Too Dangerous to Desire
Regency-set romantic adventure abounds in this third of the Lords of Midnight series. Taking a cue from Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Elliott’s spinster heroine Sophie Lawrence has rejected her childhood love years ago because of their youth and his recklessness. Cameron Daggett returns to her life as she tries to keep a blackmailer at bay and her family reputation intact for the sake of the marriage prospects of her younger sisters. The partnership both rekindles their passion and solves a mystery about Cameron’s heritage.
Aptly titled (both leads are dangerous to desire), sexual tension and incident abound. A shipboard race is especially well done. Only the “hellhound” metaphors for our dashing hero get a trifle old. The best part of this romance is the crackling friendship between the lovers, born in childhood and rekindled through fine dialogue and a galloping plot.
