The Romantic

October 25, 2004
The title belies the darkness at the core of Hunter's Regency romance cum legal thriller, the fifth in a series that started with The Seducer
. Penelope, countess of Glasbury, has been separated for years from her abusive husband, who has yet to sire an heir and now demands the return of his wayward wife. Penelope seeks help from Julian Hampton, family friend and solicitor, who has long hidden his own passion for Penelope. Her appeal forces them into an irresistible proximity. As the earl's demands grow more insistent—and violent—Julian and Penelope must uncover her estranged husband's deepest secrets if she is ever to be free of him. The two principals both have charm, but in the book's second half, every character seems determined to sacrifice himself or herself for others without telling anyone, until the frustrated reader longs for someone to break a confidence or two. Also, because Julian is a "romantic" in the courtly sense, the love scenes aren't as frequent as some might like. Hunter's fans will be content with this offering, but the underdeveloped romance and suspense suggest that the series may be suffering from fatigue. Agent, Pam Hopkins.

November 1, 2004
Stoic and enigmatic solicitor Julian Hampton is the soul of propriety. Men trust him as a confidant; women find him mysterious. Julian remains polite but inscrutable, deeply in love for years with someone he can never have and who has no idea he feels this way about her: Penelope, countess of Glasbury and sister to his good friend, viscount LaClere. Long ago, she confided her abuse by Glasbury to Julian, and he made sure she was safe and away from England. Glasbury has decided he needs an heir and is following her in order to force her back. Once again she turns to Julian. This time, Julian is determined to ensure her safety once and for all. To do it, he risks his professional and personal reputations, and even his life, to spare Penelope the horror of her marriage. Every woman dreams of being the object of some man's secret passion, and readers will be swept away by Hunter's hero and her latest captivating romance.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)