The theme: A historical romance.
Why this one?: I’d like to say it was for biting social commentary, but I literally picked the first book off one of my many piles.
I almost gave up Candace Camp forever after reading Suddenly, a mediocre rip-off of Heyer’s The Convenient Marriage. It’s perhaps inevitable that she would also have had a stab at Faro’s Daughter — those two seem to be Heyer’s most imitated books — but in this case, that was more of a jumping off point; there’s quite a different plot and characters. Although not up to Camp’s most powerful work, it turned out to be a undemanding, entertaining read… just the sort of easily digested story I needed right now.
Anthony, Lord Neale, is really not looking forward to having to meet with his nephew’s widow, Eleanor. The first time he saw her — a failed attempt to buy her off — his attraction was immediate and unsettling. But his sister Honoria insists there was something sinister about her son’s death, so Anthony is forced to investigate. Oddly enough, his silly, selfish sister is not wrong.
My favorite part of the book was Eleanor. Although in some ways a historical heroine cliche — philanthropic, open-minded, fiercely protected by her devoted servants, and… something else I won’t mention, but which you’ll likely quickly guess — she’s also a smart, independent person. And it’s not just that everyone says she is — she actually is. Anthony is less distinctive, but a perfectly adequate hero, and there’s good chemistry between them.
There’s a mystery involved that’s pretty well done, and a satisfactory secondary cast, including several POC (albeit in small roles.) My biggest complaint is how many things are left hanging. The hero is cynical about beautiful women because of something dark in his family’s past that is only alluded to, never explained. A secondary romance is started and then the characters are sent off to safety, never to be heard from again. No one even mentions the potential scandal/weirdness of a man marrying his nephew’s widow. And the relationship is shafted by the mystery.
It certainly could have been a better book. But as a way to pass time that is extremely hard to pass right now, it made me happy.
A Willful Woman... 
I love your reason for choosing it. Pick the top book off the stack. I have a variety of methods. When I’m home, I divide the books into piles of twenty books each and roll D20s 😀
I love the sound of the heroine too.
Years and years ago I read a Candace Camp but was so not impressed (forgot the title too) that I just dismiss her as potential source of reading…lol with a huge TBR you got to separate what you can! But if one day I find myself without books (gasp!) I would try to read this one.
Happy reading!
Her Lisa Gregory books are excellent. You can find some at Open Library. Her Candace Camp’s tend to be hit or miss. Some I’ve really liked.
I love reading that makes me feel happy.
🙂
I didn’t realise that Camp was also Lisa Gregory, Sharon Stephens & Kristin James, until I googled – seriously what would one do without the interwebs??? I am always intrigued by authors that employ more than one pseudonym – or is that non-de-plume?? (I can never remember if there is difference)
I want to know WHY.
They can never usually say, and I suppose that’s their prerogative… still – I am always a little unsatisfied…
There’s nothing better than a book that makes me happy. I like that. So glad you found one!
Thanks. It’s horrible when books aren’t the friend and comfort they should be.
[…] A Tempting Stranger: A Dangerous Man by Candace Camp. My TBR challenge read. […]