Dangerous to Know

Davenport #Contains #1

by Mary Jo Putney

Innocent Caroline Hanscombe loves Captain Richard Davenport but finds herself succumbing to the ruthless will of Jason Kincaid, Baron Radford, who will do anything to wed her in The Diabolical Baron, while gambler Andrew Kane is given a reprieve from the noose when he is rescued by a beautiful widow, in "Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know." Original. 25,000 first printing.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Regency, Historical, Historical Fiction

323 pages, Paperback

First published January 2, 2007

About the author

She 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.

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually a reprint of a short novel and a long short story. I'd read the short novel before (The Diabolical Baron), although I can't remember when or where. It's linked to a few other Putney novels of 19th century England. The short story is, on the other hand, set in the American West of the late 19th century and has no discernible ties to her other works. At least not that I can remember. Both stories were pretty good. Nothing earth-shattering, just very well-written romances--perfect for a rare day at home. I'd actually give them 3.5 stars if I could.

If you're recommending the books to other people, be aware that there is some sexual content, although not very explicit at all. As romances go, they are very tame, even by Putney standards.

[Kristi Hudecek-Ashwill · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are two stories in this book and are being reviewed separately.

The Diabolical Baron

This is the first story I've read by this author and although it did have its moments, I wasn't all that impressed. It was overly long, was as slow as molasses in January, and was just a challenge to get through. I wanted some snap or some giddy-up and there just wasn't any.

Jason Kincaid was supposed to be this diabolical baron, but I didn't see anything diabolical about him. He wasn't mean or wicked, was always courteous to Caroline and her Aunt Jessica. He was nice to everybody. He had good intentions and a good heart, had a way with animals...where was the evilness in this guy? The only thing that was even remotely diabolical about him was that his eyebrows had a shape to them that gave him a sinister look. Sorry. That's not enough for me.

Caroline was his betrothed, but not his love interest. He asked her to marry him on a bet. She was a wallflower, a musical savant, and was so nervous around Jason. She was quiet and willing to please to the point where she agreed to marry him because her father was fool with money and found himself in financial straits. In addition to that, if she didn't marry Jason, her younger sister wouldn't be allowed to marry the man she loved. These are all familiar elements in this genre, but considering the age of the book (2007), I can't hold that against it.

I loved the characters of Jessica Sterling and Richard Dalton, although Richard's indecisiveness about drove me crazy. Jessica was fun, vivacious, a widow with a daughter, and kept the story moving for me.

This was slower than a slow burn and was pretty clean. I wish the pace had been quicker, but the ending was satisfying.

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know

I wish this story could have traded places with The Diabolical Baron when it comes to length. I was taken in from the very first line with Kane being escorted by a couple of ruffian deputies to be hanged for murder.

Liza was a recent widow and had also lost her father. She was on her way to her inlaws when she saw two men beating another man who was bound and couldn’t defend himself. She rushed to stop them and since there was no doctor in town, took it upon herself to care for him.

To say much more would mean spoilers and I don’t want to ruin this for anyone. Suffice it to say that there’s more to Kane and Liza than just mutual attraction and that twist made this story worthwhile.

This is longer than a conventional short story, but shorter than a novella. The character development and plot were adequate, but it had some room for more details that would have made this good story into a great story.

I did enjoy both stories to varying degrees. They each had their thing that earned the book three stars.

[penelopewanders]

A novel and a novella in the same book may not count as an anthology, but I have labelled it as such. So it turns out this is the third time I have read The Diabolical Baron - embarrassingly my memory of it was almost as sketchy this time around as the second time I read it, but I still enjoyed it.
Here are my comments from the first two times:
(2015)
I have to say that Putney's style appeals to me - I settle into her books with sigh, like sliding into a comfortable seat with a cup of tea. This one was apparently her first - and yes, it's quite predictable, but even though we know where it's headed, the journey is such a pleasure that we really don't mind. A bit Shakespearean in the mis-matching, but all's well that ends well.
(2022)
Now, in 2022 I can confirm that this is well worth the read for me. Enough time had passed that I didn't really remember the story although I was very clever at figuring things out. ;)
This felt even more Shakespearean the second time around. A very good read.

2024 - I don't have much to add but agree with all of the above. Yes, of course I saw where this was going but had no qualms about re-reading it.

The novella, (Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know) set in the American west (which is not necessarily one of my favorite settings) was equally entertaining, although very predictable.
Mary Jo Putney is still an author whose historicals I greatly appreciate.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Diabolical Baron is excellent. Star crossed lovers and all. Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know is on excellent short story I've read before in other anthologies.

[Julie Martinez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Need more romance

[Lisa Lap · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I was disappointed in this book. It held two short novellas - one much shorter than the other. Both stories were very predictable, the characters were at times hard to like, and there weren't really any interesting twists or turns to pull me further into the story.


I have another of her books that's a full length. Perhaps with more time to tell the story, I'll be more invested in the characters. Sadly, this one was a big disappointment.

Until next time,
~Lisa

[Lizpeveto]

Your usual wager that the Baron has to marry and wins by choosing a nice quiet girl, Caroline, who will not go against her parents' wishes. But, a twist, Caroline's widowed aunt, Jessica, is the Baron's long lost love and they are reunited and realize they are still in love. Whoops, fortunately, the much talented musician, Caroline, has found her soul mate in the Baron's houseguest, another music lover. All's well that ends well. Easy read and forgettable.

[Kelasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

But I only read the first story.

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

hated it---had to make myself finish it

[Raisa Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The effects of a WELL-KNOWN writer and her works, readers having sleepless but happy nights reading :)
I LOVE THE STORY... BOTH OF THEM! :)

[Sherae · Rating 3 out of 5]

two short stories in one book. The first story was better.