A review by turophile
Much Ado about Jack by Christy English

3.0

This story was a mixed bag for me. As one might suspect from the title, there are references to Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” sprinkled throughout the book. Sadly my knowledge of that Shakespearean work is negligible so I can’t judge whether there are parallels between this book and that play.

I really liked the two characters, Angelique and Captain John. Strong, independent people who didn’t think they’d be falling in love. The chemistry between them is palpable. Their relationship progresses smoothly from pure lust to an appreciation of each other’s personas.

What didn’t work for me were the numerous side stories that converged together, largely because I never quite understood aspects of the backdrop. Angelique is considered a “fallen” widow and has a bad reputation among the ton. Her recently widowed friend Arabella is in love with an Earl yet the husband of her dead brother wants her so badly he’s willing to destroy Angelique and maybe take down Angelique’s newly found stepdaughter. And there’s more, and although most of it ties back together at the end I’d have preferred fewer, but more developed story threads.