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Lovers and Ladies #4
Emily and the Dark Angel
New York Times bestselling author Jo Beverley "brings the Regency Period to life." (Joan Hammond) Emily Grantwich lives quietly with her crippled father and eccentric aunt, managing the family's land, until the fateful day she walks down the main street of Melton Mowbray and is showered with Poudre de Violettes, thrown by a lady of loose morals at the handsomest man Emily has ever seen. He is Piers Verderan, known by many as the Dark Angel. His friends lay the blame for his scandalous ways on his troubled past. No decent woman should be seen in his company, but Emily must dutifully manage her father's estate-which Verderan's land adjoins. Soon Emily learns that the Dark Angel is very dangerous, especially to her sanity and her heart...
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 1992
55 people are currently reading
483 people want to read
About the author
Jo Beverley
142 books1,130 followersMary Josephine Dunn was born 22 September 1947 in Lancashire, England, UK. At the age of eleven she went to an all-girls boarding school, Layton Hill Convent, Blackpool. At sixteen, she wrote her first romance, with a medieval setting, completed in installments in an exercise book. From 1966 to 1970, she obtained a degree in English history from Keele University in Staffordshire, where she met her future husband, Ken Beverley. After graduation, they married on June 24, 1971. She quickly attained a position as a youth employment officer until 1976, working first in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, and then in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
In 1976, her scientist husband was invited to do post-doctoral research at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. When her professional qualifications proved not to be usable in the Canadian labour market, she raised their two sons and started to write her first romances.
Moved to Ottawa, in 1985 she became a founding member of the Ottawa Romance Writers’ Association, that her “nurturing community” for the next twelve years. The same year, she completed a regency romance, but it was promptly rejected by a number of publishers, and she settled more earnestly to learning the craft. In 1988, it sold to Walker, and was published as "Lord Wraybourne's Betrothed". She regularly appears on bestseller lists including the USA Today overall bestseller list, the New York Times, and and the Publishers Weekly list. She has been the recipient of numerous awards including the Golden Leaf, the Award of Excellence, the National Readers Choice, and a two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times. She is also a five time winner of the RITA, the top award of the Romance Writers Of America, and a member of their Hall of Fame and Honor Roll.
Jo Beverley passed away on May 23, 2016 after a long battle with cancer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
March 2, 2019
Still fun on reread. Light on plot, flexible with logical behavior and a bit on the insta-love side, but I quite liked the early acknowledgement of feelings, the lack of games and I really appreciated the limited angst.
I adored the witty dialogue and laughed aloud here and there.
Sweet, engaging couple with interactions that captured and held my attention.
It is an easy, light-hearted, relaxing read.
And of course generally the author has a writing style that’s always competent, and often stellar.
I adored the witty dialogue and laughed aloud here and there.
Sweet, engaging couple with interactions that captured and held my attention.
It is an easy, light-hearted, relaxing read.
And of course generally the author has a writing style that’s always competent, and often stellar.
August 16, 2012
One reason I didn't like it was because I didn't like the male protagonist. He is supposed to be some tall, dark, dangerous guy but he comes off being slightly unchivalrous to women, going so far as to throw things at women. That happened in the very first appearance of him, and is supposedly to show that he's not to be taken advantage of, even by women. Granted, the woman was a harlot and she showed bad breeding, but still -- not a fan of a guy who's going to act out against women. Since that first episode, I kept feeling there was an edge of violence in him, which might be what gets some women's rockets in orbit, but something that I find truly unacceptable. Violence against women? Truly ungentlemanly, and yes I know the guy was supposed to be ungentlemanly and not care how he appeared. In that case, the author made her point and I'm sorry that I have to write a bad review because of that.
However, another reason that the book failed to grip me was how the guy became so enamored of Emily. This is a seriously dangerous sort of dude and involved in various broils and etc. Emily is pretty much a good girl, but there is absolutely nothing gripping about her, appearance or behavior. She doesn't even grip the reader. She comes off as exactly what she is meant to be -- a wallflower. So the part where he starts to notice her is extremely contrived as to be entirely unconvincing. I felt it was for the sake of the book that he starts to find her attractive. I find it extremely hard to believe that this hardened sort of dangerous (and not in a good way, in a violence against women way) guy is going to be suddenly enraptured by someone that he rescues sort of offhandedly. He was well-written, if nothing else. He is the kind of a tortured, impassioned soul that people find unpredictable and with an edge of violence (Heathcliffe-ish). I guess I don't really think that the female protagonist had the ability or the depth to handle and soothe the tortured beast, no matter how the plot was spinned. Nor do I think they are right for each other.
Although, I do like the history embedded within the writing and felt it added a lot of period voice to the story. The picturesque descriptions of country life and the booming economy of the town due to hunt-madness made me feel I was actually there.
However, another reason that the book failed to grip me was how the guy became so enamored of Emily. This is a seriously dangerous sort of dude and involved in various broils and etc. Emily is pretty much a good girl, but there is absolutely nothing gripping about her, appearance or behavior. She doesn't even grip the reader. She comes off as exactly what she is meant to be -- a wallflower. So the part where he starts to notice her is extremely contrived as to be entirely unconvincing. I felt it was for the sake of the book that he starts to find her attractive. I find it extremely hard to believe that this hardened sort of dangerous (and not in a good way, in a violence against women way) guy is going to be suddenly enraptured by someone that he rescues sort of offhandedly. He was well-written, if nothing else. He is the kind of a tortured, impassioned soul that people find unpredictable and with an edge of violence (Heathcliffe-ish). I guess I don't really think that the female protagonist had the ability or the depth to handle and soothe the tortured beast, no matter how the plot was spinned. Nor do I think they are right for each other.
Although, I do like the history embedded within the writing and felt it added a lot of period voice to the story. The picturesque descriptions of country life and the booming economy of the town due to hunt-madness made me feel I was actually there.
October 22, 2010
Review originally posted at http://www.smexybooks.com/2010/10/rev...
Favorite Quote: “He’s called the Dark Angel. The devil. His horse is called Beelzebub. He shoots men who like sago pudding.”
“Seems fair. Only the lowest form of life would like that slimy stuff.”
Jo Beverley’s Emily And The Dark Angel was originally part of a series that began with Lord Wraybourne's Betrothal. I have waited a very long time for Piers Verderan’s story and am pleased that it lived up to my expectations.
Emily Granwich is a 20 something spinster who lives a quiet life in the country with her invalid father and eccentric aunt. Her brother is considered missing in action so she handles the family's estate business much to her father’s dismay. When in town on business she is “assaulted” by a flying box of violet body powder which erupts and covers her head to toe.
The intended victim of the powdery weapon is Piers Verderan. Dubbed the “Dark Angel” by enemies -he is considered a deadly man without a conscience. In town for the start of the hunting season, he comes to Ms Granwich’s assistance and soon appears in Emily’s life more often then she likes.
Yet for all the rumors surrounding him, Emily can’t help but wonder if Piers is as bad as he is painted? Though warned that no decent woman should be seen in his company, Piers shows remarkable restraint and courtesy when in Emily’s company. As our hero and heroine begin the intricate dance of romance and love, will Emily listen to her heart or her family when dealing with her Dark Angel?
So now you all know. My secret vice is Regencies. I adore them. The older and cheesier the better. I’m not sure why because they offend my feminism on all levels. lol But I think we all have a teeny tiny place in us that wants someone to take control. That’s what Regencies do for me. They give me a larger then life hero who annoys me, frustrates me, and utterly captivates me. He maneuvers and manipulates my whole world so that I will marry him and live happily ever after. *sigh*
Piers Verderan is a proper Regency hero. Handsome, autocratic,and deadly, Ms. Beverley takes him up a notch by injecting humor and snarkiness into his personality. His witty conversations with Emily and other characters was rather like watching a “who’s on first” skit. While you have no doubt he is deserving of his moniker, the Dark Angel, you feel assured that circumstances will reveal to you and Emily that he is not as black as he seems.
Emily is a bit innocent (the pudding fiasco cracked me up) but she is also strong in mind and emotion. She doesn’t fight the current but merely flows along until another avenue opens up.
I did feel she jumped to the wrong conclusion a bit to much but forgave her because with Piers, she’s just in over her head.
Jo Beverley has a way of creating characters that follow the society’s dictates for this time but also mesh well with the modern reader. We are not given wimpy vaporish females nor condescendingly boring males They are an unconventional lively bunch that has you cheering them on in abundance.
The story flows along at a fast pace and the end result is a delightful Regency filled with memorable characters, a delish little scandal, wicked stolen kisses, and a wonderful ending that had me heaving my happy sigh.
Favorite Quote: “He’s called the Dark Angel. The devil. His horse is called Beelzebub. He shoots men who like sago pudding.”
“Seems fair. Only the lowest form of life would like that slimy stuff.”
Jo Beverley’s Emily And The Dark Angel was originally part of a series that began with Lord Wraybourne's Betrothal. I have waited a very long time for Piers Verderan’s story and am pleased that it lived up to my expectations.
Emily Granwich is a 20 something spinster who lives a quiet life in the country with her invalid father and eccentric aunt. Her brother is considered missing in action so she handles the family's estate business much to her father’s dismay. When in town on business she is “assaulted” by a flying box of violet body powder which erupts and covers her head to toe.
The intended victim of the powdery weapon is Piers Verderan. Dubbed the “Dark Angel” by enemies -he is considered a deadly man without a conscience. In town for the start of the hunting season, he comes to Ms Granwich’s assistance and soon appears in Emily’s life more often then she likes.
Yet for all the rumors surrounding him, Emily can’t help but wonder if Piers is as bad as he is painted? Though warned that no decent woman should be seen in his company, Piers shows remarkable restraint and courtesy when in Emily’s company. As our hero and heroine begin the intricate dance of romance and love, will Emily listen to her heart or her family when dealing with her Dark Angel?
So now you all know. My secret vice is Regencies. I adore them. The older and cheesier the better. I’m not sure why because they offend my feminism on all levels. lol But I think we all have a teeny tiny place in us that wants someone to take control. That’s what Regencies do for me. They give me a larger then life hero who annoys me, frustrates me, and utterly captivates me. He maneuvers and manipulates my whole world so that I will marry him and live happily ever after. *sigh*
Piers Verderan is a proper Regency hero. Handsome, autocratic,and deadly, Ms. Beverley takes him up a notch by injecting humor and snarkiness into his personality. His witty conversations with Emily and other characters was rather like watching a “who’s on first” skit. While you have no doubt he is deserving of his moniker, the Dark Angel, you feel assured that circumstances will reveal to you and Emily that he is not as black as he seems.
Emily is a bit innocent (the pudding fiasco cracked me up) but she is also strong in mind and emotion. She doesn’t fight the current but merely flows along until another avenue opens up.
I did feel she jumped to the wrong conclusion a bit to much but forgave her because with Piers, she’s just in over her head.
Jo Beverley has a way of creating characters that follow the society’s dictates for this time but also mesh well with the modern reader. We are not given wimpy vaporish females nor condescendingly boring males They are an unconventional lively bunch that has you cheering them on in abundance.
The story flows along at a fast pace and the end result is a delightful Regency filled with memorable characters, a delish little scandal, wicked stolen kisses, and a wonderful ending that had me heaving my happy sigh.
December 14, 2020
I found a whole stack of these Avon Regency Romances at a local thrift store for 50 cents and couldn't resist. This is an entertaining, generally clean regency romance with an interesting angle. The story itself falls in the usual theme (sensible, 'older' but innocent heroine and rakish hero) but with general historical accuracy. Unfortunately, it was poorly edited and even my casual read found three egregious grammar errors.
Better than some, not the best. Read Georgette Heyer instead.
Better than some, not the best. Read Georgette Heyer instead.
May 4, 2009
I really liked Jo Beverley's contributing story to "Irresistable Forces" so I thought I'd track down some of her other work which apparently completely resides in the world of romance. Out of four of her books, I only really enjoyed two and this was not one of them. First off, Beverley's Regency romances are a romance of manners - there is passionate kissing scenes but no hanky panky as I suppose high society guards its chastity more vigilantly. Emily is moderately competent, running her family's estate in a time of uncertainty, but her mind turns into pudding when she meets Ver the Dark Angel in one of those silly situations that romance is so rife with. Frankly, Emily seems to come off a ditz, even though she is supposedly befuddled by strong attraction to a unsuitable suitor. The book seems to be held together by the anticipation of the fox hunting season which is described in detail for those of us who admire historical context and can ignore the ridiculousness of hunting/terrorizing an inedible animal who will be ripped to shreds by dogs. The whole story ends abruptly with a solution of prodigal son/family united/magical healing.
August 17, 2016
I liked the first third of this quite a bit, the second third less, and the final third not at all. The prose is good, so I'll call it three stars, but... that's a bit generous. I don't like this nearly as much as the general consensus.
Premise: Emily is the spinster-ish 26-year-old daughter of a grumpy disabled local landowner whose other daughter has left him for marriage and whose only son is missing and presumed dead in the Napoleonic wars. Even though everybody in her family sort of treats her like dirt, Emily has learned to efficiently manage the family estate in the absence of a man to do it for her. One fine morning at the beginning of fox-hunting season (when half of England's elite males, apparently, descend on the area) Emily is walking through the local village when a beautiful lady and a handsome man get into a screaming match with each other over whether or not the lady is going to be the man's new mistress (he says no, in spite of the night they just spent together) and the lady flings a box of violet-scented powder at him, mostly nailing Emily.
The man is Piers Verderan, allegedly a dastardly rake, heir to an Irish viscountcy, mad-bad-and-dangerous-to-know. He and Emily fall in love blah blah blah there is supposed to be tension about scandal and respectability.
Okay, you guys. I thought this was somewhat bad. I've been reading a bunch of older Jo Beverley works, and I find them a very mixed bag. The prose is consistently very readable, something I don't always encounter in historical romances, but the characters and the plot mechanisms often seem quite silly and dull to me. So they do, here. In the first third of the book, where Emily and Verderan are circling each other, it's fine. In the second third, where Verderan is increasingly clear that he's falling in deep love with Emily, it starts to fall apart. Why is he falling in love with her? What about HER, out of all of the many, many, many (apparently - he's dastardly enough to not be received everywhere) women he has known, makes him fall in love? Emily doesn't have much of a character, if I may be honest. She's sort of practical and interested in being respectable, she's sort of competent at managing the estate, but she also lets her dad treat her horribly, she isn't... I don't know. I didn't feel that there was much there. Verderan is initially painted as being arrogant to the point of actual rudeness, but then suddenly he realizes that he's crushing on Emily and he turns into a bag of cutesy sentimentality.
By 60%, Verderan knows he wants to marry Emily and live with her and be faithful to her foreeeeevvvver (never fully clear why) and then I started rolling my eyes a lot. There's a fairly ridiculous to me plot element where Emily decides that she must prove her love to him (why? why????) by showing up for the fox hunt that I found so stupid I almost quit. There's also some ridiculousness that I don't care for where a couple from another Beverley book shows up to be extremely interested in Verderan's romantic life in that way that only happens in romance novels and would be weird and kind of creepy in real life, but in romance novels is supposed to be really charming and prove to you just how special the love of the main characters is.
I found the depiction of romantic love to be twee and stupid, I found Verderan to be set up to be a bad, interesting man who would presumably be vanquished by Emily's sturdy country practicality, against all his better instincts, but then they just turned out to be dull and silly and sentimental in a way that did not at all fit who he was claimed to be at the beginning. I mean, you guys, this is a dude who meets the heroine as he leaves the house of a prostitute he's just spent the night with and is now being physically somewhat violent to, and for no real reason, by 70% into the book, he's telling the heroine that if she marries him, he'll never take another woman to his bed. Okay... but how does he know that? Is that a good bet? There's no wrestling with this, he just decides it. Here are a couple of things I highlighted as being the type of thing I just find so twee and unenjoyable:
Whaaaa. This is a vision of romance I can't handle in my romance novels, because it really reminds me that I'm reading a completely unrealistic fantasy that in no way resembles how humans actually are.
This makes literally no sense within the context of the book. There is NO REASON she "must" go to the hunt to "claim him". She could just say "Yes" the next time he asks her to marry him, for instance. I felt very strongly that the author didn't have enough plot to keep the book going after she was halfway done, and began to invent quite ridiculous elements to eke out another hundred pages.
So here you have several of my least favorite things: the rake who isn't a rake, the cold nobleman who is cold because he has a terrible childhood that is very vague, the heroine who is the only one who can heal him, except the book doesn't know WHY she's the only one who can heal him, and everyone around the main couple being extremely interested in their special, special love.
Emily's father, as a character and as a dynamic with her, bothered me. He was very mean to her - sometimes outright cruel, implying that she was old, dried up, and desperate for a man, also accusing her of being loose, and probably on the verge of getting knocked up with somebody's bastard. Also incompetent at estate management. Also he wouldn't actually let her do her estate management job. But the book doesn't seem to be clear on if her dad is just grouchy, or if he's really mean to her, and there is never a moment where their relationship is resolved. Like many of the characters here, in my opinion, there's a fundamental lack of clarity about who he is and what their dynamic is.
Anyway. I didn't like this that much. I gave it three stars for the beginning and the prose, but I wouldn't recommend it, I found it quite silly and annoying, and I wouldn't read it again.
Premise: Emily is the spinster-ish 26-year-old daughter of a grumpy disabled local landowner whose other daughter has left him for marriage and whose only son is missing and presumed dead in the Napoleonic wars. Even though everybody in her family sort of treats her like dirt, Emily has learned to efficiently manage the family estate in the absence of a man to do it for her. One fine morning at the beginning of fox-hunting season (when half of England's elite males, apparently, descend on the area) Emily is walking through the local village when a beautiful lady and a handsome man get into a screaming match with each other over whether or not the lady is going to be the man's new mistress (he says no, in spite of the night they just spent together) and the lady flings a box of violet-scented powder at him, mostly nailing Emily.
The man is Piers Verderan, allegedly a dastardly rake, heir to an Irish viscountcy, mad-bad-and-dangerous-to-know. He and Emily fall in love blah blah blah there is supposed to be tension about scandal and respectability.
Okay, you guys. I thought this was somewhat bad. I've been reading a bunch of older Jo Beverley works, and I find them a very mixed bag. The prose is consistently very readable, something I don't always encounter in historical romances, but the characters and the plot mechanisms often seem quite silly and dull to me. So they do, here. In the first third of the book, where Emily and Verderan are circling each other, it's fine. In the second third, where Verderan is increasingly clear that he's falling in deep love with Emily, it starts to fall apart. Why is he falling in love with her? What about HER, out of all of the many, many, many (apparently - he's dastardly enough to not be received everywhere) women he has known, makes him fall in love? Emily doesn't have much of a character, if I may be honest. She's sort of practical and interested in being respectable, she's sort of competent at managing the estate, but she also lets her dad treat her horribly, she isn't... I don't know. I didn't feel that there was much there. Verderan is initially painted as being arrogant to the point of actual rudeness, but then suddenly he realizes that he's crushing on Emily and he turns into a bag of cutesy sentimentality.
By 60%, Verderan knows he wants to marry Emily and live with her and be faithful to her foreeeeevvvver (never fully clear why) and then I started rolling my eyes a lot. There's a fairly ridiculous to me plot element where Emily decides that she must prove her love to him (why? why????) by showing up for the fox hunt that I found so stupid I almost quit. There's also some ridiculousness that I don't care for where a couple from another Beverley book shows up to be extremely interested in Verderan's romantic life in that way that only happens in romance novels and would be weird and kind of creepy in real life, but in romance novels is supposed to be really charming and prove to you just how special the love of the main characters is.
I found the depiction of romantic love to be twee and stupid, I found Verderan to be set up to be a bad, interesting man who would presumably be vanquished by Emily's sturdy country practicality, against all his better instincts, but then they just turned out to be dull and silly and sentimental in a way that did not at all fit who he was claimed to be at the beginning. I mean, you guys, this is a dude who meets the heroine as he leaves the house of a prostitute he's just spent the night with and is now being physically somewhat violent to, and for no real reason, by 70% into the book, he's telling the heroine that if she marries him, he'll never take another woman to his bed. Okay... but how does he know that? Is that a good bet? There's no wrestling with this, he just decides it. Here are a couple of things I highlighted as being the type of thing I just find so twee and unenjoyable:
Until that moment Emily had not admitted how Randal and Sophie [annoying couple from previous book that show up to be overinvolved in this romance] had affected her. They so clearly adored one another and their love had set them free. Randal delighted in his wife's every action; Sophie moved through life, his care a golden shield between her and all unpleasantness.
Whaaaa. This is a vision of romance I can't handle in my romance novels, because it really reminds me that I'm reading a completely unrealistic fantasy that in no way resembles how humans actually are.
[Emily is fussing to herself about how she has gotten FOR RIDICULOUS REASONS into a situation where she "must" show up to ride at the hunt in order to prove her love to the hero.] But now she had allowed herself to be worked into this corner where the only honest way to claim him was to do something outrageous something totally against her nature and her upbringing. It was not so much that she thought it wicked to hunt, but she would have to make a spectacle of herself.
This makes literally no sense within the context of the book. There is NO REASON she "must" go to the hunt to "claim him". She could just say "Yes" the next time he asks her to marry him, for instance. I felt very strongly that the author didn't have enough plot to keep the book going after she was halfway done, and began to invent quite ridiculous elements to eke out another hundred pages.
[In another attempt to eke out more pages, the hero's estranged mother suddenly shows up out of nowhere and the annoying hero from a previous book comes to get Emily, who MUST support the hero during this trying time.] Emily got cold feet. "Lord Randal, are you sure...?"
"I'm sure."
Emily climbed down and went with him into the house. [...]
"In you go," said Randal, indicating a door.
"But what about you?" Emily asked in panic.
"I'll do vigil out here. This is, I think, family business."
"But I'm not..."
"Emily, you're the closest thing to family Ver's had since he was eight years old."
He gave her a little push and Emily went.
So here you have several of my least favorite things: the rake who isn't a rake, the cold nobleman who is cold because he has a terrible childhood that is very vague, the heroine who is the only one who can heal him, except the book doesn't know WHY she's the only one who can heal him, and everyone around the main couple being extremely interested in their special, special love.
[Emily's dad has her locked in her room as a last-ditch effort to fill up a final chapter. Emily at first doesn't care? Notice? But then decides to make a lot of noise and turn the book into a farce.] In a few moments the resonant sound of the old gong joined in. Just to add to the mayhem, Emily took to marching around her room in her boots, stamping in time with the crash of the tray. The gong stopped. After a moment her door was opened by a laughing [spoiler, but not the hero]. "You're utterly mad!" he declared. [...] I'm glad for whatever iti s has happened to you, Emily. But be gentle with Father. He's confused and afraid."
Emily's father, as a character and as a dynamic with her, bothered me. He was very mean to her - sometimes outright cruel, implying that she was old, dried up, and desperate for a man, also accusing her of being loose, and probably on the verge of getting knocked up with somebody's bastard. Also incompetent at estate management. Also he wouldn't actually let her do her estate management job. But the book doesn't seem to be clear on if her dad is just grouchy, or if he's really mean to her, and there is never a moment where their relationship is resolved. Like many of the characters here, in my opinion, there's a fundamental lack of clarity about who he is and what their dynamic is.
Anyway. I didn't like this that much. I gave it three stars for the beginning and the prose, but I wouldn't recommend it, I found it quite silly and annoying, and I wouldn't read it again.
August 2, 2016
Full review at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books
When Jo Beverley passed away last month and we were discussing recommendations, several people mentioned Emily and the Dark Angel. I realized I had a copy but had never read it. It was just the sort of charming, quietly hilarious comfort read I needed.
It has the best meet-cute I’ve read in a long time, too. Emily Grantwich is walking through her hometown, Melton Mowbray, when a man bumps into her. Another woman in an upstairs window, furious with the man who has knocked Emily over, hurls a container of violet-scented powder, aka Poudre de Violettes, at them, covering them both. This is likely one of the most extraordinary things that has ever happened to Emily, which is saying something: she’s been running her family’s estate since her older brother went missing in the war and her father suffered a paralyzing injury after trying to duel a neighbor over some disputed land. (You know what they say: good sabers make good neighbors, and if that doesn’t work, there’s always pistols at dawn.)
The heart of the romantic conflict is relatively simple: Emily doesn’t think she should have anything to do with Verderan due to his reputation and the effect of said reputation on her own standing in the (small, very attentive, and gossip-fueled) community. Verderan meets Emily and is poleaxed by the scented powder of love, and adjusts to the development of his unexpected feels with aplomb and determination. It’s not so much “will they or won’t they” as it is “will they be able to make the choices to be together in a way that preserves as much of their happiness and dignity?”
Emily and the Dark Angel is written in a historical style that’s rather sedate and quiet; fans of older style Regencies may know what I mean. If you expect bombastic characters and sweeping grandness, that isn’t in this book; the story moves at a deliberate pace with a balance of character evolution and plot development that is part of what I look for in a comfort read, along with world building that includes community, care taking, and excellent dialogue. Emily and Verderan change one another – and if there’s one complaint I have, it’s that the emotional declaration and determination came a little too quickly for me to believe in every moment of that change. But by the end of the book, the difficult impossibility of the choices facing Emily, the painful history that followed Verderan, and the circumstances surrounding them both were all resolved to such a charming and satisfying degree, I had a big, deep Good Book Sigh at the end. I can see why so many readers love this book, and count it among their favorite comfort reads.
- SB Sarah
When Jo Beverley passed away last month and we were discussing recommendations, several people mentioned Emily and the Dark Angel. I realized I had a copy but had never read it. It was just the sort of charming, quietly hilarious comfort read I needed.
It has the best meet-cute I’ve read in a long time, too. Emily Grantwich is walking through her hometown, Melton Mowbray, when a man bumps into her. Another woman in an upstairs window, furious with the man who has knocked Emily over, hurls a container of violet-scented powder, aka Poudre de Violettes, at them, covering them both. This is likely one of the most extraordinary things that has ever happened to Emily, which is saying something: she’s been running her family’s estate since her older brother went missing in the war and her father suffered a paralyzing injury after trying to duel a neighbor over some disputed land. (You know what they say: good sabers make good neighbors, and if that doesn’t work, there’s always pistols at dawn.)
The heart of the romantic conflict is relatively simple: Emily doesn’t think she should have anything to do with Verderan due to his reputation and the effect of said reputation on her own standing in the (small, very attentive, and gossip-fueled) community. Verderan meets Emily and is poleaxed by the scented powder of love, and adjusts to the development of his unexpected feels with aplomb and determination. It’s not so much “will they or won’t they” as it is “will they be able to make the choices to be together in a way that preserves as much of their happiness and dignity?”
Emily and the Dark Angel is written in a historical style that’s rather sedate and quiet; fans of older style Regencies may know what I mean. If you expect bombastic characters and sweeping grandness, that isn’t in this book; the story moves at a deliberate pace with a balance of character evolution and plot development that is part of what I look for in a comfort read, along with world building that includes community, care taking, and excellent dialogue. Emily and Verderan change one another – and if there’s one complaint I have, it’s that the emotional declaration and determination came a little too quickly for me to believe in every moment of that change. But by the end of the book, the difficult impossibility of the choices facing Emily, the painful history that followed Verderan, and the circumstances surrounding them both were all resolved to such a charming and satisfying degree, I had a big, deep Good Book Sigh at the end. I can see why so many readers love this book, and count it among their favorite comfort reads.
- SB Sarah
February 16, 2024
The darkest, coldest, and most ruthless of them all with the most scandalous reputation is about to meet his match in a quiet, practical, sensible, but no one’s idea of a beauty in the mecca of foxhunting. A chance comical mishap introduces them and off they careen in a flirty opposites attract romance.
Through the first three Lovers and Ladies books, the reader is allowed to get to know the circle of male friends and, while I enjoyed meeting the earlier heroes and seeing who their ladies would be, Ver was the one who most piqued my interest. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read them in order and encourage other readers to do the same.
So yes, our dear Verderan, has something of a shocking rep. He’s no choir boy and got into his fair share of trouble, but nothing like he’s touted to be. He had a sad and painful past wreathed in family secrets and at the heart was his truly dark villain of a grandfather who caused a great deal of pain for Ver and others. But, fortunately, Ver has good friends and they all share a loyalty. He ends up needing that help when the poor guy trips into love with the least likely female.
Emily Grantwich is a woman who is past the fresh years of youth when a girl can expect worthy offers of courtship and marriage. She’s plain and had to become practical in the absence of mother and a brother who is missing in action in the war while caring for an invalid, peevish father and taking on the responsibility of running their family estate. If she thinks about her chances of having a future home and husband, the local vicar seems the only possibility. Certainly not that gorgeous male specimen that turns the eye of most of the female population and dabbles with the light skirts. Besides, he’s just inherited the property near hers that is part of a past dispute.
The Regency era Hunting Season and traditions during the post-Napoleonic War years are on prominent display in this one and I enjoyed learning about this part of Regency life and seeing this winning pair of lovers cross the gap to find commonalities, mutual respect, and support besides love with each other. I really enjoyed their banter.
Emily and the Dark Angel was my most anticipated book of the series and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve had a soft spot for Ver all the way through the series and now knowing his background, even more so. Definitely one of Jo Beverley’s golden gems that I can recommend to old style Regency romance fans.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Feb 4th, 2024.
Through the first three Lovers and Ladies books, the reader is allowed to get to know the circle of male friends and, while I enjoyed meeting the earlier heroes and seeing who their ladies would be, Ver was the one who most piqued my interest. I’m glad I had the opportunity to read them in order and encourage other readers to do the same.
So yes, our dear Verderan, has something of a shocking rep. He’s no choir boy and got into his fair share of trouble, but nothing like he’s touted to be. He had a sad and painful past wreathed in family secrets and at the heart was his truly dark villain of a grandfather who caused a great deal of pain for Ver and others. But, fortunately, Ver has good friends and they all share a loyalty. He ends up needing that help when the poor guy trips into love with the least likely female.
Emily Grantwich is a woman who is past the fresh years of youth when a girl can expect worthy offers of courtship and marriage. She’s plain and had to become practical in the absence of mother and a brother who is missing in action in the war while caring for an invalid, peevish father and taking on the responsibility of running their family estate. If she thinks about her chances of having a future home and husband, the local vicar seems the only possibility. Certainly not that gorgeous male specimen that turns the eye of most of the female population and dabbles with the light skirts. Besides, he’s just inherited the property near hers that is part of a past dispute.
The Regency era Hunting Season and traditions during the post-Napoleonic War years are on prominent display in this one and I enjoyed learning about this part of Regency life and seeing this winning pair of lovers cross the gap to find commonalities, mutual respect, and support besides love with each other. I really enjoyed their banter.
Emily and the Dark Angel was my most anticipated book of the series and it didn’t disappoint. I’ve had a soft spot for Ver all the way through the series and now knowing his background, even more so. Definitely one of Jo Beverley’s golden gems that I can recommend to old style Regency romance fans.
My full review will post at Books of My Heart on Feb 4th, 2024.
April 4, 2017
A reread for me. This is actually the 4rth book in the series & though it has some characters from the other books, it can be read as a stand alone. Copyright 1992, but I have the reissue with the better, updated cover. I actually believe the couple on it "is" Emily & Ver.
This is a fun read. Regency romance. Ver is a wild, bad boy. Emily is a straightlaced, practical old maid of 26. They meet when Ver is leaving from a woman of loose morals. She's angry with him & throws a container of violet smelling powder on him & Emily (who's just walking by).
Sparks fly. There's also a running joke about "pudding" that's amusing.
There's a lot of history of fox hunting also.
I wanted this book for a while & it was out of print. I was glad they brought it back. I do miss Jo Beverley. She was a fabulous writer of romance & occasionally paranormal stories. RIP Jo.
This is a fun read. Regency romance. Ver is a wild, bad boy. Emily is a straightlaced, practical old maid of 26. They meet when Ver is leaving from a woman of loose morals. She's angry with him & throws a container of violet smelling powder on him & Emily (who's just walking by).
Sparks fly. There's also a running joke about "pudding" that's amusing.
There's a lot of history of fox hunting also.
I wanted this book for a while & it was out of print. I was glad they brought it back. I do miss Jo Beverley. She was a fabulous writer of romance & occasionally paranormal stories. RIP Jo.
October 6, 2018
Enjoyable if not as much of an emotional read as I'd remembered.
April 5, 2015
Emily Grantwich has grown from a quiet, dutiful daughter to a mature and competent woman of 26. With Emily's brother missing in action and her father left invalided after a duel with a neighbor, she has taken on the role of estate manager and relishes it. On one seemingly innocuous Market Day in Melton Mowbry, Emily tries to take care to stay out of the way of the dashing young bucks who come there for hunting but finds herself literally falling into a dark and handsome man and being showered with Poudre de Violettes by a woman of easy virtue! After apologizing, introducing himself and helping Emily with a broken shoe, Piers Verderan goes on his way and Emily, greatly discomposed, both hopes and fears she'll never see him again. She finds herself seeing him sooner than she thinks when she discovers he is the son of the neighbor whom her father dueld over a land dispute! Emily tries to maintain a businesslike relationship with Ver, but she needs him in more ways than she can think, for when she fell into him in the street, she fell in love. Ver needs Emily to help anchor him and conquer past demons but rumors, friends and neighbors get in the way of romance as Emily decides whether she wants to remain the dutiful daughter she once was or live her own life with this dashing, reckless rake. There are several amusing scenes and some quirky characters to make this book delightful. Emily is very likeable and a character I think many women can relate to. I really enjoyed this book!
Warning: Though it was labeled "kisses only" at All About Romance I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for a chaste romance. Much of the plot has to do Ver's past and Emily's growing feelings of sexual awakening. It isn't racy in any way though and not worse than many of Marion Chesney's novels.
Warning: Though it was labeled "kisses only" at All About Romance I wouldn't recommend it for those looking for a chaste romance. Much of the plot has to do Ver's past and Emily's growing feelings of sexual awakening. It isn't racy in any way though and not worse than many of Marion Chesney's novels.
January 25, 2025
I have always loved a redeemable rake, even if when we first meet them, we don't think they can be. Verderan was one I found interesting in The Stolen Bride. I knew for Lord Randal Ashby to be his best friend, he was redeemable. Jo Beverley's stories are always intriguing and flow very well. I am so glad that before her death, she was able to have this series republished. I loved all four, and as usual, she hits us with a twist at the end. This one isn't all that unexpected, but it ties the story up nice and tight. I suppose my dislike of haughty characters such as Hector don't get their due; however, since he is a vicar, what else could he do? But at least Miss Beverley didn't bring him into the story so much as to raise the angst level. Which I appreciate. All in all, this was a delightful story, and I hated it when I realized my beloved cast of characters was gone. But maybe, just maybe, they will show up again, if only for an instant, in some of her later books.
Read
February 19, 2024I've been working my way up to this one, which had been sitting on my TBR shelf for about twelve years, waiting for me to read the previous books in the series. I finally was able to borrow them from the virtual library, and was glad to pull this off the shelf. Sadly it was a very quick read, and I did indeed enjoy reading this.
We finally get to know and understand (better) the Dark Angel and it's lovely to see the wallflowerish Emily (well, she would be a wall flower if ever she were in society) come into her own and be acknowledged for her competence and skill. Nice too that Ver sees her and knows how to support her without getting her back up.
A satisfying read, even if it felt a bit short.
We finally get to know and understand (better) the Dark Angel and it's lovely to see the wallflowerish Emily (well, she would be a wall flower if ever she were in society) come into her own and be acknowledged for her competence and skill. Nice too that Ver sees her and knows how to support her without getting her back up.
A satisfying read, even if it felt a bit short.
August 26, 2017
Traditional regency with nothing even resembling a sex scene, but very well-researched, with a sub-plot revolving entirely around hunting. A very pleasant read - the hero falls instantly in love with the heroine for, as best I can tell, no particular reason, but that's not really what you're reading this for; you're reading it to watch him woo her.
January 13, 2019
4.5 stars
Loved the character of Emily. She had to step up to keep things going due to her fathers illness and her brother being MIA in the war. She an intelligent woman who was doing a great job but because of the time she lived in woman were not supposed to be capable (except for her forward thinking aunt. Good book.
Loved the character of Emily. She had to step up to keep things going due to her fathers illness and her brother being MIA in the war. She an intelligent woman who was doing a great job but because of the time she lived in woman were not supposed to be capable (except for her forward thinking aunt. Good book.
Read
November 2, 2022This is the first one of Jo Beverley’s books I ever read. Sometime in the early 90’s. I loved it and read all of her books as soon as they came out. Now I am considering reading them again, some for the third or fourth time. The book held up. I don’t need a lot of sex in my romance novels, I need romance,characters and plot. This book has them all.
August 24, 2020
Rating: 5 Stars ⭐️
I loved Ver - swoon. So much tension and banter - swoon. I adored it!
Heads up - this is a clean romance. Since the publisher is charging $9.99 I think readers should know what to expect.
I loved Ver - swoon. So much tension and banter - swoon. I adored it!
Heads up - this is a clean romance. Since the publisher is charging $9.99 I think readers should know what to expect.
Read
March 30, 2022I was not inspired by any of my TBR pile so I went back to an old favourite. I think I most love the poudre de violettes scene when Emily and Ver first meet. This is a sweet romance where the two protagonists bring out the best in each other.
May 26, 2025
Why do I do this to myself? It was not necessarily badly written... But it was astonishingly bad. I am somewhat tolerant towards a lot of cliches pertaining this genre, but I draw my line at utterly unrealistic dialogues and lack of any semblance of a decent plot.
Read
December 28, 2019Fluffy.
May 21, 2020
Love her writing style. Has several books in series, they each get better
January 12, 2021
Cheesy but, good
May 19, 2021
A good read
Witty and entertaining with an thoroughly charming storyline ;probably the novel I enjoyed most from the pen of this author.
Witty and entertaining with an thoroughly charming storyline ;probably the novel I enjoyed most from the pen of this author.
July 5, 2022
This was written in 1991. Very nice character development, dialogue, great opening scene!
December 26, 2022
In the style of Georgette Heyer. Interesting to learn about fox hunting. Nice main characters. Not steamy, unlike Jo Bev’s series set in the 1700’s.
October 16, 2023
Atmosphere 3 stars
Plot 2 &1/2 stars
Plot 2 &1/2 stars
September 30, 2015
I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website.
RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
Our heroine, Emily Grantwich, is a spinster of twenty-six, intelligent, nice and witty. She has run her crippled father's house and property for three years in hopes of her brother's return from the war. She's a sensible woman who strives always to do the right thing and never crosses the line of respectability. Emily's innocence was refreshing, and that innocence let the author have fun with her character. I just loved the "pudding" scenes.
Much of the book centers around Devonshire during the hunting season. Since I'm not familiar with this subject, I just loved Ms. Beverley's background history of it. From this book, I gather that most Englishman of that era had a passion for it. It was very enjoyable and enlightening to find out about.
Piers Verderan is there for two reasons: the hunting and his inheritance. He's inherited a property bordering Emily's home. With a nickname like Dark Angel, our hero is very much a rake. He's a man who is reputed to have abandoned his own mother to a life of poverty.
I loved the way these two meet for the first time. It was such a fun scene. While walking home from a business meeting, Emily gets almost run over by our hero, who's leaving his lover's house. She's caught in the crossfire of the two bickering lovers, but instead of bullets flying, only Poudre des Violettes ends up covering them head to foot. Piers feels guilty and responsible for bringing this folly on Emily, so he offers to walk her home, and against her better judgment, Emily accepts.
At first, Emily finds it hard to trust him as people around her worn her of him and his reputation. She's a bit baffled by those stories because he's been so helpful and kind to her. Piers is making her feel desirable and good about herself. Emily can't help but feel drawn to this very unique man. She struggles with her feelings for him, but eventually she realizes that her "Dark Angel" is not so dark at all. She can't help but fall in love with a man that helps her break out of the mold that the society of that time had put her in.
Both Emily and Ver are very likeable, and the events in which they find themselves in are truly fun and full of laugh-out-loud moments. We also get to catch up with Lord Randal Ashby and his wife Sophie from THE STOLEN BRIDE as they make their cameo appearance. It is one of the few books which had me laughing out loud.
EMILY AND THE DARK ANGEL is another of Ms. Beverley's well-written and well-plotted stories, with sharp dialogue and full of witty and fun characters.
I found out that this book is part of a series which began with LORD WRAYBOURNE'S BETROTHAL, continued with THE STANFORTH SECRET and THE STOLEN BRIDE. Besides EMILY AND THE DARK ANGEL, LORD WRAYBOURNE'S BETROTHAL is the only other one I've read. I'll make it a point to get the other two, as I'd like nothing better than to find out the love story of those characters as well.
Melanie
RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:
Our heroine, Emily Grantwich, is a spinster of twenty-six, intelligent, nice and witty. She has run her crippled father's house and property for three years in hopes of her brother's return from the war. She's a sensible woman who strives always to do the right thing and never crosses the line of respectability. Emily's innocence was refreshing, and that innocence let the author have fun with her character. I just loved the "pudding" scenes.
Much of the book centers around Devonshire during the hunting season. Since I'm not familiar with this subject, I just loved Ms. Beverley's background history of it. From this book, I gather that most Englishman of that era had a passion for it. It was very enjoyable and enlightening to find out about.
Piers Verderan is there for two reasons: the hunting and his inheritance. He's inherited a property bordering Emily's home. With a nickname like Dark Angel, our hero is very much a rake. He's a man who is reputed to have abandoned his own mother to a life of poverty.
I loved the way these two meet for the first time. It was such a fun scene. While walking home from a business meeting, Emily gets almost run over by our hero, who's leaving his lover's house. She's caught in the crossfire of the two bickering lovers, but instead of bullets flying, only Poudre des Violettes ends up covering them head to foot. Piers feels guilty and responsible for bringing this folly on Emily, so he offers to walk her home, and against her better judgment, Emily accepts.
At first, Emily finds it hard to trust him as people around her worn her of him and his reputation. She's a bit baffled by those stories because he's been so helpful and kind to her. Piers is making her feel desirable and good about herself. Emily can't help but feel drawn to this very unique man. She struggles with her feelings for him, but eventually she realizes that her "Dark Angel" is not so dark at all. She can't help but fall in love with a man that helps her break out of the mold that the society of that time had put her in.
Both Emily and Ver are very likeable, and the events in which they find themselves in are truly fun and full of laugh-out-loud moments. We also get to catch up with Lord Randal Ashby and his wife Sophie from THE STOLEN BRIDE as they make their cameo appearance. It is one of the few books which had me laughing out loud.
EMILY AND THE DARK ANGEL is another of Ms. Beverley's well-written and well-plotted stories, with sharp dialogue and full of witty and fun characters.
I found out that this book is part of a series which began with LORD WRAYBOURNE'S BETROTHAL, continued with THE STANFORTH SECRET and THE STOLEN BRIDE. Besides EMILY AND THE DARK ANGEL, LORD WRAYBOURNE'S BETROTHAL is the only other one I've read. I'll make it a point to get the other two, as I'd like nothing better than to find out the love story of those characters as well.
Melanie
October 6, 2010
Emily and the Dark Angel by Jo Beverly
Historical Romance- Oct 5th, 2010
4 ½ stars
This was an engaging Regency with extremely enjoyable characters. If you love sweet romances that are not steamy this book is just for you! Emily and the Dark Angel is a reprint from 1991 (so has a more reserved style than the author’s current books) and part of a series but it can be easily read by itself.
Emily is content in the country and at 26 well past the age of marrying. The quiet, plain daughter takes care of her invalid father. A father who is paralyzed, ill-tempered and has distanced himself from life. Juggling his temper and managing the estate while her brother is missing in the war have made her more independent. Emily has noticed a new restlessness in her spirit. Little does she realize that adventure and love await her when she bumps into a devastatingly handsome and irreverent rake named Piers Verderan. Since Emily has been disguised while out to the market he does not realize she is a lady when he teases and escort her home. Emily can’t help but be fascinated by Piers even though she realizes later he has a dark reputation. Soon trouble from a vicious cousin, a bet with her father, an over-bearing beau and the distracting and dashing rake have Emily re-evaluating her life.
Piers is one of the best heroes! Yes, he has a dark past but he is a decent and honorable man. And his charming attention and care for Emily made me love him, too! Emily is the heroine that we all can relate with and enjoy reading. She tries hard and you want her to find love and be appreciated because she never seems to ask for herself. Emily is a gentle and worthy heroine. She has a quiet charm that really grew on me. When the 2 were together, their heartwarming scenes were fun and charming to read. This book felt a little bit like a Cinderella story.
This is a sweet, gentle romance that readers with a romantic heart will cherish.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Historical Romance- Oct 5th, 2010
4 ½ stars
This was an engaging Regency with extremely enjoyable characters. If you love sweet romances that are not steamy this book is just for you! Emily and the Dark Angel is a reprint from 1991 (so has a more reserved style than the author’s current books) and part of a series but it can be easily read by itself.
Emily is content in the country and at 26 well past the age of marrying. The quiet, plain daughter takes care of her invalid father. A father who is paralyzed, ill-tempered and has distanced himself from life. Juggling his temper and managing the estate while her brother is missing in the war have made her more independent. Emily has noticed a new restlessness in her spirit. Little does she realize that adventure and love await her when she bumps into a devastatingly handsome and irreverent rake named Piers Verderan. Since Emily has been disguised while out to the market he does not realize she is a lady when he teases and escort her home. Emily can’t help but be fascinated by Piers even though she realizes later he has a dark reputation. Soon trouble from a vicious cousin, a bet with her father, an over-bearing beau and the distracting and dashing rake have Emily re-evaluating her life.
Piers is one of the best heroes! Yes, he has a dark past but he is a decent and honorable man. And his charming attention and care for Emily made me love him, too! Emily is the heroine that we all can relate with and enjoy reading. She tries hard and you want her to find love and be appreciated because she never seems to ask for herself. Emily is a gentle and worthy heroine. She has a quiet charm that really grew on me. When the 2 were together, their heartwarming scenes were fun and charming to read. This book felt a little bit like a Cinderella story.
This is a sweet, gentle romance that readers with a romantic heart will cherish.
Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
January 15, 2011
It had been a while since I'd read a historical romance, and this reminded me why I used to devour them.
Emily is a innocent country girl past her prime, who is struggling with the responsabilities of maintaining the family land after her father becomes disabled and her brother disappears during the war with France.
Enter Piers Verderan (Ver to his friends), the new neighbor, a notorious rake aptly called the Dark Angel. Disasters, chance encounters, small and big misunderstandings and a whole lot of not quite acceptable behaviour ensues, and I devoured it all.
Emily and Ver have a wonderful chemistry; they butt heads, disagree and roll through the mud, and it's all sparkly and lovely. Which is strange, because the circumstances wherein they meet, and particularly Emily's circumstances aren't all that nice. Her father is a serious ass, the vicar is pompous and annoying, and there's a whole lot of ill meaning men around due to the hunting setting.
But Emily and Ver are both endearing people. Emily is a competent woman, with responsabilities she's eager to take. She's out of her comfortzone with Ver, and she doesn't really know how to deal with him, but she stays true to herself and does her best to keep everything under control. She doesn't really succeed at that, but finds out that there's more in life than being proper, and more importantly, that she doesn't really care for it.
Ver is a rake with bad habits, but not a bad man. It's easy to understand why he became who he is, and I love how Emily didn't really tame him, but that he simply calmed down a bit on his own. They are both people who found they loved freedom, and through that shared interest found each other.
It's easy to see why they'd fall for each other, and while I think that the story could have had more emotional depth - I didn't really feel their love - I believe in their HEA.
It was lighthearted, funny and endearing, and made me feel all warm and fuzzy, which is exactly what a good romance novel should do.
Emily is a innocent country girl past her prime, who is struggling with the responsabilities of maintaining the family land after her father becomes disabled and her brother disappears during the war with France.
Enter Piers Verderan (Ver to his friends), the new neighbor, a notorious rake aptly called the Dark Angel. Disasters, chance encounters, small and big misunderstandings and a whole lot of not quite acceptable behaviour ensues, and I devoured it all.
Emily and Ver have a wonderful chemistry; they butt heads, disagree and roll through the mud, and it's all sparkly and lovely. Which is strange, because the circumstances wherein they meet, and particularly Emily's circumstances aren't all that nice. Her father is a serious ass, the vicar is pompous and annoying, and there's a whole lot of ill meaning men around due to the hunting setting.
But Emily and Ver are both endearing people. Emily is a competent woman, with responsabilities she's eager to take. She's out of her comfortzone with Ver, and she doesn't really know how to deal with him, but she stays true to herself and does her best to keep everything under control. She doesn't really succeed at that, but finds out that there's more in life than being proper, and more importantly, that she doesn't really care for it.
Ver is a rake with bad habits, but not a bad man. It's easy to understand why he became who he is, and I love how Emily didn't really tame him, but that he simply calmed down a bit on his own. They are both people who found they loved freedom, and through that shared interest found each other.
It's easy to see why they'd fall for each other, and while I think that the story could have had more emotional depth - I didn't really feel their love - I believe in their HEA.
It was lighthearted, funny and endearing, and made me feel all warm and fuzzy, which is exactly what a good romance novel should do.
July 17, 2016
I loved this book. Although I loved the last of Jo Beverley's 'Stolen Bride', 'Emily and the Dark Angel' was my absolute favourite of hers. This is the first time that an author putting the first chapter of her book (this one) in the last, that I have actually felt I really have to read it as I loved the character of Piers Verderan, the dark angel, in the first book. He is even more amazing in this one as he meets and courts shy country girl, Emily Grantwich and brings her out of her shell. She runs the estate of her father, Sir Henry, an invalid, and that of her brother, Marcus, away at the war. She is already an exceptional woman but in Verderan's hands she becomes much bolder and defies convention as they meet on their adjoining estates. The ultimate challenge comes as he dares her to go hunting - this is a huge hunting area - when women didn't generally venture out hunting in those times. As she is bold enough to rise to the challenge by the end of the book, he is bold enough to take her to his wife. She has finally tamed one of the most notorious rakes of the age. Enormous fun. Great regency writer.
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