It's been ages since I read a historical romance, you know the kind where the women have wardrobes that take sixteen trunks to hold it all and the men ride horses everywhere and carry handkerchiefs? Regal Reward is that kind of romance.

Too often I find that this type of romance lacks the spark that keeps me turning pages, but Elaine Violette provided a little something extra in Regal Reward that kept me coming back for more. To be honest, you do have to get through some grueling introductory pages, but stick with it because from that point forward the story moves quickly.

Marielle Henley is a stubborn girl who spends a few cold hours in the far reaches of her father's estate tending to her favorite hunting dog and several newborn puppies instead of going back to the house with her footman. She soon finds out her mistake.

Tired and sore from his raid on a carriage earlier in the evening, York Blackstone stumbles upon a sleeping Marielle in the moonlight. He sees her beauty and for a moment thinks how pleasant an evening would be with her, but his wallet wins out as he realizes what a girl of her breeding would fetch if held at ransom. Yes, he knows he's taking a chance but that's what his life has been about these last many years, taking chances.

Martin Blackstone has taken enough chances in his young life and when he sees the young woman his brother has kidnapped he knows this time they are pushing their luck. How can York be sure her father wouldn't recognize them when she was returned? Or perhaps he didn't mean to return her at all. She was a beautiful girl.

In a mansion not too far from the Blackstone cottage, Richard Craymore paces furiously waiting to face the blackguard responsible for his fiancé's kidnapping. With the villain's brother tied up in the stables, it was only a matter of time before the wretch showed his face and he was ready. No man was going to steal from him what was rightfully his.

Creeping slowly into the night, Alaina Craymore's heart beat fast as she inched toward the tied up man. He is partly responsible for Marielle's kidnapping, but he certainly doesn't look dangerous. In fact, well, he's quite handsome. Richard will kill her if he knew she planned to talk to the man. Truly though it is the only way to find out where Marielle is hidden and he looks like such a nice man it can't do any harm, can it?

Whew, did you keep up with all those enticing characters? And did you notice anything interesting? Elaine Violette has given Regal Rewardthree very strong minded men, but only two equally strong-willed eligible ladies. Hmm, something interesting is bound to happen when the men outnumber the women.

And indeed it does.

Regal Reward is a satisfying tale, providing much more complex characters than you normally find in this type of romance. The women are not weak and helpless, and the men are deliciously flawed. A complex plot and a surprising turn of events with one of the characters will keep you guessing until the end. All in all, it is an enjoyable read.

I definitely recommend you try Regal Reward by Elaine Violette when you're in the mood for a historical romance with a little something extra.
 

Reviewed By Sabine Maurier
© September 2007