Devon’s review of The Dangerous Mr. Ryder by Louise Allen
Historical Romance released 1 July 2008 by Harlequin Historical

The Dangerous Mr. Ryder, the first book in Louise Allen’s Those Scandalous Ravenhursts series, features that most popular of Regency heroes, the gentleman adventurer-spy. Jack Ryder, aka Lord Sebastian Ravenhurst, has been charged to bring Eva, the Grand Duchess of Maubourg, to England. The tiny duchy of Maubourg is significant to both the French and the English in terms of location and allegiance. Eva is proud, intelligent, and independent, as well as beautiful. As they make their dangerous journey, the two find themselves falling in love. While several elements of this book seem rather familiar, it was a solidly entertaining read.

Jack is definitely a familiar type: the younger son who escapes the boredom of aristocratic life for a life of intrigue. He is smart, talented and capable, and quite charming. He made a good foil for Eva. While he was unwilling to let her have her way, his respect for her intelligence always shone through. They had a nice repartee, and good chemistry. I wasn’t sure why he was so insistent on keeping his identity secret from Eva, because it seemed an open secret, but overall Jack was quite likeable.

Eva was a great heroine. Married to the Grand Duke of Mauborg at seventeen, a widow by twenty six, Eva has become used to a rather lonely, controlled life. All that stretches ahead of her is duty and Dowager duchess-dom. She has played an active role in the court and in local politics, however. She is used to giving orders, not taking them, but she never seems shrill or TSTL. Eva knows when she should listen to Jack, and she is determined to be reunited with her young son. She didn’t love her late husband, and Jack is a first for her: someone who is really there for her, someone who sees Eva rather than “The Grand Duchess.”

The Dangerous Mr. Ryder is fast-paced. They are on the run, and in danger. Accordingly, the romance moved quite fast, but it didn’t feel awkward or too sudden. Enough of a friendly rapport was developed, that the move to lovers felt natural. Much of the book moved so quickly, that the ending seemed almost abrupt. Eva and Jack behave rather stupidly, but quickly change their minds. I picked this book because I’m always intrigued when the heroine is more politically/socially connected than the hero. And though I must admit a certain ennui with the whole spy thing, readers who like spy heroes will enjoy this one a lot.

Grade: B

The Summary:
He knows that escorting the haughty Grand Duchess of Maubourg to England will not be an easy task. But Jack Ryder, spy and adventurer, believes he is more than capable of managing Her Serene Highness.

He’s not prepared for her beauty, her youth, or the way that her sensual warmth shines through her cold facade.

And what started as just another mission is rapidly becoming something far more personal….

Read an excerpt

Read Louise Allen’s guest post