Monday, February 2

Pam Rosenthal: The Edge of Impropriety

A widowed countess, left impoverished by her husband’s first family, turns to writing popular novels to make ends meet. For publicity purposes she fosters an image, not entirely false, of hedonism that boarders on scandalous. Blackmailed by a former servant who knew her when she was young, wild and trading on her beauty, she must keep her past a secret from society if not to ruin her career.
The release of her latest book coincides with her meeting a retiring scholar and antiquarian with whom, against all odds and expectations, she has a torrid affair. Wanting nothing more than a fling with a mystery lover that will set tongues wagging and sales soaring, she is shocked when her feelings for him take an unpredictable turn (she has never taken a lover for longer than a season before). But if she is to have any hope of winning the love of her current paramour he must not find out about her past.
Discovering the direction of her affections, the blackmailer threatens to tell all, unless she bestows her favours upon him in addition to her monthly cash payments. She can’t go through with the deal and writes a Dear John letter to her lover detailing all of her colourful past and makes plans to run away to the continent before the truth of her history is widely known.
Against a background of break-ins, thefts, and questionable deaths the lovers manage to sift through the many, many obstacles in their paths and accept each other for who they are, not were or might have been. While not expressed a happy ending for the two is heavily implied.
As an historical romance I found this book to be no better, or worse, than others of its kind. Its novelty was in its erotic nature. The premise for the affair was believable, as was the affair itself. In spite of the characters wildly different natures their paring seemed quite natural. The writing was sensual, giving erotic detail tastefully. The plot held its own and was not merely a vehicle for tying together a series of sex scenes.
I would read more of this author’s work should it cross my path.-Lynn

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