Jo Beverley - Olga Bicos
Beverley, Jo - EMILY AND THE DARK ANGEL (1991) (5)
Along with one or two Regencies by Loretta Chase, in my opinion this slim little book comes closest to the grace and wit of the Georgette Heyers that most Regency writers try to emulate. I was charmed right from the opening scene. The hero and heroine struck me as quite delightful, and there was also a degree of sexual tension rare in Regencies—remarkably achieved with little more than a few kisses. ~Elena P.
Beverley, Jo - LORD OF MIDNIGHT (Topaz - 1998)
LORD OF MIDNIGHT is a very strong, emotional read—a relationship story, which is my favorite kind. This medieval tale is about a knight who is awarded a castle by the King after the death of the lord; as long he marries one of the maiden women living there. Old plot, but, oh, so lovingly done. The knight really doesn't care which woman he marries; he even leaves it up to them to choose. Of course, he falls in love with his new wife, but he knows that as soon as she finds out he was the one who caused the death of her father, their growing relationship will end. Another book with no patently evil characters—just people trying to live in troubled times the best way they can. I'm always able to count on Jo for a great story. ~Melissa P. (POLLARD_MELISSA_D@lilly.com)
Beverley, Jo - MY LADY NOTORIOUS (1993) (5)
Fabulous book! This is the first I have read by Jo Beverley, but wow, not the last. Wonderful characters—Cyn is a hero to die for, and Chastity is an independent, determined heroine. Dressed as a man, Chastity abducts Cyn at gunpoint. It's nonstop reading from that moment on. The hero thinks the abduction is a grand adventure, so he goes along with it...just for fun! Set in England in the late 1700s, this book is the first in the Malloren series (followed by TEMPTING FORTUNE and SOMETHING WICKED). ~Katie (katie@mail.gpbx.net)
Beverley, Jo - SECRETS OF THE NIGHT (Topaz - 7/99) (5)
Once again, as with her earlier book THE SHATTERED ROSE, Jo Beverley has written a haunting romance of extraordinary passion and perception. SECRETS OF THE NIGHT is the latest Georgian-set tale in the Malloren family saga. Lord Brand Malloren, the sensible brother, falls head-over-heels for a masked woman who rescues him from a mysterious illness and reveals her price for saving him: his services.
The woman is Lady Rosamunde, scarred in her youth, but now married to the wealthy but ill Sir Digby Overton. They are happy together, but without an heir their beloved estate will pass to Sir Digby's nephew Edmund, a religious fanatic who will turn the property into a retreat and put Rosamunde out. It's not just her security that needs protection, however. The glorious Yorkshire countryside is almost a secondary character in this story, and the connection and responsibility Rosamunde feels to the people there infuse all her subsequent actions. Only one desperate solution is open to her if she wants an heir, but even when masked at a ball she cannot bring herself to take a stranger as a lover. Then she finds Brand along the side of the road... When she disappears after a night of scorching passion, he begins to search for his masked woman with all the intensity expected of a Malloren.
What makes this novel wonderfully special is the manner in which the author deals with some very difficult subjects. Deception and adultery are not heroic or romantic deeds, but the telling of the story rises above mere facts. Rosamunde is a heroine you will not soon forget; she is brave, loyal, sensual, sometimes foolish, and sometimes wise. Brand is, quite simply, an extraordinary man who embodies the best characteristics of a true hero. To him, honor is not a word, but a promise. There are no easy answers for these two, but even so, the story Jo Beverley weaves will astonish you. You'll remember SECRETS OF THE NIGHT, with all of its power, emotion...and passion, for a very long time. ~Anne Kirby for Bookbug on the Web
Bicos, Olga - PERFECT TIMING (Zebra - 1998) (4+)
Only three people survived the plane crash involving an XC-23 prototype: Cherish Malone, project engineer; Conor Mitchell, pilot; and Alec Porter, co-pilot. "Cher" and Conor later fall in love and set a date for their wedding; however, when the crash is blamed on pilot error and Conor loses his commission in the Air Force, he jilts the prospective bride.
Eighteen months later, another XC-23 prototype crashes. Cher receives a message from Alec, who has always been in love with her. He's been on the run since the first crash and believes someone is out to kill him, so he tells her to contact Conor for help. When Cher and Conor meet again, the sparks are still there, but they both try to battle their feelings for each other. All three survivors soon become caught up in an international game of espionage, fighting for answers...and their lives.
Olga Bicos has written a riveting romantic suspense novel—a real page-turner! The characters are well-developed and the plot is innovative and thought-provoking, making PERFECT TIMING one for the keeper shelf. ~Sharon L. (TLLAIRD@aol.com)
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