There was a time when I read one historical romance after another. In fact, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that most of my knowledge about history came from that reading. Enough history for a shy junior high schooler to get into a heated debate about the justification of the US involvement in wars of the past. What I have always loved about historicals is the way that they can make another era come alive to the reader. Another thing I learned is that authors who write historicals do a lot of research. It takes a bit of skill to write a story that is historically accurate, conveys the life and culture of the times and yet is fictional without sacrificing those aspects. The historical buff can be very unforgiving when inaccuracies are presented. I’m in awe of those that can find the balance between storytelling and accuracy. That being said, Ms. Blackthorne has a wonderful way providing just that balance in her Regency Risks Series.This bundle of stories includes three complete novels. The first two tell the story of Jon and Anne. While the second story continues where the first left off, they  stand alone with totally different elements. I would suggest that they be read in order, though. While both deal with the effects of Lady Anne’s PTSD and earlier upbringing on her ability to form a close relationship and learn trust, they are much different in their external trappings. The majority of the first takes place between Jon and Anne in seclusion. The second, however, involves dealing with the vagaries of society and family. Add in an overzealous protective relative and a vindictive ex-lover and the element of suspense adds an extra level of depth and excitement.

I really loved Anne and Jon. While Anne is definitely suffering from PTSD from her carriage accident and watching as her first husband was struck down and died in her arms, she is at the same time a strong and caring person, if socially inept. She is self-educated and lives her life influenced by the writing of dead philosophers. Having been relegated to the care of servants and isolated on a horse farm in Ireland most of her life she is really clueless on how to deal with her peers. In defense, she comes off as a haughty ice princess. Nothing could be further from the truth when she is in the company of the right man… a man like Jonathon Lloyd, Earl of Ruel.

Jon never expected to inherit his title. He was the spare… a spare his grandfather thought to shuffle off into the church, something a young Jon was determined he’d never do. Instead, he bought his commission and joined the Dragoons. While very aware of the what motivates others and reading them, Jon suffers from a bit of self-disillusionment. After all, he’s seen first hand from his parents and grandparents that marriage is a matter of business and convenience rather than love. So of course, he has every intention of marrying for convenience and keeping his mistress and other peccadillos on the side. Too bad as knowledgeable as Jon is about women, he just doesn’t get how vindictive a woman can be when thwarted. When he falls in love with Anne and decides to make her his countess, he stirs a viper.

If there is one thing Jon has experience with it’s dealing with other’s PTSD symptoms. He may not be an absolute expert, but his time on the front lines has given him plenty of experience in dealing with the issue. When Lady Anne asks him to help her deal with her very real fears he has his own demands in recompense, a month in seclusion, her absolute obedience. What starts as a conquest and his temporary indulgence in a D/s relationship, however, quickly turns to unexpected love. While definitely a BDSM romance the depth of the stories offer so much more than a bit of slap and tickle. Ms. Blackthorne expertly shows the depth of her characters and their motivations.

The third in the bundle is the story of Jon’s ex-mistress, Rebecca. Like the second story, this one is a romantic suspense with the requisite spurned lovers and evil henchmen. Revenge against Jon is still a motivating factor here and ties all three stories together. However, this one exponentially amps the level of suspense and intrigue. Steven, the hero of Perilous Risk is a spy for the Home Office. He has also been in love with Rebecca for years since his time in the dragoons.

Once again Ms. Blackthorne shows her skill at delving into what makes her characters tick. Rebecca becomes so much more than the ex-mistress of Lord Ruel. She is so much more than a mere submissive. She is a strong, independent, caring woman, a woman that has been dictated to, spurned or seemingly passed over by all of the men in her life. When her relationship with Lord Ruel ended she came to the decision that she was quite done with the wickedness of her life. She went home to assist her father in running his apothecary. Unfortunately, she becomes the means of vindictiveness on the part of Lord Ruel’s spurned ex-fiance. On the run from being framed for a murder, she finds herself in the company of Steven, the sweet boy she met in the dragoons. Except Steven is no longer a boy and he is so not sweet.

Steven has been in love with Rebecca for years. He’s come a long way since those days as a glorified secretary in the dragoons. Today he is Baron Drake. He’s come back to England and has every intention of making Rebecca his. But first he has a mission to finish. That is until Rebecca becomes entangled in the mess. Then his mission becomes all about Rebecca and saving her from those that would frame and harm her. He’s also darned certain she won’t be turning to her former protector for assistance. She’s his, and she will learn to trust him. She will admit that she loves him in return. She’ll obey him. He’ll spend the rest of his life providing for and protecting her… however short that life might be.

Ms. Blackthorne’s books put me in mind of reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Knowing how the book had been banned and burned, I, of course, had to read it in my rebellious youth. I loved it. I also learned a valuable lesson about words when I read it. Intent and perceptions color how we perceive them. Previous to reading Lady Chatterley’s Lover I had always thought the absolute worst of the C word. It was vulgar and derogatory. I learned how very wrong I was. I learned to appreciate the term and just how beautiful it could be when used with just the right intent. Ms. Blackthorne makes liberal use of the term as well as the F-bomb. I would hope this will not put you off of reading very well told series. Instead, I would challenge you to open your mind to take a lesson as I did many years ago. You won’t be disappointed. Ms. Blackthorne has penned a series of beautiful historical BDSM romances that I thoroughly enjoyed. I will definitely be looking at the rest of her works. Perhaps it’s time to reacquaint myself with the historical genre. Looks like I’ve really been missing out.