Wendy the Super Librarian‘s review of The Unmasking Of Lady Loveless by Nicola Cornick
Historical romance ebook released by Harlequin Historical Undone 1 Nov 08

It’s official, I have not been reading enough Nicola Cornick. After reading and enjoying her Edwardian Harlequin Historical earlier this summer, I was anxious to read her launch title in the new “short” eBook-only Harlequin Historical Undone line. While it features some plot devices I normally don’t care for, I was really impressed with how much story the author gives readers in such a brief format.

Lord Alexander Beaumont is stunned to hear the latest gossip making the rounds at Whites. It seems that scandalous erotic writer, Lady Loveless, is none other than his estranged wife Melicent! Being forced to marry her thanks to his odious father, their marriage was so rocky that when her hypochondriac mother took ill, Melicent took off to Yorkshire to take care of her. After hearing the gossip, Alex decides it’s time for a visit.

Melicent, expecting the doctor at her door, is floored to discover Alex standing there. Damn it all, he’s even more handsome since the last time she saw the man, but she’s determined to guard her heart. She knows he doesn’t love her, and even though her mother is a shrew and her brother is a womanizing gambler, it’s better to be in Yorkshire with them than to continually have her heart trampled on. That is until Alex decides to right the wrongs of their past and go about getting to know his wife in a proper manner.

This is a quick, fun and sexy story that Cornick must have thrown herself into. There’s a little bit of everything going on, without making the story feel crowded or overstuffed. There are moments that read like a witty comedy of manners, and other moments where the chemistry between Melicent and Alex could burn down the house! There’s a Big Misunderstanding central to the conflict, but given the quick pace, and short word count, it works very well in this story. Melicent has moments where she’s a bit too uptight for my tastes, but her scenes with Alex show a woman more than willing to let her hair down. The sex scenes, a bit hotter in temperature than normally found in the traditional Harlequin Historical line, added some spice and sizzle to the proceedings.

I found this to be a very enjoyable read. A definite must for Cornick fans, or for those readers eager to try this author at a reasonable price.

Grade: B

Summary:

All of London is buzzing about The Adventures of a Woman of Pleasure by Lady Loveless, a book of barely disguised accounts of the ton’s sexual escapades. Reputations have been ruined and society is scandalized, but no one is more shocked than Lord Alexander Beaumont when he learns that the mysterious Lady Loveless is none other than his estranged wife! He remembers Melicent as a shy, innocent young woman and is determined to find out where she’s been getting her information…and who has turned his inexperienced bride into a brazen author of erotic literature. There’s only one solution: Alex will seduce his errant wife and learn all her wanton secrets…