The Romantic Book

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I wanted to put it off, to take it up at another time when I wouldn't be as busy as I am now. To no avail. Rereading the love scenes and my favorite passages didn't help. The book basically sang to me, caught my eye even with that dull purple cover no matter where I hid it in my room, as if it was luring me to lose myself in it again. I couldn't have been more glad that I did.

Dear readers, it is my great pleasure to present you my review of my absolute favorite historical romance novel: The Romantic by Madeline Hunter.
"I never hated you. My anger was never with you, but with the little hell my heart had put me in. The anger always passed. I never regretted loving you. If I had gone to my grave never kissing you or touching you, I still would not have thought it a wasted love." So what can possibly be so great about it? Well, first of all, it has a good storyline with a strong plot. Madeline Hunter's novels are usually too plot-intensive that I forget I'm reading a romance novel. There's always a mystery to be solved or some sort of mission that the heroine sets about accomplishing. But in The Romantic, the plot didn't bother me because this time it involved the main characters. But more than that, it set the scene for a great tragedy. Penelope, Countess of Glasbury, has been separated from her husband for more than a decade. The person who negotiated the separation, and the only one who knows the reason for it, is the Laclere family solicitor, Julian Hampton. He has known Penelope and her brothers since they were teenagers and needless to say he has been in love with Penelope since forever. Now isn't that just perfect?

This already sounds like my favorite kind of tragedy. However, it's only the background story that is expertly revealed as the main storyline unfolds. That's another thing that Madeline Hunter handled excellently. Through hints, and passages of memories written in italics, she gives you a whole life story to fill the gaps with your imagination as the characters grow on you. So here, Glasbury wants Penelope back to give him an heir. And Julian, to save his 'incomparable beloved', dons his armor once again and swears to slay this sleeping dragon for once and for all. Oh, my… I must have really gotten carried away this time.
"My love is with you, even when I am not." There is nothing special about this quote you might say. Well, not if Julian Hampton is the one who spoke it. Its meaning has so many layers that I cannot begin to describe them all. This man is something else all together. An enigma even to those who know him well. His quiet reserve is often mistaken for a cold nature. The first chapter does an excellent job in introducing this very private hero. And later on you begin to view him as the embodiment of a safe harbor whose only confidant is his pen. He is a calm, taciturn man who leads a quiet, steady life giving no hint of the storm of unrequited love churning inside. I suppose it is fitting that he likes watching thunderstorms *winks*

As for Penelope, she is a lovable damsel in distress. At first I didn't like her much. Perhaps because she is obscured by Julian as he clearly owns the book. But on second read, I found her to be a flesh and bone woman. She is very real, similar to Gigi from Sherry Thomas' Private Arrangements. Maybe I got that impression because they are both mature women.
"There was no friend whom you mourned leaving?"

She tried to assume a worldly, bored expression, but could not successfully hide a deeper sadness. "I will never mourn a man again, Mr. Hampton." Penelope is a courageous, self-sacrifing woman, as Julian describes her. She feels that she must marry the earl because her family's finances have taken a wrong turn. When she discovers the monster that Glasbury is, she does not seek to divorce him because she doesn't want her family to be tainted with scandal. So besides the hell she wasted youth and innocence in, she has to carry another burden, which is keeping this awful truth a secret. She only shares it with her childhood friend and the one person who she believes will act in a sensible manner with that knowledge. So she reveals the particulars of her marriage to Julian. She asks for help from him alone. Only she has no idea how much he suffers over her revelations and how much she burdens him with them.

On the second read, the love scenes seemed kind of bland. I like detail when it's nice, and, as far as ratings go, I'm into Hot rather than Warm, as I point out often. But (of course there is a but) the beauty of the love scenes in this book is of a different kind. It's not bland, it's deep with rich and sizzling insinuations that reveal the wit of Ms. Hunter's writing.

The Romantic defies the "rules" of historical romance novels in many ways. For one thing, neither of the characters describe each other's perfection for pages at end, for which I am glad. Something I am much more glad about is that there are no ugly comparisons with past loves or whatnot. Being the most beautiful/handsome, most irresistible or the first at everything is not of significance in this book. Yet, this story is more moving than any mosts or firsts story I have read, and I believe that's the real beauty of it.

As I read on, I discovered that the book has many layers that requires the reader's attention and love of the characters to truly enjoy both. So not everything is out in the open. And I really don't like open-ended plots or untied storylines. But actually nothing is open-ended in this book. It's just implied rather than told in the most detailed manner. And I guess most people will agree with me when I say that the latter spoils the fun sometimes. In The Romantic, this implicit quality really makes the story beautiful. I don't think this story would be as good if it were written by Lisa Kleypas (no offense, she is a great historical romance author. Just on a different light). I would still love it to pieces probably, but not as much.

In short, The Romantic is more than your average historical romance novel. It has a solid, relevant plot, a down-to-earth heroine, an amazing hero and a love story so beautiful that it redefined romance in my eyes. I recommend it to romance fans who are looking for something deeper.