Author: Jo Beverly
Pub Date: April 2008
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4/5
From the Author's Website:
The nun on the run and the rake on the make!
When Robin Fitzvitry, the fun-loving Earl of Huntersdown, encounters a cursing nun in a French inn, he can’t resist the mystery. He offers to help Sister Immaculata reach England, expecting only amusement on the tedious journey home from Versailles. Petra d'Averio is not exactly a nun, though she has spent years in an Italian convent with her widowed mother. Her mother’s death has left her in danger and she must find the only person who might protect her—her true father, an English lord who does not even know she exists. This gorgeous young aristocrat will be a dangerous ally, but she’s glimpsed her pursuers and must race to the coast. She will resist him, use him, and eventually escape him with virtue and secrets intact. She hopes….
My Thoughts:
Robin and Petra have chemistry right off the bat. She attracts his attention because she swears in Italian, “Maledizione!” She is girl after my own heart. The book moves quickly through their adventure together, which is trying to get to England safely. There are a few harrowing moments along the way, such as an attempted swindle, abduction, and a sword fight. Petra and Robin do not trust each other, yet they are thrown into situations which require nothing but trust. At the same time, they try not to fall one for on another, to no avail. The dialogue between Robin and Petra is lively, and interlaced with their inner thoughts about what they say to one another. It wasn't hard to imagine their faces during such conversations. Robin and Petra are strong, well matched, and easily believable, especially in terms of their behavior and backgrounds.
The time period is 1760, and Beverly does a great job describing the surroundings, clothes, and customs of France and England. The dialect of the locals encountered in the book is included also, and easily imagined.
This book is part of Beverly's Malloren Family series, which starts with the patriarch the Marquess of Rothgar. I don't believe you need to read these in order, since I was able to pick this one up and be right on track. I assume they are all stand alone books. I would definitely consider reading the other Malloren books too.
This was a quick, enjoyable read, and I looked forward to reading it every day. I highly recommend this book.
You can visit Jo Beverly's website here
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