MY SCANDALOUS BRIDE

Author: Pam Crooks ISBN: 0373293186 8/2004 HISTORICAL Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Christina Dodd, "The Lady and the Tiger" Laura Haver will stop at nothing to find out who killed her brother-even if it means posing as the wife of notorious rogue Keefe Leighton, the Earl of Hamilton. But things go too far when Keefe engages Laura in an artful game of seduction-a game that can have only one winner... Stephanie Laurens, "Melting Ice" Once, Dyan St. Laurent Dare, Duke of Darke, dreamed of making Lady Fiona his bride. Now they're together again-at a scandalous dinner party where debauchery is the menu's main course. But will wedding bells ring after the guests get their just desserts? Celeste Bradley, "Wedding Knight" Alfred Knight will do anything to avoid a scandal-even marry a woman he barely knows. But his bride has a most titillating secret...one she'll share as soon as she conquers her temptation for the man she was never supposed to marry! Leslie LaFoy, "The Proposition" Rennick St. James, the Earl of Parnell, has four days to seduce London's most popular widow into becoming his wife-or else she'll marry another man. It won't be easy...but Rennick has been lusting after the beguiling Julia Hamilton far too long to let her go now...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

This book, called MY SCANDALOUS BRIDE, is actually a compilation of four mini-novels by four different and very talented authors.

The first novelette is called "The Lady and the Tiger", by Christina Dodd. Laura Haver is a woman on a mission—to get revenge on whoever it was that brutally murdered her brother. She winds up being able to get the information that she wants by posing as the wife of Keefe Lieghton, who is her number one suspect. In the course of trying to figure everything out, she falls pretty hard for Keefe—but is he the much revered Seamaster, or the rogue Jean?

This story was a pleasant read. I got through it in just about an hour. In that much space (right around 70 pages for this novelette), I felt that Ms. Dodd just didn't have enough space to delve into the characters with the depth that I would have liked, but obviously being a mini-novel, the story has to be short by definition, doesn't it? <grin>. Over all, you will enjoy this read. Ms Dodd is one of my favorite authors, with many of her full-length novels in my personal library.

The second novel is called "Melting Ice" by Stephanie Laurens. Dyan St. Laurent Dare has recently arrived home to England, after spending a decade away in exotic India. When he arrives, he finds that he is immediately approached—to the point of a family attack—to get married and produce an heir. After all, Dyan is The Duke of Darke. At an elegant dinner party gone awry, he discovers that he still has feelings for the Lady Fiona, who he kissed once...15 years ago!

This story is a well-paced and comfortable read. There aren't many surprises, but I do think that you will enjoy the read. Stephanie Laurens is also an author that I have read many times in the past, and I have enjoyed her full-length novels as well.

The Third installment in the book is called "Wedding Knight", by Celeste Bradley. Out of all of the four novelettes that make up this book, I have to admit that this one was my favorite! We are first introduced to identical twin sisters, Bettina and Katrina, affectionately known to all those who love them as Kitty and Bitty. The day that we are introduced to the girls, it is Bitty's wedding day, and poor Bitty has more than just a bad case of pre-wedding jitters. She knows that she absolutely cannot, and will not go through with this! Well, it's pretty important for all involved that the wedding proceeds as planned, so dear Kitty decides to take her place. After all, they used to fool everyone when they were little, and to this day, they can fool everyone—everyone except mama, that is.

This story just gets funnier and funnier, watching how everything culminates, and who winds up with the dashing Alfred Knight. I think that you are really going to enjoy this third installment of the book! You come away with a feeling that maybe, just maybe, romance is still alive and blooming out there for every one of us. This is a fantastic read!

The final novelette in the book is called "The Proposition", by Leslie LaFoy. Rennick St. James, the Earl of Parnell, is in a bit of a fix. He has only four days to get the most beautiful widow that he has ever seen to marry him, and that's gonna be a mighty tall order! One problem that they encounter along the way is the teeny fact that someone really should have informed the widow, Julia Hamilton, about the fact that she's going to remarry in haste. But will she repent in leisure?

You'll just have to read through to the end, because I'm not going to spoil a really good read for you! This installment was faster paced than the first two, and I would have to say that it's a pretty tight race of which of the two I like better, this story or "Wedding Knight". I guarantee that if you get a hold of this book, you won't be disappointed. All four of the stories are good, but the last two have parts that will just tickle your fancy, to be sure!

All four of these authors have written many full-length novels, and all four of these ladies are stars at their craft. I'd say, overall, that this book is a keeper. Happy reading!

Geni Thierault