Recklessly Yours by Allison Chase (Her Majesty’s Secret Servants #3)
Historical Romance
December 6, 2011
Signet

Reviewed by May

Favorite Quote:  Her eyes widened and he stared down into them, drawn by the tiny specks of gold like a pirate to secret treasure. Oh, wouldn’t he like to plunder lovely Miss Sutherland.

Holly and her sisters may not be of the aristocracy, but they were raised as neighbors to Victoria who now reigns as queen. As children, they vowed to always support her, and always give her anything she needed. As young ladies, each has been called into service secretly to help the young queen.

Holly is called upon due to her expertise and passion for horses, and the fact that she is sure that the colt that was gifted to her by a Duke has been switched somehow by his son. This colt in her stable does not have the presence, the magic that the original did. Holly is asked to find the colt, figure out if Colin Ashworth is indeed a horse thief, and get the colt back before the queen gifts it to Prince Frederick as a gesture of goodwill.

Colin Ashworth, eldest son of the horrible Duke of Masterfield did indeed steal the colt back, as it was not his father’s to give. The colt is believed to have mystical properties that has the people of Devonshire in an uproar. Since the colt was taken the people believe a curse has been set upon them, and it’s up to Colin to return the colt home, no matter the cost.

I wanted to read this book because as a horse lover myself, and a lover of spy related novels I had high hopes that this book would combine some of my reading likes into a book made of pure awesome. Unfortunately, the story never gelled for me.

In the beginning there were so many characters running around, so many titles and names, that it gave me a headache and I nearly gave up. While I understand this is a series, the parade of characters and names involved in early chapters was both ridiculous and did not add to the story at all. Her sisters did not serve much purpose in their scenes so far as I could tell, Colin’s siblings served a bit more purpose but even then I could have done with less of them.

As the story went on I was less and less impressed with Miss Holly. She wandered around hoping to stumble across something, then hoping she didn’t as she was falling for a suspected horse thief! I will not spoil the story; rather I will just say that there are some developments and bombshells that took this book farther into a place I did not want to follow.

Indeed it was over the top, laced with “was it a curse? Is there mystical powers at work?” and a huge revelation about Holly and her sisters I could have done without entirely. Not to mention how the issue of the colt and where he belongs is resolved. I found it entirely too convenient in a way to wrap up that plot line in a few short pages.

The main characters I never could believe in as a couple. Yes they have a love of horses, but so what? They lacked tension or a sense of build-up and anticipation of any kind. Without courtship, any real affection, and love scenes that were lackluster at best I could not bring myself to care about their outcome.

Grade: C-

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