UNDONE

Author: Virginia Henley ISBN:0451210646 12/2003 HISTORICAL Publisher: SIGNET
Time Period: Georgian - 1751 through approximately 1755(?)

The Impostress Though celebrated in Irish society for her extraordinary beauty, Elizabeth Gunning is just playing a part. The supposed daughter of Viscount Mayo is in fact a common woman of uncommon appearance. And if her domineering mother has her say, she is going to keep up the charade—and take London society by storm. The Duchess With her golden hair and violet eyes, Elizabeth has men falling at her feet, but only one has captured her heart— John Campbell, the rakishly handsome Duke of Argyll. If she surrenders to his smoldering gaze and heated touch, she’ll be playing with fire. Because only John knows her deepest secret—and knows just how to unleash the passion within her…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

In all fairness, I believe I have simply outgrown Virginia Henley's style of romance book. Therefore, this may not be a completely fair review. I will admit, however, that one of my all time favorite books is THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL by Henley. Hopefully that saves me from being burned at the stake by die-hard fans. Despite the many references to Simon's leather, err contraption, in THE DRAGON AND THE JEWEL, I have never forgotten the characters and it made me delve into romance books whole heartedly. Wish I could say the same for her new release, UNDONE.

I was undone alright. Undone by the outdated words (mons?! cannot stand it) and the interrupting "thoughts" the characters have, even though they say something entirely different. There are so many times the heroine Elizabeth longs to say something, that I began to avoid the real speech she actually says and just read the italics. Undone by the monotony of the heroine's sister Maria's constantly thinking of white face paint and whom she wants to seduce next.

The one bright spot is Elizabeth's mother Bridget, who is the best witch I have ever read about! Her lofty ambitions set the tone of the entire book and I missed her when she faded into the background of Elizabeth's life.

As I said, I probably have outgrown the writing style, but in a book where the hero is constantly absent, there is only a bit of romance to be had. Sex, of course, with the crudest ancient language, is abundant. It probably would have been better had this book been simply a fictionalized biography.

Shannon Johnson