Reviewed by Jess
TITLE: The Captain and the Theatrical
SERIES: The Captivating Captains #3
AUTHOR: Catherine Curzon and Eleanor Harkstead
PUBLISHER: Pride Publishing
LENGTH: 267 pages
RELEASE DATE: September 3, 2019
BLURB:
When Captain Pendleton needs an emergency fiancée, who better to turn to than his male best friend? After all, for Amadeo Orsini, life’s one long, happy drag!
Captain Ambrose “Pen” Pendleton might have distinguished himself on the battlefield at Waterloo but since he’s come home to civvy street, he’s struggled to make his mark.
Pen dreams of becoming a playwright but his ambitious father has other ideas, including a trophy wife and a new job in America. If he’s to stand a hope of staying in England and pursuing his dream, Pen needs to find a fiancée fast.
Amadeo Orsini never made it as a leading man, but as a leading lady he’s the toast of the continental stage. Now Cosima is about to face her most challenging role yet, that of Captain Pendleton’s secret amour.
With the help of a talking theatrical parrot who never forgets his lines, Orsini throws on his best frock, slaps on the rouge and sets out to save Pen from the clutches of Miss Harriet Tarbottom and her scheming parents.
As friendship turns into love, will the captain be able to write a happy ending for himself and Orsini before the curtain falls?
REVIEW:
I’ve had middling success with this series so far, but this is definitely a highlight in terms of plot and story. It’s a fun historical romance with colorful characters and plenty of charm.
Ambrose “Pen” Pendleton is a veteran who feels he’s on borrowed time. He has no interest in a military career or in continuing his father’s business, so he knows it’s only a matter of time before he’s asked to marry. But before he can go home to meet his soon-to-be fiancée, he reconnects with an old friend and crush Amadeo Orsini—or, much to his shock, Orsini’s female alter ego, the talented stage actress Cosima. The two men share a night together and concoct a plan—Pen and Cosima will announce a hurried engagement to delay Pen’s upcoming nuptials until he can find his way in life again. Perfect, right? Well, there are a few obstacles, of course.
The is part comedy, which definitely works. Pen’s stuffy father and loving mother have wildly different reactions to the flamboyant and sensual Cosima, and bachelorette Harriet Tarbottom and her horrid family are the perfect background characters for the farce. We also get a mini-mystery with Harriet, who is not only a spoiled brat but is suspected of having sticky fingers. I like this series because it doesn’t sacrifice plot for romance—there’s always an urgency and a line of tension that propels the story forward, and in this case, it’s Cosima’s secret identity and what it means for the future of Pen and Amadeo’s blossoming romance.
I have to say that I think the romantic pairings in the past couple books and short stories have not matched up the first book. The romantic and sexual chemistry sizzled throughout “The Captain and the Cavalry Trooper,” but in subsequent books, there’s more of a focus on flowery declarations and hurried kisses than on actual characterization. Both Pen and Amadeo are compelling characters, but their romance is the least interesting part of the story.
Despite this, I recommend this book. It’s perfect for historical romance lovers and readers who enjoy a little comedy in their stories. I’m impressed enough to keep going with this series.
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