Escapade

Rating:
Summary: A fun romp with the 400
Review: If there is an American equivalent of England's Regency period, Author Serena Richards (a.k.a. Susan Carroll) has found it in ESCAPADE. The Brits had the "Haut Ton" while the Yanks had "the 400." The haut ton condescended to "Cits" just as the 400 grudgingly beheld "nouveau riche." The decades immediately before and after the turn of the 20th century were one of the biggest peaks in U.S. high society.

While fighting the new money image, self-made millionaire Zeke Morrison is intrigued when hot-air balloonist Rory Kavanaugh crash lands at a garden party he is hosting. Accepting his invitation to dinner, Rory sees him as a potential investor in her floundering company. When Zeke insults her by offering to make her his mistress, she flees. Despite waging a battle with intercity corruption, Zeke can't stop thinking about Rory and takes advantage of her livelihood to escape being framed.

Zeke exemplifies the all-American rag-to-riches dream. He has the superficial traits of a male stereotype, which the only emotion men are tolerated to express is anger, but has more depth. He hasn't forgotten life on the streets and wants to help the disadvantaged. Although he was rescued as a child from life in an orphanage, he is never one to back down from a fight. In fact, the higher he rises in society, the more he misses his rough-and-tumble background. After spending the last few years of his life integrating into the 400, he finds Rory's lack of pretension very attractive.

Rory struggles to keep her hot air balloon company despite the financial problems it was left with when her father died. Despite being a skilled "aeronaut," she goes on the defense after one of her employees, who suffers from unrequited love of her, warns her not to take chances. When Zeke tries to manipulate her business with his money, he isn't prepared for her reaction. Her business isn't just her livelihood; it's her hobby too.

This 1991 novel was a change of pace for Richards/Carroll. Not only has she advanced to the late 19th century to set this story, but she also locates it in New York. It has a good feel for the dance halls and Irish ghetto as well as the big mansions and posh restaurants. Although Ellis Island is never mentioned, it is so easy to think of it working in the background. Richards/Carroll does, however, continue to keep her readers following the perils and contretemps of high society. Her fans should find her American characters refreshing.

ESCAPADE does wonderful job of bringing "the gay 90s" to life. Following Zeke and Rory's adventures gives a good impression of what life was like from more than one level of the society. It holds reader interest and would definitely be worth reissuing under the author's more widely known name.