Adrienne Basso

I have always had tremendous recall when it comes to the books I've read.  If a friend recounts a plot or title to me, 99% of the time I am able to remember the book if I've read it.  Yesterday I was very excited to write about a book I'd read the day before on my Ebookwise book reader (I'd downloaded it for my vacation) for a few reasons...it's by an author I met way back in 1994 online at the old Prodigy, of the two books I thought I'd read by her, I've liked both, and because many historical readers reject Zebra releases out of hand, it's always nice to mention an author of lesser notice.

All that said, when I went to enter this book in my database, it showed as already having been read...with a grade of B-.  I didn't believe it, and started going through each of Basso's books on BYRON, carefully reading their synopses, sure I'd previously read another of her books instead.  I didn't recognize any of them, at which point I had the brilliant thought of simply checking my "read/kept" library.  The book sitting on the shelf was none other than To Wed a Viscount, by Adrienne Basso.  I quickly checked the book's release date and synopsis, comparing it against BYRON...perhaps BYRON was wrong?

As it turns out, I apparently did read this book, and not even when I thought I'd read it! I was sure I read it last year, around the same time as I read Lorraine Heath's To Marry an Heiress.  Apparently I read To Wed a Viscount in 2001 when it was released...and I have no recollection whatsoever of having read it.  There were no feelings of deja vu when I (re)read it this weekend - none at all.  I've bought books twice before, but have always known if I've read it.  Just another sign of getting old, I guess.  I won't tell my husband about it, though; he'll make some snarky comment for sure.

As for the book itself, originally I graded it B-.  This time I think I'd give it a straight B, because the storyline is unique in some ways, even though it's also filled with traditional plot points and themes.  Here's the blurb, from the front page rather than back cover:

Against the glittering backdrop of Regency England, comes a tale of a mismatched couple joined by fate -- and destined for love.

HER DESPERATE PROPOSAL...

When pampered Faith Linden's father AND her titled fiancé, Viscount Dewhurst, die, she suddenly finds herself in a desperately precarious position.  The only way Faith can hold on to her beloved family home is to convince her late fiancé's younger brother, the NEW Viscount Dewhurst, to marry her in his stead.  Yet when she finally encounters Lord Griffin Sainthill, she is in for a surprise:  this brooding and ruggedly handsome adventurer is not so easily bent to her will... and may be the man who can capture her unsuspecting heart.

...SPARKED A STORMY PASSION

A sea captain and owner of a profitable shipping company, Griffin Sainthill was quite happy with his life in the American colonies.  So when the news of his inheritance finally reaches him, the sun-bronzed seafarer is less than pleased.  His mood only darkens when he returns to England to discover a brazen beauty intent on becoming his bride!  But when a twinge of conscience and a stolen kiss give him pause, Griffin finds himself embarking on the riskiest venture of all -- marriage to a woman who will tempt him, torment him, and turn his whole life upside down.

I found Faith's looks and personality quite refreshing, although I never "got" that she was as spoiled as Griffin's sister made her out to be.  Faith is quite plain, although she does become more and more beautiful in Griffin's eyes as the story progresses, another thing in this book's favor.  As for Griffin, we are introduced to him while he cavorts with a courtesan, and within pages we learn he's the father of an illegitimate son.  As far as rakes go, he's set up to be one, but he's remarkably unstereotypical in that regard.  I wish there had been a little more love-making in the book - there is one truly "hot" scene in which Faith, after weeks of celibacy imposed by Griffin, decides to risk that he might rebuff her, and seduces him.  If any of you have ever seduced a man when you weren't sure of the outcome, this scene really resonates. 

I liked that there was no suspense sub-plot, and other than some dull pages involving information about the fiancee of Griffin's sister, I was never bored while reading this book.  The characters behaved like real people, something I appreciated as well, although there certainly was plenty of drama to go around.  After months and months of not reading historical romance, I find myself back in the mood, and this book - along with Julia Quinn's It's in His Kiss - are definitely responsible.

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

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