August 04, 2004
 Widow and chaperone by day, masked theif by night, Anne Wilder is the lovely heroine in Connie Brockway's much-lauded All Through The Night. Set in a time of political upheaval, when many a man returned home from protecting the kingdom to find no jobs and no pay, Brockway tells the story of an unhappy and jaded widow who steals from the Prince Regent's friends who pledge to charity in public but never follow through on their promises. Colonel Jack Seward, the Hound of Whitehall, has pledged to catch the catch the thief at all costs, for the safety of the crown is at stake. When Jack finally catches the thief redhanded, she boldly propositions him only to trick and elude him. Jack vows to catch whom he now considers "his thief" at all costs, for her life is on the line as well. In an exciting game of cat and mouse, Jack stalks Anne along rooftops and through the glittering ballrooms of regency society in an effort to capture the beauty and keep her for his own.
This story reminded me of the plot from the movie From Hell. Again there is a secret within the royal family that threatens the entire British government if uncovered. Well researched, All Through The Night describes the uncertain political clime after the war, when the Prince had regency of England due to King George III's madness. The hero and heroine suit each other well, and the heroine's own sadness and guilt is real and believable. Intense love scenes, explosive dialogue and exciting twists and turns makes this a captivating read. The epilogue was especially well done. Great work, Connie Brockway!
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