I loved EARLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, the first book in
Shana Galen's new Covent Garden series! The novel
has
memorable characters, great dialogue and a believable
storyline. Ms. Galen is well known for writing fast- paced
adventure novels with glamorous heroines, dashing heroes
and nasty villains. EARLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN includes
the author's trademark writing style plus a new element.
The book touches upon society's view of the poor and
provides a preview of England's rising social awareness.
Sir Brook Derring has asked his brother, Maxwell Derring,
the Earl of Dane to borrow his coach. Dane was sitting in
the carriage thinking about a speech he'd given at
Parliament about the poor when his brother hurried into
the
carriage with a woman. Brook explains that he believes
that
the woman is Lady Elizabeth Grafton who was kidnapped when
she was five years old.
Sir Brook and Dane decide that they can't bring the young
woman to the Lyndons and decide to bring her to their
family home. Brook is called away and he instructs Dane to
clean, feed and keep Lady Elizabeth safe. I enjoyed the
next few chapters of the book as the girl , known as
Marlowe , and Dane form an uneasy alliance.
These chapters had a My Fair Lady theme and it was
interesting to see how both Dane and Marlowe changed their
behavior and mannerisms to blend into the social situation
at hand. I loved the banter between Dane and Marlowe and
enjoyed reading when Marlowe spoke in "flash ken". By
having Marlowe use a different dialect throughout the
story, Ms. Galen provides her readers with subtle examples
of the many differences between the poor living in the
Seven Dials sections of London and the Mayfair
aristocracy.
My favorite scene in the novel is when Dane and Marlowe
waltz at the Duchess of Abingdon's ball. Dane is
mesmerized
at the change in Marlowe. She is stunning in her violet
ball gown. As the couple dances and then kisses, Dane
realizes that his upper class sensibilities are
meaningless
and that he is starting to care for Marlowe.
While in the terrace, Marlowe is surprised by Satin, the
leader of her gang. Satin threatens Marlowe and disappears
before Dane returns. Dane knows that something has
frightened Marlowe and asks her to trust him. Marlowe
needs
to decide if she can trust Dane with the truth before
Satin
puts his plan in action. The last few chapters of the book
are fast -paced and both intrigue and emotions run high.
There are several plot twists that held my interest.
I enjoyed EARLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN very much and am
looking forward to the
next book in the series!
His heart may be the last thing she ever steals...
Marlowe is a pickpocket, a housebreaker-and a better
actress
than any professional on the stage. She runs with the
Covent
Garden Cubs, a gang of thieves living in the slums of
London's Seven Dials. It's a fierce life, and Marlowe has
a
hard outer shell. But when she's alone, she allows herself
to think of a time before-a dimly remembered life when she
was called Elizabeth.
Maxwell, Lord Dane, is intrigued when his brother, a hired
investigator, ropes him into his investigation of the
fiercely beautiful hellion. He teaches her to navigate the
social morass of the ton, but Marlowe will not escape so
easily. Instead, Dane is drawn into her dangerous world,
where the student becomes the teacher and love is the
greatest risk of all.
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