May 2, 2005
Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) gives her fans what they want in her latest historical romance, set in a movieland Victorian England. Concordia Glade, a teacher with past secrets and unconventional ideas about educating women, meets Ambrose Wells, a "private inquiry agent" with secrets of his own and an unusual tattoo, as she and her four orphaned pupils flee Aldwick Castle, which they have set on fire to hide their escape. Ambrose escorts the lovely fugitives to safety, protecting them from the criminal mastermind and his aristocratic partner who'd kept them as part of a dastardly plan to use them for profit and pleasure. Concordia returns the favor by helping Ambrose investigate the mysterious death of a London woman. Courteous, daring, resourceful, Concordia and Ambrose can't wait to ravish each other repeatedly. Who but Quick (The Paid Companion
, etc.) finds such joy in chestnuts such as the boy thief mentored by the rich man he tries to rob? Or the dilettante solving cases Scotland Yard can't? Quick plunges into every cliché ("Sensation after sensation coursed through her, leaving no room for uncertainty, let alone any sense of modesty"), but energizes her fluid narration with modern sensibilities, gutsy leads and romantic excesses. There's nothing new here, but that's part of Quick's great appeal. Agent, Steve Axelrod.
February 1, 2005
Concordia Glade is hired to teach four orphans at Aldwick Castle but soon suspects that there's evil afoot and decides to spirit away her charges.
Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
April 15, 2005
The curriculum for Miss Concordia Glade's classroom has expanded from languages and social graces to explosives because that's the only way she can think of to get her charges out of their castle/prison before something terrible happens. Concordia not only destroys the building but also has to kill a thug who attacks her and her girls as they try to escape. Gentleman thief turned private investigator Ambrose Wells, who's at Aldwick Castle to look into other matters, can't believe what he's seeing, and spirits Concordia and the four teens away to the safety of his London townhouse. Concordia, like other heroines created by Quick (a pen name for Jayne Ann Krentz), is a strong feminist who gets herself into a plethora of trouble and is equally adept at saving herself. These traits frustrate alpha male Ambrose, even as he reluctantly admires her courage, ingenuity, and resourcefulness. As the heinous tale unfolds, villains appear at every turn, from the mean streets of Victorian England to the opulent parlors of London's upper crust, but Ambrose and Concordia will do anything to keep the girls safe. As always, Quick's trademark wit and humor run gracefully throughout this suspenseful and satisfying novel, and fans and new readers alike will fall for the newest additions to Quick's impressive collection of characters. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)
April 15, 2005
Sensing that something is very wrong at Aldwick Castle, where she has been hired to teach four orphaned girls, Concordia Glade plans a spectacular escape for herself and her charges. But things go awry when one villain ends up dead and another badly injured. Concordia has no choice but to trust the only help available, private detective Ambrose Wells. While Concordia's only mission is to assure her students' safety and provide them with a new life, Ambrose has another goal entirely -he is intent on discovering what is really going on at Aldwick and bringing down the criminal behind it all. Featuring a plot that deals with white slavery and delves into the dark underbelly of late Victorian England; a bold, intelligent heroine; and a hero with secrets of his own, this rousing, steamy story is a captivating read. A "New York Times" best-selling author, Quick ("The Paid Companion") is a pseudonym, as is Jayne Castle, of Seattle-based, best-selling author Jayne Ann Krentz.
Copyright 2005 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.