Bantam, $8.99, ISBN 978-0553-29315-9
Historical Romance, 1992
Amanda Quick, that purveyor of witty historical romances. I’ve come to appreciate her sharp dialogue and sassy heroines, even if I have to squint past the historical inaccuracies that would make any self-respecting historian reach for the smelling salts. But alas, one must soldier on in the name of escapism and bodice-ripping entertainment.
In Reckless, we’re treated to the tale of Phoebe Layton, a young woman whose middle name might as well be “Hold my tea and watch this.” Our intrepid heroine, who has been secretly corresponding with Gabriel Banner, the Earl of Wylde, under the pseudonym of “The Veiled Lady”, decides to enlist his help in a quest for justice.
The plot thickens with a dash of shared bibliophilia and a hefty serving of past misunderstandings.
Eight years ago, Gabriel courted Phoebe’s sister Meredith, showering her with romantic tomes that actually kindled Phoebe’s passion for literature and a bit of a crush on Gabriel. When Phoebe’s well-intentioned matchmaking went awry, Gabriel found himself ruined by her father and sailed off to make his fortune.
Fast forward to the present. We have a newly wealthy Gabriel, proud owner of a crumbling castle and a bitter grudge.
Enter Phoebe, still seeing Gabriel as her knight in slightly tarnished armor, hoping he’ll help her track down a rare book connected to her dear friend Neil’s murder. Little does she know, Gabriel has recognized his “Veiled Lady” and sees an opportunity for revenge.
So, we have Phoebe, driven by misplaced guilt and a thirst for justice. Then we have Gabriel, a self-proclaimed bitter petty douche aiming to ruin the daughter of the man who ruined him. Nothing says “romance” quite like a hero plotting to seduce and destroy the reputation of our heroine, right?
To add to this delightful mix, Gabriel proves to be domineering and selfish, often giving off a “Man knows best, woman must obey!” air. The cherry on top? Phoebe’s reckless antics repeatedly prove him right, reinforcing his patronizing attitude. It’s a match made in… well, somewhere.
This convoluted setup leads to a series of reckless adventures, with Phoebe charging headlong into danger and Gabriel reluctantly playing the role of rescuer, all while wrestling with his plans for vengeance, his inconvenient attraction to the woman he’s supposed to be ruining, and his overbearing need to control the situation.
Now, I see what the author is going for here. It’s the classic “knight in tarnished armor finds redemption” trope, with Gabriel reluctantly playing the part of the rescuer. Ms Quick isn’t exactly subtle with this parallel—she practically beats us over the head with it like a knight’s mace at a medieval joust.
But oh, Phoebe. Sweet, foolish Phoebe. Her reckless antics make me want to reach into the pages and give her a good shake. She traipses into dangerous situations with all the self-preservation instincts of a lemming on a cliff edge. At one point, she actually disguises herself as a courtesan to infiltrate a gentleman’s club. Because surely, that’s a foolproof plan with absolutely no potential for disaster, right? And let’s not forget her brilliant idea to confront a dangerous criminal alone. Truly, the pinnacle of rational thinking.
While the author’s trademark wit is still present, providing some much-needed levity, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d read this story before. The romance follows a predictable pattern, and certain phrases are repeated so often I considered turning them into a drinking game. Take a shot every time someone mentions “violet eyes” or “sardonic smile,” and you’ll be sloshed before the halfway mark.
In conclusion, this novel is an okay read if you can overlook the fact that our heroine seems determined to win a Darwin Award. The title serves as both a description and a warning—approach with caution, and perhaps a stiff drink. After all, it’s called Reckless for a reason!
