The Lady Risks All

August 17, 2012
Stephanie Laurens' readers will be familiar with Lord Julian, or Roscoe, the hero of her latest Regency-set romance. However, they will be disappointed with the result: the novel is marred by trite situations, an unfulfilling denouement and a story that never lifts off the page. Roscoe has given up his charmed life to protect his family, which has also meant giving up any hope of a family of his own. He is now London's ‘gambling king’ and is wealthier than anyone can guess. Miranda lives around the corner with her aunt, who enforces the rules of propriety and respectability. When Miranda’s brother goes missing, she knows that only the most dangerous man in London can help. Though Roscoe appears ruthless, he is in fact selfless and generous. He is the perfect hero, which leaves him, plot-wise, a little dull. Miranda is more interesting. However, she falls into the common trap of being ‘keenly intelligent’ while throwing herself into stupid situations from which she has to be rescued. The attraction feels real enough, but the ensuing road trip fails to capitalise on that initial spark. Finally, while Laurens is to be commended for acknowledging the societal statuses of the time (often ignored in historical romances in favour of 'true love'), the ending is left unpleasantly ambiguous in terms of the hero and heroine’s future together. For newcomers to Stephanie Laurens I would recommend her ‘Bar Cynster’ novels instead.

Kate Cuthbert is the romance blogger for Booktopia