C2’s review of A Beginner’s Guide to Rakes (Scandalous Brides, Book 1) by Suzanne Enoch
Historical Romance published by St. Martin’s 4 Oct 11

Revenge! Blackmail! Wheeeee! It’s always fun to read about a couple with a history – especially when things ended badly.  And if revenge and blackmail are in the picture? Win!  Heh.

Diane Benchley, Lady Cameron, and her husband fled England under a cloud of debt several years before we meet her.  Diane has been a widow for a few years and finally has returned to London.  She has plans. Plans that, if successful, will keep her from depending on a man for her livelihood ever again.  To bring her plans to fruition she needs the assistance of Oliver Warren, Marquis of Haybury – whether he wants to help or not.

The last person Oliver expects to see in London is Diane Benchley.  When he last saw her, Diane was recently widowed and living in Vienna.  They had a brief fling before he returned to England without a word of farewell.  Not a good way to end things, faithful reader.

Diane has returned to open a gentlemen’s club.  Her original lordly male “helper” was killed in an accident and now she needs to find someone else to help her make sure she has covered all the bases necessary with the club – the right look, the right games, the right feel.  The only person she trusts to assist her is Oliver – not because of any good feelings toward him but because she has a very incriminating letter that would ruin his reputation if it were made public. Blackmail!

Diane is not the same person Oliver knew in Vienna.  She has grown a thick skin and sharp tongue.  He is still attracted to her – although less so when she threatens to publish the letter unless he assists with the club (both financially and in an advisory role).  Of course, Oliver looks for a way to turn things to his advantage, but it isn’t easy. Diane has thought of everything and isn’t falling for his charms a second time.

Naturally, over the course of getting the club ready and establishing it as a real option for the gentlemen of the ton, Oliver and Diane have much more contact than either would have first imagined.  And although both start out looking for weaknesses to exploit, they find they have more than just the club in common and enjoy each other’s company a great deal.

I believed the characters’ growth.  The lessening of Diane’s bitterness over time and Oliver’s realization about why he left Vienna is nicely written.  And the idea of a young widow coming to London and opening a gentlemen’s club – staffed by young women – is an interesting (if unlikely) one.  Of course, it might be completely accurate, historically speaking – what do I know?  As long as I’m entertained and the author makes me believe it, I’m good.

The subplot with Diane’s brother-in-law did nothing for me.  If I have to guess (and I am), I would say it might serve as a basis for Oliver and the Duke of Greaves to become friends again so one of the ladies working at the club might eventually become a duchess.  But again – what do I know?  The idea that several of the club’s employees are young ladies of good birth in bad circumstances is a welcome new twist on the sisters/schoolmates/best pals thread that ties together other series.

A small quibble or two regarding marketing choices – the title seems to have nothing to do with the book. At all. Diane didn’t need a guide to rakes and didn’t provide one to anyone else. Also, throughout the book Diane wears nothing but black, except for two special occasions (when she still wore deep colors) – it’s her thing to be distinctive and stuff, plus she looks good in black. So why is the person on the cover wearing white?? Ah well…

I enjoyed Diane and Oliver’s story and look forward to seeing more of the ladies of the Tantalus Club find their Happily Ever Afters.

Grade:  B

Summary:

All of London is abuzz with the return of the utterly alluring, recently widowed Diane Benchley. Will she remarry? What will she do with her late husband’s fortune? Sociey is shocked by her announcement—at the Grand Ball, of all places!—that she plans to open an exclusive gentleman’s gaming club in the family mansion. But no one is more stunned than the Marquis of Haybury, Oliver Warren.
Years ago, Oliver and Diane shared a private indiscretion. Now Diane threatens to reveal Oliver’s most ungentlemanly secrets…unless he agrees to help her. A notorious gambler—and rake—Oliver is overqualified to educate Diane in the ways and means of running her establishment. But striking a deal with Diane might just be the biggest risk Oliver has ever taken. This time, the only thing he has to lose is his heart…

No excerpt available. ( It appears the author’s website hasn’t been updated since her next most recent book which was published in 2010.)

Are you tired of top ten lists, faithful reader? I hope not because here’s mine.

10. Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch – what could be better than sailing the South Pacific, encountering natives, fascinating wildlife and pirates? If your ship’s captain is smoking hot, of course. Read my review HERE.

9. Pleasures of a Dark Prince by Kresley Cole – an very good entry into a consistently excellent series.

8. Lessons in French by Laura Kinsale – soooo nice to see Ms. Kinsale back and full of humor.

7. Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis – I love Ms. Shalvis’ baseball series and hope for more books soon. Please? Pretty please??

6. Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas – the end of the Hathaway series. I’ve always had a soft spot for Beatrix and was very pleased with her book. Also, I’m a sucker for books with letter writing.

5. Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon – the first story in her Chronicles of Nick series. I’m not usually a YA reader but I was intrigued enough by hints of this one to pick it up. So good! And she seems to be correcting/re-booting some errors in the main DH series, maybe. We shall see.

4. Play of Passion by Nalini Singh – one of my favorites of the series and certainly my favorite of recent entries. Plus we get to see bits of Hawke and Sienna. Yay!

3. Exclusively Yours by Shannon Stacey – are you looking for an excellent straight-up contemporary? Look no further! And the sequel is very good, too.

2. Here There Be Monsters by Meljean Brook – so it’s a novella. And I was skeptical, even after seeing the raves. Why would I put a novella I was unsure about picking up on my “Best of” list? Because it’s awesome! It gives us our first glimpse into Ms. Brook’s Iron Seas series which leads me to…

NUMBER 1!! The Iron Duke by Meljean Brook – I don’t have words for how excellent this book is. It defies description – at least, a description that properly conveys it’s awesomeness. All I can say is READ IT.

Now for some books I’m looking forward to in 2011 (in release order, as things stand now):

Call Me Irresistible by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – yes, I know several people have already read this one but I haven’t. My copy is pre-ordered though. Why? It’s Teddy’s book! It seems like I’ve been waiting for his story forever.

ShadowFever by Karen Marie Moning – why this one? Barrons! And the wait is almost over. Yay!

A Lot Like Love by Julie James – I have enjoyed all of Ms. James’ books so far and expect this one to continue that trend.

Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann – do you need to ask why? One word: Izzy Izzy Izzy! (What? It’s one word…three times.)

Any Man of Mine by Rachel Gibson (beware the Flash!) – her last few books have been hit-or-miss for me so I’m hoping this one will be a hit. Sorry for the lack of cover. Our friends over at the Book Binge have it posted, though.

There are many more, of course, but those are the ones that are coming up soonish.

Agree? Disagree? What are you looking forward to?

C2’s review of Rules of an Engagement by Suzanne Enoch
Historical Romance published by Avon 26 October 10

With Rules of an Engagement, Suzanne Enoch – BEWARE Flash-driven website – brings together two of her series: the Adventurers’ Club books and the Lessons in Love series.  (Have you read England’s Perfect Hero, faithful reader??  Because you should!)  Plus there are pirates!

Our hero is Captain Bradshaw Carroway.  Shaw has just returned to England after battling the French in the Mediterranean.  He thinks he might be losing his fighting instinct and isn’t sure what that might mean for his career in the British Navy.  When he receives orders to sail to Australia – and is asked to deliver a package for the Duke of Sommerset (head of the Adventurers’ Club) – Shaw sees a chance to figure out where his life is headed.  In Australia, Shaw and his crew receive new orders.  They are to transport a famous botanist and his daughter around the South Pacific and assist in the gathering of specimens.

Our heroine, Miss Zephyr Ponsley, has been her father’s research assistant since her mid-teens.  Since she grew up away from England’s social structure, Zephyr is a breath of fresh air to Shaw (heh…see what I did there?). Zephyr is accustomed to being in the company of scholars – which Shaw is not – so their interactions are filled with all sorts of fun banter. Eventually she figures out that Shaw is much brighter than she originally thought.  And he sees that she is not just a stuffy bluestocking.  I love banter and Suzie E writes some of the best around.

During their voyage around the South Pacific, Shaw and the rest of folks aboard the Nemesis encounter whales, friendly natives, giant spiders, cannibals and a host of other creatures – including pirates and a vengeful Frenchman.  Along the way, Shaw finally figures out the direction he wants his life to go – and Zephyr figures prominently in that life.  But what about what she wants?  Zephyr has traveled all over and moved in scholarly circles…even if she wanted to, would she be able to take her place in London society?

I always enjoy books where the hero is the one wanting to get serious. All that seducing and convincing – such fun!   :-)  If you enjoy playful banter and a hero bent on seduction, you should totally give Rules of an Engagement a try.  I think you’ll like it!

Grade: A-

Summary:

For proper young ladies, good behavior has always been the rule…

Captain Bradshaw Carroway loves the seafaring life—though he’d rather be battling brigands than his current assignment of ferrying a boatload of spoiled aristocrats. One passenger, however, has caught his eye: a bewitching young minx who definitely distracts him from the rules of shipboard decorum . . .

Some rules, of course, are meant to be broken.

Miss Zephyr Ponsley has traveled the world, but she’s completely innocent in the ways of love. She’s never learned to dance or flirt. But scientific observation has taught her that the laws of attraction have no rules, and that no adventure, on land or sea, is more dangerous—or delicious—than passion!

Read an excerpt (sorry it’s awkward!).

Other books in this series:
Lessons in Love:

Adventurers’ Club:

C2’s review of Always a Scoundrel (The Notorious Gentlemen, Book 3) by Suzanne Enoch
Historical romance released by Avon 28 April 09

Lord Bramwell Lowry Johns is a thief.  As the notorious Black Cat, he prowls through the dark streets of Mayfair stealing the ton’s baubles right from under their noble noses.  He doesn’t steal because he needs the money (although his father, the Duke of Levonzy, has cut him off again)…he steals for the thrill, the adrenalin rush he gets from stealing and the satisfaction of knowing that his father is aware of exactly who the thief is.  Double win!

During one of his forays as the Black Cat, Bram overhears that Lady Rosamund Davies is going to be married to the Marquis of Cosgrove to settle a 10,000 pound debt incurred by her brother James.  Since Bram is very well acquainted with Cosgrove, he knows no innocent chit should ever be forced to marry him.  Bram decides he needs to take a closer look at the situation.

Lady Rosamund has lived a quiet life, managing her flighty family members without them realizing it.  Since they didn’t realize how Rose made their lives easier, her relatives have no appreciation for her or any sympathy for the predicament they have placed her in.  They expect her to, as they see it, do her duty to her family and to be grateful that she is getting married at all.

Bram finds himself intrigued and baffled by Rosamund – intrigued because by her straightforward personality and baffled by her dedication to her family.  His curiosity aroused, Bram sets out to learn more about Rosamund.  As he gets to know her, Bram realizes just how disastrous a match between Rosamund and the deceptively angelic Cosgrove would be.

He offers to help her run away from London to avoid the marriage but she refuses…at first.  After a few encounters with Cosgrove alone, she begins to see what marriage to him will be.  Finally, she agrees that if no other solution can be found by the day the engagement is to be announced, she will let Bram help her run away and start a new life.  A wrench is thrown into the works when the announcement date is unexpectedly moved up.  Bram has to ask for help from people he neither wanted or expected help from.

The attitude of Rose’s family toward her was horrifying, from a modern standpoint especially.  To be told that the only thing she was good for was to bail out her thoughtless younger brother, rather than make him responsible for his own actions, is beyond insulting and belittling.  However, it is probably quite accurate, historically speaking.  Daughters seemed to be regarded as an odd sort of currency in the days of arranged marriages and political pairings.  Grrrr.  *glances at soapbox and steps down*

Watching Bram become more and more attracted to Rosamund, even though he considers himself beyond such attachments, and deal with his growing feelings for her is the best part of the book.  At the beginning Bram has already started down a very slippery slope – he is becoming a bitter wastrel with little regard for anyone.  Over the course of the story, he first realizes there are good people that deserve good things (although he doesn’t consider himself one of them) and later sees he can have a different life than the one he envisioned for himself.  I love Bram – he’s my new fave of Suzie E’s heroes (it used to be Bit)!  Also, she gets bonus points for best disposal of a villain EVER.  Heh.

Grade: A

Summary:
.
Never a gentleman . . . until now.
.
Lord Bramwell Johns, the second son of a duke, is an unrepentant scoundrel. Now that his two closest friends are disgustingly ensconced in domestic bliss, Bram is feeling strangely restless. And not even relieving London’s least deserving artistocrats of their ill-gotten jewels is enough—until the night he overhears an argument. It seems that Lady Rosamund Davies is about to be forced into marriage with a rogue even worse than himself.
.
Rose is well aware of Bram’s scandalous reputation, so any reason for his sudden interest in her is suspect; more so since he’s close friends with the man about to ruin her family! She has her own plan though, and Bram may be just what she requires—as long as she remembers that he is only looking out for himself. As long as she remembers that his kisses and caresses don’t mean anything. As long as she can keep from wondering whether she can trust a scoundrel . . . with her heart.
.
Read an excerpt here.

Other books in the series:

Or have I just not noticed that their set backs have been nakkid before?

Check out the post Suzanne Enoch did today at the goddess blog on her upcoming novel:

Always a Scoundrel: The Notorious Gentlemen

Lord Bramwell Johns is a wastrel, a rake, a scoundrel…and proud of it. The second son of the Duke of Levonzy, Bram is bored enough and reckless enough to break into the homes of his peers just for the excitement. But then he overhears a couple arranging the marriage of their daughter to an even more notorious rake than Bram…Lady Rosamund likes to think of herself as practical. If she has to marry, a titled rake is better than a penniless gentleman. But what about an untitled rake? For suddenly Brams appears everywhere she is, and doing his best to sweep her off her feet. If Rose isn’t careful, she may believe that reformed rakes really do make the best husbands…

Ok so it isn’t THAT naughty but really that amuses me cuz he is so meant to look like he is in the buff. Nice set back.. I am surprised they didn’t toss her leg over or something. I have the April Avon ARC’s I should go look for this one. Yes I know lime you want it.

LauraD’s review of After the Kiss: The Notorious Gentlemen by Suzanne Enoch
Historical Romance published by Avon 24 Jun 08

I have a conflicted relationship with Suzanne Enoch; I have been unable to get into her contemporary series starring cat burglar-cum-sleuth Samantha Jellicoe, but I love me some historical Enoch. I actually read the first chapter of After the Kiss while sitting in the parking lot of the Big Box store, and since it’s several thousand degrees right now in Texas that says a lot. Sullivan Waring is the bastard son of a nobleman. He has distinguished himself as a soldier and is revered as a horse breeder and trainer by all of Britain. He is, however, full of rage at the rich and titled because of the way his mother was used and cast off by his father-and because his father sold off the inheritance his mother, an artist, left him. He has been robbing the homes of London’s rich, taking back his mother’s paintings. Late one night, making his way out of a townhouse, he encounters Lady Isabel Chalsey. As a way of distracting her, Sullivan “steals” a kiss-not a problem until Isabel recognizes him at a horse auction the next day.

Headstrong and independent, Isabel is determined to find out why Sullivan is robbing houses. She manipulates him into selling her a most inappropriate horse, and into teaching her to ride. What follows is a battle of wills, as two strong individuals attempt to control each other.

At first Isabel seems to be the Paris Hilton of her time, and the author even has several characters acknowledge that Isabel is a darling of the ton. However, Sullivan comes to learn that Isabel is quite capable of thinking for herself, and is a great deal braver than he gives her credit for-she’s actually terrified of horses(with good reason), so being close to one is a big step for her.

Sullivan has good reason for his bitterness; and when he begins to fall for Isabel his illegitimacy falls unusually close to home. His own legitimate half-brother is paying court to Isabel, and planning to marry her. Almost everyone in the book tries to separate the two of them, but Sully and Isabel are fascinated with one another, and so the lies and consequences begin.

I really, really enjoyed this book. Sullivan is a lovely hero; he might not be noble by birth, but he is a gentleman. He doesn’t want to implicate anyone else in his thievery, even though he has friends willing to help him. Isabel has his regard and respect, and taking care of her is his concern; even more so than the noblemen surrounding her.

Isabel took a bit longer to warm up to, because she does start off as a spoiled brat. However, she redeems herself nicely once she opens her eyes and realizes that she’s not going to be happy simply because she is titled and rich. She finds herself to be much braver than she thought she was, and she is transformed.

A good deal of the story’s conflict is the class difference between Sullivan and the rest of the characters. There is an especially painful bit where he confesses his love for Isabel to his best friend, an aristocrat, only to see the disapproval in his friend’s eyes. It’s a topic that doesn’t come up often in historical romance, and I believed in the way the characters dealt with it. One interaction towards the end of the book was a bit too Hollywood HEA for me, but it didn’t detract from my overall buy-in of the ending. I’m looking forward to the next two Notorious Gentlemen stories!

Grade: A

Summary:

A Notorious Gentleman . . . Sullivan Waring wants only two things: his rightful inheritance, and revenge against the man who stole it from him. By day, Sullivan is the most respected horse breeder in England; by night, he plunders the ton‘s most opulent homes to reclaim his late mother’s beautiful paintings. His quest is going swimmingly . . . until the night he’s discovered by Lady Isabel Chalsey. Clad only in a revealing nightdress, she’s an entrancingly different kind of plunder, and how can a thief resist stealing a kiss?

A Curious Lady . . . Surprised by a masked man in her own home, Isabel should be quaking with fear. Instead the sight of the sinfully handsome Sullivan makes her tremble with excitement. Who is this man, and why is he so set on this reckless pursuit? Lady Isabel loves a challenge, and she’ll dare anything to uncover Sullivan’s secret-but she may instead convince him that she is the greatest prize of all.

Read an excerpt.

Lawson’s review of After the Kiss by Suzanne Enoch
Historical romance released by Avon 24 Jun 08

This is the first book in the Notorious Gentelmen series by Enoch. For the sake of ease and just to assume something, the series is about three good friends who spent four years fighting together as officers in Spain against the French. Captains Phineas Bromley and Sullivan James Waring and Major Lord Bramwell Lowry Johns are very close friends, but two bullets in Sullivan’s shoulder and his mother’s death send him back to England with Lord Bram in tow. Phin is still fighting it out in Spain. And so the story begins.

Sullivan, back in England, is a respected horse breeder, even though he’s the unacknowledged illegitimate son of a Marquis. While at war, he trusted the wrong person and his father took his mother’s heritage from him (her paintings) and gave them to his aristocratic friends. Sullivan decides to get his vengeance and justice by stealing back the paintings because he knows his father won’t want to deal with a scandal of explaining the paintings and dealing with a son he won’t acknowledge.

While stealing one of the paintings Sullivan is caught unawares by Lady Isabel Chalsey in the middle of the night. He takes off with the painting and steals a kiss. She recognizes him the next day when her brother is buying a horse from him and blackmails him into training a horse for her, so she can keep and eye on him and find out why he stole from her family.

What starts as a game quickly turns into something more for Isabel and she has to come to terms with the fact that what she wants to do and society’s expectations don’t always go hand in hand. And keeping Sullivan around becomes dangerous for her heart, her sanity and her reputation.

While Sullivan is honorable, caring, patient, and obviously very sexy, Isabel, called Tibby, is spoiled, selfish, narrow minded, high handed and kind of a drama queen. At least she is honest with herself about most of those qualities. As she craves more and more time with Sullivan she realizes that society is as hypocritical as he says, especially after he confides in her the truth behind the thefts and his familial connections.

Though Tibby does start to grow as a character and open her eyes, she’s still rather dramatic, as a 19 year old would be, and the fact that she constantly gets what she wants shows her to be overly spoiled, if her heart is in the right place. Though Tibby and Sullivan and those around them, the reader sees how bad life really could be in Regency England. Not for lack of food or sanitation, but the fact that the people with titles and land ruled (money just made things better) and treated everyone else as dirt beneath their feet.

I have to say I was angry at quite a few of the secondary characters for most of the book for their treatment of Sullivan. Historical accuracy of people’s behavior doesn’t override my modern sensibilities enough, even though it was good to see such a measure of realism in a book. And by the end the respect that Sullivan had gained did help to ease his life as well as give him a sort of Hollywood-style resolution to his familial troubles.

With all this though, the grade would be higher if I’d felt more chemistry from Sullivan and Tibby. What he sees in a shallow girl who’s blackmailing him is hard to get at first. Then she keeps him around because it’s what she wants, and she’s used to getting what she wants. Only by the very end of the story does Tibby seem to grow up enough into a person that would fit with Sullivan well, which gives a decent HEA, but hard to see what kept him around her for so long.

The next in the series, Before the Scandal, follows Phineas Bromley after he returns from Spain, and the next will follow Bram. Bram will make a very interesting hero, along the lines of Lord St. Aubyn (who is my personal favorite and does get a mention in passing in this book). It’d be interesting to see what kind of story Tibby’s 16 year old brother Douglas could get, for his pivotal role made him another perhaps Notorious Gentleman.

Grade: B-
Blurb:

A Notorious Gentleman . . .

Sullivan Waring wants only two things: his rightful inheritance, and revenge against the man who stole it from him. By day, Sullivan is the most respected horse breeder in England; by night, he plunders the ton’s most opulent homes to reclaim his late mother’s beautiful paintings. His quest is going swimmingly . . . until the night he’s discovered by Lady Isabel Chalsey. Clad only in a revealing nightdress, she’s an entrancingly different kind of plunder, and how can a thief resist stealing a kiss?

A Curious Lady . . .

Surprised by a masked man in her own home, Isabel should be quaking with fear. Instead the sight of the sinfully handsome Sullivan makes her tremble with excitement. Who is this man, and why is he so set on this reckless pursuit? Lady Isabel loves a challenge, and she’ll dare anything to uncover Sullivan’s secret—but she may instead convince him that she is the greatest prize of all.

Sins of a Duke by Suzanne Enoch

Lust is a Sin . . .

Sebastian Griffin, the Duke of Melbourne, has raised his younger siblings, seen to it that they made correct matches, and basically kept everyone in line. Seen as the most powerful man in England, Sebastian has a reputation for propriety and has maintained a scandal-free life.

Until now.

Josefina Katarina Embry is a beauty, to be sure, but she claims to be the princess of a faraway country. While she dazzles the ton with her wit and charm, Sebastian suspects she’s up to something. And he’s determined to expose her . . . if only he wasn’t so distracted by her brazen sensuality and the irresistible allure of her kiss. Sebastian knows an affair will lead them into scandal, but will the most powerful man in England risk all for a princess of dubious lineage . . . or will he allow a most sinful desire to rule his heart?

The Viscount in Her Bedroom (Sisters of Willow Pond Trilogy) by Gayle Callen

Louisa Shelby’s carefree life of elegant balls and beautiful frocks ended when her father died, leaving her penniless. With no hope of securing a proper marriage, the vivacious young miss accepts a position as a companion to an elderly viscountess. But temptation in a most unexpected guise awaits Louisa in the dowager’s home…

Once, Simon Wade was London’s most eligible bachelor and most able seducer. But a tragic accident forced him into seclusion, away from prying eyes and questions. He thought he’d never again experience the tender touch of a beautiful woman. But wshile he yearns to hold the enchanting Louisa and taste the intoxicating nectar of her kiss, he will accept no woman’s pity.

Louisa never desired a man the way she burns for Simon. And now her chance at happiness may rest in her ability to convince the stubborn viscount that her passion is real…and her love is true.

Desperate Duchesses (Desperate Duchesses, Book 1) by Eloisa James

Welcome to a world of reckless sensuality and glittering sophistication . . . of dangerously handsome gentlemen and young ladies longing to gain a title . . . of games played for high stakes, including – on occasion – a lady’s virtue.

A marquess’s sheltered only daughter, Lady Roberta St. Giles falls in love with a man she glimpses across a crowded ballroom: a duke, a game player of consummate skill, a notorious rakehell who shows no interest in marriage – until he lays eyes on Roberta.

Yet the Earl of Gryffyn knows too well that the price required to gain a coronet is often too high. Damon Reeve, the earl, is determined to protect the exquisite Roberta from chasing after the wrong destiny.

Can Damon entice her into a high-stakes game of his own, even if his heart is likely to be lost in the venture?

The Templar’s Seduction (Templar Knights, Book 3) by Mary Reed McCall

Only a lie will save his life . . .

Sentenced to the gallows for trying to sell the treasures of the Knights Templar, Sir Alexander de Ashby has one chance for survival. The scoundrel must impersonate the late Earl of Marston, to whom he bears an uncanny resemblance, and infiltrate the lord’s border castle. But first he must convince the earl’s beautiful Scottish bride that his rightful place is in her bed.

But only love can save his soul.

Relieved that the story of her long-absent husband’s death was false – and enticed by a wild, sensuous side of him she had never experienced before – Lady Elizabeth cautiously welcomes “the earl” back into her heart, unaware that the breathtaking imposter intends to vanish. But escape may be impossible even after his secret is revealed. For now Alexander burns for the proud, remarkable lady . . . and desires nothing more than to live—and die, if he must – for a glorious love born of deception and sin.

I know that this is just a small number of the books being published by Avon, but these are the four that are of interest to the duckies and will be reviewed soon. Oh, they’re all historical too.