The title of this book is a play on the hero's name, Gabriel. Because he cares very little for his obnoxious family or pleasing superficial people in society, he is often rude and cold. I wonder if the author deliberately named it this, because Gabriel reminded me of the Georgette Heyer's main character in Devil's Cub. Get it? Devil's Cub vs. Fallen Angel??? LOL. I am too clever by half! Fallen Angel is another one by Charlotte Louise Dolan. I read a couple of her books last year. She's like a lighter, quicker version of Georgette Heyer. Anyway, this book reminded me very much of Devil's Cub in that the hero seems so hard and selfish and the heroine is so practical and honest, though I do think I liked Gabriel in this Dolan book better than Vidal in Devil's Cub.
Anyhoo! It was a fun read. Gabriel, Lord Sherington, is our hero. He's been abused and alone all his life and now he has inherited money and title and he plans to keep tight reins on his power. He wants an heir so he can revenge his cousin, the current heir. While fleeing London to keep from having to spend Christmas with his hateful family and rebellious servants, he chances to meet the heroine, Verity, who is on her way home for Christmas. She has gotten stranded with no way to continue her journey home. He doesn't want to rescue her but he agrees to give her a ride and on the way his interest is piqued because she alone of all the women of his acquaintance seems completely without guile and coquetry. It occurs to him he's met his ideal wife, quiet, obedient, undemanding, practical. So he sets out to court her, this 'old maid' that no one pays any attention to. He has no clue, though, what he is doing. He simple can't understand her since a woman who is intelligent, makes the best of her situation with dignity and honesty, and is completely incapable of being self-serving is beyond his experience. After every meeting, the reader is privy to thoughts of both Gabriel and Verity. Even though there is an underlying instinctive understanding between them, they also humorously misread each other constantly. The two characters are at cross purposes the whole time; Gabriel trying to woo her as he would a mistress and Verity, who though immediately in love with him, knows she doesn't have a chance (being the wallflower she is, a role she has resigned herself to). She thinks he must just want to be friends.....
How these two finally get together and all the complications that happen before they do, makes for a funny, enjoyable romance. There's a mystery involved too, about Gabriel's past.
If, like me this past week, you are spending your time fending off a sore throat and caring for sick offspring and want a pleasant escape, Fallen Angel might just do the trick. It's cheap on the kindle.
For more book reviews go to Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
No comments:
Post a Comment