Shirlee Busbee first appeared on the romance scene in the late 1970s, when historical romances boasted intricately researched backgrounds, expansive plots and forceful heroes. Since modern historicals tend to focus more on the romance and offer more sensitive male leads, today's readers might hesitate to pick up a novel from one of the genre's early icons. However, in Rapture Becomes Her, Busbee proves she has moved ahead with the times while still retaining her lyrical voice.
Emily Townsend, daughter of a British squire, is in "a spot of bother," as the British say. Her father has died, leaving Emily and her stepmother, Anne, under the dubious protection of her profligate cousin Jeffery. Jeffery has mismanaged the estate to the point that Emily resorts to smuggling French goods in order to feed herself and the family's staff. Jeffery is determined to rid himself of Emily and Anne, even if it means a compromising marriage for one of them.
Into this turmoil strides a handsome American, Barnaby, who has come to England to claim the title of Viscount Joslyn under a cloud; he suspects he is marked for murder but can't pinpoint the culprit. His world is turned upside down by Emily's beauty and spirit, and together they will face mortal danger even as they find themselves overwhelmed by love.
Busbee deftly evokes both the genteel manners and the class snobbery of the English Regency era, as well as the growing horror the British felt as the French Revolution came to a head. Emily and Barnaby's larger-than-life personalities and believable chemistry make their unfolding love a delight to watch. --Jaclyn Fulwood, graduate assistant, University of Oklahoma Libraries