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A review by holtfan
And Dangerous to Know by Darcie Wilde
3.0
I find I did not "click" with this one as much as the first two--and I think the problem lies with the theme. The first book deals with a place (Almack's). The second with a political/social issue (divorce). This one deals with a particular scandal that rocked the Regency era (Lady Caroline Lamb and Lord Byron!). Instead of snip-its about the era, the chapters begin with out-of-context quotes from letters from the various players in the story.
I surprised myself by "enjoying" reading about Lady Caro, Lord Byron, Lady Melbourne, etc. Usually if I have a passing acquaintance with a historical personage, reading about their fictional counterpart leaves me less than thrilled. But it is quite interesting here, with high drama and strong personalities.
But things felt less cohesive than the earlier books because while the book center around a "thing", it is not a tangible thing like a place or particular legal status. These individuals have intense history and, one suspects, will go on to have more history.
Anyway, I'm not sure I'm explaining it right, except that I'm now left with a burning desire to pick up a biography about Lady Caroline Lamb and I feel dissatisfied that I don't know what happens to all of the real people!
I also found the romance harder to swallow in this one. I think it would be better without the love triangle. Devon Whatshisname, Duke of Winterborne (because I don't think the book ever says his name without reminding you he is a duke) is such a nonentity it isn't funny. I'd be much more interested in Rosalind trying to figure out if she wants to move further down the social standing by taking up with her Bow Street Runner than this will she/won't she with a guy who gets like three lines of dialogue. Perhaps we will learn to like him more in the next installment?
I surprised myself by "enjoying" reading about Lady Caro, Lord Byron, Lady Melbourne, etc. Usually if I have a passing acquaintance with a historical personage, reading about their fictional counterpart leaves me less than thrilled. But it is quite interesting here, with high drama and strong personalities.
But things felt less cohesive than the earlier books because while the book center around a "thing", it is not a tangible thing like a place or particular legal status. These individuals have intense history and, one suspects, will go on to have more history.
Anyway, I'm not sure I'm explaining it right, except that I'm now left with a burning desire to pick up a biography about Lady Caroline Lamb and I feel dissatisfied that I don't know what happens to all of the real people!
I also found the romance harder to swallow in this one. I think it would be better without the love triangle. Devon Whatshisname, Duke of Winterborne (because I don't think the book ever says his name without reminding you he is a duke) is such a nonentity it isn't funny. I'd be much more interested in Rosalind trying to figure out if she wants to move further down the social standing by taking up with her Bow Street Runner than this will she/won't she with a guy who gets like three lines of dialogue. Perhaps we will learn to like him more in the next installment?