Dangerous

This was a fun romance novel with stubborn and inquisitive leads that constantly butt heads as the plot threw one mystery after another at them. Imagine if Fred and Daphne from Scooby Doo were in a regency romance novel, and Fred was more emo. That's what this book is. There's plenty of intrigue and unmasking of villains both small and large. There are balls and creepy towers. Best of all, in my mind, is the action at the end that brings the romance to a climactic end. This is definitely an entertaining read if you like historical-mystery-romances.

Prudence starts out as your typical nerdy heroine who dresses like a pillow and is only interested in having "intellectual" conversations about spectral phenomena (be warned, she uses this show more phrase a lot, and it's very irritating). While Prudence struggles to encounter a real ghost, she is quite intuitive, making the various situations she finds herself in quite entertaining. I was worried that she was going to be TSTL, but she quite quickly proves herself to be both level-headed and resourceful. She stands up to the hero when he's being a tool; she knows her own worth, and she's not afraid to pursue her interests, even when they make her an object of curiosity in high society. Honestly, she's inspiring and very likable.

Another thing to note is the supporting cast is quite stellar. Not everyone is kind and good, and it really adds flavor to the setting. I'm so sick of romance novels where every single person is good. Any conflict feels so contrived, and the setup so sickly sweet that I can't immerse myself into the book. Not so here. There are shades in London and shades to the lead characters. Neither are perfect, and they both make mistakes and both grow from them. Notably, the hero evolves more than others because he starts off as such a tool.

The romantic lead Sebastian is consumed by ennui, which is why he plays private investigator on his wealthy neighbors. It's the mystery that he's investigating - a series of murders that point to his own family as guilty - that is the driving the story. At first, he's only amused by Prudence, and when he proposes a convenient marriage to her, he thinks it'll be a calm union where Prudence waits at home and occasionally weighs in on his investigations. Very quickly, he finds that he's instead chasing her all over London as she conducts her own investigations. Inevitably, the two become intertwined in each other's cases.

At first, I found Sebastian to be very rude and oppressive. He dictated what Prudence was allowed to wear, where she was allowed to go, and whom she was allowed to meet. I took a strong dislike to him for a good section of the book. However, Prudence never once capitulated to him, and Sebastian eventually learned that he needed to adapt. Once he did this, he became a hero to root for, but it was a journey getting there.

I think it's important to note that Sebastian didn't become more accepting because he was transformed by love, at least not in part. He grew because he realized he needed to if he was going to keep Prudence at his side. This book is a product of its time, and it shows. Yet, it's still delightful.
If you're willing to put up with a chauvinistic hero for a good portion of the book, then I highly recommend this installment by Amanda Quick. show less

Yup - another great read. I liked this one a bit better than some of my previous AQ reads as the 'mystery' was there, but not the dominant feature. I love reading character interaction, and this book delivers.

What can I say? I love a Nick and Nora story. A frothy, funny story where the hero doesn't get to oppress the heroine much at all. It's wrapped around two violent tragedies, so watch out for the sudden dip from sparkling banter to way too much distressing detail.

Not Ms. Quick's best.

The plotline it a typical Quick one - innocent heroine (probably virginal), dark mysterious possibly dangerous hero, various threats to the lady, ritual deflowering of the virgin in the library, hero to the rescue, happy ending. These books are all the same and the pleasure is in seeing how the resolution is reached, not in wondering what will happen at the end. Fine.

But books should be somewhat believable in their own sphere I think.

No woman in her right mind, then or now, would have put up with the verbal abuse the heroine received from her hero and continue to stare at him in wonder and inform him that it's all her fault and he is perfect and wonderful and kind beneath his rough exterior, so to speak. show more

Particularly irritating were some of the romantic scenes, esp. immediately after the heroine was verbally tongue lashed by the hero. She would have conked him on the head with the chamber pot and returned to her own bedroom if she had any self respect at all.

Also, how many times can one read of aching loins and his (various adjective) member before one begins to laugh?

And what man could tolerate the heroine's star struck innocence for long? Normal women eventually wise up and grow up, but this heroine appears to be stuck at age 15 mentally for the rest of her life.

Mainly I enjoy these romances from Amanda Quick as light bedtime reads without any stress or great thought required which might keep me awake, but this one was so ridiculous that it irritated me, thus defeating the reason for reading it.

If 1.5 stars were available, that would be my opinion. OK for a beach read if you can stand assininity. show less

It does follow pretty predictable Amanda Quick/Jayne Ann Krentz lines with the story and the characters. That's not a problem for me as I do like the characters she creates and these two are better than some others. I could see the growing affection for the characters and the growing understanding that give and take was going to be an important part of their relationship. I did like how it wasn't all plain sailing and it relied on both of them to solve the mystery and on both of them working as a team to do it.

I know that some of the situations and attitudes aren't period and I know that a lot of the shennagins were over the top but I did enjoy the read and the character interactions, they sparked well.

Dangerous
4 Stars

Yes, Amanda Quick's heroes and heroines are much of a muchness and her plots are rather formulaic. That said, she is, nonetheless, a wonderful storyteller. The mysteries are suspenseful and the romances are entertaining and satisfying.

Dangerous is no exception with the heroine, Prudence Merryweather, engaging in paranormal investigations, and the hero, Sebastian, Earl of Angelstone, investigating crimes for the Bow Street Runners. The two find themselves embroiled in a case involving the strange and untimely deaths of several men who may or may not have been responsible for the death of a young woman.

As with most of Quick's books, Dangerous is a fast-paced read with engaging characters and a well-written sex scenes. show more
All in all, this is a classic Quick and is highly recommended for both fans and newbies. On to the next one! show less

I loved this book so much when I was in high school. I'm older now and gender relations and romance genre conventions have changed in the past 15 years. Still, all the elements that made me enjoy it are still there: it's a fun, frothy romance with great characters.

Prudence is entertainingly kooky, unashamedly smart and wears her rose-colored glasses very deliberately. Sebastian is broody, protective and has a sardonic sense of humor. Supporting characters swan, sulk and otherwise emote about as necessary. I'd still rate Ravished as my favorite Amanda Quick, but reading this again was a very fun way to spend a few hours.