A Midsummer Night's Sin
Kasey MichaelsHistorical romance
Available from HQN
ISBN: 780373776108
August 2011
| Regina Hackett's mother, a member of the ton, was sold to a rich man. That same fate awaits Regina and her cousin. In a moment of rebellion, they attend a masquerade ball. Instead of gentlemen in costumes, the find a room full of men and prostitutes. When Regina's cousin is kidnapped by white slavers, she turns to the only man who seems like a gentleman in the whole room. As they rush to find her cousin, she falls in love with Puck, a man unsuitable for marriage because his parents never married each other.
It's been far too long since I read a novel set against the backdrop of the British ton. Michael's talented writing draws the reader into a romance set against a backdrop that has little meaning in modern times. Somehow, she manages to stay true to the mores of that historic time and still make the characters and the plotline relevant and exciting. I fell for Puck from page one, not because he was a charming bastard, but because he was intelligent, witty, and cunning. Nobody that devious could help but lead the reader on a dangerous adventure. Regina isn't a simpering fool. She understands the times and she knows the score. As the story progresses, she grows up enough to realize she doesn't have to accept the lot she's been dealt. I loved watching the way her character developed throughout this story. I thoroughly enjoyed the way the writing jumped from his head to hers. I know that style of writing isn't currently in favor, but I do enjoy experiencing the different perspectives without having to skip lines. Michael's has delivered a winner. An enchanting hero, a lively heroine, and an expertly-paced plot make A Midsummer Night's Sin one of the best historical romances today.
Overall rating:
Reviewer: Clare |
