With This Ring by Amanda Quick Series: Vanza #1
Published by Bantam on first published January 1, 1998
Genres: Historical romantic suspense
Pages: 386
Format: Kindle or ebook
Source: purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Bookshop
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Also by this author: Crystal Gardens, The Mystery Woman, Otherwise Engaged, Garden of Lies, 'Til Death Do Us Part, The Girl Who Knew Too Much, Rendezvous, Affair, Tightrope, When She Dreams, Wait Until Midnight
Leo Drake, the "Mad Monk of Monkcrest," is notoriously eccentric and unquestionably reclusive. But he is also a noted antiquities expert, which is why Beatrice Poole has demanded his reluctant assistance.
The freethinking authoress of "horrid novels," Beatrice is searching for the Forbidden Rings of Aphrodite, a mythic treasure she suspects played a role in her uncle's death. Beatrice finds Leo every bit as fascinating as one of the heroes in her novels--and she's convinced he's the only one who can help her. But after only five minutes in her company, Leo is sure he's never met a woman more infuriating...and more likely to rescue him from boredom.
Yet the alliance may well prove to be the biggest mistake of their lives. For a villain lurks in London, waiting for the pair to unearth the Forbidden Rings--knowing that when they do, that day will be their last....
With This Ring is formulaic fun, in that light-gothic romantic-suspense subgenre that Amanda Quick does so well. To save her family’s finances, Beatrice needs to find the legendary relics on which her uncle spent his fortune. She consults Leo, who is known for his interest in legends and artifacts. He promptly tries to take over her investigation; determined and independent, Beatrice is in no wise prepared to let him do so. The ensuing partnership is half cooperative, half confrontational, though not in an antagonistic way, and it was amusing to watch them each try to assert control.
Both hero and heroine are mature (Leo is about 40 and and Beatrice is 30), giving them each more confidence and worldliness than a younger character might have. Both are widowed, and have vowed not to marry again; you can guess how that particular resolution will end! There are the usual physical sparks, but it’s not until there are no more secrets between them that Leo and Beatrice can admit their feelings for each other go deeper than a simple affair.
Since this is Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz), the plot is convoluted, with several twists and turns that are meant to be unexpected. I’ve read enough of her work by now that I saw a lot of them coming, which is one reason I’m giving With This Ring 3.5 stars instead of 4. Still, I enjoyed the book for what it is: light escape reading with a healthy dose of romance and a soupçon of suspense.
About Amanda Quick
AMANDA QUICK is a pen name of Jayne Ann Krentz. The author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonyms: Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, Stephanie James, Jayne Bentley, Jayne Taylor, Amanda Glass.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- The Backlist Reader Challenge 2018
RO
I remember reading this way back in the day, and loved it! Great to see that it made it’s way back so readers can see this talented author’s work! Hugs…and Happy Friday!
RO recently posted…IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOOD
Lark_Bookwyrm
I don’t know about making its way back, exactly, but a lot of older titles go on sale for Kindle. When it’s an author I like, I snap them up! 🙂
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library
I’ve only read one Amanda Quick but I really enjoyed it. I like that the characters are a bit older than the normal. I think it adds a little more confidence and a somewhat different perspective than there would be if they were early 20s. I’d really like to do a binge read of Quick/Krentz at some point. I think it’d be fun!
Katherine @ I Wish I Lived in a Library recently posted…Friday Linkups – The Hollow
Lark_Bookwyrm
If you like paranormal — as in psychic powers, not vampires and shifters — you could try the Arcane Society series, which she wrote across her three names/personas, so that some books take place in the 19th century, some in more-or-less present day, and a few on her futuristic SFF planet, Harmony. She has moved away from the psychic stuff again in her more recent Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz books, back toward more “normal” romantic suspense, but the series was a lot of fun.
Rita @ View From the Books
If the story is good it doesn’t matter if you knew a twist was coming– some authors (Jodi Picoult, I’m looking at you)do that all the time. I’m glad you’re reading an older book. I like to read those sometimes and don’t bother talking about them on my blog, but I should. No shame in not going for the shiniest title 🙂
Lark_Bookwyrm
Absolutely! I like reading older/backlist books, and I like finding out about them from other bloggers. BTW, Rita, what’s your current blog URL? For some reason the link associated with your name in the comment plugin isn’t working, and I don’t know where to come find you. 🙂