Veronica Strake grew up in the English countryside with her beloved distant cousin, Max. Determined to believe Max a bastard child, the other members of the Strake clan brutalised him and forced him to run away. Years later, Max returns to learn that Veronica's father has died and left everything to him.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.3 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A good read
27 Jan 2000
By Harriet Klausner
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
In 1808 Byerly, England, Max Strake begins a twelve year "exile" after he is thrown out off the family estate for allegedly "raping" his cousin Mercia Comish. By 1820, he returns to Byerly after his uncle John Strake died. The will leaves almost everything to Max, who has had a successful career in international diplomacy and business.
Max's three cousins (Mercia and her two brothers, Freddy and George) resent the fact that Max inherited most of the estate. John's daughter Veronica thinks otherwise as she always cherished Max. However, questions remain about John's death that lead to the conclusion he probably was poisoned. As first cousins Max and Veronica fall in love, they must contend with more than just breaking one of society's strictest taboos. They must uncover the identity of a killer who has murdered again and must be a member of the family.
DEAREST MAX is an interesting Regency romance filled with intrigue during the period when the aristocracy is beginning to have to choose between change and foreclosure. The story line is entertaining as the era comes alive through the interrelationships between the Strakes, their extended family, and their servants. The mini who-done-it adds an intriguing subplot to the tale. The lead characters are an intriguing duo struggling with their forbidden love. Except for practical George, the Comish clan seems too extreme. Barbara Miller provides sub-genre fans with an enjoyable historical romance.
Harriet Klausner
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing book avoids cliches
19 Jun 2000
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
DEAREST MAX was a wonderfully refreshing read with a thoroughly delightful hero and heroine. Reunited after a 12 year separation, Max and Veronica were childhood friends who discover that each has become an adult the other can love. Barbara Miller successfully avoids romance novel cliches -- there are no Big Misunderstandings, Max is a loveable yet flawed hero, and Veronica is smart and gutsy. As they work together to solve some mysterious deaths and deal with a wildly dysfunctional family, Max and Vee never lose sight of their friendship even as they explore their newfound passion. Not even the pesky matter of Max's unfortunate betrothal can shake Vee's love for her "Dearest Max." The couple is well supported by an interesting cast of supporting characters. If you want to read a romance novel that is a complete surprise from beginning to end, you won't go wrong with this one.
1.0 out of 5 stars
Tedious
18 Feb 2010
By J. Weaver
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I found Miller's "The Pretender" rather engaging and enjoyed the pace of that book, so I actively sought another book from her. Unfortunately, Dearest Max was tediously dull. I found absolutely no reason for the two main characters, Max and Veronica, to have fallen in love in such a short time. The last time Max saw "Vee," she was just 12 years old, and within a couple of pages of seeing her again, he is desperately in love, as is she. I would say that if they had fallen in love and then renewed their love after years apart, the story might work, BUT she was only 12!
I can generally accept that characters in a romance novel are going to fall for each other rather quickly, without the same requisite experiences of real life, but there was nothing in this story that made me care very much about the characters much less give me reason to think they cared about each other. Add to that, there is supposed to be an aspect of mystery to the story, but the "truth" of the mystery was apparent well before the mystery itself was really revealed to the audience.
As much as I wanted the story to be good, I thought it was a rather tedious, slow read and I couldn't wait to put it down.
I can generally accept that characters in a romance novel are going to fall for each other rather quickly, without the same requisite experiences of real life, but there was nothing in this story that made me care very much about the characters much less give me reason to think they cared about each other. Add to that, there is supposed to be an aspect of mystery to the story, but the "truth" of the mystery was apparent well before the mystery itself was really revealed to the audience.
As much as I wanted the story to be good, I thought it was a rather tedious, slow read and I couldn't wait to put it down.
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3.3 out of 5 stars
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