THE BLACK ANGEL
Barbara Samuel
Harper Collins Paperbacks
September 1999
ISBN# 0-06-101389-7
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In multi-award winning author Barbara
Samuel's "The Black Angel", Regency England
comes alive through the myriad of
interesting characters and exciting storyline.
It's 1786 and London is in its prime. But for the St Ives family
it's been five years behind closed doors as shame hangs like
a dark cloud over them. Five years earlier Lady Adriana gave
her heart, and maidenhead, to Evrett Malvern, Baron of Wye,
the King's nephew, because she believed they shared a great
love for each other. When Malvern bragged about the deed it
was Adriana's brothers who defended her honor in a duel, which
left Malvern dead. Dueling is outlawed and it forces the brothers
to flee England, as Malvern's mother, a strong force in Court,
has an arrest warrant issued.
While her brothers are in exile Adriana's
shame has her retreating from society, much to her ailing
father's consternation. In order to provide for her care,
as much as to break her out of her shell, he arranges for
a marriage with Irish lord Tynan Spenser. Unfortunately, he
doesn't live long enough to see his daughter wed, nor his
sons' return home. It's out of love and respect for her father,
and a desire to save her own reputation and her family's social
standing, that Adriana agrees to follow through with the marriage.
Adriana had sent word about her impending
marriage to her exiled brothers. When she'd agreed to her
fathers arrangement she had no idea that Tynan Spenser was
as much a rake as the late Malvern was. She hopes that her
brothers return will help her find a way out of the agreement,
but when they fail to arrive by the wedding day she has no
choice but to follow through with the wedding. When she sees
Spenser for the first time, at their wedding, she knows that
Fate and God have dealt her a cruel blow as the ma who steps
up to take her as bride is the most beautiful man she's ever
laid eyes on. When she agreed to the union all she was prepared
to give this man was the social standing he'd need to secure
a seat on the English Parliament. But with his intensely blue
eyes, silver tongue and thick dark hair every vow she made
to herself to bury her desires and live a chaste life are
compromised. Adriana's brothers finally arrive but a day late.
They vow to protect Adriana any way they can but it's a difficult
task as they grow to like and even admire this Irish lord.
Known as the "Black Angel", Irish
Earl of Glencove Tynan Spenser's agreement with Lord St Ives
was made for purely selfish reasons. As a member of the Irish
Parliament this marriage will put him in a position to but
a seat in the English House of Commons. With such power as
the position would give him he will be able to elp make the
necessary changes that will help his poverty stricken country
as the people struggle to survive after centuries of English
suppression. But when he meets his bride, Adriana St Ives,
he's taken aback by what her sisters call "Adriana's
thousand faces". Tynan becomes enraptured by his new
wife and vows to win the one face that she refuses to show
him, the face of love.
"The Black Angel" is a complex concoction
of lies and deceit, desire and lust, honor and love. Each character
is intricately developed, and the plot and sub-plot are rich
in detail, emotional and mentally visual. While I was reading
this story I could see London in 1786 through the eyes of each
character. From the duel in the misty morning in Hyde Park to
the bustling and colorful city streets, to the desolate countryside
of Ireland each image is vivid and imaginable. I could feel
Adriana's trepidation in her plight to restore her reputation
while at the same time trying to save one of her brothers from
the gallows. From beginning to end this story is a consistent
page-turner. I'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking to
be thoroughly entertained and kept on the edge of their seats.
"The Black Angel" is one devilishly good story.
