Mrs. Condit and Friends Reviews
Randall’s Romance by Lee Brazil is a thoroughly enjoyable, steamy, action packed regency romp. When Randall Gretton’s father Gerald decides to leave the family business the last piece of advice he gives Randall is to seize love if he is lucky enough to find it, not let it slip through his fingers. When Randall has an illicit dalliance at a masquerade ball with a stranger little does he know it’s with Jason Dancourt, his distant cousin, the illegitimate son of his uncle. Only Randall’s brother Peregrine and their father know of Jason’s existence. The enigmatic and mysterious Jason is an intelligence agent working for the Crown, believed by all who knew him to be dead, killed along with his men in France. He now leads a shadowy quest hunting for the traitor who betrayed his men. Randall, working for his brother, gets drawn into the hunt for the same traitor. During the hunt Jason and Randall’s path’s converge and even though neither man trusts each other the attraction is instant, the chemistry between them as electric as the first time they met. As the two men join forces to flush out the traitor Randall finds out who Jason is, what he’s capable of, and soon he has to decide if love is worth the sacrifice he may have to make. I’d find it very hard to pick a favorite character but if I did dark and dangerous Jason would be my choice, he’s very black and white, justice should be simple, and swift. Randall on the other hand wants to follow the letter of the law. Both men want the same thing, the traitor apprehended and the threat eliminated, but the different views they have on how that should be accomplished ramps up the tension between them nicely, which is a counterpart to the lustful attraction they both feel. The story revolves completely around the two men, with most of the secondary characters reduced to nothing more than small supporting roles. I love historical novels, especially regency novels, and Randall’s Romance is one of the better books I’ve read, a cut above the rest. Full of intrigue, spies, kidnapping, action and adventure, the pace never lets up. It reminded me so much of Moonfleet. Unfortunately the blurb for this book is seriously lacking and doesn’t do the story any justice at all. I had a lovely surprise with this book and thoroughly enjoyed it. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who loves steamy hot regency romances, with a side of adventure.