Since The Surrender: Pennyroyal Green Series [Mass Market Paperback]

I kept expecting this book to get better because of Long's great talent and because the suspense was full of powerful dread. Unfortunately, it doesn't deliver.

What I liked:

1. Liam, a Cockney urchin. Unfortunately, he's more charming and interesting than the hero.

2. The atmosphere of dread was terrific; unfortunately, Long did not deliver in the final resolution.

3. Scary puppets. If you have a dread/dislike/hatred of marionettes and puppets (as I do), Long is terrific in replicating that feeling. Unfortunately, it really doesn't go anywhere; it is just a quirk of Chase. The puppets are not possessed or supernatural, so all that dread and anxiety just kind of peters away in the face of Long's inability to follow through with a powerful resolution.

4. Long's unusual choice of time and off-beat portrayal of society. "Since the Surrender" is not your usual "Duke Marries Unsuitable Girl" romance. She delivers real color to the times.

What I didn't like: (INCLUDES SOME GENERAL SPOILERS)

1. The romance. Oddly enough, even though both the h&h are interesting, I just didn't know them well enough. Even when their yearning climaxes, it just seemed blah. Frankly, I skimmed most of their love scenes; I just didn't care enough. We don't really see Chase's commitment and determination to win Rosalind. I want my heroes to pull down castle walls, kidnap the heroines, kill the dragons, take on the Mafia, or do WHATEVER to get the heroines. Chase is not that kind of man.

Chase and Rosalind's choice of time and place for their coming together sexually endangers their lives and distracts from their vital exploration. I found it unbelievable and frankly, stupid.

2. Rosalind's withholding vital information (threatening letters she mysteriously received and later important clues) from Chase made no sense, except to create suspense which Long had created better in other ways. More damnably, Rosalind's withholding information that finally allows Chase to resolve his psychological burden until the VILLAIN brings it up makes their union seem lacking depth and emotional intimacy.

3. The ending, after Long has created terrific suspense and atmosphere, is a tepid let-down and really unforgivable in its change of tone. Chase weakly counters the villain's rationalization (essentially, he was bored and his crime didn't REALLY hurt anyone) with, "But it's dishonorable." He should be OUTRAGED. The villain's punishment lacks punch, horror, or dread; we don't even see his reaction because it happens off stage. Even worse, Chase allows the villain to pose as heroic to society AND, more importantly, enables future victimization. It's almost as if Long lost interest.

Just as bad is Long's portrayal of the other participants' collusion as merer acting out of funny and harmless fantasies. In fact, one senseless victim clearly thinks the horrific events that happened to her as no big deal, a choice she would have willingly made in other circumstances. In truth, these men victimized women, desolated families, and even murdered one woman, but because nothing is done to them (they just slink home), Long fails to deliver the necessary payoff of justice. "Since the Surrender" ends not with a bang, but with a whimper.

Another multi-layered, funny, sweet, sexy Regency historical from Julie Anne Long. I loved Colin Eversea in Perils of Pleasure. And Miles Redmond, of Like No Other Lover, was the sexiest scholarly hero I've read in a while. But Captain Charles Eversea? His particular brand of soldierly directness combined with unexpected humor is pretty darn potent. I loved the way Long slowly unraveled the backstory between Chase and Rosalind giving details a little at a time until the whole was revealed. Their chemistry was palpable and their genuine affection and friendship made their relationship all the more satisfying. Add a colorful cast of secondary characters (including some amusing glimpses of a happily married Colin) and you've got the recipe for a sigh-inducingly rewarding read. Loved it. The only question now is which one of Pennyroyal Green's citizens stars in the next book?

Long is one of my favorite writers, and the tension and chemistry between these characters was up to her usual high standard. However, the plotting was disappointing, and the denoument flat out lame. Maybe it was supposed to be ironic, but it just sucked out most of the momentum of their tale. Still better than many romantic novels, just disappointing from Long.

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