Innocence and Impropriety (Historical Romance) (Mills & Boon Historical) [Paperback]

There are romances -- the kind you read to kill time -- and then there are *romances* -- the kind you read when you want your mind and your senses fully engaged, your spirits lifted, and your heart left pounding. Diane Gaston's INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY is this latter kind of romance -- in other words, A KEEPER.

My reading time is too precious to be wasted on characters I don't immediately care for. I know, having read all of Ms. Gaston's previous romances (and also those written as Diane Perkins) that I WILL love her characters, because they are so consistently *real*, so human, and so sympathetic. Rose O'Keefe and Jameson Flynn, the lovers in "Innocence..." are clearly meant for each other, but there are so many obstacles for them to overcome that you cannot help but turn page after page (preferably without stopping) to see how in the world they are going to ever make it.

Gaston's plots are wonderfully complex, but not to the point of being boring or unbelievable. Her main characters are richly drawn, as are the supporting characters, a few of whom we've seen in previous novels (Katy, Madame Bisou, and others) , but you needn't have read her previous novels to enjoy this one thoroughly. One secondary character from a previous novel, however, becomes a central one in this novel : Greythorne, a devotee of the practices of the Marquis de Sade. Yes, Greythorne is a sadist. We have a tendency to use this term jokingly in current parlance, but that's not where this story is going. He is *truly evil* -- and Rose is in danger of being sold to him (almost literally , since she's under 21, and has zero rights). Her own father may be forced (as it were) to 'sell' her hand to the highest bidder -- will it be Tannerton (our hero's boss) , or Greythorne? Can Jameson (the one who really loves her) save her? Her father doesn't know what a monster Greythorne is, nor does Rose (at first). Her only option is to run for her life, and we all know she wouldn't get very far, in her day. The author's treatment of Greythorne's scenes is (thankfully) so artful that I was at once creeped-out and riveted, but not sickened. Talk about a balancing act. Brava!

Rose has a beautiful natural singing voice and a gift for being able to communicate with an audience through her songs. She fills the music with her own deep longing, which the listeners cannot fail to hear; they love her for it. But her dream is to sing in the grandest opera house in London -- the King's Theatre, where her mother had once performed. Her mother's career was cut short by an early death, and Rose dreams of fulfilling her mother's own aspirations.

Jamseon Flynn has very high ambitions, as well, in the political sphere. He cannot afford to be linked, in the eyes of those above him on the social ladder, with a mere 'musician' -- a low-life, a woman of "loose morals." That's what Rose is, not only in the eyes of the rich, but even in the eyes of her many admirers, of all classes and walks of life. And as far as Flynn can tell, Rose isn't an innocent, in any case...

Flynn and Rose are both from small towns in Ireland. They know that to get on with their careers and ambitions within England and beyond it, they cannot be perceived as being 'too Irish'. They'd be treated as outcasts-- human, but not much more than that. And so they have carefully hidden their accents.

Then Flynn falls hard for Rose, when he's supposed to be procuring her 'services' for his boss, the wealthy, devil-may-care Lord Tannerton (yes, I loved Tannerton, as well!). What will the couple do? Flynn cannot have Rose without ruining his employment with Tannerton and his whole future, and Rose cannot afford to fall in love with Flynn, for she knows that it would hurt his career. They are at a terrible impasse. Love must find a way. Oh, how I love a good romance!

I especially enjoy the author's beautiful prose. She includes many small historical details, which I enjoy immensely. Many fine romance writers do the same. But Ms. Gaston has a writing style which falls somewhere between that of the best romance writers of our day and the great writers of some of the first romances, such as the Bronte sisters and Jane Austen. Her writing voice is so steeped in the speech patterns of Regency England that INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY -- full of that lovely dialogue and those equally lovely interior monologues -- is a pure delight to read as literature, quite apart from her great characters and excellent plots. It's a bit like eating Godiva chocolate, as compared to the cheap stuff that passes for chocolate.

Don't let the L-word (literature!) drive you off. This book is a joy, not a chore, to read. Don't pass it by, not if you love really solid, satisfying romance!

As a die-hard Regency romance fan, I am always delighted when an author displays a feel for the manners and customs of the time. Of late, such extensive author attempts are increasingly hard to find! Therefore, with her well-researched, emotional love stories Diane Gaston has certainly won my devotion.

On a warm July evening in 1817, Vauxhall Gardens featured a concert starring Miss Rose O'Keefe. After her stunning performance, the Marquess of Tannerton immediately instructed his secretary to offer "protection" and soon, the lovely Rose O'Keefe would be in his bed! After all, Vauxhall Gardens was a delicacy of dubious delights.

The Marquess of Tannerton was a good man and a very good employer and Jameson Flynn hoped his job, as the marquess' secretary, was but a stepping-stone toward a more lofty future! Flynn had significant ambitions. He wanted better things. As a servant, Jameson Flynn hoped for the government; sometimes he even dreamed of royalty.

Yet suddenly, he found Rose O'Keefe in his most secret and bewitching dreams. When Flynn came to Vauxhall to procure her . . . for his employer, he had no illusions. He was, after all, the marquess' secretary and the Marquess of Tannerton expected Miss O'Keefe's affections to be bought and brought to his bed! And yet suddenly, Flynn found all his ambitious plans askew. Suddenly, Jameson Flynn wanted Rose O'Keefe for himself and that meant he was betraying the man who employed him. It meant he was betraying his future!

Rose O'Keefe wanted to sing in London's greatest theaters! She wanted to live the life her mother had lost; she wanted King's Theatre! Yet now, her heart betrayed those dreams. Rose's gentle heart pined for something else -- love -- and it was not a love shared with the Marquess of Tannerton! No, it was a love shared with the marquess' handsome, Irish secretary, Jameson Flynn. Through her songs Rose knew, no love could be as pure or as true as first love! And Jameson Flynn was first love!

Reviewer's Comments:

I liked several things about INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY. The first is that it felt right; the language, the setting, in fact Ms. Gaston's research, in general, all seemed appropriate for the times. Gaston's attack upon the era is very refreshing! In addition, the characters are very likable, particularly if you like restrained (rather than hoydenish) heroines and proper (rather than rakish) heroes. Unfortunately, the all-important secondary character, the Marquess of Tannerton, did suffer! His character flowed from the pages as too ill-defined. Of course, some of INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY's characters are from Gaston's previous books, so perhaps the marquess has a story of his own coming!

Still, what fun and delectable reading watching the innocent Rose and the very proper Mr. Jameson Flynn come together! Initially, poignancy ruled most of the pages, especially during the scene when Flynn arranged, for Rose, an evening at the opera. At this point, I believed! In addition, Ms. Gaston threw in a pinch of mayhem and a dollop of darkness in the form of a despicable man.

Yes, Ms. Gaston has the knack for Regency romance. So why not a higher rating? Simply put, INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY ran out of steam, and yet the final, satisfaction was present. It loomed in the ill-defined Marquess of Tannerton character! I honestly thought the cuckolded marquess knew of his secretary's quandary and was toying with the man playfully. So what started in fabulous poignancy, ended in confusing disappointment! What a pity, because overall INNOCENCE AND IMPROPRIETY is a well-researched pleasure.

Grade: B

MaryGrace Meloche.

I love how Diane takes secondary characters from her other books and gives them tales of their own. This one offered a whole different perspective as it isn't the usual upper crust romance, but a romance between members of the working class. Rose and Flynn are both such likeable characters. I couldn't help but hope for the best from the very beginning. And I even found myself falling for Tanner! Diane's characters are believable and lovable (except for the villians!).

I appreciate how Diane is not afraid to reveal how difficult and unpleasant life could be for those without money or power. Her villian is truly a nasty character, who made my skin crawl, more because people like that exist, and prey on the nameless faces of the poor. This story had me reading into the wee hours of the morning because I had to know everything turned out all right.

It's a delight to see "old friends" from previous stories. I'm so looking forward to her next book, even if it isn't coming out until 2008!