Monday, January 27, 2014

Cloaked in Danger by Jeannie Ruesch

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆
Read: Januarary 17, 2014

Aria Whitney has little in common with the delicate ladies of London society. Her famous father made his fortune hunting archaeological treasures, and her rustic upbringing has left her ill-prepared for a life of parties and frippery. But when Gideon Whitney goes missing in Egypt, Aria must embrace the unknown—armed with only the short list of highborn men who’d backed her father’s venture, she poses as a woman looking for a husband. She doesn’t intend to find one. Adam Willoughby, Earl of Merewood, finds London’s strangest new debutante fascinating, but when he catches her investigating his family’s secrets, he threatens to ruin her reputation. He doesn’t intend to enjoy it so much. When their lustful indiscretion is discovered, Adam finds that he regrets nothing. But now, as her father’s enemy draws near, Adam must convince his betrothed that she can trust him with her own secrets... before it’s too late.

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Jeannie Ruesch's Cloaked in Danger caught me off guard. Far from the average romance, Ruesch's second novel defied my expectations and swept me into a whirlwind of wit, romance and intrigue. 

I think my favorite aspect of the book is that the romantic storyline doesn't overwhelm the narrative. A lot of writers in this genre lose sight of the story when their characters start coming together, but not Ruesch. Neither Aria nor Adam are solely consumed by their passions. Both have a personal objective driving their actions over the course of the narrative, a fact which greatly appealed to my personal taste in literature.

Diehard fans of historic fiction might object to Ruesh's quirky and unconventional leading characters, but I found both Miss Whitney and Mr. Willoughby rather endearing in their way. I admit their values and personalities are probably a little too avant-garde for the period, but it isn't enough to ruin the story and actually leads to some rather delightfully entertaining exchanges. 

The mystery itself didn't keep me on the edge of my seat, but it included enough twists and turns to sustain my interest. It also retained a fairly steady pace beginning to end, which again, kept me engaged in Aria's adventure.

A pleasantly amusing piece, Cloaked in Danger is notable for its clever structure and humorous prose. A refreshingly original regency era mystery. 

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“I have my doubts. But I have done plenty in the name of protecting my family. I understand. But you’re not alone now. We’ll continue this, and whatever truths are to be found, we’ll deal with them together.”
They had lived in such different worlds, and yet, somehow, they were so alike in some ways. They loved fiercely. They would both do anything for their families. It was a powerful bridge.
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Check out all the stops on Jeannie Ruesch's Cloaked in Danger Virtual book tour


Monday, January 27
Review at Flashlight Commentary
Facebook Launch Party (3:00 – 7:00pm PST)
Tuesday, January 28
Interview at The Maiden’s Court
Wednesday, January 29
Review & Giveaway at Unabridged Chick
Spotlight & Giveaway at Book Reviews & More by Kathy
Thursday, January 30
Review at History Undressed
Interview at Layered Pages
Friday, January 31
Guest Post & Giveaway at History Undressed
Monday, February 3
Review at Closed the Cover
Review at The Most Happy Reader
Tuesday, February 4
Review at The Lit Bitch
Review at Ageless Pages Reviews
Wednesday, February 5
Spotlight & Giveaway at Mina’s Bookshelf
Thursday, February 6
Review at Kincavel Korner
Review at I Heart Romance
Friday, February 7
Interview & Giveaway at Kincavel Korner


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