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Fallen Angels #2
Dancing on the Wind
Like his nickname, Lucifer, Lord Strathmore is know for unearthly beauty and diabolical cleverness. A tragic past has driven Lucien to use his formidable talents to protect his country from hidden enemies. It’s a job he does superbly well—until he meets a mysterious woman whose skill at deception is the equal of his own. By turns glamorous and subdued, his enchanting adversary baffles his mind even as she dazzles his senses.
A perilous mission has forced Kit Travers into a deadly game of shifting identities and needful lies, where a single misstep might cost Kit her life. But her disguises are easily penetrated by the Earl of Strathmore, who may be a vital ally—or a lethal enemy.
Unwilling to trust, yet unable to part, Kit and Lucien join forces to search the dangerous underside of London society. Yet even two master deceivers cannot escape passion’s sensual web—or from an impossible love more precious than life itself.
A perilous mission has forced Kit Travers into a deadly game of shifting identities and needful lies, where a single misstep might cost Kit her life. But her disguises are easily penetrated by the Earl of Strathmore, who may be a vital ally—or a lethal enemy.
Unwilling to trust, yet unable to part, Kit and Lucien join forces to search the dangerous underside of London society. Yet even two master deceivers cannot escape passion’s sensual web—or from an impossible love more precious than life itself.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
330 people are currently reading
1093 people want to read
About the author
Mary Jo Putney
167 books2,255 followersShe writes young adult fiction as M.J. Putney.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
Mary Jo Putney was born on 1946 in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. After earning degrees in English Literature and Industrial Design at Syracuse University, she did various forms of design work in California and England before inertia took over in Baltimore, Maryland, where she has lived very comfortably ever since.
While becoming a novelist was her ultimate fantasy, it never occurred to her that writing was an achievable goal until she acquired a computer for other purposes. When the realization hit that a computer was the ultimate writing tool, she charged merrily into her first book with an ignorance that illustrates the adage that fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Fortune sometimes favors the foolish and her first book sold quickly, thereby changing her life forever, in most ways for the better. (“But why didn't anyone tell me that writing would change the way one reads?”) Like a lemming over a cliff, she gave up her freelance graphic design business to become a full-time writer as soon as possible.
Since 1987, Ms. Putney has published twenty-nine books and counting. Her stories are noted for psychological depth and unusual subject matter such as alcoholism, death and dying, and domestic abuse. She has made all of the national bestseller lists including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USAToday, and Publishers Weekly. Five of her books have been named among the year’s top five romances by The Library Journal. The Spiral Path and Stolen Magic were chosen as one of Top Ten romances of their years by Booklist, published by the American Library Association.
A nine-time finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA, she has won RITAs for Dancing on the Wind and The Rake and the Reformer and is on the RWA Honor Roll for bestselling authors. She has been awarded two Romantic Times Career Achievement Awards, four NJRW Golden Leaf awards, plus the NJRW career achievement award for historical romance. Though most of her books have been historical, she has also published three contemporary romances. The Marriage Spell will be out in June 2006 in hardcover, and Stolen Magic (written as M. J. Putney) will be released in July 2006.
Ms. Putney says that not least among the blessings of a full-time writing career is that one almost never has to wear pantyhose.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
December 9, 2018
Aunque se me atascó un poco al principio, me ha gustado mucho cómo nace y se desarrolla la relación entre Kit y Lucien: esos encuentros fortuitos, esos equívocos, esa tensión sexual... Pena que no me haya acabado de convencer ese puntito paranormal que tiene, que si el mesmerismo, que si la conexión extrasensorial, que si el péndulo... Solo ha faltado la ouija ;)
#RetoRita2 #RitaPutney
#campañaromantica: ganador del premio Rita
#RetoRita2 #RitaPutney
#campañaromantica: ganador del premio Rita
January 10, 2021
I thought this was refreshingly unique. Lucifer was a likable hero who, although perceived as a rake, was actually celibate for the past few years. The heroine was smart and a great liar and actress. There was mystery and adventure along with some paranormal. I look forward to continuing the series.
August 19, 2024
Review from 2014<\i>
This audiobook has the unlikely distinction of being one of the worst narrations I've ever listened to. I've given it a D- for narration and B- for content at AudioGals, which I suppose I should technically round up to 2 stars, but seriously - the narration was so bad, I would hate for anyone to look at my rating and think it worth wasting money on!
Some of Mary Jo Putney’s books have been available in audio format for a number of years, but the author has recently begun self-publishing some of her back catalogue in audio format.
So far, she has released books one and two (or three, depending on which listing you read!) in her Fallen Angels series – Thunder and Roses and Dancing on the Wind, and the standalone book, The Bargain, which is a personal favourite in print. Each title has used a different, unknown narrator, and although I haven’t listened to Thunder and Roses, I have listened to the other two and find myself sadly unable to recommend either of them because the performances are very disappointing.
The story of Dancing on the Wind is an intriguing mix of espionage, romance and mystery, laced with a bit of the (IMO, rather silly) paranormal. The hero, Lucien Fairchild, Earl of Strathmore has, for a number of years, worked for British intelligence, and at the beginning of the story is attempting to infiltrate a group of men known as the “Hellions Club”, a society dedicated to the pursuit of debauchery of all kinds – because he believes that one member of their inner circle is a French spy.
While he is engaged in proving to the Hellions that he’s worthy of initiation into the group, Lucien comes into contact on several occasions with a mysterious young woman masquerading as, variously, a servant, a buxom barmaid, an actress and a courtesan. Not a man to be easily swayed by female charms, Lucien is nonetheless intrigued by the woman, and becomes more and more determined to find out who she is and what she’s up to. After several encounters, she realises that Lucien is nothing if not persistent, and eventually discloses something of the truth; that she is in fact the radical journalist L.J. Knight who has penned a number of reformist articles for London newspapers. She is also writing an exposé of the Hellions Club, following claims that they are far more depraved than the original Hellfire Club, and that they are involved in kidnap, torture and murder.
That, however, is not the whole story. Lady Katherine (Kit) Travers is an extremely determined young woman, who, for the last few months, been living a double life. Her identical twin sister, Kira (Kristine) – who is a celebrated comic actress – has disappeared, and Kit is desperate to find her. Reasoning that the best way to learn about Kira’s life is to actually live it, Kit spends her time either pretending to be Kira on stage, or in disguise, investigating her sister’s disappearance. She suspects that one of the members of the Hellion Club is responsible, and being unable to find anyone to take her concerns seriously, has taken the investigation into her own hands.
The story is quite complex, especially in the first half, when Lucien isn’t quite sure which of the two sisters he is pursuing or falling for; and there are some rather odd “interludes” which have a definite S&M bent – that seem at first to be dreams or memories of Kit’s – although as the story develops, it emerges that is not the case.
I wasn’t convinced by the slightly supernatural nature of the connection between the sisters. I know people often say that twins have more than a sixth sense when it comes to their sibling, but the psychic connection between Kat and Kira and their ability to experience each other’s dreams was a little too far-fetched for my taste.
I did, however, like both Kit and Lucien as characters. Kit is brave and clever, although her reluctance to become emotionally involved with Lucien does go on a little too long. Lucien is very much an alpha hero – strong, capable and protective, but not arrogant or controlling. He lost his family at a young age and seems to have been searching for a similarly close emotional connection for most of his life. Unlike so many heroes of historical romance, Lucien isn’t a man who cuts a swathe through the beds of the ladies of the ton – or of anywhere else – for precisely that reason; he is looking for a deeper connection and is (mostly) prepared to forego casual sex until he finds what he’s looking for.
Although a bit slow to start, the story is generally intriguing and while the identity of the villain isn’t hard to guess, the twists and turns come thick and fast, and the last part of the book is a bit of a rollercoaster of events!
Had I not already been familiar with the book I probably wouldn’t have made it to the end of the audiobook, because the narration conveys none of the excitement of the story and shows not the slightest smidgeon of emotional engagement with it.
William Kirby has an attractive speaking voice, and lends his rich bass-baritone to Lucien, but his performance overall lacks animation, and he makes almost no attempt to make this a performance rather than a reading. I noted several places where he completely fails to follow the textual directions, which makes complete nonsense of the text as a result. For example, the first time Lucien meets Kit, she is disguised as a servant and is described as having a “thick country accent”, which is nowhere to be heard. At another meeting, the text says she has a North Country accent. This is also absent. One of the secondary characters is American – I’d never have known it unless I’d heard it read out, because there is no accent whatsoever in that character’s speech. Or no – actually, that’s incorrect. Mr Kirby attempts one, but it’s terrible and not at all recognisable as an American accent. Other “stage directions” are similarly ignored. For instance, in an early scene, after Lucien has overcome two attackers in a London backstreet:
“In a way you did me a favor, Harry,” he panted. “I dislike coldblooded killing, but for self-defense, I feel no remorse at all.”
Lucien doesn’t pant or otherwise sound as though he’s exerted himself above ringing the bell for tea. Incidentally, Lucien on the page is dangerously sexy, but here he’s just dangerously dull. And Mr Kirby’s female voices are no better – Kit is sadly missing her spark, and most of her dialogue is performed in the same monotone, with no subtlety or nuance.
And as for the love scenes… In print, Lucien and Kit have great chemistry, but there is no suggestion of even the slightest iota of sexual tension between them in the audio. The love scenes are read mechanically, and I’m afraid Mr Kirby might as well have been reading the weather forecast.
I HATE having to write such a negative review of a story I like by an author who is, let’s face it, romance royalty. But this is twice now I’ve been let down by the audio version of a title by Ms Putney, and I’m going to be reluctant to try any more of them unless they’re performed by an established narrator.
This audiobook has the unlikely distinction of being one of the worst narrations I've ever listened to. I've given it a D- for narration and B- for content at AudioGals, which I suppose I should technically round up to 2 stars, but seriously - the narration was so bad, I would hate for anyone to look at my rating and think it worth wasting money on!
Some of Mary Jo Putney’s books have been available in audio format for a number of years, but the author has recently begun self-publishing some of her back catalogue in audio format.
So far, she has released books one and two (or three, depending on which listing you read!) in her Fallen Angels series – Thunder and Roses and Dancing on the Wind, and the standalone book, The Bargain, which is a personal favourite in print. Each title has used a different, unknown narrator, and although I haven’t listened to Thunder and Roses, I have listened to the other two and find myself sadly unable to recommend either of them because the performances are very disappointing.
The story of Dancing on the Wind is an intriguing mix of espionage, romance and mystery, laced with a bit of the (IMO, rather silly) paranormal. The hero, Lucien Fairchild, Earl of Strathmore has, for a number of years, worked for British intelligence, and at the beginning of the story is attempting to infiltrate a group of men known as the “Hellions Club”, a society dedicated to the pursuit of debauchery of all kinds – because he believes that one member of their inner circle is a French spy.
While he is engaged in proving to the Hellions that he’s worthy of initiation into the group, Lucien comes into contact on several occasions with a mysterious young woman masquerading as, variously, a servant, a buxom barmaid, an actress and a courtesan. Not a man to be easily swayed by female charms, Lucien is nonetheless intrigued by the woman, and becomes more and more determined to find out who she is and what she’s up to. After several encounters, she realises that Lucien is nothing if not persistent, and eventually discloses something of the truth; that she is in fact the radical journalist L.J. Knight who has penned a number of reformist articles for London newspapers. She is also writing an exposé of the Hellions Club, following claims that they are far more depraved than the original Hellfire Club, and that they are involved in kidnap, torture and murder.
That, however, is not the whole story. Lady Katherine (Kit) Travers is an extremely determined young woman, who, for the last few months, been living a double life. Her identical twin sister, Kira (Kristine) – who is a celebrated comic actress – has disappeared, and Kit is desperate to find her. Reasoning that the best way to learn about Kira’s life is to actually live it, Kit spends her time either pretending to be Kira on stage, or in disguise, investigating her sister’s disappearance. She suspects that one of the members of the Hellion Club is responsible, and being unable to find anyone to take her concerns seriously, has taken the investigation into her own hands.
The story is quite complex, especially in the first half, when Lucien isn’t quite sure which of the two sisters he is pursuing or falling for; and there are some rather odd “interludes” which have a definite S&M bent – that seem at first to be dreams or memories of Kit’s – although as the story develops, it emerges that is not the case.
I wasn’t convinced by the slightly supernatural nature of the connection between the sisters. I know people often say that twins have more than a sixth sense when it comes to their sibling, but the psychic connection between Kat and Kira and their ability to experience each other’s dreams was a little too far-fetched for my taste.
I did, however, like both Kit and Lucien as characters. Kit is brave and clever, although her reluctance to become emotionally involved with Lucien does go on a little too long. Lucien is very much an alpha hero – strong, capable and protective, but not arrogant or controlling. He lost his family at a young age and seems to have been searching for a similarly close emotional connection for most of his life. Unlike so many heroes of historical romance, Lucien isn’t a man who cuts a swathe through the beds of the ladies of the ton – or of anywhere else – for precisely that reason; he is looking for a deeper connection and is (mostly) prepared to forego casual sex until he finds what he’s looking for.
Although a bit slow to start, the story is generally intriguing and while the identity of the villain isn’t hard to guess, the twists and turns come thick and fast, and the last part of the book is a bit of a rollercoaster of events!
Had I not already been familiar with the book I probably wouldn’t have made it to the end of the audiobook, because the narration conveys none of the excitement of the story and shows not the slightest smidgeon of emotional engagement with it.
William Kirby has an attractive speaking voice, and lends his rich bass-baritone to Lucien, but his performance overall lacks animation, and he makes almost no attempt to make this a performance rather than a reading. I noted several places where he completely fails to follow the textual directions, which makes complete nonsense of the text as a result. For example, the first time Lucien meets Kit, she is disguised as a servant and is described as having a “thick country accent”, which is nowhere to be heard. At another meeting, the text says she has a North Country accent. This is also absent. One of the secondary characters is American – I’d never have known it unless I’d heard it read out, because there is no accent whatsoever in that character’s speech. Or no – actually, that’s incorrect. Mr Kirby attempts one, but it’s terrible and not at all recognisable as an American accent. Other “stage directions” are similarly ignored. For instance, in an early scene, after Lucien has overcome two attackers in a London backstreet:
“In a way you did me a favor, Harry,” he panted. “I dislike coldblooded killing, but for self-defense, I feel no remorse at all.”
Lucien doesn’t pant or otherwise sound as though he’s exerted himself above ringing the bell for tea. Incidentally, Lucien on the page is dangerously sexy, but here he’s just dangerously dull. And Mr Kirby’s female voices are no better – Kit is sadly missing her spark, and most of her dialogue is performed in the same monotone, with no subtlety or nuance.
And as for the love scenes… In print, Lucien and Kit have great chemistry, but there is no suggestion of even the slightest iota of sexual tension between them in the audio. The love scenes are read mechanically, and I’m afraid Mr Kirby might as well have been reading the weather forecast.
I HATE having to write such a negative review of a story I like by an author who is, let’s face it, romance royalty. But this is twice now I’ve been let down by the audio version of a title by Ms Putney, and I’m going to be reluctant to try any more of them unless they’re performed by an established narrator.
May 4, 2021
"You're going to have to tell me something," he said sharply. "Surely you're aware of the penalties for theft. Since you're pretty, I don't suppose you will end up dancing on the wind at Newgate, but if I decide to press charges, you will certainly be transported."
November 20, 2018
La historia venía fantástica, para 5 estrellas, pero a la mitad empezó a decaer, para mi gusto.
Lucien, el as del servicio secreto británico, está intentando infiltrarse en el club de los Demonios, un grupo de aristócratas hedonistas, para descubrir a un traidor que ha vendido secretos a la Francia napoleónica. En varias circunstancias se encuentra con una mujer que, disfrazada con distintas personalidades, está intentado algo con los miembros del club: ¿es una ladrona? ¿una seductora? ¿una espía?
Esta chica es Kit que, efectivamente, está investigando a los miembros del club aunque no conocemos los motivos. Es una mujer osada, independiente, ágil para escurrirse por la noche como una ladrona, excelente actriz. Mentirosa.
Durante la primera mitad de la novela me encantó cómo engaña a Lucien, lo da vuelta totalmente, lo deja pagando, a él, que es una de las cabezas de servicio secreto. Hay mucha tensión sexual. Y algo más. Estaba muy entusiasmada y no veía la hora de seguir leyendo.
Pero hacia la mitad, cuando las cosas se va aclarando, la cosa entra en un rulo medio paranormal, medio metafísico, en que la cosa se vuelve poco creíble. No puedo contar nada porque spoliaría la trama.
Para peor, las inseguridades de Kit vuelven todo medio melodramático sin necesidad.
El desenlace levanta un poco. Varias escenas hot, hot.
Así que un poco decepcionada. Un final feliz pero un poco depresivo.
Pero todo bien, está bastante bien. Por ahí son cosas mías. Me gustó más la Kit del principio.
Lucien un amorrrrrrrrrrrr. Amo a Lucien, y eso que no me gustan los rubios. Pero hago una excepción.
Lucien, el as del servicio secreto británico, está intentando infiltrarse en el club de los Demonios, un grupo de aristócratas hedonistas, para descubrir a un traidor que ha vendido secretos a la Francia napoleónica. En varias circunstancias se encuentra con una mujer que, disfrazada con distintas personalidades, está intentado algo con los miembros del club: ¿es una ladrona? ¿una seductora? ¿una espía?
Esta chica es Kit que, efectivamente, está investigando a los miembros del club aunque no conocemos los motivos. Es una mujer osada, independiente, ágil para escurrirse por la noche como una ladrona, excelente actriz. Mentirosa.
Durante la primera mitad de la novela me encantó cómo engaña a Lucien, lo da vuelta totalmente, lo deja pagando, a él, que es una de las cabezas de servicio secreto. Hay mucha tensión sexual. Y algo más. Estaba muy entusiasmada y no veía la hora de seguir leyendo.
Pero hacia la mitad, cuando las cosas se va aclarando, la cosa entra en un rulo medio paranormal, medio metafísico, en que la cosa se vuelve poco creíble. No puedo contar nada porque spoliaría la trama.
Para peor, las inseguridades de Kit vuelven todo medio melodramático sin necesidad.
El desenlace levanta un poco. Varias escenas hot, hot.
Así que un poco decepcionada. Un final feliz pero un poco depresivo.
Pero todo bien, está bastante bien. Por ahí son cosas mías. Me gustó más la Kit del principio.
Lucien un amorrrrrrrrrrrr. Amo a Lucien, y eso que no me gustan los rubios. Pero hago una excepción.
December 3, 2018
3/5
No paso del 3 en este siguiente capítulo de los Ángeles Caídos y es que no me terminan de convencer las tramas. Lucien me gustaba, Kit no empezó mal pero la trama que se montan me parece hasta ridícula en algún momento.
Quizá espero otro Pecado y virtud de esta autora y no lo tiene.
No paso del 3 en este siguiente capítulo de los Ángeles Caídos y es que no me terminan de convencer las tramas. Lucien me gustaba, Kit no empezó mal pero la trama que se montan me parece hasta ridícula en algún momento.
Quizá espero otro Pecado y virtud de esta autora y no lo tiene.
June 25, 2016
2.5 to 3 Stars
I sacrificed sleep to read the first half of this book, but I had a hard time finishing the second half because I felt the story had gone off track and the characters had lost their way. Also . Plus, I can't remember much of the book even though it's only been a week. I think that's pretty telling by itself.
I sacrificed sleep to read the first half of this book, but I had a hard time finishing the second half because I felt the story had gone off track and the characters had lost their way. Also . Plus, I can't remember much of the book even though it's only been a week. I think that's pretty telling by itself.
June 18, 2019
Review of Audiobook narrated by William Kirby
I am posting this audiobook review using the format that Audible recommends:
Overall: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
Q. What made the experience of listening to Dancing on the Wind the most enjoyable?
A. Excellent characters and story experienced as fine performance art.
Q. Who was your favorite character and why?
A. I enjoyed both Lucien, the hero, and Kit, the heroine. Lucien, the mysterious spymaster, and Kit of the many disguises, are both alienated survivors, negotiating a dangerous world of terrible enemies all on their own. I love it in a romance novel when equally strong protagonists such as these two, against all odds, find each other and work together against a common enemy.
Q. What does the narrator, William Kirby, bring to the story that you wouldn't experience if you just read the book?
A. For an audiobook to work well, it requires two things: First, the book must be outstandingly enough written to not just survive but prosper under the intense scrutiny of being read out loud at a quarter of the speed it would take a reader to read the book silently to herself. Dancing on the Wind is absolutely a novel of that sterling quality. Second, the narrator must be a good performer, able to convincingly portray every kind of character, from old to young, male or female, and often different nationalities. Mr. Kirby is a fine performer able to deliver these dramatic necessities really well.
Q. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
A. This book offers sensual romance, action, adventure, pathos, and moments of humor. In short, it has it all.
Q. Any additional comments?
A. Fans of Mary Jo Putney will be pleased that this recording offers them the opportunity to enjoy Dancing on the Wind, one of the very best of her historical novels, in the form of an excellent audiobook.
I am posting this audiobook review using the format that Audible recommends:
Overall: 5 stars
Performance: 5 stars
Story: 5 stars
Q. What made the experience of listening to Dancing on the Wind the most enjoyable?
A. Excellent characters and story experienced as fine performance art.
Q. Who was your favorite character and why?
A. I enjoyed both Lucien, the hero, and Kit, the heroine. Lucien, the mysterious spymaster, and Kit of the many disguises, are both alienated survivors, negotiating a dangerous world of terrible enemies all on their own. I love it in a romance novel when equally strong protagonists such as these two, against all odds, find each other and work together against a common enemy.
Q. What does the narrator, William Kirby, bring to the story that you wouldn't experience if you just read the book?
A. For an audiobook to work well, it requires two things: First, the book must be outstandingly enough written to not just survive but prosper under the intense scrutiny of being read out loud at a quarter of the speed it would take a reader to read the book silently to herself. Dancing on the Wind is absolutely a novel of that sterling quality. Second, the narrator must be a good performer, able to convincingly portray every kind of character, from old to young, male or female, and often different nationalities. Mr. Kirby is a fine performer able to deliver these dramatic necessities really well.
Q. Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
A. This book offers sensual romance, action, adventure, pathos, and moments of humor. In short, it has it all.
Q. Any additional comments?
A. Fans of Mary Jo Putney will be pleased that this recording offers them the opportunity to enjoy Dancing on the Wind, one of the very best of her historical novels, in the form of an excellent audiobook.
May 2, 2020
Grade= C+
The second half of the book knocked this down from B- to a C+ and a good portion of that C+ has probably been earned on chemistry alone.
The first half was an interesting if convoluted mystery plot whereas the second half relied so heavily on supernatural elements it wouldn't have been out of place in a paranormal. However as this book was not meant to be a paranormal it had none of the requisite world building and the end result was rather like tuning into an episode of charmed halfway through the show.
As someone who grew up on sweet valley twins I am actually willing to let a lot of things slide and accept the "twin bond" as a reason but in this book it just felt like a lazy shortcut, as if the author had written herself into a corner and used the mysterious power of twins to resolve the mystery.
The second half of the book knocked this down from B- to a C+ and a good portion of that C+ has probably been earned on chemistry alone.
The first half was an interesting if convoluted mystery plot whereas the second half relied so heavily on supernatural elements it wouldn't have been out of place in a paranormal. However as this book was not meant to be a paranormal it had none of the requisite world building and the end result was rather like tuning into an episode of charmed halfway through the show.
As someone who grew up on sweet valley twins I am actually willing to let a lot of things slide and accept the "twin bond" as a reason but in this book it just felt like a lazy shortcut, as if the author had written herself into a corner and used the mysterious power of twins to resolve the mystery.
August 26, 2014
When Lord Strathmore infiltrates the Hellion Club to find a French spy he continuously meets Kit who intriguingly is also investigating the group for her own purposes. They soon bond over their love of their sibling and their search for real intimacy.
When I first began this book it didn't catch my attention and I was reluctant to read it but after about page 50 I tore through it voraciously. The mystery really caught me up and I wanted to know Kit's past and find out what she was really up to. As with most all MJP books this was emotional and well-written and of course I look forward to reading the rest of the Fallen Angel stories.
When I first began this book it didn't catch my attention and I was reluctant to read it but after about page 50 I tore through it voraciously. The mystery really caught me up and I wanted to know Kit's past and find out what she was really up to. As with most all MJP books this was emotional and well-written and of course I look forward to reading the rest of the Fallen Angel stories.
May 16, 2014
While everything I liked about Dancing in the Wind was still present in this offering, it was the supernatural element that ruined the storyline for me. Useless hand wringing, unlikely phenomena, and silly plot lines made the second half of the book unenjoyable. The villains motivation was illogical and the warp speed ending dissatisfactory.
August 10, 2022
Tiene más acción que romance, un final loco pero funciona. Buenos personajes.
July 6, 2013
Historical English spying romance which starts out with our main heroine disguised as a chambermaid, then as a barmaid, then as a courtesan with a large collection of wigs, make-up and different dresses. She gets almost gets way way with anonymity, but she underestimates Lord Strathmore, Lucien 'Lucifer' because he is very observant because he is attracted to the skinny young lady in each of her disguises, but too much the gentleman to do more then offer a quick night in his bed, but allows her to leave each time because he would never force a woman (unlike quite a few of his contemporary Lords). So they are both looking for a bad nobleman who is dabbling in different schemes like international spying, murder, kidnapping, ruining young noblemen for their money and planning orgies amongst other things.
Miss Kit Travers shows up as so many different ladies with each a different name so it is not clear what her true name or personality is but Earl of Strathmore, Lucifer likes to know everything that piques his curiosity and unfortunately for Kit, he is interested in her.
The writing is smooth and flows from one POV to the next without confusion which is very impressive, we mostly see through Lucien and Kit's POVs. Both are lonely people and even in a crowd, they are lost in their own internal world and passions. I did like that Lucien was a passionate clockwork mechanism hobbyist which added a steampunk flavor to this mystery romance. I was really surprised about the steampunk surprise robots which added to the fantasy theme which was already in the story with the twin mental connections and hypnotism. I wouldn't classify this story as paranormal, because the ESP twin connections is only discussed between people that are twins and carefully hidden from the 'normal' folks. BDSM themes but are subtly treated with little 'interludes' between chapters in an unwilling POV so there is nothing too hard core, but this book was surprising with how much was in it like it could have been three different books.
384 pages and bought used for 3euros on Amazon
3 stars
Miss Kit Travers shows up as so many different ladies with each a different name so it is not clear what her true name or personality is but Earl of Strathmore, Lucifer likes to know everything that piques his curiosity and unfortunately for Kit, he is interested in her.
The writing is smooth and flows from one POV to the next without confusion which is very impressive, we mostly see through Lucien and Kit's POVs. Both are lonely people and even in a crowd, they are lost in their own internal world and passions. I did like that Lucien was a passionate clockwork mechanism hobbyist which added a steampunk flavor to this mystery romance. I was really surprised about the steampunk surprise robots which added to the fantasy theme which was already in the story with the twin mental connections and hypnotism. I wouldn't classify this story as paranormal, because the ESP twin connections is only discussed between people that are twins and carefully hidden from the 'normal' folks. BDSM themes but are subtly treated with little 'interludes' between chapters in an unwilling POV so there is nothing too hard core, but this book was surprising with how much was in it like it could have been three different books.
384 pages and bought used for 3euros on Amazon
3 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2009
I finally get why people keep reading Mary Jo Putney! I loved this one, didn't want to put it down. I loved how Kit totally exposed a new side (or sides I should say) of herself to save her sister, and I love how befuddled and intrigued Lucien is by her. For the first time since I started the series, I can't wait to read the rest of the Fallen Angels.
May 10, 2020
Reviewed for THC Reviews
Dancing on the Wind is the second book in Mary Jo Putney’s Fallen Angels series about four inseparable school chums who grew up to become known by that collective nickname. I really enjoyed Thunder & Roses, the first book of the series, so I was a little appalled to discover that it’s taken me two years to pick up the second. I’m very glad I finally did, because I liked it even better. This one is the story of Lucien, the Fallen Angel who earned the nickname Lucifer for his golden-haired good looks. Lucien was a spy throughout the Napoleonic war, and even though Napoleon has been defeated, he has intelligence that there may be a French sympathizer among the British nobility. He’s set the task of seeking that person out and believes that they may be a member of the infamous Hellions, a group of dissolute nobles who’ve revived the traditions of the earlier Hellfire Club. He’s in the process of trying to infiltrate their ranks when a mysterious young woman crosses his path. Lucien feels drawn to her, and as he investigates, he keeps running into her again and again with her in a different disguise each time they meet. Both fascinated and frustrated by her, he can’t seem to help wanting to see more of her, and puts his investigative skills to use in doing just that. When he finally pries the truth out of her, he discovers that she is on an equally sensitive mission, so they join forces in a race against time to save the person she loves most in the world. But Lucien fears that regardless of whether they are successful, it may end up destroying the fragile but precious bond they’ve created.
Lucien lost his parents and twin sister in a tragic accident and became the new earl when he was merely eleven. It was only with the support of his three best friends throughout all the years since that he’s been able to remain sane. But even they cannot replace the deep emotional bond he shared with his twin. He’s been searching for that same bond with a woman ever since and hasn’t yet found it. Although he has a reputation for being a rake, in reality, he lives a mostly celibate life. The sense of loss he feels after coupling with a woman sends him into a painful depression, so he only does it when the need for human contact becomes too strong to resist. From the moment he meets Kit, he feels an irresistible force drawing them together, and though he quickly realizes she’s been anything but forthcoming with him, he can’t help wanting to see her again. Luckily fate is on his side, but it takes several meetings before he finally gets the truth out of her. Once he does, his protective instincts kick in and he wants nothing more than to help her in her quest. Lucien is a very intelligent, observant, and intuitive man, skills that have made him a top-notch spy. Even when Kit is in her various disguises he always knows it’s her, and even though she’s dishonest with him multiple times, he still senses a woman worthy of pursuit and is eventually rewarded for his patience and trust in her. Lucien intrigued me from the start, and I loved him for his honor and gallantry. Even when he’s undercover, playing the Hellions’ games, he never goes too far and deftly manages to get out of some sticky situations. His hobby of designing and building mechanical toys was quite endearing. Lucien was a truly heroic romance hero, who is the perfect mix of a brave warrior and a man with a tender heart.
Kit is investigating the Hellions for her own reasons, which is how she and Lucien initially meet at the home of one of the Hellions. She’s pretending to be a maid in order to search the house, while Lucien is doing his own form of investigating by trying to get into the Hellions’ good graces. From the minute they meet, she’s extremely tempted by him, but she cannot allow the attraction to get in the way of her mission. Not to mention, since he’s trying to join the Hellions, she doesn’t think she can trust him at first. Kit is a master of disguises, showing up all over London playing different roles, and each time, somehow she ends up in the same places Lucien is. With each meeting, she sees something new in him and gradually begins to trust him, while his allure grows more and more irresistible until she finally gives in, offering herself to him fully and telling him everything. From there she finally feels she has an ally in her fight who will back her up, but insecurities from the past keep her from fully having faith in their bond. Kit is a character I can’t say much about without giving away some major spoilers. It’s so much more fun for the reader to follow along and try to figure out what she’s really up to, so I won’t give any of that away. She’s a strong woman to do the things she’s been doing, and she draws some of that strength from an unusual source. Still, she has a hard time seeing herself that way. Kit is definitely not your run-of-the-mill romance heroine and she utterly fascinated me. She’s a chameleon who sometimes almost fooled me in the same way she nearly fooled Lucien more than once, but in spite of her dishonesty, she exhibits a certain vulnerability that made me like her anyway. She’s likely to rank pretty high on my favorite romance heroines list if for no other reason than her uniqueness to the genre.
Dancing on the Wind was a joy to read, in large part because it’s quite different than a lot of other romances I’ve read. Both Lucien and Kit grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn’t let go. There’s a great deal of action and intrigue that keeps the plot moving along at a nice pace. The romance between these two was very emotional and heartfelt, with each of them finally finding that special connection they’d been looking for and hadn’t found. There’s also a slight touch of the paranormal in the form of psychic bonds and divination. I also appreciated the author’s attention to historical details that helped bring the narrative alive. All the other Fallen Angels put in appearances, including Nicholas (Thunder & Roses) and Rafe who’ll be the hero of the next book, Petals in the Storm. But the real stand-out who helps to save the day is Michael who will be the hero of Book #5, Shattered Rainbows. I very much look forward to reading these other characters’ stories, so I’ll definitely have to move this series up my TBR list. And with two keepers in a row, Mary Jo Putney has also earned a spot on my favorite authors list.
Note: This book contains drug use and non-consensual sexual activities (not between the H/h) that include BDSM interactions. While IMHO these scenes were as tastefully done as they could be, they may distress and/or offend more sensitive readers.
Dancing on the Wind is the second book in Mary Jo Putney’s Fallen Angels series about four inseparable school chums who grew up to become known by that collective nickname. I really enjoyed Thunder & Roses, the first book of the series, so I was a little appalled to discover that it’s taken me two years to pick up the second. I’m very glad I finally did, because I liked it even better. This one is the story of Lucien, the Fallen Angel who earned the nickname Lucifer for his golden-haired good looks. Lucien was a spy throughout the Napoleonic war, and even though Napoleon has been defeated, he has intelligence that there may be a French sympathizer among the British nobility. He’s set the task of seeking that person out and believes that they may be a member of the infamous Hellions, a group of dissolute nobles who’ve revived the traditions of the earlier Hellfire Club. He’s in the process of trying to infiltrate their ranks when a mysterious young woman crosses his path. Lucien feels drawn to her, and as he investigates, he keeps running into her again and again with her in a different disguise each time they meet. Both fascinated and frustrated by her, he can’t seem to help wanting to see more of her, and puts his investigative skills to use in doing just that. When he finally pries the truth out of her, he discovers that she is on an equally sensitive mission, so they join forces in a race against time to save the person she loves most in the world. But Lucien fears that regardless of whether they are successful, it may end up destroying the fragile but precious bond they’ve created.
Lucien lost his parents and twin sister in a tragic accident and became the new earl when he was merely eleven. It was only with the support of his three best friends throughout all the years since that he’s been able to remain sane. But even they cannot replace the deep emotional bond he shared with his twin. He’s been searching for that same bond with a woman ever since and hasn’t yet found it. Although he has a reputation for being a rake, in reality, he lives a mostly celibate life. The sense of loss he feels after coupling with a woman sends him into a painful depression, so he only does it when the need for human contact becomes too strong to resist. From the moment he meets Kit, he feels an irresistible force drawing them together, and though he quickly realizes she’s been anything but forthcoming with him, he can’t help wanting to see her again. Luckily fate is on his side, but it takes several meetings before he finally gets the truth out of her. Once he does, his protective instincts kick in and he wants nothing more than to help her in her quest. Lucien is a very intelligent, observant, and intuitive man, skills that have made him a top-notch spy. Even when Kit is in her various disguises he always knows it’s her, and even though she’s dishonest with him multiple times, he still senses a woman worthy of pursuit and is eventually rewarded for his patience and trust in her. Lucien intrigued me from the start, and I loved him for his honor and gallantry. Even when he’s undercover, playing the Hellions’ games, he never goes too far and deftly manages to get out of some sticky situations. His hobby of designing and building mechanical toys was quite endearing. Lucien was a truly heroic romance hero, who is the perfect mix of a brave warrior and a man with a tender heart.
Kit is investigating the Hellions for her own reasons, which is how she and Lucien initially meet at the home of one of the Hellions. She’s pretending to be a maid in order to search the house, while Lucien is doing his own form of investigating by trying to get into the Hellions’ good graces. From the minute they meet, she’s extremely tempted by him, but she cannot allow the attraction to get in the way of her mission. Not to mention, since he’s trying to join the Hellions, she doesn’t think she can trust him at first. Kit is a master of disguises, showing up all over London playing different roles, and each time, somehow she ends up in the same places Lucien is. With each meeting, she sees something new in him and gradually begins to trust him, while his allure grows more and more irresistible until she finally gives in, offering herself to him fully and telling him everything. From there she finally feels she has an ally in her fight who will back her up, but insecurities from the past keep her from fully having faith in their bond. Kit is a character I can’t say much about without giving away some major spoilers. It’s so much more fun for the reader to follow along and try to figure out what she’s really up to, so I won’t give any of that away. She’s a strong woman to do the things she’s been doing, and she draws some of that strength from an unusual source. Still, she has a hard time seeing herself that way. Kit is definitely not your run-of-the-mill romance heroine and she utterly fascinated me. She’s a chameleon who sometimes almost fooled me in the same way she nearly fooled Lucien more than once, but in spite of her dishonesty, she exhibits a certain vulnerability that made me like her anyway. She’s likely to rank pretty high on my favorite romance heroines list if for no other reason than her uniqueness to the genre.
Dancing on the Wind was a joy to read, in large part because it’s quite different than a lot of other romances I’ve read. Both Lucien and Kit grabbed my attention from the very beginning and didn’t let go. There’s a great deal of action and intrigue that keeps the plot moving along at a nice pace. The romance between these two was very emotional and heartfelt, with each of them finally finding that special connection they’d been looking for and hadn’t found. There’s also a slight touch of the paranormal in the form of psychic bonds and divination. I also appreciated the author’s attention to historical details that helped bring the narrative alive. All the other Fallen Angels put in appearances, including Nicholas (Thunder & Roses) and Rafe who’ll be the hero of the next book, Petals in the Storm. But the real stand-out who helps to save the day is Michael who will be the hero of Book #5, Shattered Rainbows. I very much look forward to reading these other characters’ stories, so I’ll definitely have to move this series up my TBR list. And with two keepers in a row, Mary Jo Putney has also earned a spot on my favorite authors list.
Note: This book contains drug use and non-consensual sexual activities (not between the H/h) that include BDSM interactions. While IMHO these scenes were as tastefully done as they could be, they may distress and/or offend more sensitive readers.
November 24, 2018
Al final va a ser 3,5 estrellas. Se alarga demasiado la historia y todo ese mambo de las gemelas se me hizo difícil de creer. O debería decir que me resultó raro que los personajes tuvieran tanta información y fueran tan comprensivos con respecto a ese tema en la época en la que vivían. Pero Lucien es un bombón ! 😝😂
June 22, 2017
What I love about this book is the heroine - Kit Travers. At the beginning she is portrayed as a strong, smart and deceptive woman who tries to uncover the truth about a secret organization which is not as nice as it tries out to be. She disguises herself and accidentally, Lucifer - Lord Strathmore meets her almost every time. I simply loved their encounters, they were so funny and amazing! You do not often come across a skillful female who is able to make a fool out of a man and be independent.
Well, at least at the beginning.
Lucifer is still mourning the death of his twin sister and soon we find out that Kit has a twin sister too and that she is trying to find her because she is, obviously, missing. I was really disappointed at this part because I thought that Kit will stay the independent and strong-willed woman until the end, but she appears to be the weaker sister and the virgin too. (Why all of them need to be virgins in order to be respectable, is it so hard to write about a woman who enjoys pleasure just as the hero?!). Anyway, as soon as Lucifer finds out that she is a virgin too, his behavior towards her changes too, and she is once again deduced to the idiot.
There was also one more scene that I found disgusting - at the beginning when he is almost forced by the whore and after that he felt disgusted for having sex with her (even though he could have stopped her), I kinda saw him as a really weak person and he didn't seem as interesting as before.
The book has a nice beginning, unfortunately, too much stuff happened later on and it wasn't so good anymore.
Well, at least at the beginning.
Lucifer is still mourning the death of his twin sister and soon we find out that Kit has a twin sister too and that she is trying to find her because she is, obviously, missing. I was really disappointed at this part because I thought that Kit will stay the independent and strong-willed woman until the end, but she appears to be the weaker sister and the virgin too. (Why all of them need to be virgins in order to be respectable, is it so hard to write about a woman who enjoys pleasure just as the hero?!). Anyway, as soon as Lucifer finds out that she is a virgin too, his behavior towards her changes too, and she is once again deduced to the idiot.
There was also one more scene that I found disgusting - at the beginning when he is almost forced by the whore and after that he felt disgusted for having sex with her (even though he could have stopped her), I kinda saw him as a really weak person and he didn't seem as interesting as before.
The book has a nice beginning, unfortunately, too much stuff happened later on and it wasn't so good anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2018
I think I would like to take a long break reading this author's book or maybe I might not pick any of her other books... This is my second book from the author and this is my second time to be disappointed.....
This book has more thriller, mystery and paranormal rather than romance and I don't like any of this element but I was curious about the twin sister and how would the hero and heroine's relationship would build... In the end I think I just wasted my time cause the relationship isn't that much exciting to read... Instead it made me frustrated....the unnecessary push and pull.. blah blah blah.... the story's darkness didn't affect me much except that it annoyed me because it has taken many chapters and pages in solving the mystery....
And then there's that nonsense insecurities between the heroine and her twin.... Haiztttt
And ohh before I forgot there's this part of the book after the hero and heroine's first bed scene the heroine has this thought that mentioned about virginity being a curse... Hey girl ur not living a life in modern time for u to think like that! Just because she's an author and had a different Outlook in life doesn't mean she can easily think like that about something important in her times such as virginity! What the heck?! And she calls herself the proper one between her and her twin?
This book has more thriller, mystery and paranormal rather than romance and I don't like any of this element but I was curious about the twin sister and how would the hero and heroine's relationship would build... In the end I think I just wasted my time cause the relationship isn't that much exciting to read... Instead it made me frustrated....the unnecessary push and pull.. blah blah blah.... the story's darkness didn't affect me much except that it annoyed me because it has taken many chapters and pages in solving the mystery....
And then there's that nonsense insecurities between the heroine and her twin.... Haiztttt
And ohh before I forgot there's this part of the book after the hero and heroine's first bed scene the heroine has this thought that mentioned about virginity being a curse... Hey girl ur not living a life in modern time for u to think like that! Just because she's an author and had a different Outlook in life doesn't mean she can easily think like that about something important in her times such as virginity! What the heck?! And she calls herself the proper one between her and her twin?
April 13, 2023
Take a historical romance and throw it in a blender with “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and a low-budget S&M slasher movie and this is what you get.
I LOVED the first part of this book, especially the way Kit kept one step ahead of Lucien with her red-herring stories and deft maneuvers. Then it turned into a comic book without illustrations, which changed the tone of the book, but at least it was an entertaining comic book. The twin connection felt strained to the point of incredulity but since I’m not a twin…maybe? Kit’s reluctance to emotionally commit and trust Lucien got irritating, especially while she was building walls between them while relying on him for EVERYTHING to do with her quest to find her sister. And the grand finale, the big rescue, had me giggling as I was furiously turning the pages. The main point there is “furiously turning the pages.”
Beats the heck out of me why Kira didn’t stuff a rag into the bad guy’s mouth once she had him shackled, cut his jugular with the same whip she used to slash his clothes off, then wait next to the door to do the same thing to the guard. But hey, I guess she was too busy dressing in thigh high boots. I hear those things can be the very devil, especially before the invention of zippers.
I LOVED the first part of this book, especially the way Kit kept one step ahead of Lucien with her red-herring stories and deft maneuvers. Then it turned into a comic book without illustrations, which changed the tone of the book, but at least it was an entertaining comic book. The twin connection felt strained to the point of incredulity but since I’m not a twin…maybe? Kit’s reluctance to emotionally commit and trust Lucien got irritating, especially while she was building walls between them while relying on him for EVERYTHING to do with her quest to find her sister. And the grand finale, the big rescue, had me giggling as I was furiously turning the pages. The main point there is “furiously turning the pages.”
Beats the heck out of me why Kira didn’t stuff a rag into the bad guy’s mouth once she had him shackled, cut his jugular with the same whip she used to slash his clothes off, then wait next to the door to do the same thing to the guard. But hey, I guess she was too busy dressing in thigh high boots. I hear those things can be the very devil, especially before the invention of zippers.
August 3, 2023
Si hubieran existido en la realidad tantos espías de la Corona como ponen en Romancelandia, Napoleón ni hubiera salido de Córcega. El aristocrático James Bond de turno es Lucien Fairchild (32), uno de esos angelicales dandis cuya apariencia engaña. Busca a un espía pero con quien se topa es con Kit (24), una joven con más habilidad para el disfraz que Mortadelo. Es una de esas heroínas aventureras que me encantan, llena de recursos, atrevida, muy competente en según qué cosas.
Es una de esas novelas con mucha peripecia, más de un giro en la trama, con un desarrollo romántico satisfactorio y gran química sexual. Me parece que la autora subió el termostato un montón, para lo que es ella. Me sacaron del libro un par de magufadas que para mi no venían a cuento: una «conexión psíquica» que acababa siendo telepatía y un episodio de radiestesia.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, con motivo del Reto RITA 2.0.
Es una de esas novelas con mucha peripecia, más de un giro en la trama, con un desarrollo romántico satisfactorio y gran química sexual. Me parece que la autora subió el termostato un montón, para lo que es ella. Me sacaron del libro un par de magufadas que para mi no venían a cuento: una «conexión psíquica» que acababa siendo telepatía y un episodio de radiestesia.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog, con motivo del Reto RITA 2.0.
July 9, 2020
Unbeknownst to one another, Lucien Fairchild, Lord Strathmore and Lady Kit Travers are investigating the same group of men — The Hellions. Lucien believes that one of them may by The Phantom, a spy passing information on to the French, and though the war with Napoleon is over, there are still possibilities for espionage. Kit, on the other hand, is a mystery. She takes on a variety of disguises, and keeps appearing wherever the Hellions have gathered. Naturally, at first the two are suspicious of each other, while at the same time being attracted. But what is Kit's motivation? And who is she really? These questions much be answered, and the mysteries resolved, before the two have any chance at a life together. Absolutely wonderful, non-stop action makes this hard to put down. Highly recommended.
December 17, 2016
Not quite sure what to say about this book. The first half was wonderful. Kit was a great heroine -- clever, resourceful and charming. Lucien was hero with great depth of character. I loved how Kit was able to outsmart him time and again. Then in the second half of the book the story evolves into one of psychic connections and evil ceremonies. We even have some BDSM (it is part of the evil, this was published in 1994). Kit seems to lost some of her strength and cleverness. She adopts a irrational fear (to me) about losing Lucien. So I am left with some confusion about the book. It is well written and certainly worth reading, but it lost something for me along the way.
March 10, 2010
This book was OK, but it wasn't one of the stronger stories in the series. In previous books by Mary Jo Putney, I've often felt as they they started out slow and gained momentum as they went along. However, this book seemed to take the opposite approach. I felt that the beginning was good, but then the book lost steam page by page, and it became a struggle to finish it.
June 17, 2018
This book has romance, the Hellion Club, a kidnapping plus a rescue. It can be read as part of the series or as a stand alone.
February 9, 2022
Actually #2 in the series, not #3. A bit more graphic than I like, but it certainly kept me turning the pages.
February 27, 2020
As bereft as I was to part from Nicholas and Clare's *gasp* scandalous *gasp* entanglements in Thunder and Roses was how anxious I was to free myself from Lucien and Kit's dark and twisted shenanigans in Dancing on the Wind. That's not to say there was anything inherently bad about the writing. Nor am I denying that there were elements I appreciated, qualities or moments I moderately enjoyed--there were. On the whole, though, this ended up falling into the Didn't Work For Me pile with a bit of a thud.
The overabundant genre swirl is ultimately what pushed me over that edge. The plot was a bungled mix of post-Napoleon era espionage and enigma, romance, S&M-like depravity, and paranormal interference which just so happened to link two twins - Kit and Kira - together almost telepathically so they could see and feel and interpret the other's emotions while they were separated after the latter's abduction from London. The story stretched in too many directions as a result. Cohesiveness wore thin. It was as if it couldn't decide which genre wind it should sail toward most of all, leaving me feeling nauseous and unanchored.
I believe I would've liked this better had the paranormally-linked twin thing been dropped by the wayside. It was unnecessary. Ridiculous, if I'm being honest. It drew away from the perverse rituals and mysteries that surrounded the Hellions/Hellfire Club, and it was that orgy-filled underground world I was most curious to see flushed out more. Lucien and Kit's romance was fun to navigate in the beginning as he attempted to penetrate her numerous disguises, piecing together the "who" of her bit by bit, persona by persona, but the sexiness of it fizzled once the hunt for her kidnapped sister began. I lost interest.
Definitely one of those "I would have liked this loads better...if only...(a) (b) (c)" reads for moi.
The overabundant genre swirl is ultimately what pushed me over that edge. The plot was a bungled mix of post-Napoleon era espionage and enigma, romance, S&M-like depravity, and paranormal interference which just so happened to link two twins - Kit and Kira - together almost telepathically so they could see and feel and interpret the other's emotions while they were separated after the latter's abduction from London. The story stretched in too many directions as a result. Cohesiveness wore thin. It was as if it couldn't decide which genre wind it should sail toward most of all, leaving me feeling nauseous and unanchored.
I believe I would've liked this better had the paranormally-linked twin thing been dropped by the wayside. It was unnecessary. Ridiculous, if I'm being honest. It drew away from the perverse rituals and mysteries that surrounded the Hellions/Hellfire Club, and it was that orgy-filled underground world I was most curious to see flushed out more. Lucien and Kit's romance was fun to navigate in the beginning as he attempted to penetrate her numerous disguises, piecing together the "who" of her bit by bit, persona by persona, but the sexiness of it fizzled once the hunt for her kidnapped sister began. I lost interest.
Definitely one of those "I would have liked this loads better...if only...(a) (b) (c)" reads for moi.
February 13, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a scary book. The tension was so high for the entire story, my nerves needed a respite from time to time. I had to close the book a do something else for a while, before I could return to it. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it was too intense for a simple pleasurable read.
It's impossible to talk about the plot here without major spoilers. The characters are another matter. The male protagonist, Lucien, is a spy master of the British government. Until now, his heart was never engaged, but when a mysterious woman appears in the middle of his investigation – a search for a Napoleonic spy among the society elite – he is fascinated by her.
As he meets her repeatedly wherever his suspects congregate, she is always in disguise, practically unrecognizable from one encounter to another, but he is not deceived. He knows she is enmeshed in his investigation somehow. While she escapes him again and again and spins her charming lies, her elusiveness makes his pursuit of her totally relentless. He is drawn to this woman as no other before her. He would find her.
The female protagonist, Kit, has a secret, of course, and she would do anything to protect this secret, to keep it safe from the enigmatic man chasing her. Pity, her secret is also kept from the readers. It would’ve been a better book, if we knew what was at stake for Kit, instead of being kept in the dark for most of the novel, like Lucien.
Another point against this book was the irresistible insta-lust the protagonists experienced towards each other. I dislike this trope immensely, and it spoiled the story for me.
Otherwise, a gripping romantic thriller set during the regency period in England.
This was a scary book. The tension was so high for the entire story, my nerves needed a respite from time to time. I had to close the book a do something else for a while, before I could return to it. It was good, don’t get me wrong, but it was too intense for a simple pleasurable read.
It's impossible to talk about the plot here without major spoilers. The characters are another matter. The male protagonist, Lucien, is a spy master of the British government. Until now, his heart was never engaged, but when a mysterious woman appears in the middle of his investigation – a search for a Napoleonic spy among the society elite – he is fascinated by her.
As he meets her repeatedly wherever his suspects congregate, she is always in disguise, practically unrecognizable from one encounter to another, but he is not deceived. He knows she is enmeshed in his investigation somehow. While she escapes him again and again and spins her charming lies, her elusiveness makes his pursuit of her totally relentless. He is drawn to this woman as no other before her. He would find her.
The female protagonist, Kit, has a secret, of course, and she would do anything to protect this secret, to keep it safe from the enigmatic man chasing her. Pity, her secret is also kept from the readers. It would’ve been a better book, if we knew what was at stake for Kit, instead of being kept in the dark for most of the novel, like Lucien.
Another point against this book was the irresistible insta-lust the protagonists experienced towards each other. I dislike this trope immensely, and it spoiled the story for me.
Otherwise, a gripping romantic thriller set during the regency period in England.
February 5, 2018
An engaging plot and interesting protagonists, but I had some issues with it. First-- I will avoid spoilers by being vague-- the antagonistic forces were poorly explored, shallowly illustrated as part of a dissipated bunch of useless aristocrats with darker undercurrents. But the end was a long time coming and then wrapped up so quickly there was not a satisfactory explanation for the motives or even a total cataloguing of misdeeds to resolve the two quests that got both Kit and Lucien entangled with the Hellions. Even the aftermath was dealt with so expeditiously-- a few sentences establishing the guilty party and a general idea of the evil deeds-- that they overlook any guilt by association, complicity, or inherently wicked and criminal behavior undertaken by those not involved in the worst of it. NOT SUFFICIENT. What about the previous victims not actually mentioned at the end? Anyone going to find out exactly what happened to them and tell their families?
Secondarily I found the idea of twins/people sharing psychic experiences and the practice of divining to be marginally entertaining concepts that work better in a less real-world setting. Here they were pervasive themes that I could not accept, so I felt that the story, which depends heavily on these, didn't support itself.
Secondarily I found the idea of twins/people sharing psychic experiences and the practice of divining to be marginally entertaining concepts that work better in a less real-world setting. Here they were pervasive themes that I could not accept, so I felt that the story, which depends heavily on these, didn't support itself.
August 20, 2019
Although this book was published 25 years ago, it was a very enjoyable experience. Kit Travers is discreetly investigating members of the Hellions Club. Her success is a matter of life or death. Using various disguises, she shows up wherever the Hellions are and searches as many of their rooms as time allows.
Lucien Fairchild, Earl of Strathmore, is also investigating the Hellions for a different reason. He suspects one or more of the members of selling information to the French. He is trying to be accepted into the Club so he can study the members more closely.
Disguised as a maid, Kit is discovered searching a room when the occupant returns unexpectedly. Before she can leave the room, the man decides to keep her for the night. She is rescued by Lucien, but she believes he is a Hellion and tries to stay away from him
Their paths cross again and again and, although heavily disguised, Lucien recognizes her and wants to know what she is up to. Each of them have a closely guarded secret that they are unable to share.
Lucien Fairchild, Earl of Strathmore, is also investigating the Hellions for a different reason. He suspects one or more of the members of selling information to the French. He is trying to be accepted into the Club so he can study the members more closely.
Disguised as a maid, Kit is discovered searching a room when the occupant returns unexpectedly. Before she can leave the room, the man decides to keep her for the night. She is rescued by Lucien, but she believes he is a Hellion and tries to stay away from him
Their paths cross again and again and, although heavily disguised, Lucien recognizes her and wants to know what she is up to. Each of them have a closely guarded secret that they are unable to share.
November 21, 2012
I .. actually admired this book. It wasn't exactly written within the last couple of years and it is remarkably open-minded about certain practices. It's not the strongest MJP novel but it is thoughtful and receptive to the notion that love and desire come in many different guises. And that is often something which is forgotten and buried in regencies.
Judging by the GR reviews, some readers struggle with the complexities of desire depicted by MJP - and if you are looking for a straightforward historical romance, this may not be the book for you. Likewise, this will not appeal to readers looking for another 50 Shades.
But I admired this book and I wish I were still in a position of writing academic essays on literature as this one has a lot of things going on under the surface.
Judging by the GR reviews, some readers struggle with the complexities of desire depicted by MJP - and if you are looking for a straightforward historical romance, this may not be the book for you. Likewise, this will not appeal to readers looking for another 50 Shades.
But I admired this book and I wish I were still in a position of writing academic essays on literature as this one has a lot of things going on under the surface.
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