"rousing Regency romance"

In 1816, notorious highwayman "Le Corbeau" stops the coach of depraved Lord Crofton as the aristocrat journeys to his recently won (in cards) Stokely Manor accompanied by Cressida Mandeville. Le Corbeau demands a kiss from Cressida, but when their lips lock he realizes she is an innocent. Unable to leave her at the mercy of a nasty decadent like Crofton, Le Corbeau abducts Cressida and takes her to his estate.

Le Corbeau turns out to be Tristan Tregallows, the Duke of ST. RAVEN. Though he risks his scheme to free the real Le Corbeau from incarceration, Tris learns the truth why Cressida accompanied Crofton. He honorably agrees to help her retrieve an Indian statue containing jewels from her family's former estate Stokely Manor. However, to do so they must attend a debauched masquerade in hell hosted by the devilish Crofton.

Regency romance readers will relish the rousing ST. RAVEN though the three prime characters are very typical of the sub-genre. Crofton is so over the edge as a lecher, he is stand up comic hosting an orgy, but the lead couple more than make up for the villain's shortcomings. Tris is typical of the sub-genre as he safeguards a female stranger who he quickly admires and then loves. Cressida is also typical as the feisty independent willing to venture into hell for her heavenly cause. Any author who can weave a reference to noted medieval writer John Mandeville into her plot has to be good, but Jo Beverly is even better as she provides the audience with this pleasurable somewhat fervent historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 26, 2003

Summary

Nothing could be worse than the day Cressida's father recklessly gambled away the family estate to a vile rake called Lord Crofton. Until Lord Crofton came to her with an utterly scandalous, entirely wicked proposal...

One kiss was all Tristan asked for. Not an uncommon request from a highwayman, but still, this woman, this Cressida, had the nerve to refuse the Duke of St. Raven. In fact, she seemed not frightened, but furious, yet there was something about her that told him she wanted much more than a kiss...