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Hugh Boderick Brooks, the Earl of Rayfield is an undercover spy. His latest quarry is the elusive gamester Francis Treadwell, whom he suspects is fueling the recent Luddite attacks with the help of the French to cause a revolution in England and hopefully overthrow the government. When the habitually lucky gamester loses he proposes one more wager and Rayfield is amazed to discover that the prize is Treadwell’s daughter Charlotte. Rayfield is astonished that Charlotte agrees to such a gamble and assumes she must be an accomplice in her father’s treasonous activities to go along with the wager. Charlotte thought this only another of her fathers gambits to win a bet and is later stunned to discover that her father has left her high and dry with no place to go and no plans to rescue her. Now poor Charlotte has no option but to go along with Rayfield’s plans to launch her into society in order to find her a suitable husband. Although, Rayfield still has her at the top of his suspect list as being a traitor, he couldn’t help his attraction for her at bay whenever he was near her. Accordingly Charlotte felt the much of the same physical attraction but she certainly didn’t want any gamester like her father for a husband! *** Rayfield was introduced in the Ms. Laik’s debut THE LADY IS MINE, and while this follows more closely the formula of a traditional regency, lacking the raciness of the former, it is none the less a splendid read. This story’s plot had more of an adventure and suspense tone allowing it to keep the pace moving forward in a fast clip making it a very quick, though thoroughly enjoyable read. Rayfield himself was an honorable man who was truly baffled by the seemingly suspicious behavior of Charlotte as he followed her movements. Being a master spy he seemed only to read her movements as suspect rather than trying to comprehend that they were innocent and giving acts of kindness. Being left high and dry by her rapscallion father, Charlotte knew her only option was to marry well and though she was genuinely attracted to Rayfield she thought him to be a gamester like her father and knew better than to pin any hopes of a future on him. With a lovely regency voice Ms. Laik fashions a sweet tale that fans of this genre should look forward to without the shock value that some authors utilize in spicing up their romances. Laik focuses more on character development and building a memorable love story which is very refreshing. This book should be put on all traditional Regency genre lovers shopping lists.Marilyn Rondeau – Reviewers International Organization (RIO)
Copyright © 2006-2008 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved. |
The Lady in Question
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Posted October 2006 |
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