Owlers

     Finally, finally we arrive at the end of the road for the Beckets of Romney Marsh... and at long last we find out the entire backstory... the story that has, as the series progresses, become a little clearer with each book.  I've actually liked the way that Kasey Michaels did this... a little information doled out with every story.  In each book we learn just how the main character became a part of Ainsley Becket's unique and intriguing family.  And there are a few more hints about how they came to leave the island paradise so many years before ~ until TA DA! ~ we learn it all.  And, while it's kept me hooked, it's also GREAT that we finally learn it all; the good and the bad; the joyous and tragic... all of it finally revealed.  
    And I've got to say that the epilogue was great!  Understated, but wonderful for all that.  VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

   Now saying all that I do have a small complaint, which is why the story rated a 4.0 instead of 4.5 as the others did... it was just a bit towards the end of Court's and Cassandra's story that I felt there was a real fumble in the way that Ms. Michaels finished with our H and h... not entirely sure what it was, but it jarred a bit... otherwise, I did enjoy it a lot.

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.0 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     Rian and LIsette's story was very much the well, not calm before the storm, but certainly a percursor to the final battle of the Beckets versus an old enemy.  With all the danger surrounding the family, we're getting to see more of all of the members whose stories we've already read... and the continuation is really nice.  Of all the Beckets throughout the series, though, Rian, to me, was the one least known.  That changed a LOT in Fanny's story, but in his own story, Rian finally completed his journey to being real as his siblings.  Very nice!  Great tension ~ I'm tellin' you it's getting harder and harder to read as usual with the denoument of the series heading our way.  VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual

     I gobbled up the four earlier published Beckets of Romney Marsh stories; Kasey Michaels has long been a favourite (and autobuy) author.  But it took me quite awhile to get into the last three.  Partly because I knew that, as difficult as circumstances had been for this amazing family, they were definitely about to get worse.  I also wanted to wait until I had them all together ~ but that was accomplished, or at least could have been ~ in November of 2007.  But I set up a challenge for myself for the month of July to read the books that are part of series' that I've been following for some time.  I'm very glad that I did, because reading Fanny's story wasn't *quite* as hard as I thought it would be.  It was emotional enough, but Valentine Clement was the perfect hero for our reckless beauty!  VERY, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

     Harlequin July Mini Challenge:  I got the email from Lorie talking about a "Harlequin moment" while I was reading this book and the timing was Excellent!  On page 281 of Kasey Michaels' A Reckless Beauty Odette, voodoo priestess and the Becket's longtime housekeeper (and more) was saying to Fanny ~ our reckless heroine ~ words that I thought were very REAL... words that people should consider:

"Didn't I teach you better than that, child? No matter
how fast or far you run, you've still got all of yourself
stuck to you when you stand still again."

  Just something to think about.  Anyway, that was one of my moments!

RATING:
Excellence: Excellent+ ~ 4.5 stars
Steaminess: Sensual