The Dragon's Bride

Jo Beverley is an author whose complex plots and outstanding characterization have drawn many to her books. This is the second in the "Three Georges" series (the first, a novella from In Praise of Younger Men, was probably the best novella I have read in years). Beverley spins an absorbing, suspenseful tale. her books are not only well-written; they are not the usual historical regency, and have plenty of unique aspects to keep her work among the freshest and most outstanding of today's historical romances.

I've been reading Jo Beverley avidly ever since I picked up a copy of _An_Arranged_Marriage_ several years ago. While I enjoy her light Regencies and her medieval romances, I am a huge fan of the Rogues and the Mallorens. It's been hard to complain about not having any new Rogues books for several years, since we got so many Malloren novels in the meantime. However, I was extremely excited by the release of the latest Rogues book (which also happens to be in another series, the Georges -- how many authors can pull that off without looking stupid? Not many, but Beverley does it beautifully in this novel). Anyway, it's a good book, certainly much better than the average Regency historical novel. And like all the Rogue books, it provides a hero who is sharply distinct from his Rogue-ish mates. The heroine is believable, and unlike many romance heroines, she not only made a serious mistake in the past, but she has figured that out all by herself before she is reunited with the hero (the man with whom she made the mistake). I missed the actual participation in the action of the novel by any other Rogues besides Nicholas. And I particularly missed the interactions between Susan and the other Rogue-wives who were present at the wedding. I also found the plot to be a bit predictable. I knew who the murderer was very early on, and there were plenty of hints to tell me where the gold was hidden. Also, some of the edge characters seemed a bit wooden and flat, not a mistake Beverley usually makes.So why did I give this book 5 stars? Because even when Jo Beverley is not up to her usual standards, she writes books I want to read and reread. It was great fun to see the Rogues back on stage, and I enjoyed the book immensely. While the plot definitely suffered as I described above, the resolution was both surprising and satisfying. It's not as good as _An_Unwilling_Bride_ or _Christmas_Angel_, which are the two best Rogues books (in my opinion), but it's a fine book, fluently written, nicely paced, and a darn good way spend a weekend.

I won't go into the detail of the story as the previous reviews do that very well. I will say that Ms. Beverley has once again proven herself as "the best of the best" in romance writers. This book has been long awaited as another book in the "Rogue" series, but it is definitely a book that will stand alone. Ms. Beverley has an incredible touch with a story--each of her books are very different and there is always some touch in her stories that puts her above the rest. I can't praise this book enough--hurry to your bookseller or order here on line--to savor one of the best books I have read in quite some while.

In 1816, along the coast in the southern part of England, Con Somerford and Susan Kerslake come face to face again after youthful betrayal tore them apart. Eleven years ago, at the tender age of fifteen, they shared a magical time together which ended abruptly when, after Susan seduced Con, she callously rejected him when she found out that he was not heir to the Earldom of Wyvern. Ironically, Con is now the new Earl, and Susan is the housekeeper, a position which she has retained in order to recover some gold due her family from the late Earl. Susan's brother, David, and their father before him, are the infamous Captain Drake, leader of the local smuggler operation. Susan believes that the gold belongs to her because the late Earl received a portion of the smuggling profits in exchange for protecting the smuggling operation. Not only did he fail to protect the smuggling business, he aided in the capture and transportation of the previous Captain Drake. Despite Susan's prior ill-treatment of Con, he finds himself still drawn to her and wonders if she still harbors a desire to become the Countess of Wyvern. Susan, likewise, is attracted to Con,though he is no longer the boy she spent hours with in youthful exploration. He is now a hardened man, embittered by war and her previous rejection. Can Susan and Con overcome events of the past and find love again?Jo Beverley has definitely done it again. This is a wonderful read, rich with emotion between hero and heroine. She makes it clear that Susan betrayal of Con, her youthful lover, is so devestating simply because she is the one he has loved all these years. And Susan,likewise, was never able to get over him even though she tried with two other men. The imagery of the dragon and his bride as represented by the statue is skillfully woven into the relationship of the protaganists as Con discovers that he is not really the dragon he has tatooed on himself, but St. George, the slayer of dragons, who he wanted to be so long ago. The main characters have come full circle, having learned so much about themselves in the eleven years that they spent apart,that they now know that they were truly meant for one another. We will eagerly await THE DEVIL'S HEIRESS, the next installment in this series.

Though Napoleon has become history, smuggling remains a way of life on the English coast even in 1816. Susan Kerslake has been housekeeper to the Earl of Wyvern for several years. Now that a new Earl is coming soon, she wonders how he will react to the local illegal activity. However, she worries more about how the Earl Con Somerford will act if he sees her for the first time in over a decade. Frightened, her plan is to flee the Craig before he arrives because the one-time lovers broke apart in a not so friendly manner.However, Con reaches his new home before Susan escapes. The passion between them remains torrid, but the shared history provides a spectre that threatens to destroy both of them. Will they find happiness with the maturity of adulthood love or will they consume each other with hatred enflamed by their distorted memories?Jo Beverly is a sure thing when it comes to entertaining historical romance readers and her latest tale, THE DRAGON'S BRIDE, will do just that and more. The story line centers on the relationships between the lead characters that are mostly present but somewhat past. Because Con and Susan seem genuine with real emotions, they carry off the plot, which turns into an enjoyable reading experience for sub-genre fans. What else is new ñ this is Ms. Beverly at her best.Harriet Klausner