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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4-1/2* Fabulous Writing From a Master of Her Craft, March 17, 2006
This review is from: An Unlikely Governess (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
Again Karen Ranney proves to me she is still one of the top writers of flawless, elegant, and intelligent dialogs. Her words alone can create the most sensual and stimulating moods without her characters ever touching one another. In her latest novel, AN UNLIKELY GOVERNESS, she does just that.
Over the last twelve months Beatrice Sinclair had survived a cholera epidemic that claimed her parents' lives. Impoverished, untitled, and hungry, she'd sold what she could in order to eat, but further survival left her seeking work. Overlooking her village is Castle Crannoch, a dark forbidding monolith - home of the Duke of Brechin where she discovers that the `duke' is none other than a spoiled, ill-tempered and arrogant seven year old. Offered the job of governess to Robert, `His Grace' Beatrice would eventually come to view the young child with both compassion and empathy once she realized that his arrogance was to disguise the frightened terrorized child that he was.
On the other hand, Devlen Gordon, cousin and son of Robert's guardian, was a charming and arresting man whose verbal discourse both infuriated and excited Beatrice. Devlen was a temptation that she was finding harder and harder to ignore. He was challenging - opening new worlds for her to explore - both exciting and filled with danger as she became entangled in the attempts on the young duke's life. Would trusting Devlen be her salvation or her worst nightmare?
*** Ranney does a marvelous job with creating mood, and developing compelling characterizations of her characters. The sensuality built between Devlen and Beatrice was beautifully scripted and a joy to read. Likewise, the level of trust Beatrice developed with Robert, was also carefully scripted and perfectly paced. Additionally, the revelation of the culprit behind the murder attempts offered a twist. One fault I had trouble overlooking was the unexplored and unexplained bitter animosity between Devlen and his father. Regardless, this was a read I fully enjoyed and found enormously entertaining, even though I'd still love the answer to the animosity question! What WAS that all about?
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
4.25 stars!, May 26, 2006
This review is from: An Unlikely Governess (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
What a good book!
This one was hard to put down. I loved the interaction between the characters of Beatrice and the Duke.
I felt a real tenderness for the child. The horrible relationship between Cameron and Rowena was a real mystery (until the end) and was quite intriguing.
The heartaches in Beatrice's life were almost more than I wanted to read about, but the heroine's quick wit and self-assurance kept her character from being depressing. I was so grateful for the relationship she developed with Devlen.
Oh, Devlin! What a darkly mysterious, confident and desirable hero.
I loved watching the development of his interest in Beatrice from just lust to lust and
respect, and ultimately, love. The chemistry between these two was excellent.
The ending of this book held a real surprise. I absolutely love being shocked by the solving of a mystery.
Karen Ranney's books are never light-hearted reads.
There is usually a somewhat dark undercurrent throughout that makes the happy ending for
the lead characters that much more rewarding.
Good read!
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12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Abrupt ending with a twist, March 3, 2006
This review is from: An Unlikely Governess (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)
I liked this book, really I did. I found the characters wonderful, and the plot was outstanding and exciting.
I was disappointed in two things.
1. The art work did not match the description of the heroine in the book, it lists her as having "The blackest hair he'd ever seen" and it certainly is not black on the cover art work. It just bugs me when they do not match the description in the story. It would have been better served without an illustration at all.
2. I liked the ending, but felt I needed further closure. I thought it ended too abruptly. What happens to young Robert? Does he finally feel comfortable in his own home? How about Cameron, does he come out of his shell and become easier to be around? An epilogue would have been nice.
a good book, worth the read.
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