Antoinette George

I read this 'not at all a re-write of The Scarlet Pimpernel oh no' novel for kicks and paid absolutely nothing for the honour, luckily for my bank balance and my pride. For a start, 'The Elusive Smuggler' - part one of I dread to think how many instalments - is clearly based on Baroness Orczy's iconic character and novel, or at least the eponymous 1982 film adaptation. To quote the blurb that drew me in: He was the handsome aristocrat and charismatic adventurer who created a dynasty and she was the feisty, unconventional woman he loved. He was English and she was French, two strong-willed people determined never to give in to each other, and a devious, diabolical enemy determined to exact revenge on the smuggler who had constantly evaded him and thwarted his nefarious plans. All the author did was toss in a couple of erotic descriptions and a band of gypsies.

Marie-Catherine de Mornay is all the romance tropes in one: 'She was the do-er; a volatile, passionate, headstrong woman, tending to act first and reflect on her actions after'; 'For a refined, unmarried, well brought up daughter of the nobility, she was unlike most of her peers'; and 'she was far too good natured, and polite, not to mention realistic and practical, to cause offence to anyone no matter where they’d originated, or their social class and profession.' Blah blah blah. Basically, she can claim all the breeding of being 'a lady' but without any of the restrictions of being ladylike, such as keeping her clothes on and not challenging men to a duel (she's past master at fencing, obviously).

The hero - let me see if I can remember his name - Francis Alexander Xavier Granville, Duke of Firle (is there any other title in romance novels?) is at once a 'pillar of the English Establishment, a senior Peer of the Realm, Member of the House of Lords, friend of the Prince of Wales, the Prime Minister and other influential and senior politicians, upright if often absent member of the local communities around his various country estates, generous donor to many charities, extensive landowner and rich as Croesus, and target of every husband-hunting Lady in the Ton… was also the feared and wanted criminal known as The Shadow' - 'an accomplished and feared swordsman and crack shot, The Shadow killed men who crossed him or threatened to betray him, with cold-blooded dispatch.' AKA a violent and less than altruistic Scarlet Pimpernel.

The H and h meet as children, in a scene straight out of a Gainsborough Pictures film, where she fights him off with a rapier and he puts her off men for life. They meet again in France at the start of the Revolution, their reputations exceeding them both (she's more like Scrappy Do than the 'wild' and 'dangerous' hoyden the author makes her out to be), and jump straight into a cliched enemies to lovers drawn out romance. A small complication is that Marie-Catherine and her brother Eddy 'the cripple' have been seeking The Shadow for months because only he can free their parents from a fortress, where they have been locked away by the dastardly Governor of Normandy. Only The Shadow deals in contraband, not saving lives like the Pimpernel because this book is definitely not a retelling of The Scarlet Pimpernel.

The plot would have been intriguing except that Marie-Catherine's poor parents are put on the back burner in favour of a lot of foreplay until the final chapters - when the book ends abruptly, turning into a cliffhanger for Part Deux, which I won't be reading bar the two free chapters tagged at the end. The dialogue is atrocious - lots of 'Ooooh YOU -!' and terrible Mockney villains - and for a former copy editor, Miss George's writing was a bit free range. Marie-Catherine becomes Marie-Christine at one point and there are lots of Random Capitalisations and FULL CAPS LOCK (pardon me, I mean 'merely emphasising his words with an aristocratic, cutting tone') in place of italics that drove me to distraction. The historical research is a bit patchy too, and I say that as a fan of Orczy.

I will fully admit that I had my doubts (and prejudices) before reading this, but the temptation to compare and contrast with The Scarlet Pimpernel was too great, especially for the grand investment of £0.00. I knew that she would be 'an unmarried virgin but she knew what men were like and the ways of the world' and he would be a handsome, muscled roué who finally meets his match, and I was not wrong. But for those who actually enjoy romances, the trope checklist and 'plot what plot' sex scenes will no doubt power readers onto book two. I think I'll stick with the more endearing characters and original concept of Baroness Orczy's books, however.… (altro)

Part 5 (and last) in a series, this book takes place in early 1800's England. It is about Nicholas de Bresancourt, a French duke with no estate of his own.

At the end of Part 4, Nicky, and several members of his adopted family had been kidnapped by Bernheim, a French agent totally obsessed with getting the de Bresancourt family treasure. They are taken to an isolated cellar, where a cage full of hungry lions is waiting for them. They are rescued, but not all of them make it out alive. In then ensuing gun battle, several of the family members are severely injured. Bernheim is stopped, permanently.

In the weeks to come, the family members deal with their own scars, both physical and emotional. Nicky has a major bout of depression, feeling like a cripple, because both his arms are temporarily out of commission. Other family members are not much better off. Can each of them get past their own personal traumas, and live "happily ever after" once again?

As with the rest of the series, this is a gem of a story, with excellent writing from start to finish. After 5 books, and over 2000 pages, there is no reduction in the quality of the storytelling. This novel, and the whole series, is highly recommended.… (altro)

Part 4 of a series, this novel takes place in the early 1800's, in England and France. It is about Nicholas de Bresancourt, a French duke with no lands or estate of his own.

In this installment, Nicky is an aide to General Wellington at the battle of Waterloo. The rest of the family is out of the way and practically frantic with worry. After days of no word from Nicky, Francis, the family patriarch, and Jack, a teenage horse groomer, start a search. They are subjected to blood, and death, on a mind-boggling scale, on the battlefield and in the "hospitals." Nicky is found, barely alive, and is brought back to his family's estate in England, where he eventually recovers. The family is growing, and everyone is happy. Life is good.

Meantime, Bernheim, the family nemesis, who was killed in a previous novel, is not exactly dead. He is the sort of person who sets new records for being cruel and sadistic (and corrupt). He is laying low, watching the family for a long time. He makes his move, having several members of the family kidnapped, and taken to an isolated barn, where there is a cage full of hungry lions. This time, Bernheim intends to get all of Nicky's and Francis' family fortunes. Are they rescued? Who survives at the end?

Just like the rest of the series, this is a first-rate piece of writing. It is well done from start to finish, and will lead to several late nights, unable to put it down. This is very much worth reading.… (altro)

Third in a series, this novel is set in England and France of the early 1800's. It is about Nicholas de Bresancourt, a French duke with no estate to his name.

Living in England, Nicky decides to return to France, alone, to see about getting his family's land back. This is after a huge argument with Bella, his wife, and a total collapse in their relationship. Word reaches Bella that Nicky has disappeared from the manor house that is being rebuilt. After several weeks of no word from Nicky, Bella takes Jack, a teenage stable worker who knows how to take care of hmself, and heads to France to look for Nicky.

He has been captured by Bernheim, a very corrupt French agent who has been causing the British many problems. He is the sort of person who has no problem with torturing people to hand over their family gold, and then killing them. Bella is forced to spend the night with Bernheim (a total sexual sadist) while Jack rescues Nicky. In the ensuing battle, Jack kills Bernheim, and the three make it back to England.

Bella is traumatized by the sexual things that Bernheim did to her. Nicky is trying to be understanding, but is also getting frustrated. In the meantime, Bernheim is not exactly dead. Napoleon has escaped his exile, and is back in Paris, gathering troops and supporters. Will Bernheim join the "Napoleon Caravan," or is he heading to England, to settle things with Nicky, and his adopted family, once and for all?

Here is another excellent novel. There is lots of good writing, and lots of seduction (Bella does get over her sexual trauma). Like the rest of the series, this is very much worth reading.… (altro)