All Through the Night

Since I believe the basics of the plot of this story are amply and efficiently covered by the reader reviews that precede this one, I won't attempt to go into another re-cap. What I do wish to contribute, however, is what struck me most about this darkly compelling and riveting tale; namely, that Ms. Brockway displays a writing style superior to anything else offered in this genre, something fine enough to withstand the power of time and "trends" in romantic literature. There is an artistic finesse and subtlety in the dialogue, which would indicate that the author credits her readers with a certain amount of sensibility and intelligence. Brockway writes a true period piece - no machismo "Fabio" lords, no saucy-but-virginal maidens. Nobody is a street scamp who discovers he/she is a bluebooded, wealthy aristocrat by the end of the book. Jack and Anne are far more complex and multi-faceted. Jack is dark, driven, and sexy, yet always very controlled; meanwhile, he's in complete turmoil inside. Anne is quite likable, yet human, with an aching emotional void which she seeks to fill by her reckless behavior. The story is equal parts tenderly romantic and darkly sensual. The "scene" in which Jack requests to hear his Christian name on Anne's lips gave me goosebumps!The secondary characters are refreshing, unique, and fascinating, rather than mere foils for hero and heroine. In sum, a fine, full-bodied read which has probably ruined me against any others that will follow!

Reading a book by Connie Brockway is always a treat (although not easy since English is not my mother tongue and she is the ONLY author where I actually need my dictionary at hand!...). She is so good in creating complex and therefore perfectly understandable characters (this includes the supporting cast) plus a great story. The only problem I had with this book was, that I was wishing there had been much much more of Jack and Anne, I didn?t want the book to end.Contrary to AS YOU DESIRE (which is also a good book, although I liked ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT more) this is no light read. It is very dark and there is a lot of emotion involved. I actually got scared during one scene involving a chimney. The first half of the story I thought, if that was a common thriller and not romance one or both characters would be dead at the end ? no chance for a Happy Ending, never. It was such a mess and the situation so desperate that I kept reading faster and faster to find out how Ms Brockway manages to solve it. I am happy to report that she did it very well and to my satisfaction (which is not easy). See for yourself, you won't regret meeting Jack and Anne.

I have been experiencing a romance drought, in that none of the usual books can please me. Having taken to reading Lord Peter Wimsey and then Horatio Hornblower and the letters of Jane Austen simultaneously, I nevertheless picked up this book, on the recommendation of All About Romance. This is an amazing book with very few missteps. Firstly, a warning. This is the story of two people with secrets, one with a double life, and with considerable emotional baggage. If you do not like books about troubled heroes and heroines, avoid this book. Secondly, the tone of the book is obsessive. Both hero and heroine are obsessed with each other, and at least one secondary character is obssessed with the hero. The hero has a reason to "stalk" the heroine, but if this theme and the overarching theme of obsession makes you uncomfortable, avoid this book. Lastly, this book contains some rather explicit scenes (definitely R rated) but the hero and heroine do not actually come together until relatively late in the book (and after they are married). If you like your bedroom scenes earlier and more conventional, again, this book should be avoided.All right. Now to a quick review of the book. I cannot praise Brockway enough for coming up with these two memorable characters (to whom I can compare only David de Abyngdon in Hunter's BY ARRANGEMENT and Miss Milton in Kelly's MISS MILTON SPEAKS HER MIND, both reviewed by me). Both hero and heroine have murky backgrounds, exist on the edges of society while moving among the very elite, and possess dark secrets. Both are haunted by their past decisions and by the actions of others. The hero is Henry Seward, otherwise the Hound of Whitehall, a notably spy and intelligence officer. He is not noble, he is illegitimate, and the reputed son of a cold-hearted spymaster. The heroine Anne is the daughter of a merchant, who married a wealthy gentleman who became a war hero (of sorts) by dying in action, along with most of his crew. She has his rank, his money, her father's money, and the cachet of being a war hero's widow. Anne however is not free to spend her income as she wants, thanks to the tightfisted trustees who do not agree with her wishes. She wants to spend her late husband's wealth to aid wounded and impoverished soldiers and sailors returning from the Napoleonic Wars to a peace where they are not wanted. She tries to raise funds from the social elite, but promises of funds are not kept. Anne cannot expose the non-payers, because she is chaperoning her late husband's cousin who is of obscure if genteel birth. To do so would ruin young Sophia North. Anne, therefore, devises a method of getting the money from the deadbeats. How? Well, she becomes a master thief who steals jewels and money from the non-payers, and then from other aristocrats who can afford to lose their money and show no social conscience. With every theft, she becomes more and more reckless.During one such theft, she is cornered b

I have read all of Brockway's works up until the passionate series. This story is my favorite, though. I marvelled at the heroine and how she wasn't some perfect little miss. She was a widow and more than a little cynical. Her most endearing traits are traditionally bestowed upon romantic heroes. She was a jewel thief with an adrenallin addiction and a past. A past! She wasn't an eighteen year old chit, what a relief. This novel was more than a little salty, and much more wonderful for it's flavor. So many novels are sugar sweet and predictible. These characters were flawed and multi-dimensional, I truly felt the hero's pain over a decision he had made in his past. The secondary characters were just as wonderful, wonderfully complicated that is. Brockway is so exemplary because her stories alternate between sweetly funny and exciting and dangerous. If you have a taste for the exciting and sexy this is your book.