THE SEDUCTION OF AN ENGLISH SCOUNDREL

Author: Jillian Hunter ISBN: 0345461215 4/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: BALLANTINE/Ivy
Time Period:1814 England

It would have been the wedding of the year–had the groom, Sir Nigel Boscastle, bothered to put in an appearance. To the shock of her distinguished guests, the respectable Lady Jane Welsham is left humiliated at the altar. Yet truth be told, although outwardly ruined she is elated to have escaped marriage to a man she does not love. Enter Grayson Boscastle, the irresistible Marquess of Sedgecroft (and cousin to Nigel). Grayson’s duty is clear: salvage the young lady’s pride and reestablish the family’s good name, while repairing his own tarnished reputation as one of London’s most notorious scoundrels. Their whirlwind affair is the talk of the ton. Yet nothing is as it seems between the bewitching Lady Jane, who knows that her wedding was cleverly sabotaged, and her charming rogue, as they are drawn into an amusing game of seduction and secrets.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Take one audacious, cocksure "I'm God's Gift To Women" lord, combine him with one determined-to-be-free, left at the alter bride, add in one wimp of an ex-fiance and a strong, supportive cast of family, and you've got an engaging and entertaining romp through the hallowed halls of the Regency ton.

Grayson's arrogance and egotistical nature aside, you can't help but love him and laugh. He's so self-assured, so bound and determined for things to go his way, that it's hard to imagine he lets one slip of a jilted lady boggle his mind. Determined to erase his past misdeeds by doing the right and respectable thing, it's fun to just sit back and watch as he tries to out maneuver this uncooperative ex-bride—or bride-to-be again, depending on how you look at her—while at the same time barrelling his way through society.

Jane, on the other hand, thinks she has all her ducks in a row. Willing to play the martyr so that her supposed bridegroom—and best friend—can marry his true love, her plans to remain in the realm of the unwed soon begin to unravel, as Grayson, who won't take no for an answer, becomes more determined than ever to right the wrong his cousin has done by jilting his "innocent" bride at the alter.

Once again, Jillian Hunter writes a story filled with humor, a great supporting cast, and two strong and perfectly matched lead characters, whose barbs and witty sparring adds much to the storyline. I will admit that the pretext in which Grayson is allowed to escort the now-disgraced Jane back into society seems to be a bit farfetched; however, considering Grayson's personality...well, it's not hard to imagine how all this could all fall into play.

The first in a trilogy involving the Boscastle clan, I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in this series, to be released this summer. For just shear fun and a jolly good time, let THE SEDUCTION OF AN ENGLISH SCOUNDREL seduce you!

Nancy Davis