Ravished (Signet Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

This is a nice little love story, but if you are expecting the same type of hot love scenes that can be found in "The Dragon and the Jewel" or any of Henley's older works, this is not the book for you. Most of the time the two main characters are apart and when they finally do "get together" the scene is somewhat hot, but more romantic than anything. If you are looking for a nice (if a bit goofy) love story, this is the book for you. Otherwise, try out her older stuff.

Courtesy of A Romance Review

Ravished proves to be an entertaining and enjoyable read with this particular heroine, Alex Sheffield. She is a spirited beauty and breaks every rule that the society forbids at that time. Her desperation in writing and reforming the society makes her so attractive and draws the readers' attention. Readers will love the last part of the story when Alex finds herself not an heiress and goes ahead to work in a brothel as a stripper in order to take care of her family. An usual woman who is admirable or like Nick said - a hellion.

Ms. Henley always offers her readers strong almost willful heroines, and strong male leads that manage to support rather than stifle their spirit. This story is no different. What is different is the fact that hero and heroine spend a good deal of the story apart from each other. As a result this is not the normal type of read that we normally get from Ms. Henley.

Christopher (Kit) and Nicholas are twins that are as close as they can be. They often switch places and Kit being the favored older son is willful and weak. Nicholas on the other had is despised by his father and when he is accidentally killed in a hunting accident by Kit, Nicholas steps in and takes the blame. It only gets worse though. The one thing that Nicholas was counting on is the family horse farm. When the will is read, he finds out that he has been cut out totally. Nicholas has pride and will not sit back and let society mock him. He joins the army and heads to the Peninsula in order to fight Napoleon. He leaves behind the one thing that he wishes was his. Alexandra Sheffield. She is met for his brother and he wishes that she were his. But, fate has seen the end to that dream.

Alexandra has always loved Nicholas. She grew up with Kit and Nicholas and although her grandmother wants her to marry well, she wants the younger son. Problem with that...is Nicholas has honor and he won't dishonor Alexandera. She also wants to be a writer but that dream is also going to be hard to achieve in a world that is dominated by men. She is deeply hurt when Nicholas leaves without saying goodbye in order to fight a war. While he is away she leads a very dangerous, and unorthodox life. One that opens up doors to Alexandra she never knew existed. What will happen when her hero returns from the war? Will she finally find love with her Nicholas, or will she be forced to marry the other twin?

Alexandra was a very unusual heroine. Her ideas and actions are not what you normally find within the pages of Regency romances. At times her actions were a bit overbearing. Kit and Nicholas are dynamic characters but they didn't really seem to develop as Ms. Henley's other hero's. I would have liked to see Alexandra and Nicholas' relationship more fleshed out and I would have like to have seen them together more. Especially without the misconception regarding which twin was which. Call me romantic but I would think that Alexandra should have been able to the difference between the twin she loved and the twin that was a friend. Especially after having grown up with them. Still this was an entertaining read although not one of my favorites by this talented author.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs