A Tryst With Trouble - Advance Review (#2)

A Tryst with Trouble by Alyssa Everett  

Publication date: 1 April 2012 (postponed) by Dorchester Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1428516425 | 978-1428516427

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Category: Adult Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Keywords: Mystery, suspense, romance, Regency
Format: Paperback
Source:  e-ARC received from Netgalley

Jacket copy:

Dogged for years by painful gossip about his father’s homosexuality, the Marquess of Beningbrough—Ben, to his friends—has protected himself by becoming the ultimate man’s man. Passed over by suitor after suitor in favor of her pretty but vapid younger sister, clever, forthright Lady Barbara Jeffords has reached the disappointing conclusion most men are shallow, boorish clods. 

When a philandering footman turns up dead, the two square off: he’s sure she’s determined to pin the crime on his hapless young cousin, while she thinks he means to shift the blame to her sister. To find the real killer, Ben and Barbara must declare a truce that threatens to expose both their buried insecurities and their growing desire for each other.

Thuy's Review:

With two headstrong and charismatic leads, an engaging mystery and sharp dialogue, A Tryst with Trouble is must read. The book is written from the dual first person perspectives of Ben and Barbara, two characters who seem to have nothing in common. Ben, the heir to a dukedom, has lived in the shadow of scandal his entire life. Charming and conceited, Ben isn’t looking for any entanglements. Unfortunately he finds himself caught up in a murder investigation at the home of Lady Barbara Jeffords, an independent and determined young lady. They can’t stand each other which, of course, means that they are perfect for one another.

I breezed through this book in little over a day. Ben and Barbara are both extremely stubborn, each one not wanting to lose to the other. I love a good fight and this had plenty of them. The snappy dialogue between Ben and Barbara had me chuckling and Everett uses sarcasm and wit brilliantly. The physical chemistry between the two is intense, even if neither of them wants to admit it. The book is quite chaste by my standards (yes, my mind is in the gutter) with only one really major love scene. However, it’s a really good one and it’s still plenty hot so that I almost didn’t miss the love scenes. :)

It was nice to read a book that wasn’t overly dramatic and doesn’t take itself too seriously. Yes, there’s a murder plot and there were plenty of misunderstandings and even some tears, but it isn’t excessively angst-y. I had a good time watching Ben and Barbara fall in love while throwing insults at each other. The mystery was well thought out and not overly complicated. It kept me guessing until almost the very end.

I thought that the dual POVs might get annoying but it wasn’t at all. I enjoyed seeing both Ben and Barbara’s points of views. I think my only real complaint about this book is that I wanted more. More Ben, more Barbara, just more. Can I make a plea to the author for a novella or even some deleted scenes?

Alyssa Everette is a bright new talent in the romance world and I am excited to read more by her. I’ve already re-read my favorite parts of this book more than a few times. Luckily I only have to wait until May for Everett’s next book, Ruined by Rumor to come out. In the meantime, I was totally serious about more stories with Ben and Barbara. Pretty please?

You can also see Alethea's review of the book here.

*Unfortunately, Dorchester publishing is going through some financial pains right now (read more here) and the release date for A Tryst With Trouble has been postponed indefinitely. This sucks because the book is awesome sauce and I want you all to read it. Everett's next book, Ruined By Rumor, will be released by Carina Press in May.  It's available now on NetGalley for those who have an account.  Until then. learn more about Alyssa later this week when she stops by the blog for an interview.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

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Visit the author online at www.alyssaeverett.com and follow her on Twitter @Alyssa_Everett.

A Tryst with Trouble - Advance Review

A Tryst with Trouble by Alyssa Everett  

Publication date: 1 April 2012 by Dorchester Publishing

ISBN 10/13: 1428516425 | 978-1428516427

Category: Adult Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Keywords: Mystery, suspense, romance, Regency
Format: Paperback (received as an eARC from Netgalley)

Jacket copy:

Dogged for years by painful gossip about his father’s homosexuality, the Marquess of Beningbrough—Ben, to his friends—has protected himself by becoming the ultimate man’s man. Passed over by suitor after suitor in favor of her pretty but vapid younger sister, clever, forthright Lady Barbara Jeffords has reached the disappointing conclusion most men are shallow, boorish clods. 

When a philandering footman turns up dead, the two square off: he’s sure she’s determined to pin the crime on his hapless young cousin, while she thinks he means to shift the blame to her sister. To find the real killer, Ben and Barbara must declare a truce that threatens to expose both their buried insecurities and their growing desire for each other.

Alethea's review:

It's been ages since I read a really satisfying Regency romance. I read a few last year that I don't even count as having read since they were so poorly written and disengaging, I might as well have been leafing through a ten-year-old copy of Cosmo. (Wait, is Cosmo still around?)

A Tryst with Trouble, Alyssa Everett's debut novel, was just what I needed to revive my love for Regency. Ben and Barbara provided everything I look for in a good couple--likeability, chemistry, and conflict. Everett embroils them in mystery, a few improper situations, and just enough comedy to keep it from being a stuffy Historical with a capital H. At first I thought I'd be annoyed by the alternating points of view, but I ended up enjoying it. It's really the author's knack for balancing all the story elements that kept me firmly engaged in this novel.

Here's a bit from Barbara's perpective that made me laugh out loud:

"Do you think my pulse always hammers that way?"
"I don't know." I gulped, afraid to let myself believe I was the cause. "You might have a heart condition."

Everett also throws in a bit of commentary on homosexuality that strikes me as very modern, and that I found very welcome especially against the backdrop of prim and proper English society. It's done well in that not only does it seem plausible, but it also figures slightly in the plot--not enough to be a central issue but shaping and nudging the rest of the puzzle pieces into place.

Oddly enough, the last three Regencies I read were sadly lacking in the department of hot and bothered--sad wastes of a romance novel, in my book. I know they're supposed to be more on the tame side compared to Historicals, but there's a fine line between getting some and getting none at all. Again, Everett manages to balance tension with release--not too much, not too little--just right.

A too-transparent mystery would have ruined this for me, but don't be too quick to decide whodunit. Everett managed to keep me guessing almost up until the end. (It also didn't hurt that my mind cast the actors from the new BBC Sherlock in some of the leading roles--yum!) This is definitely one I will be picking up to re-read, and I'll be looking forward to more entertaining releases from this bright new author!

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Visit the author online at www.alyssaeverett.com and follow her on Twitter @Alyssa_Everett.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.