Helpful Score: 5
Returning from the war to find his father dead and the family estate in financial ruins, Kenneth Wilding is approached by a strange offer: uncover a murderer and save his home.
Kenneth takes a position as secretary and assistant to the artist, Sir Anthony Seaton, a man he has long admired. But it is Sir Anthony's daughter, the unconventional and brilliant Rebecca Seaton, who intrigues Kenneth.
Since she was "ruined" years before, Rebecca has devoted herself to her greatest love, painting. Yet the instant she meets Kenneth, Rebecca is captivated by what she calls his "pirate" face; so captivated that she is compelled to paint his portrait.
As Kenneth tries to uncover the truth behind Rebecca's mother's "accidental" death, he discovers that Rebecca is helping him to open a closed door in his life. She gives him the gift of her confidence in his ability to paint and heal the wounds in his soul, just as he gives her the gift of love.
By continuing with the Fallen Angels Series, Mary Jo Putney once again sweeps readers into a story that captures and holds their hearts reintroducing old friends and bringing us a new hero and heroine. She brilliantly captures the intricacies, mores, manners and wit of the era with panache and her special gift for storytelling that brings readers great joy.
Kenneth takes a position as secretary and assistant to the artist, Sir Anthony Seaton, a man he has long admired. But it is Sir Anthony's daughter, the unconventional and brilliant Rebecca Seaton, who intrigues Kenneth.
Since she was "ruined" years before, Rebecca has devoted herself to her greatest love, painting. Yet the instant she meets Kenneth, Rebecca is captivated by what she calls his "pirate" face; so captivated that she is compelled to paint his portrait.
As Kenneth tries to uncover the truth behind Rebecca's mother's "accidental" death, he discovers that Rebecca is helping him to open a closed door in his life. She gives him the gift of her confidence in his ability to paint and heal the wounds in his soul, just as he gives her the gift of love.
By continuing with the Fallen Angels Series, Mary Jo Putney once again sweeps readers into a story that captures and holds their hearts reintroducing old friends and bringing us a new hero and heroine. She brilliantly captures the intricacies, mores, manners and wit of the era with panache and her special gift for storytelling that brings readers great joy.
Helpful Score: 2
A good book with a complex plot and a happy ending.
Helpful Score: 1
Another great book in Putney's Fallen Angels series. Excellent!
Helpful Score: 1
A devil's bargain - financial salvation in return for Kenneth Wilding's special subversive skills. Good story and plot.
Loved this 6th book in the 'Fallen Angels' series!
Having read two of the 7 FALLEN ANGELS series, I decided to take a chance on this one. I absolutely loved THUNDER AND ROSES (the first book) but didn't think much of ANGEL ROGUE (book 4). If I only chose one word to describe this book, it would be "overblown." At about the 2/3 point in this novel, I'm wishing the pacing wasn't so ponderous. We still haven't gotten to the purpose of Kenneth Wilding infiltrating the home of Lord Bowden.
Kenneth is an admirable person who is trying to salvage what he can of his family's estate after the wasteful spending of his father on a very young second wife. His father is dead and the estate is mortgaged to the hilt. A stranger comes to Kenneth and offers to hand over all the due bills (for his estate) for information on the death of Lord Anthony Bowden's wife (Helen), more than 6 months before.
Kenneth becomes secretary to Anthony Bowden, one of England's foremost painters. Kenneth is ideally suited to the job because he is an artist at heart and was an excellent spy for his country. Thus, the job offer. The wrinkle is that the person who wants info on Lady Bowden's death was engaged to marry her before she and Anthony ran off and eloped 28-years ago.
The good side of this novel is that the characters are really well-drawn, with lots of character flaws and positive points. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the previous FALLEN ANGELS who appear in this story. The downside of this novel was the ponderous pacing and overblown drama.
Fallen Angels
1. Thunder and Roses (1993)
2. Petals in the Storm (1993)
3. Dancing on the Wind (1994)
4. Angel Rogue (1995)
5. Shattered Rainbows (1996)
** 6. River of Fire (1996)
7. One Perfect Rose (1997)
Kenneth is an admirable person who is trying to salvage what he can of his family's estate after the wasteful spending of his father on a very young second wife. His father is dead and the estate is mortgaged to the hilt. A stranger comes to Kenneth and offers to hand over all the due bills (for his estate) for information on the death of Lord Anthony Bowden's wife (Helen), more than 6 months before.
Kenneth becomes secretary to Anthony Bowden, one of England's foremost painters. Kenneth is ideally suited to the job because he is an artist at heart and was an excellent spy for his country. Thus, the job offer. The wrinkle is that the person who wants info on Lady Bowden's death was engaged to marry her before she and Anthony ran off and eloped 28-years ago.
The good side of this novel is that the characters are really well-drawn, with lots of character flaws and positive points. It is also an opportunity to reconnect with the previous FALLEN ANGELS who appear in this story. The downside of this novel was the ponderous pacing and overblown drama.
Fallen Angels
1. Thunder and Roses (1993)
2. Petals in the Storm (1993)
3. Dancing on the Wind (1994)
4. Angel Rogue (1995)
5. Shattered Rainbows (1996)
** 6. River of Fire (1996)
7. One Perfect Rose (1997)
Book 6 in the Fallen Angels Series. (It's kind of a stretch to include Kenneth as an angel, but it works.) After he returns home from war, Kenneth takes a job spying on a reknowned artist to discover if there is treason afoot. He has to pose as an artist and develop his artistic abilities, with the help of Rebecca, the artist's daughter.
A romanc of Napoleonic wars to a ravage estate, a man finds love.
I was ready to give this book a five star rating until I had my first lesson in painting with oils. Too much of this story was spent on teaching me how oil paint. I know the painters were an integral part of this story; however, I didn't need to know how to mix the paint and prepare the canvas. I loved the H/H and the happily every after ending. Recommend the series-Start with the first book "Thunder & Roses".
Regency romance - Rebel, hero, soldier, spy Kenneth Wilding is sent to solve a murder mystery & becomes involved in the art world and with Rebecca Seaton, an artist who has withdrawn from society. The plot thickens, a few twists, but entertaining.
Rebel, soldier, hero, and spy, Kenneth Wilding was known as the Demon Warrior for his matchless abilities. Then he returns from the Napoleonic wars to an empty title and a ravaged estate.
He was known as the Demon Warrior. As rebel, soldier, hero, and spy, Kenneth Wilding has never known defeat, until he returns from the Napoleonic wars to an empty title and a ravaged estate. Then a stranger offers a devil's bargain: financial salvation in return for Kenneth's special subversive skills. Reluctantly, Kenneth enters the household of England's greatest artist to unmask to terrible crime. But he also discovers something infinitely more dangerous: a tantalizing new way of life and an irresistable woman.
After scandal destroys her trust and her reputation, tempestuous Rebecca Seaton withdraws to her attic studio and buries herself in her work. Then Kenneth Wilding sweeps into her life, dazzling her senses with his pirate's face and poet's soul. Warily, they slide into a duel of desire that brings both searing risks and shattering fulfillment, and unleashes a danger that threatens Rebecca's life - even as passion sweeps them into a river of fire that transforms their very souls.
After scandal destroys her trust and her reputation, tempestuous Rebecca Seaton withdraws to her attic studio and buries herself in her work. Then Kenneth Wilding sweeps into her life, dazzling her senses with his pirate's face and poet's soul. Warily, they slide into a duel of desire that brings both searing risks and shattering fulfillment, and unleashes a danger that threatens Rebecca's life - even as passion sweeps them into a river of fire that transforms their very souls.
