“This book is the starting point of the author’s wonderful Georgian romance series. It takes place in France and in England during the reign of Louis XV and George II, in the 1740s. Among the court intrigue of Versailles we encounter Antonia Moran, a young, beautiful and original girl who needs help to be saved from the evil plots of the villains and the lecherous surroundings. The unlikely (and unwilling) person to help her is the Duke of Roxton, the Satyr of the title – a half-English, half-French aristocrat who is an expert at court games both political and amorous, well known for his many sophisticated lovers and his world-weary cynicism. Against all odds, they fall in love, and though they experience an idyll, they are torn apart by enemies – some known, some unexpected. All Antonia’s purity, strength, honor and intelligence, and the Duke’s cunning (he is aptly named Renard), ducal power and willingness to change for love are put to the test of fire, but they prevail and create a new and happy life together.

Besides the unique love story, the era is an equally important part of the book – the fictional characters are seamlessly woven together with historical persons, real locations. The author’s excellent and detailed research of history and culture, her love of the era shines through and allows the readers to immerse themselves in the past, to see it faithful to historical reality in many details.

Historical romance readers familiar with Georgette Heyer will notice similarities to These Old Shades, Heyer’s book set in vaguely the same time and place, and featuring somewhat similar protagonists. Both the plot and the characters are different enough, however, to give the reader a very different feel in spite of the homage paid to the renowned Heyer – I would say the good is brighter and the evil is darker and more violent in this story, the depravity in high society is openly shown, the desire and intimacy of the couple not hidden behind bedroom doors (though never crudely or explicitly detailed).

I wholeheartedly recommend this book and all its sequels to all historical romance fans – those who enjoy redeemed rake stories, strong protagonists, those who like the world of the 18th century and those who haven’t yet experienced it described by a talented hand like Lucinda Brant’s – believe me, you’ll enjoy it!”