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Title: Beauty and The Baron by Deborah Hale ISBN: 0-373-29255-4 Publisher: Harlequin Pub. Date: 01 May, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $5.25 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.78 (9 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Boring and the Blah
Comment: Sorry, but this is my last attempt with this author. I've tried several times but she just doesn't do it for me. This is a shallow story, much contrived with characters that neither engage nor entertain. The beauty and the beast story and its variations can be extremely entertaining and there are countless examples in romantic and, particularly, regency fiction - too countless to name here. Any of the romantic review sites will give you long lists in this sub-genre. This one, however was just simply credulous. Angela Lacewood never aroused any sympathy in me and Lucius (and boy did the author make a mull of his title - it was given in several ways and usually wrongly) was too ill-drawn to make me at all attracted to him (a "must" with romantic fiction!). The story was not particularly well thought out and sadly, I admit I skimmed the last quarter of this in an effort to justify the expense of purchasing it.
Rating: 4
Summary: A regency beauty and the beast
Comment: Miss Angela Lacewood had resigned herself to a quiet, solitary life in the country before Lord Lucius (also known as Lord Lucifer for his quick temper, solitary nature, tendency to stalk around at night, and the black mask that covers most of his face) strikes a deal with her. In exchange for a much-sought after commission for her brother, Angela will pretend to be Lucius' fiancee to please his dying grandfather, of whom Angela is also quite fond. To make the old earl happy in his final months (Angela initially rejects the commission for her brother), Angela agrees to carry off the charade with the intent of breaking off the engagement after the earl has passed on. As Angela and Lucius grow to know one another, however, will they want to break off their engagement?
What can I say, I have a suddenly intense weakness for scarred heroes. I therefore liked the character of Lucius, although I wish that he would just tear off his mask once in a while if not for anything more than dramatic effect! Having never seen his wounds, I have no idea how horrible they might be, but as one reviewer mentioned, so many soldiers were returning with scars, missing limbs, etc, and non-combattants also had pock marks, missing teeth, etc. Perhaps the mask was a reflection of his vanity - after all, he had been exceptionally handsome before Waterloo, and perhaps he did not want others to see how much he had changed in regards to looks. Perhaps the mask was a way of escape - perhaps his soul was tortured enough inside to want to block out the world in any way possible, including putting on a mask. I don't know, but the mask thing gave the book a mystery about it that I enjoyed. I, for one, have no qualms about a heroine potentially falling in love with a masked man - it's rather dashing, in my opinion. If the hero is masked, then the heroine has no choice but to fall in love with the person, rather than the looks! :)
At any rate, I liked the character of Angela. She was sweet and kind, although a bit too meek for my tastes. Angela and Lucius went well together, sparring and all. In his heart, Lucius wanted Angela to find happiness, even if that meant she didn't end up with him, and that was noble, if not frustrating to some extent. For the last 50 pages, I really just felt like thwacking Lucius on the side of the head. The story could have wrapped up 50 pages or so before it did, and I would have been happy, but there was yet another subplot to rear its not-so-attractive head. Sometimes there felt as if there was too much going on at any particular time, as if additional subplots were thrown in to keep the story going.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy this book greatly, so much so in fact that I stayed up late to finish the book because I couldn't bear to put it down! Despite a few minor flaws, the plot was good, and I never get tired of another retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story, especially when it involves engaging characters such as Angela and Lucius. This book earned four stars in my opinion, and a place on my "keepers" shelf!
Rating: 3
Summary: A good story, but not a keeper
Comment: If I could, I would give this novel 3 1/2 stars. It's not as bad as the one-star reviewer would have you believe, but in my opinion, it's not as good as the 4 & 5 stars would say. I love some of the characters -- Angela is a fine heroine; the old grandfather; Tibby the housekeeper. Lucius was a difficult hero to admire; I have to sort of agree with the one-star reviewer about his mask, but the author made me understand the paranoia about his scarred face that was behind his wearing it. The book just fell flat somewhere for me. I thought the book went on too long, that's it; some nonsense about Lucius trying to get Angela to love the vicar instead was just that: nonsense. So I have to give it a solid 3 1/2 stars for the mostly well-plotted writing, & some characterizations, but in the end, it's not a keeper for me.
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Title: The Bride and the Beast by TERESA MEDEIROS ISBN: 055358183X Publisher: Bantam Pub. Date: 03 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: Until You're Mine by Lisa Higdon ISBN: 0821771094 Publisher: Zebra Books Pub. Date: 01 March, 2004 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: Guilty Pleasures (Avon Romantic Treasures) by Laura Lee Guhrke ISBN: 0060541741 Publisher: Avon Pub. Date: 27 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $5.99 |
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Title: The Golden Lord (Harlequin Historical, 672) by Miranda Jarrett ISBN: 0373292724 Publisher: Harlequin Pub. Date: 01 September, 2003 List Price(USD): $5.25 |
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Title: The Accidental Duchess by Jessica Benson ISBN: 0743463862 Publisher: Pocket Pub. Date: 01 January, 2004 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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