St. Raven

January 13, 2003
Beverley returns with another Regency-era romance loosely tied to her Company of Rogues series (Hazard, etc.). Tristan, the reluctant Duke of St. Raven, is posing as a highwayman when he stumbles upon Miss Cressida Mandeville. Tristan takes it upon himself to spirit Cressida away from her odious traveling companion, the debauched Lord Crofton, but much to Tristan's confusion, Cressida doesn't seem at all grateful for her rescue. As it turns out, she's accompanying Crofton for her own reasons, and St. Raven's interference has jeopardized her plans. Despite her anger, Cressida is strongly attracted to her would-be hero, and her feelings only deepen when he agrees to help her complete her quest. Although St. Raven returns Cressida's affections, they're divided by the dictates of London society—how could a duke ever marry a plain miss from Matlock? Beverley takes her readers through unsavory house parties and London ballrooms, but the journey meanders and lacks energy. In addition, St. Raven and Cressida never really resolve the class issue that holds them apart for much of the novel. While Beverley's diehard fans may enjoy this lackluster romance, anyone not completely in love with her Rogues would be wise to give St. Raven a pass.

January 1, 2003
Cressida has embarked on a dangerous course of action to retrieve the jewels hidden at the house her father lost in a game of cards. Those jewels represent the difference for her family between the workhouse and a simple country life. While riding in a carriage with the noxious Lord Crofton to attend a scandalous party at his house, previously her house, the carriage is robbed by the notorious highwayman, Le Corbeau, who is actually Tristan, Duke of St. Raven. When Tristan sees whom Cressida is with, he kidnaps her to protect her from her escort, but Cressida is desperate to attend the party. Tristan feels obligated to help her in her mission, but they're not able to retrieve the jewels. Then Tristan comes up with yet another plan, and so the country miss and the rake continue their brief time together. Intrigue and adventure are impossible for Cressida--and Beverley's readers--to resist in this sensuous and captivating tale.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)