The Slightest Provocation

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The Slightest Provocation Pub. Date: 9/5/2006 Publisher: Penguin Group (USA)

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Overview

As children of feuding Derbyshire landowners, Mary Penley and Kit Stansell eloped against their families' wishes. But neither their ardor nor their marriage could survive their own restless natures.

Nine years later, Kit is a rising star in the military while Mary has made her way in a raffish, intellectual society of poets and reformers. A chance meeting re-ignites their passion, but still they have very different values. Yet when Kit uncovers a political conspiracy that threatens all of England, they agree to put their differences aside. Amid danger and disillusionment, Kit and Mary rediscover the bonds that are stronger than time, the selves who have never really parted-and the love that is their destiny.

Editorial Reviews

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The Barnes & Noble Review
The author of The Bookseller's Daughter and Almost a Gentleman returns to Regency England for another adventure in passion and history. This time it is Mary Penley and Kit Stansell, childhood friends who later became sweethearts. Married much too young, they broke each other's hearts with casual affairs. After nine years of separation, Mary is on the verge of asking for a divorce so she can remarry. On her way back from Europe, over dinner at an inn, she meets up with Kit by chance, and their passion reignites. There is sex in a cottage and sex in a coach, but having a conversation about politics is more difficult. He thinks she is full of radical claptrap; she thinks he is autocratic and inflexible. But it will take both of them to uncover a political conspiracy, which paves the way to a brighter future. Rosenthal has a flair for the sensual scenes, and her main characters are charming. Ginger Curwen

Booklist

"An irresistible erotic romance set in Regency England-from the award-winning author of The Bookseller's Daughter ..Vividly detailed, sizzlingly sensual, and captivating."

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From The Critics

"A delightful tale . . .A truly pleasant read that will leave you breathless with its romance and honesty."

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780451230652
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Publication date: 5/4/2010
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 336
Product dimensions: 4.10 (w) x 6.70 (h) x 1.10 (d)

Meet the Author

Pam Rosenthal is a native New Yorker, but currently lives in San Francisco with her husband. Visit her website at: pamrosenthal.com.

Customer Reviews

Average Rating 4

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Anonymous

Posted March 8, 2011

Too Complicated

This book would be a great read for anyone more familiar with the political intrigues of England, c. 1780 than I. That said, it was a short novel trying to cram in as many plot twists and turns as possible. The characters were well-developed and entertaining, but I found it impossible to keep track of the flashbacks and back-story. I'm not the type of reader who enjoys keeping notes simply to be able to understand a book.
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Anonymous

Posted November 1, 2006

Engaging - Provocative - Sensual

In the southeast corner of Derbyshire, Mary Penley, daughter of a wealthy brewmaster, and Christopher ¿Kit¿ Stansell, younger son of the Marquess of Rowen eloped rather than fight the animosity their feuding families held for one another. Both young and carefree, the first year of marriage was all fun but then the passion and lust dimmed as misunderstandings, affairs, quarrels and their defiant and restless natures caused them to separate. Nine years later a chance meeting (skillfully arranged by the dowager Marchioness) would see Mary and Kit rekindle the embers of their long ago passion. Older and wiser Kit had proven himself on the field of battle and now looks toward a responsible future in the home-office. Mary had surrounded herself with the intellectual and reform side of society so once again they are aligned on opposite sides. When a political plot is uncovered threatening the government and foundations of their society, they work together to put aside their differences in averting a catastrophic fallout. Quite possibly learning that compromise could be the catalyst to granting them a second chance at love. *********** *** When looking for originality and elegance of writing, look no further as Pam Rosenthal is going to deliver that in spades in her very stimulating THE SLIGHTEST PROVOCATION. Utilizing some very deep character studies, she doesn¿t sugar coat the protagonist¿s actions but displays all their human frailties including adultery, gambling, drinking, drugs, and affairs on both sides. It was emotionally sad to see the Mary¿s disillusionment as Kit bowed to peer pressure and went along to living a conventional `ton¿ marriage by gambling and running around with his cohorts. *********** Mary after putting up with the rumors and consequences of Kit¿s affairs, thought to pay him back by getting caught sleeping with his best friend. So began the separation that lasted nine years. During that time both had time to grow so that when at last they come together, they had both grown enough to recognize the substance of each other along with rediscovering the lust, and the attraction that still burned bright enough to re-ignite old flames that never died. ************* Being older and wiser, they weren¿t quite ready to surrender all at once but Rosenthal¿s brilliant pacing let them find each other in a well-crafted erotic dance that was positively stimulating in her lushly detailed politically charged historic backdrop. Additionally, Rosenthal populates the story with engaging secondary characters, uses her trademark elegant prose, and gives you a hearty helping of some beautifully raw sensuality. Definitely a keeper. ************ Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization
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harstan

Posted December 9, 2008

more from this reviewer

An exciting tale

Marquess Walter Stanstell expected his young naive wife Emilia to produce his heir and his spare. Following her doing well in 1771 providing him with ¿Wat¿, she realizes she is no different than the nearby livestock to her spouse, so she cuts a deal to give him one more purebred male and then he is to never touch her again she will turn to other men but any offspring Walter must recognize. Walter agrees and nine months later Will is born followed by Belle, Kit and Georgy.------------ Over the years Walter and his neighbor Lord Penley became embroiled in a dispute. The two patriarchs warned their respective family members to stay away from their enemy, but Mary Penley and Kit Stanstell continued secretly to see one another until they fell in love and eloped. However, both were too immature to withstand family pressure until their relationship collapsed in spite of their desire for one another. Kit escaped to the military while Mary turned to the intelligentsia.------------- Almost a decade later, the pair meets only to immediately realize they remain in love, but agree on nothing else as he believes in national security while she considers freedom for all is more important. Trouble looms and Kit needs Mary¿s help to prevent a deadly scheme that threatens both their values as England is in jeopardy.-------------- This Regency romantic suspense is an exciting tale of how Romeo and Juliet find a second chance at love while trying to save England. The story line is fast-paced from the time that Kit and Mary reunite and reignite their desire for one another and never slows down until the final post confrontation between the lead couple over the still timely security vs. freedom issue. Though the rationale seems reasonable, some will ask why Mary feels that strongly but none will question that Pam Rosenthal provides a very entertaining and enjoyable historical tale.----------------- Harriet Klausner
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Posted October 19, 2008

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