Kensington, Sep 2002, 5.99, 352 pp.
ISBN: 0821774492
In 1808 in the Grand Duchy of Austenberg, Christina reluctantly tells her husband Varek that she is pregnant. He fears the news as he loves his wife, but she has suffered several miscarriages before. He knows if it happens again, he will have to adhere to the responsibility as the Duchy's ruler that requires he divorce her, remarry, and get the heir from his second wife. Tragedy strikes as Christina suffers another miscarriage.
Click here to see the rest of this review...
Six years later in England, Christina is married to Lord Robert St. Pole. They have a child Eddie. When Robert is assigned to go to Vienna for the Congress, his wife is required to accompany him.
In Vienna, Varek sees Christina for the first time since she fled their home following the divorce six years ago. He has looked for her since without any hint of where she went. Christina informs him that she could not remain in Austenberg as his mistress. Varek insists he and Christina are soul mates, even as Robert jealously objects that she is his wife, but mostly she has Eddie to consider.
The first half of LOVE ME AGAIN is a great historical romance due to a cleverly designed triangle highlighted by a powerful dilemma and great insight into 1815 Vienna. However, the tale chooses an easy solution by changing Robert's behavior from a loving father and husband to a jealous half-crazed lunatic. Though entertaining, Wendy Burge's climax turns too simplistic leading to a tale that falls short of what had the makings of one of the Regency's top novel of the year.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner