The Truth About Leo by Katie MacCalister

				The Truth about Leo (Noble series) Price: $5.91
Ten Long Years and For What? (Some Spoilers Ahead), August 6, 2014 Book Description "Publication Date: August 5, 2014 The much-anticipated, brand-new Regency romance from New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister. Can Dagmar flee Denmark Dagmar Marie Sophie is a poverty-stricken Danish princess whose annoying royal cousin is about to have her stuffed away in a convent. When she finds a wounded man unconscious in her garden, she sees a way out of her desperate situation. By Lying to Leo? Leopold Ernst George Mortimer, seventh earl of March, and spy in the service of the king, finds himself on the wrong end of a saber and left for dead. He wakes up not remembering what happened...in the care of a beautiful woman who says she is his wife. Back in London, Leo-with the help of his old friends the eccentric Britton family-sets out to unravel what he's forgotten... Is Dagmar truly the wonderful, irrepressible woman who makes his heart sing, or is she a dangerous enigma bent on his destruction?" This review is from: The Truth about Leo (Noble series) (Kindle Edition) Most reviewers are at times, unhappy with character growth - with this new novel I am unhappy with Author growth. If you took Noble Intentions and slapped different names on the characters (especially the female ones, then gave it a slightly different plot line you could be reading the same book. At least with the first three novels, each couple was totally different. Yes, there is a difference, but just barely. With The Truth About Leo the female protagonist is an impoverished Princess who connives and manipulates a marriage to get to England.(sound a tiny bit familiar?). The couple is so hot for each other they act like idiots (familiar yet again?) With Noble Intentions the mystery aspect of the story starts right from the very first chapter and builds the excitement. Not so with this new offering. Halfway through the novel and you are left still wondering when the excitement and mystery will happen, and when will the inane sex talk will calm down. Yes, it is giggle worthy at times, but that quickly fades. I don't think that a whole novel can't be sustained on that one gimmick alone. I was also disappointed to see that the Brittons didn't play a big role in this book and unfortunately I was unhappy that this book was not about Nick --- I knew it wouldn't be just by the name, but I am still unhappy that we've passed over such good story material. I think he deserved an entire book, not just bits and pieces in this one. So at 50% I am fighting the urge to go wash my kitchen floor or scrub my toilets; something unheard of with Katie M's other 'can't put'em down' books. At about 75% we finally get a bit of action going with the Princess companion Julia being accused of murder. There had been some hinting of nefarious goings ons with her early in the book. However, since the writing style is a bit difficult to keep up with; what with no one getting to finish a complete sentence or thought, the reader is left to fend for themselves and try to fill in the blanks. The scene in the gaol drove me batty trying to figure out what conversation belonged to who! It was like that skit with Abbott and Costello "Who's on First?"! The last 20% of the book finally dealt fully with the so-called mystery and I felt it was rushed and obvious. I understand that this is a romance and should not be held to the same principles and 'rules' as a full mystery book, but if a mystery is indeed going to be included then a good job should be taken to make it believable. I guess what I am saying is that none of these books are going to hold my heart like "Noble Intentions" did. Back then this style was funny and fresh; now it just seems formulaic.