Review: Chameleon

BLURB:

Lady Victoria Grayson has always considered herself a keen observer of human behavior. After battling a chronic childhood illness that kept her homebound for years, she journeys to London determined to have the adventure of a lifetime.

Jaded by his wartime profession as a spy, Lord Witt understands, more than most, that everyone is not always who they pretend to be. He meets Victoria after the regent requests an investigation into the activities of her physician brother, Lord Ravensmoore.

Witt and Victoria become increasingly entangled in a plot targeting the lords of Parliament. Victoria is forced to question how well she knows those close to her while challenging Witt’s cynical nature and doubts about God. Together they must confront their pasts in order to solve a mystery that could devastate their future.

The mystery takes center stage in this romantic suspense. Danger brings together a somewhat cynical hero, who would rather be raising his horses than spying on a fellow gentleman, and an adventure-seeking heroine, the sister of that gentleman. Together they seek to discover the person responsible for horrific attacks on the lords of Parliament—attacks instigated by a human, but not carried out by one.

Victoria is a fresh face. She’s spunky. Naive. A little spoiled. And irresistable to Lord Witt. Jonathon Denning, aka Lord Witt, finds himself in the prickly position of being smitten with Victoria while risking the ire of the Prince Regent if his infatuation interferes with his duty.

Jillian Kent’s Chameleon, the second book in The Ravensmoore Chronicles is not your run-of-the-mill Regency novel. Yes, it ‘s filled with lords and ladies. Yes, they attend a ball with other members of the ton. Yes, there’s a romance. There are even scenes with “Prinny.” But this book delves deeper into the less romantic side of early nineteenth-century London.

The reader is immediately drawn into the setting of a mist-shrouded London park and what is discovered there. From then on, the story rolls like the wheels of a speeding coach and four through the townhomes of the ton and behind the walls of Bedlam.

Though it’s not a heavy tale, Ms. Kent takes us into the world of the mentally ill, someplace we don’t usually go in a novel about Regency England. While the culprit was not a total surprise, she did get me with the twist. Good job!

Bottom line: If you enjoy regency romances or if your favorite genre is mystery/suspense, Chameleon is well worth the read.

What book has held the boldest “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that!” ending for you?     

Disclosure of Material Connection: This book came to me free from Realms with the hope that I would mention it on this blog. There was no requirement for me to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.