2.5-3 starsThis book reminded me a lot of the 2nd book, but with a different couple. While Artemas and Madeline are very different people than Edison and Emma, the banter between them, the chemistry between them, and the whole employer-employee thing was much the same.The ghost part of the story and the mystery involved was different, and that was more compelling than the relationship between Artemas and Maddie. Somehow, I didn't feel the heat between them like with Edison and Emma. Not sure why...The Vanza part of the tale was more revealed, but it still seems fantastic - probably because we still know so little about it. The author gives us dribs and drabs of the Strategies, the stealth, and the fighting techniques. I suppose she wants to keep it mysterious by not giving too much away; but it almost backfires, at least with me.However, there is a brief mention of Edison in this book. Madeline originally wanted to hire Edison, because he was supposedly the best (next possible Vanza Master); but she "settled" for Artemas, because Edison had taken his new bride (Emma) on a honeymoon tour. Later, Artemas remarks that he'll send something to the Isle of V on one of Edison's ships. So we intimate from those brief mentions that Artemas and Edison know one another through Vanza.But here's the thing: Vanza is supposed to be about suppressing strong emotion, yet Artemas is all about revenge and vengeance for a wrong done to his lover 5 years ago. Not that she didn't deserve to be avenged, it's just that Vanza supposedly helps one master that sort of thing. Artemas seems too emotional to be much good at Vanza, IMO. We never learn if he left the "circle" as Edison did or if Artemas supposedly still practiced. We never learn who Artemas' master was. I'm not sure if it matters, but it does seem as if this part of the tale is left out - and that leaves a hole... how can we really know who Artemas is if we don't know those answers?Madeline's father was Vanza, as was her grandfather. But again, I'm not sure if her father was a master or not; I *think* so, because I think that's what her husband, Deveridge, was after - the inner-circle knowledge that he thought Madeline's father had about Vanza. And her father did know a lot, but it seems what he knew was information collected about each Vanza member - their darkest secrets. It's never really clear why, except that Lorring (the previous Grandest Master of Vanza in England) appointed her father to keep the record. We know Lorring wasn't all good from the previous book, so one has to wonder about his reasons for wanting those records.Nonetheless, Madeline's father also taught her much about Vanza, even though it was supposed to be for men only. Most importantly, he taught her how to read the ancient language of Vanza; Madeline has just come into possession of a small bound book that she's deciphering from Vanza to English. But we don't learn much more about the book until the end - we only know that it must be significant somehow.The point of all of this is that Madeline wants to hire Artemas to find out if her husband is really dead or even if he's haunting her. She doesn't admit to shooting him that night, despite his questions. And no one really knows for sure. But Madeline is frightened and plagued by nightmares of that night. Other Vanza members seem to be encountering her husband's ghost, too. The description of the ghost is vague, but there's just enough detail and just enough that the ghost knows and hints about that neither Artemas nor Madeline can say it's definitely not her husband.What I do love that's different about this book is Artemas' associates - Zachary and his Eyes and Ears - a group of street urchins who are paid to see and hear what's going on and report back to Artemas through Zach. Artemas pays them enough that these street urchins don't need to pickpocket or do other things to survive and get thrown into jail for. And one of the street urchins plays an important role in the story.Overall, this book's mystery is compelling, and I enjoyed Madeline's aunt Bernice and Artemas' man Henry. I especially liked their little romance, even though we didn't witness much or even hear much about it - we just know that it was. And Artemas' revenge for Caroline does happen, just not the way that he intended. I realize that's supposed to be the key to Artemas, and I know it, I just wasn't convinced. Just as I wasn't completely convinced that he and Madeline were really that passionate about one another. Something just didn't click, but I am happy for them both. I simply wasn't as engaged in this affair as I have been in previous Amanda Quick books and stories.
Scandal has followed the heroine for some time as everyone is sure that she murdered her husband. It's not until the end of the book when she admits the truth one way or another, but what's true is the fact that her husband was not a good man. He had been obsessed with power, marrying the daughter of a Venza master and spending their marriage psychologically torturing his new bride. If she did kill him, no one could really blame her. When her maid is kidnapped, she seeks out the help of the gentleman who ones the pleasure gardens where the act occurred. In her desperation to get the young girl back, she shows her hand and confesses she knows all about his trade and the fact that he belongs to her husbands club of the Venza. Disturbed by the prim and proper widow who seems to know far too much about his secrets, the hero agrees to help her, in return he gets the diary her father kept which disclosed the secrets of the Venza elite. The girl is quickly found, but soon there comes another problem. It seems that the heroine husband has come back from the grave to haunt her. The hero, enjoying the feeling of being someone's hero again after so many years of living in a fog, agrees to hunt down this 'ghost'. I can say that to categorize this book as a paranormal romance is severely stretching the definition of the genre. It barely qualifies but there indeed some ghosts and some mystical happenings on behalf of the Venza culture. This certainly is no where near the paranormal level of the Arcane Society series but there's enough to have it squeak in. I did like this book. I feared that the way the heroine is portrayed at the beginning would mean she was a stubborn, arrogant ice maiden but I was pleased to see her character develop. She's horribly unsure of herself and therefore is ignorant of just how attracted the hero is to her. As a defence mechanism she shrugs off any significance to their affair and keeps her feels buried deep down inside. Though it's plan and day just how the hero feels about her, he too never really openly admitted his affections until the end. Sure they sleep together and have a comfortable enough bond, they still spend some scene unsure of what the other was thinking. I found it amusing. Every conversation had to be a struggle, unless they were discussing the case. My only complaint is that this is the 3rd novel I've read but Amanda Quick and I'm starting to see a patern. There are quite a few repeated things in all 3 books that I hope don't continue in the novels to come. I hate cookie cutter novelists and it would be a shame to discover she is one of them. Overall I liked this book.
Do You like book Wicked Widow (2001)?
Love Madeline and Artemas' story. It's the third book in the Vanza series and was a lot of fun to read. Madeline is cast as a woman that killed her husband and concealed the crime. She resides in the Rakehell Gaming Books as a thousand dollar wager for any man that can spend the night with her and actually wake up among the living the next morning. She has no idea of course that this wager is following her around she just assumes most men tend to see widows in a certain light and that is her attraction. When she needs help with a very serious problem, she blackmails Vanza member and arcane talented Artemas Hunt. In the bargain the two become attracted to each other and the race is on. Another renegade Vanza member is up to old tricks so there is plenty of mystery and suspense. WICKED WIDOW is a fun addition to the series.
—Livia
Madeline is a mysterious widow and many believe that she killed her handsome husband in cold blood, inheriting a hefty fortune. Artemis is sought out for his assistance by the wicked widow, and they begin seeking out answers to a strange mystery. Madeline believes that her husband's ghost is haunting her. It's a good mystery with an interesting solution. The romance between the two main characters is interesting, too. As usual, the heroine in the Amanda Quick book is strong headed and stubborn, but lovely and likeable. The hero is strong, a bit older, and slightly devilish. Fairly typical of her books, but a good read altogether. The extra characters, such as Artemis' man of affairs and Madeline's aunt are both a nice addition to the story.
—Teresa
Although I love Jayne Ann Krentz's writing, I'm not fond of the Zamar, Vanza, and extrasensory references in her historical novels (The extrasensory references in her Jayne Castle books work for me, for example), so this book, being Vanza, is less appealing than most of her other books. The main characters, Artemis Hunt and Madeline Deveridge, also lacked something, although I liked Madeline being capable of using a gun and a knife and her brains to protect herself, but I expected Madeline to hold out longer in the sex department, and the relationship just seemed to be there without much development. The rest of the plot was good, however, and the many secondary characters were wonderful.
—Maria
