Jude Deveraux uses the theme of the haughty spiteful woman who eventually fall in love with the object of her hatred that I dread reading one of her books. I am fed up with this theme. The Raider was just cliche Deveraux.

I thought the storyline was excellent, and Jude Deveraux didn't fail to keep my interest throughout the book. This is a classic case of a man disgused as a hero (The Raider) who falls in love with the beautiful but stubborn woman in town (Jessica). Unknown to Jessica, her beloved Raider is also Alex Montgomery, who she thinks is a silly, fat man who has nothing of interest to offer a woman. Alex purposely makes himself appear fat and unappealing so no one will suspect he's the Raider who stands for freedom against the British opposition.

The chemistry between the characters are great. Fighting between Jessica and Alex versus passion between Jessica and the Raider do make for some humorous situations, especially when Alex gets jealous of the Raider. She criticizes the Raider to Alex and criticizes Alex to the Raider, which had me laughing since he was upset with her and she couldn't understand why. In the end, Jessica develops a lasting friendship with Alex and overtime begins to feel an attraction for him that surprises her and pleases him. Beyond the humor is a good lesson in that it's important to look beyond appearances to find true love.

WONDERFUL book! I loved the adventure and historical context of The Raider! But more importantly, I LOVED the characters! I don't know why everyone is saying bad things about Jessica - I think she was absolutely incredible. Yes there were times where I questioned why she hadn't figured out that it was Alex - why couldn't she look at his eyes, hands, or lips and know who he was? But I loved the ending and the way she accepted him. Overall wonderful read - perhaps not the VERY top of my list, I think that place is held by Eternity then Mountain Laurel, but certainly close! Definitely pick up The Raider for the American version of The Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro!

Some books are memorable because they are very good...this one is memorable because it is so very bad. Worst ever! Not as bad as Captive Bride by Johanna Lindsey but getting very close. My problem? Only a retard wouldn't see past that stupid disguise.

The year is 1766, during the pre-Revolutionary America. The redcoat English wreak havoc in New England, confiscating lands and properties and abusing the Americans. Alexander Montgomery has been sailing all over Europe for years when one day he is told that his father has been injured and that his sister has married an Englishman who has taken over their estate. When he arrives to America, he cannot believe what he sees. Men and women are being abused, men are being hanged for the slightest things and the English confiscate whatever little merchandise the Americans obtain. So Alexander decides to take justice in his own hands by assuming the identity of the Raider, a man who dresses all in black (including a mask over his face) and rides on a black horse and saves the day. Unfortunately, now there's a price for his head, which is why he has to hide in a fat suit wearing colorful, extravagant clothes and a hideous powdered wig. Jessica Taggert has always hated Alexander and wastes no time in ridiculing him when she sees what he has apparently become. The Raider, on the other hand, becomes an acquired taste for her -- she dislikes him at first, but then he becomes her ideal romantic hero. What will she do when she finds out that fat, lazy Alexander and the mysterious Raider are one and the same?

It is so nice to read about how the Montgomerys and Taggerts become related to one another. It appears that the Taggerts were poor and they either worked hard to get rich or had money due to their connection with the Montgomerys. The secondary characters are great, especially Nathaniel, Eleanor, Nick and Sayer. The protagonists, however, got on my nerves big time, especially Jessica. All she does throughout the novel is put Alexander down, even when they become friends. Throughout the novel, she tells Alex how fat and useless he is and how no one wants to marry him due to his looks. She says this even when she doesn't mean to be cruel. How could she be so tactless? She is one of the most unlikeable heroines I've ever read. Why Alex wants her to love him for who he is rather than love him for being the Raider is beyond me. Then again, he wants her because of the way she swings her hips underneath her fisherman garb, which means he is no better than she is. Of course, that is what Deveraux intends to do with this story (in one chapter, Nick asks Alex if he'd love Jess if she weren't beautiful), but she goes overboard with Jess's constant criticism. This is very likely meant to be funny, and at times it made me laugh, but other times I just wanted to smack Jess around. Alex is more likeable. His disguise is sort of a cross between Scarlet Pimpernel and El Zorro. I enjoyed this storyline because I have always liked the Zorro/Robin Hood-type of characters. The Englishmen are no doubt painted as villains here. I know some US history and while the English did do those things, they also did good things for this country as well. Anyway, the novel is all right, by far not my favorite Deveraux novel though. The ending seems rushed and the villains are sorted out in literally one paragraph. Ugh. Anyway, this isn't this author's best work. If you want to read something remarkable by Deveraux, give A Knight in Shining Armor a whirl, followed by The Duchess, The Heiress, The Princess and Sweet Liar. I also look forward to reading her other books.