Tags
England, historical fiction, lost lords, Mary Jo Putney, Nowhere Near Respectable, putney, Regency, regency romance, romance, romance novel
In the past few years, I have become a romance novel nut. I have developed a pattern of going to the library, checking out a few romance novels, and promptly devouring each one in a matter of hours. Lucky for me, some of my favorite authors are also very prolific, which means more fun for me!
My favorite genre of romance novel is the historical, specifically Regency, romance. The social mores of the time usually lead to intricate plots and heroes and heroines who have to navigate a strict social world that usually restricts what they are and are not allowed to do. It’s breaking the rules in these situations that feels so fun. And is alarmingly fun to read. I don’t think I would have been a very good daughter of the Regency, based on my inordinate love of these rule-breaking romances.
Within the genre, there are a few authors with consistently good writing and plots. One is Mary Balogh. The other is Mary Jo Putney. I only discovered Ms. Putney’s writing earlier this year, on a recommendation from the library (yet another reason I love libraries!). She crafts interesting plots that, yes, have the standard romance elements in them, but also have something subtly different. For example, I really enjoyed her Guardian series, which is set in a familiar Regency England, but has strong elements of magic and fantasy in it.
Nowhere Near Respectable is Putney’s third and latest novel in her Lost Lords series. As with most of her books (at least the ones that I’ve read), it is not imperative that you’ve read the other books in the series. There are only a few points where she references events described in other books, but they are not essential to the plot. And any characters we’ve seen before are fully fleshed-out again here.
The Lost Lords series is based around a group of boys — now men — who have been sent to a school run by Lady Agnes. Hers is a school for boys with “good birth and bad behavior.” Most of the boys just need a little extra TLC, which the caring and generous Lady Agnes is willing to give them. Attending the school cements the bonds between the boys, allowing them to call on each other whenever needed. And in these books, it’s usually needed.
I really liked Nowhere Near Respectable, as it had some unexpected elements in it. The protagonists are both somewhat outcast by upper-class society. Damian Mackenzie — one of the Lost Lords — is a smuggler and owner of a semi-respectable nightclub for the demi-monde. He is constantly trying to escape the circumstances of his bastard birth and the fact that his mother didn’t want him. He believes he is unworthy of any female attention, much less the attention of a high-born lady of the world.
The woman who pays him attention is Lady Kiri Lawford, who is half English, half Hindu. And while her dowry is large enough to make her acceptable in high society, she is still subject to the prejudices its members hold for “half-caste” brats. But it’s okay, because she could kick their asses with her Hindu martial arts (which she uses to great effect in her wooing of Damian).
They are both apprehensive about their growing attraction for one another, but when circumstances bring them under the same roof for the same cause, they can’t deny it any longer.
I think I devoured this 400-page story in about four hours. Putney’s writing is fast-paced. She is the master of the cliff-hanger chapter ending that makes you want to turn the page immediately. She writes characters that — even though they are from that far-off world of the English Regency period – seem like people you might know. Damian and Kiri both had real strengths and devastating vulnerabilities that made me root for them the entire time. And, like any good romance, Putney keeps us guessing as to whether they will ultimately end up together. I would highly recommend this novel to lovers of historical romance. (Though I would more highly recommend reading the whole series!)
