In Crimson Obsession by Deana James, set in Victorian-era England, Cassandra seeks revenge against Edward Sandron for her family’s financial ruin. The story features a secondary romance and humorous elements.
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Crimson Obsession by Deana James
Rating: 
Published: 1988
Illustrator: Pino
Imprint or Line: Zebra Lovegram
Published by: Kensington
Genres: Historical Romance, Regency Era Romance
Pages: 531
Format: Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader
MILD SPOILER ALERT
The Book
I’ve read about half of the romance books Deana James (real name Mona D. Sizer) wrote. Crimson Obsession is probably my least favorite of her works.
Please note that this is not a negative review, as this book is not a terrible romance. Due to my high expectations of James’ writing, Crimson Obsession was a bit of a disappointment. However, if penned by another author, I daresay I might not have been so critical.
The Plot
A Dark Revenge Tale
It’s Victorian-era England, and Cassandra MacDaermond is on a mission of revenge. She’s a beautiful red-haired orphan left penniless. Her father died after losing the family fortune by gambling. Cassandra blames Edward Sandron, owner of a gaming hall, for this.
She’s determined to see Sandron pay for taking advantage of an elderly man. Cassandra disguises herself as an old, plump maid and gains employment in Sandron’s household.
Edward Sandron not only runs a gambling establishment, but he also is the head of a sex cult. He calls himself Baal and wears funky devil costumes. If that sounds to you like something you’d read in an Anne Stuart romance, that’s what I thought as well.
Stuart takes her work seriously, heavy on angst, and without much humor. Her heroes are akin to caped, mustachio-twirling villains. They forever tell the heroines how much they despise them and what wicked ruin they will bring upon the hapless females.
Two Multi-Faceted Love Stories
Thankfully, James doesn’t take this silliness anywhere as seriously as Stuart would. Edward Sandron runs his club with a sense of the ridiculous. He’s just running this gig as a side hustle to make money. Gambling and debauched orgies aren’t his thing.
Sandron also writes salacious pornographic works to rake in the pounds. What he wants to be is a respectable writer in the style of Charles Dickens.
Crimson Obsession shares another similarity with Anne Stuart’s books, as this contains a secondary romance, as Stuart’s works often do. A prostitute named Sally has her eyes on Sandron. However, Sandron’s editor, a porn peddler named Nash, has eyes on Sally. Their tug-and-pull love story is quite entertaining and unique.
Then there’s a hypocritical, morally priggish OTT villain who makes for more ludicrous antics.
Cassandra is a seemingly plucky heroine at first. She has a plan, but it doesn’t actually amount to much. Of course, Edward eventually discovers his housemaid is not who she appears to be. Once he discovers her true identity, Edward’s intent on proving he’s not the culprit Cassandra thinks he is.
And besides, she’s attracted to him, and he’s attracted to her. So, it all works out in the end.
Final Analysis of Crimson Obsession
Cassandra and Edward’s love story was fine, but I thought the parallel romance between Nash and Sally was hot. They were a far more exciting couple than the central pair.
I prefer Deana James’s medieval and American-set romances to her Victorian and Regencies, as they are more grand-scale and action-packed.
Overall, Crimson Obsession is a “better than the average” historical romance, but for me, it is not one of James’ best books. Still, it’s pretty damn good.
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| Overall: | 3.8 |
Synopsis
TWILIGHT FANTASY
All for vengeance, flame-haired Cassandra MacDaermond disguised herself as an older woman to hire on as a servant to pernicious Edward Sandron. The diabolically handsome man owned the gambling hall where her father had lost a fortune and Cassandra was certain the casino’s proprietor was to blame. But the hot-tempered beauty never counted on being struck speechless by her employer’s seductive gaze; she never imagined she’d yearn for his intimate caress. Unable to suppress her youthful desires another night, Cassandra she her shapeless garments and sneaked into Edward’s room… more intent on sharing his rapture than on causing his ruin!MIDNIGHT DREAM
Crimson Obsession by Deana James
When a satiny, sinuous temptress settled against him in bed, Edward was certain she was an illusion. Then his tongue tasted the honey of her lips, his hands touched the fullness of her curves — and the aroused male knew nothing could be more real. Their passion grew with each moment and she took him to ecstatic heights he’d never reached before. But when it was over and the alluring witch disappeared, Edward knew he’d never rest until he found her. Now that he’d found sensual paradise with a perfect mate, he had to sate himself with the provocative redhead and repeatedly make love to his CRIMSON OBSESSION…
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