Sandy Hingston - Vicki Hinze
Hingston, Sandy - LOVER'S CHARM, THE (Dell - 2/99) (3)
This Regency historical features Hingston's usual smooth storytelling, as well as memorable characters, some witty satire, and a vivid opening Caribbean setting. It also touches, albeit briefly, on the worthy subject of racial/colonial prejudice in Regency times. However, the book for me was severely marred by its elements of magic, which I found silly and jarring, and by its ridiculous villainess, especially when most of the other minor characters were so nicely drawn. Although still a cut above all but one or two other Regency-era historicals that I've read of late, I did not like THE LOVER'S CHARM nearly as much as Hingston's last Regency-era effort, A MOST RECKLESS LADY, or her fine Scottish historical romances, BELOVED LORD and BELOVED HEART (written under the pen name Mallory Burgess). But that's the problem with being one of the better romance writers—fall down a bit and readers complain! In spite of this book's shortcomings, I will definitely keep Hingston/Mallory on my short list of romance authors that I buy without checking the reviews. ~Elena P.
Hingston, Sandy - MOST RECKLESS LADY, A (Dell - 1998) (3+)
In this well-written, engrossing Regency-set historical romance, a beautiful Russian girl of mysterious origins is saved from death and brought back to England by a sometime British secret agent of the Napoleonic wars. The strong romance at the heart of this book helped smooth over some incredible plot contrivances and peculiar behavior on the part of minor characters (such as the hero's mother). ~Elena P.
Hinze, Vicki - SHADES OF GRAY (St. Martin's Press - 1998) (4+)
Jake Logan, special military forces officer, is in trouble. He is going to lose his son Timmy if he cannot prove he's able to provide a stable environment for the child. His alcoholic, neurotic wife is suing for custody, and he would do anything to stop that from happening. Laura, Jake's best friend and a veteran of Air Force Intelligence, offers to marry him so Timmy would have complete care even when Jake is constantly called for duty. They go into this marriage with their eyes wide open, not expecting to find love, deep commitment, or a life together. But there is a deadly, unknown force that puts Laura and Timmy in grave danger.
Romance has the upper hand in SHADES of GRAY, a story of loyalty, intrigue, suspense, and treason that would rival any Tom Clancy novel. ~Vicki P. (vpatt@nwrls.lib.fl.us)
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