Wicked Angel [Mass Market Paperback]

During a brawl on the London docks, started by one of Rev. Woodbridge's sermons, Joss is saved from being trampled by Alexander Blackthorne, a newcomer to England. Alex, the American son of an English noblewoman and her Muskogee Indian husband, has been sent to live with his mother's people to reform his rowdy ways and become a gentleman. Alex is immediately drawn to Joss' intelligence, wit and unconventionality. She is smitten at first glance by his tall good looks and kindness. A fast friendship forms between the two. However, Joss accepts her plain, gawky appearance and understands that Alex can never love her as a woman - especially as he has most of London's females, society ladies and Cyprians, at his feet. The two seem to continuously get into humorous and dangerous scrapes from which they rescue each other, until Joss finds herself in a terrible predicament that may be impossible to escape. True to form, Alex comes to the rescue with a most unusual proposal. And the excitement, steamy and otherwise, really begins.

Shirl Henke has written a delightful romance, one of her best. The novel clips along at a nice pace. Her characters, from the hero and heroine to their friends, family and enemies, are wonderful and very original. The subplot, the War of 1812 and the British plans to woo the American Creek and Seminole Indians to their side is fascinating. Ms. Henke's research is impeccable. "Wicked Angel" is light entertainment at its best.
JANA

Joss is so different than the ladies he has met, as she is intelligent, braver, and taller than those that have turned Joss off from his English heritage. Soon Alex and Joss begin to become better acquainted and they begin to fall in love. However, before their love can firmly cement, they are forced to marry even as a second war of independence between the two Anglo nations separated by the ocean is imminent and threatening to destroy their relationship.

WICKED ANGEL is clever blending of humor, romance, and history into a powerful Regency tale. The story line is fast-paced, filled with amusing moments, and loaded with tidbits that anchors the time and place without slowing the plot one iota. The two delightful lead characters and a strong secondary mix leaves the audience with another powerfully entertaining Shirl Henke novel to savor.

Harriet Klausner

Circumstances lead Alex to marry Joss to form a union in name only. Alex finds difficulty in keeping to the original terms of the bargain when he uncovers the beautiful woman that he has married. Their marriage must endure further tests as they return to America, and Joss meets some of Alex's Indian relatives.

The depth of these two main characters makes this a very enjoyable read. Neither hero or heroine are perfect-both are very likeable, human characters with believable flaws. Though Joss' initial appearance is rather dowdy, Alex finds that he is attracted to her anyway and later discovers that it wasn't her beauty initially that drew him to her, but her compassionte character, a rare find in a genre where beauty is almost everything. Readers will definitely want to explore LOVE A REBEL...LOVE A ROGUE, the story of Alex's parents.