'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick

I have not always been a fan of historical romances.  When I first started reading romance novels I started reading contemporary romance novel because I did not have to focus too much on the background information: the dress, the vocabulary, and facts of the time period.  I live those every day.  I used to struggle reading historical romance novels because I was unfamiliar with so much of the novel’s background information. 

However, now that I am a little older I find that I can appreciate these novels so much more because I am no longer looking to find myself in these novels.  When I was younger I wanted to believe that these romances could happen to me, and that was made easier by reading situations I believed I could be in.  Now, I’m looking for a way to escape my own reality, temporarily, and delve into a new time period, a new country, a new experience.

Amanda Quick, the historical penname of Jayne Ann Krentz, writes some of my favorite historical romance novels.  I am always impressed with the way historical romance authors, such as Amanda Quick, can make me feel such a part of their chosen environment, an environment I have never lived in, nor studied extensively.  ‘Til Death Do Us Part is no exception. 

Calista Langley runs an “introduction” agency in Victorian London.  Though some consider her work to be merely one step higher than a brothel, Calista runs an honest business bringing together lonely individuals at her various social hours.  Some of her introductions end in formal relationships, but other times they merely end in friendships.  Everything is going well for Calista, and her younger brother, until someone starts leaving threatening gifts that seem to imply Calista will be meeting an early grave.  Fearful, Calista turns to the brother of one of her clients, Trent Hastings, author of a popular detective series.  Together, with the help of their families, they work to uncover who is trying to harm Calista, while also trying to navigate their growing feelings for one another.

Quick writes great mysteries.  I typically pride myself on being able to guess the ending to a mystery well before it is revealed.  This probably comes from the many hours I have spent watching CSI, Bones, Law and Order: SVU and every other crime show on television.  However, I do not believe that I have ever guessed the ending to one of Quick’s book in less than 200 pages.  In ‘Til Death Do Us Part I think I managed to guess the ending around 250 pages in, which might be a new record for me.  For a little while I deluded myself into thinking I knew who it was 100 pages in, but alas, Quick twisted things so that I was left confused and bewildered once more.

Amanda Quick (i.e. Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle) creates some of the most amazing characters with the most believable, strong relationships.  ‘Til Death Do Us Part brings us yet another strong female character and a male character willing to let her be herself in a time period when women were continuously oppressed. Calista and Trent’s relationship is built on mutual respect and a budding attraction to one another and it culminates in some wild nights of passion.  I have always loved the way that Quick writes her romantic scenes, not glossing over the sexual situations like some authors tend to do. 

The one complaint that I might have regarding Quick’s main characters actually stems from this fact.  Quick’s female characters are always strong right from the beginning.  I think that I would appreciate seeing a female character develop her strength throughout the novel rather than being blessed with it from birth.  I will concede that some of Jayne Ann Krentz’s have female characters closer to what I am describing, but Quick really tends to focus on these strong women. 

All in all, I was not disappointed by ‘Til Death Do Us Part, but then again, I am never disappointed by Quick.  I think that her novels follow similar plot outlines to one another, but I’m still incredibly impressed with the creative conflicts that she creates.  If you continue to follow my blog you’ll notice that I am an insane lover of Krentz’s book, under all names, but I don’t play favorites with my reviews.

4/5 stars.

Fun fact: I own 99% of novels by Jayne Ann Krentz (contemporary romance), and her pennames (Amanda Quick: historical romance, Jayne Castle: sci-fi romance novels, and Stephanie Laurens: her name from the 1980s).