I just re-read this book for the gazillionth time and decided that I need to write a review! Faithful readers of Amanda Quick know that she has her own certain style and some find her newer books a bit of a bore. I, myself never thought that. But this book is a classic! It never gets old. I love the transformation of the "Beast" and all thanks to his not-so-typical "Beauty".

This is one of my favorites by Amanda Quick. Though this is my third time reading Ravished, I enjoyed it as much if not more than the first time. The hero and heroine are lovable, well-rounded and memorable. The supporting characters are also full of life and believable. There's lots of action. Oh, and I can't forget to add that I found it hilarious.

The Plot
Harriet summons Gideon Westbrook, the Viscount St. Justin to Upper Biddleton to catch a ring of thieves using his caves to hide their stolen goods. After Harriet and Gideon are forced to spend a night together in the caves, her honor is hopelessly compromised. Gideon offers to marry Harriet, but gossip has it that he has compromised a woman before and then cast her aside.

Harriet, vicar's daughter and fossil enthusiast discovers that thieves have been using 'her' caves for stashing stolen goods. Summoning the notorious Beast of Blackthorne Hall, Gideon, was the only logical thing to do. They're his lands of course. Harriet encounters the surley and battered Gideon and hatches a plan to get rid of the theives from her prescious fossil caves asap. Gideon is stunned to find a woman, who by all accounts is not intimidated by him nor disgusted by his appearance. After hearing all the rumors about Gideon and his reputation of ravaging females, getting them pregnant and abandoning them, Harriet is relieved to find not a beast, but a gentleman. She decides to make her own opinions of him and she is the first to have faith in him. A beautiful love story insues.

I really loved this book, a keeper for me. The way that Harriet stands by Gideon, even when she should be running for the hills, is very heart warming. She doesn't back down once and defends him to everyone -a real champion (a first for him). Harriet shows that Gideon is a true man of honor. Yeah, the fossil stuff is a bit toooo much, but that's just her quirky personality.

A really good regency. I also recommend, Mystique by Quick and authors Quinn, Kleypas, D'Alessandro, Maxwell (early works) and Garwood.

This story is about a woman (Harriet) who works with fossils and learns thieves have been hiding out in the caves she frequents. She summons Viscount St. Justin (Gideon) to chase them away. Gideon's scarred face, brawny build and reputation as a murderer create a monstrous character. Like Harriet, the reader quickly learns that Gideon is every inch a gentleman. He may not be handsome, but he has every other grand attribute in three-fold. You will truly fall in love with his character.

Although predictable at times, this was a sweet romance about two ordinary but peculiar looking people. This was my first Amanda Quick novel and I would not hesitate to buy another one.

This is the 3rd book I've read by Amanda Quick and the best so far. The characters were great and funny. It is always nice to read a book about a heroine who is not an ethereal beauty and a rake who is not as handsome, arogant or a rake, you just get sick and tired reading the typical heroes and heroines from other romance novel that it makes you say...."okay, so if i'm not a great beauty, its most likely I won't find my true love", anyway, I'm babbling. I just thought that this book is one of the best i've read. I've always liked reading novels about a hero with scars on their faces. Everything about this book is soooo funny, i had kept laughing and giggling all throughout, my husband thought i was loosing it. One of my favorite scenes was the one at the carriage where she was kidnapped by her three friends and planned to take her to gretna green, read it and you'll know what I mean, there are some other memorable scenes in this book as well, very funny. Overall, definitely a great read and keeper.