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Thursday, January 30, 2014

Historical Romance Review: Cloaked in Danger by Jeannie Ruesch

I have had the incredible pleasure of reading Jeannie Ruesch's new book, CLOAKED IN DANGER. Trust me when I say I was cloaked in excitement :)

About Cloaked in Danger


Publication Date: January 27, 2014
Carina Press
eBook
ASIN: B00F93X7ZI


Aria Whitney has little in common with the delicate ladies of London society. Her famous father made his fortune hunting archaeological treasures, and her rustic upbringing has left her ill prepared for a life of parties and frippery. But when Gideon Whitney goes missing in Egypt, Aria must embrace the unknown. Armed with only the short list of highborn men who’d backed her father’s venture, she poses as a woman looking for a husband. She doesn’t intend to find one.

Adam Willoughby, Earl of Merewood, finds London’s strangest new debutante fascinating, but when he catches her investigating his family’s secrets, he threatens to ruin her reputation. He doesn’t intend to enjoy it so much.

When their lustful indiscretion is discovered, Adam finds that he regrets nothing. But now, as Aria’s father’s enemy draws near, Adam must convince his betrothed that she can trust him with her own secrets…before it’s too late.

Praise for Cloaked in Danger


“Cloaked in Danger has all the elements readers crave— larger-than-life characters, a vivid and believable setting, heart-pounding romance and just the right amount of mystery. Don’t miss it! It kept me reading deep into the night.” — New York Times Bestselling Author Brenda Novak

“In ‘Cloaked in Danger’ Jeannie Ruesch has crafted a taut, emotional thrill-ride through the streets of Regency London. Archaeological adventure and drawing room intrigue are combined in a story that will keep you reading late into the night. Jeannie Ruesch is an author to watch.” — RITA Award Nominated Author Elizabeth Essex


My Review

Right from the very start, Ms. Ruesch had me hooked. The book opens with our heroine, Aria (LOVE HER NAME!) rifling through someone's things. We catch her motivation, her desperation, and see her goal. By page two we're rooting for her, and by the end of chapter one--enter Adam our hero (devastatingly charismatic!)--we're intrigued with both mystery, scandal and passion. This is not a book you can read over the course of days, well, not for me anyway! I couldn't stop once I started, the need for sleep was the only thing that kept me putting the book down.

Not your typical Regency, which I enjoyed. Aria Whitney is not your usual heroine--she's not nobleborn, and she REALLY doesn't care about society--so much so in fact, I was cringing at how the people would shun her for her latest escapade, but having said that, I was cheering her on every step of the way. I loved that she turned the ton on its ear, and I love that Adam loved that about her.

Together, they embarked on a two-fold adventure, a quest to solve the mystery surrounding her father's disappearance, but also to discover who each other was and to explore a love that was based firstly off a steamy attraction.

The writing is superb, fast-paced, witty, exciting and uplifting. Aria is a heroine we'd all love to be, and Adam is a hero we can definitely fall in love with. Coupled with the romance and the suspense is the history, which I'm a sucker for any day.

Well done, Ms. Ruesch! I look forward to many more books by you.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my interview with the author AND a giveaway of CLOAKED IN DANGER!

Purchase the Book



About the Author

Jeannie Ruesch wrote her first story at the age of the six, prompting her to give up an illustrious, hours-long ambition of becoming a Dallas Cowboy Cheerleader and declare that writing was her destiny. That journey to destiny took a few detours along the way, including a career in marketing and design.
Her first novel, a fairy-tale like historical romance, was published in 2009, but the darker side of life had always captivated her. So after a dinner conversation with friends about the best way to hide a dead body, she knew she had to find a way to incorporate suspense into her writing. (The legal outlet for her fascination.) Today, she continues writing what she loves to read – stories of history, romance and suspense. She lives in Northern California with her husband, their son and an 80 pound lapdog lab named Cooper.
She is also the creator of the WIP Notebook, a writer’s tool to help stay organized while you write, which you can find at her website. You can also follow her on Facebook,TwitterGoodreads and Pinterest.


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