"Fabulous Writing From a Master of Her Craft"

Again Karen Ranney proves to me she is still one of the top writers of flawless, elegant, and intelligent dialogs. Her words alone can create the most sensual and stimulating moods without her characters ever touching one another. In her latest novel, AN UNLIKELY GOVERNESS, she does just that.

Over the last twelve months Beatrice Sinclair had survived a cholera epidemic that claimed her parents' lives. Impoverished, untitled, and hungry, she'd sold what she could in order to eat, but further survival left her seeking work. Overlooking her village is Castle Crannoch, a dark forbidding monolith - home of the Duke of Brechin where she discovers that the 'duke' is none other than a spoiled, ill-tempered and arrogant seven year old. Offered the job of governess to Robert, 'His Grace' Beatrice would eventually come to view the young child with both compassion and empathy once she realized that his arrogance was to disguise the frightened terrorized child that he was.

On the other hand, Devlen Gordon, cousin and son of Robert's guardian, was a charming and arresting man whose verbal discourse both infuriated and excited Beatrice. Devlen was a temptation that she was finding harder and harder to ignore. He was challenging - opening new worlds for her to explore - both exciting and filled with danger as she became entangled in the attempts on the young duke's life. Would trusting Devlen be her salvation or her worst nightmare?

*** Ranney does a marvelous job with creating mood, and developing compelling characterizations of her characters. The sensuality built between Devlen and Beatrice was beautifully scripted and a joy to read. Likewise, the level of trust Beatrice developed with Robert, was also carefully scripted and perfectly paced. Additionally, the revelation of the culprit behind the murder attempts offered a twist. One fault I had trouble overlooking was the unexplored and unexplained bitter animosity between Devlen and his father. Regardless, this was a read I fully enjoyed and found enormously entertaining, even though I'd still love the answer to the animosity question! What WAS that all about?

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted April 5, 2006