A Reckless Beauty

Romney Marsh #5

by Kasey Michaels

Fanny Becket has adored her adopted brother since theday they both lost their parents and became part of theBecket family. Where he goes, she has always followed.But pursuing him into battle, Fanny quickly finds herselfin the line of fire and quite unexpectedly—in the embraceof a handsome stranger.

Valentine Clement, Earl of Brede, has seen enough offighting to know there is no adventure to be found atWaterloo. Yet the moment he spies Fanny he is dutybound to save the reckless beauty, most especially fromherself. Although with a woman such as Fanny, it mayvery well be his lordship who is in need of true protection.

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Regency, Fiction, Harlequin, Mills and Boon

384 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 21, 2007

About the author

Kasey Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 100 books (she doesn't count them). Kasey has received three coveted Starred Reviews from Publishers Weekly, two for the historical romances, THE SECRETS OF THE HEART and THE BUTLER DID IT, and a third for contemporary romance LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY (that shows diversity, you see). She is a recipient of the RITA, a Waldenbooks and Bookrak Bestseller award, and many awards from Romantic Times magazine, including a Career Achievement award for her Regency era historical romances. She is an Honor Roll author in Romance Writers of America, Inc. (RWA)

Kasey has appeared on the TODAY show, and was the subject of a Lifetime Cable TV show "A Better Way," in conjunction with Good Housekeeping magazine, a program devoted to women and how they have achieved career success in the midst of motherhood (short version: "with great difficulty").

A highly praised nonfiction book, written as Kathryn Seidick, "...OR YOU CAN LET HIM GO," details the story of Kasey and her family during the time of her eldest son's first kidney transplant.

Kasey has written Regency romances, Regency historicals, category books including novellas and continuities and a few series "launch" books, and single title contemporaries. She has coped with time travel, ghosts, trilogies, the dark side, the very light side, and just about everything in between. Hers is also the twisted mind behind her ongoing Maggie Kelly mystery series starring a former romance writer turned historical mystery writer whose gorgeous hunk of a fictional hero shows up, live and in color, in her Manhattan living room – to melt her knees, to help her solve murders, and to leave the top off her toothpaste. And, says Kasey, she's just getting started!

Series:
* His Chariot Awaits
* Lion On the Prowl
* Crown Family
* London Friends
* Chandlers Request
* The Trehan Brothers
* Maggie Kelly Mystery
* Romney Marsh
* Sunshine Girls

Reviews

[Nonozah Mkhwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

dumbstruck

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely love the series. The family the story and the setting is so intriguing. I really have enjoyed the way the stories unfold.

[Luckylovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

To me, a lot of the book was strange. So, Fanny follows her brother to a battlefield, because she believes she is in love with him. First of all, why? He (Rian, her brother) makes his choice, to have an adventure, and yet Fanny can't seem to understand that, hence she dresses up as a man and follows him. Now another confusing aspect was, (**SPOILER**), yes Rian dies, Fanny's grieving, but why, for the love of god did Valentine and Fanny marry? Why? They certainly didn't love each other. Maybe I don't understand because I haven't read the other five books preceding this book, but still, that part was quite hazy. I mean, even before the proposal, they shared kisses and what not, but, honestly, I didn't really see the attraction. He's lived through a LOT, and she's seen thing. Yes, they have both been through horrific events but other than that, what possessed Valentine to propose to her? I also don't understand Rian "giving" her to Valentine. Apparently, she read between the lines in his will and saw that. I didn't see it. Neither did Valentine.
Fanny, also, sleeps with him on their wedding night. Now, theres nothing unusual about that, happens all the time. Why did she choose to sleep with Valentine? It certainly wasn't because she loved him. Or because she had an insatiable lust for him. It is difficult to understand why?

Now, I may seem be complaining, but there are good parts of this book. For example, a lot of the attraction wasn't based on instant lust. Many books of this genre are based on instant attraction or "burning desire" and from then on, whenever the heroin and hero meet, sparks fly! They wanna sleep with each other (or at least the male does) and the female can't understand what she is feeling, but she knows, she KNOWS, it's the male she wants. She does't want to, oh! but she does. And the male kisses her and she's completely lost. Oh! The feeling he invokes in her. Swoon!



It was refreshing for the the heroin not being totally infatuated with the hero from the beginning.

Overall, it was a pretty good book. But if all the other books are going to be like this book, I think I would rather not waste my time in reading something like this again. I definitely want some sort of-of PASSION in there. I definitely don't like the instant lust, but some sort of intrigue or fascination. It just felt a bit bland.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this story! Adventure, romance, drama, suspense. It has a little of everything. The heroine starts out believing she's in love with her adopted brother whom she has always been very close too. Of course, she ends up falling in love with the main hero of the story. The only pitfall was finding myself actually holding my breath in anticipation that she would end up with the adopted brother. Weird, I know? I think the main hero just wasn't deep enough to really grab the heart of the reader. A lot of witty, enjoyable reparte between the characters. Actually laughed out loud with more than a few scenes. This made up for the anything lacking in the romantic characteristics of the main hero. The paradox is this story also has a gut-wrenching aspect. One of those few romance stories where not everything ends up roses! Definitely did not like how this story ended. It was just all of a sudden with what seemed like a short unnatural ending to such a story? Very unexpected given the quality of the writing throughout.

[Bronwyn Rykiert · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Book 5 in the 7 part series of the Beckets of Romney Marsh. I have read this series out of order a bit which is okay as they stand alone quite well but I would rather have read them in order.

Fanny is one of the adopted children of Ainslie Becket, she follows her brother Rian to France when he went to fight Napoleon. While there she meets Valentine Clement the Earl of Brede who has just given Rian a position on Wellington’s staff. Rian is ambushed and left for dead while Fanny returns home with Brede, they marry as it was Rian’s wish.

I did quite enjoy the story in this book and I have enjoyed this whole series and I would recommend it.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fanny Becket hasn't seen much of the world but she knows in her heart that the love she has for her adopted brother is more than just sibling-love. That's why she follows him into war when Napoleon rears his ugly head. But her being their puts his life in danger and Valentine Clement, Earl of Brede, hero of the war. He makes sure that Fanny is out of the line of battle but he's also intrigued by this young woman who is so brave. Then, when Fanny's brother dies (apparently), Valentine steps in and marries her.
Fun story but not so much character development. They are good people to begin with but I felt like they jumped into marriage way too fast.

[Laura · Rating 1 out of 5]

Am I the only one who noticed this author made a completely out of place reference in one of her character's dialogue? This is supposed to be a historical romance set in 1815 in the time of Napoleon Bonaparte....therefore no person in 1815 should say the following, "And if you're applying for the role of batman, clemet..." "I just turned him down for the position of my batman." Batman, a character in a comic book series, was not created until 1939. Someone should seriously introduce Kasey Michaels to google...or at least a DC comic book xD

[Highland-dreamer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really really really really was annoyed with the main character, Fanny. No wonder her "brother" fled to France just to be rid of her! (Well, that wasn't the only reason, but nevertheless, I don't blame him). I enjoyed the earl, but I couldn't figure out what he saw in this woman. In fact, I found myself more interested in Fanny's other family members, and will hopefully seek some of those books out to see if they are any better than this story.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read, despite the abbreviated feel to the narrative caused by it being a chunk of a series-long plotline. Nice, also, that someone bothers to "do" Waterloo, as most romance novels simply lean on it as a traumatic past. The somewhat slapdash ending can be excused, since she presumably covers the rest of her material in the next novel, though that adds to the feel that this is more of a serial than a series.

[Seema · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was part of the Beckett series. It was interesting with lots of back history which may be a little boring. The book finishes before the mystery is solved. It seemed short. The first half was more enjoyable when the hero and heroine first meet. Afterwards there didn't seem to be too much to add to their romance.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Becket family story, which I enjoyed as much as the others. This is Fanny's story as she follows her brother into battle at Waterloo and meets the Earl of Brede. If you like historical romances, this is a winner.

[Mnms · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not so horse-mad afterall... Quite a good story. I like the characters and the story but as with many of the Beckets of Romney Marsh stories I tired of the references to the overall story.
Still a good read though.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked how the author explained Fanny's character in this book. I admit I was prepared to roll my eyes alot as I prepared myself for some clichés but that was far from truth.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story about Fanny Becket and Valentine Brede. Set at the timeframe when Napolean escaped prison and tried to regain control of Europe. Second book I've read in this series.

[Keira · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried like a baby when i thought the brother was dead (sorry I don't remember the names except for chance)

[Karen Desmond · Rating 2 out of 5]

2

[McKenzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved getting to know Fanny better as she was only mentioned before. Valentine was perfect for her.

[Michele bookloverforever · Rating 4 out of 5]

adored this series