with all of Ms. Quick's earlier works. I'd even go so far as to say it has become one of my favorites by her.

In Beatrice and Leo Ms. Quick has created two strong minded, mature and well rounded characters. Beatrice is lively, funny and intelligent. I really enjoyed reading about a heroine who was nearing thirty years old and who'd been wed and bed before. It was a nice, refreshing change of pace to see an older heroine who had a sensible head on her shoulders be swept away by desire. So many times romance authors inundate you with simpering beauties whose only attribute worth mentioning is their looks. Ms. Quick continually sets forth heroines who make you proud to be a woman and Beatrice does just that. Leo is exciting, sensual and has a magnetism that the reader feels right along with Beatrice. Watching him fall in love with Beatrice is a beautiful experience and when he gave her the legendary 'Mad Monk' token of love I cried.

As always, the plot was engaging and full of twists and turns that kept me absorbed right from the first. Another thing I really enjoyed about _With This Ring_ is the fact that Ms. Quick alludes to a character from one of her previous books. It was nice to see a name I recognized and be able to recall another extraordinary book of her's that I'd read.

Anyone who has read this book and didn't like it should give it a second read through, surely you must have missed something the first time! Anyone who hasn't read this book -- what are you waiting for? Buy it now and be prepared for a marvelous read courtesy of Amanda Quick.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved It!, September 23, 2002

By 

J. Wilson "sonwil" (Santa Rosa, California USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: With This Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

This is one of my favorite by Amanda Quick. Her stories are always original. You don't read that many romances with a 29 year old woman and a 40+ male. Beatrice is one of my favorite Quick heroines. She is no young, naive girl. She's strong, confident, stubborn, practical and intelligent. Leo is also one of my favorites. He is a recluse with no use for society, but Beatrice drags him out of his self-imposed seclusion and takes him on a wild ride that changes his life.

There was nothing dull about With This Ring. It takes off from the first page and doesn't drag. Beatrice and Leo are both strong characters, and I got a few good laughs reading about them locking horns. They also both deserve happiness and it was great to read about how they find it with each other. If you are a fan of Amanda Quick, you should definitely read this one.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Amusing and Intresting, April 13, 2002

By 

"vampa" - See all my reviews

This review is from: With This Ring (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first regency novel I've encounted with the hero being --gasp!!-- nearly 40. I was glad that the heroine wasn't some little baby of 16 as I hate those kind of books. But this book, my second Amanda Quick, was good. The 'murder' plot wasn't really that intresting but the situations that Beatrice got herself into were funny. I borrowed the book from my library and I'm not so in love with it that I'll buy it but it does make a good read for a rainy afternoon.