LOVING ROSE is Book three in the Casebook of Barnaby
Adair
series by Stephanie Laurens. Thomas Glendower was last seen
in The Taste of Innocence going under the name Malcolm
Sinclair. I don't think a reader needs to have read the
previous books he was in to enjoy LOVING ROSE, but reading
the last book he was in might give an even better feel for
the character. I am thrilled Stephanie Laurens chose to
resurrect this character. He was my favorite character in
the last book he appeared in. He struck me as being
something of an anti-hero, and I adore a good anti-hero. In
this incarnation in LOVING ROSE, he is a true hero. I think
Stephanie Laurens did a fabulous job of staying true to the
character, maintaining continuity, and explaining his
reappearance. I love LOVING ROSE!
For me, this is just as much a story of a man's belief in
Fate and self-acceptance as it is a story of redemption.
LOVING ROSE has so many great things going for it -- Thomas
Glendower and his moving personal narrative, a complex and
exciting mystery, and a tender as well as incredibly sexy
love story. There are so many things to engage a reader's
interest. This is the story I think many Stephanie Laurens
fans were waiting for with this character. Thankfully for
us, everything is written extremely well. There is plenty
of raw emotion, but the characters are complex and nothing
feels sickeningly sweet or too contrived. I like redemption
stories but they don't always work. This one works for a
few reasons - the characters are textured and I never felt
like Malcolm Sinclair was ever really a black-hearted
villain. If a character is too evil, I don't think there is
any way for a writer to bring them back once they've done
certain types of nefarious deeds. Malcolm Sinclair never
really fell in that category in my opinion.
The romance and the mystery in LOVING ROSE are woven
together seamlessly and one never overbalances the other.
In spite of having some injuries, Thomas Glendower makes an
intelligent and very capable hero and asset in Stokes and
Barnaby's investigation. I love how Stephanie Laurens had
Barnaby and Stokes handle the problem of Thomas's past.
There are a lot of principal characters in LOVING ROSE, but
the story never felt cluttered and the focus stays on Rose
and Thomas. Their love story is a wonderful blend of sweet
and erotic.
LOVING ROSE is a compelling story of one man's journey and
his struggle to find redemption through love and his belief
in Fate. This is great story-telling, and romance at its
best. I also loved that, as with other Stephanie Laurens
stories, the female characters are strong and intelligent.
This has been such a great series so far, that I eagerly
await the next book in this Casebook of Barnaby Adair
series.
#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens
returns with another mysterious tale of the London
underworld from the Casebook of Barnaby Adair. Titled:
Loving Rose: The Redemption of Malcolm Sinclair
In this third installment of the Case Book of Barnaby Adair,
following WHERE THE HEART LEADS and THE MASTERFUL MR.
MONTAGUE, Barnaby and Penelope help another couple solve a
dangerous mystery and find their passionate, redeeming love.
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