A Funny, Funny Book
This is an incredibly well-crafted book about an unusual subject for historical romance ? two con-artists who don't trust each other ? but manage to fall in love.
The book opens with our two swindlers on the same stagecoach in the 1880's. Grace Russell is dressed as a Catholic nun and Reuben Jones is the blind Spaniard sitting across from her. Reuben figures out Grace's game quickly; it takes ?Sister Augustine? longer to see Reuben's grafter-side.
When they are relieved of their ?earnings? during a stagecoach robbery, Reuben and Grace decide to escape before too many questions are asked. Sharing the horse of the one robber who was captured, they head off into the distance -- arguing.
The one thing they snag (while the robbery is taking place) is a small Chinese figurine that is part of a set of funereal art. This little sculpture is the key to the rest of the adventures in this story.
I just had to have a copy of this book; other historical romance readers mentioned it often on various sites. However this book didn't grab me. I spent time skimming to the next adventure. I didn't dislike the book ? it just seemed like a funny cartoon; great dialog and funny situations, but not very realistic. I was glad there was an epilogue; without it, I wouldn't have been convinced the couple would stay together.
I've thought about this book for some time before completing a review; CROOKED HEARTS is an excellent title for an unusual book. My problem with this novel was that I watched the action without becoming emotionally involved.
Most of the historical romance I read seems to speak to the reader's heart; this one did not. It is a highly literate, amusing tour de force by a gifted writer; it just didn't speak to my heart. That said, I still think the book deserves at least 4 stars; it is probably the best-crafted, breeziest, fun novel I've read this year.
