LADY EMMA'S DILEMMA

Author: Rhonda Woodward ISBN: 0451217012 12/2005 HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/Signet Regency
Time Period: Regency 1817

A lady forgives ... but can she forget? What a dreadful misfortune that Lady Emmaline Fallbrook's grand return to London is spoiled by a sighting of Jack Devruex. He was the cad who endangered her reputation one impetuous night thirteen years ago and abandoned her. She is over him certainly, so hang the man-and the memories! But for someone who doesn't deserve a second thought, why is he consuming Emma's every thought? Baron Devruex is outraged. The unforgettable beauty who humiliated him on the most important night of his life is back, but why? The answers come under moonlight, with the promise of a little mischief and the unraveling of a soul-wrenching misunderstanding that could save two hearts from making the same mistake again....

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Let me begin my review by saying that I love reunion books. Just the simplest plot involving a couple seeing each other again after thirteen years intrigues me.

When Emmaline Fallbrook ventures back out into society after a very lengthy stay in the country, she sets London on its ear. Every woman wants to be her and every man wants to be with her. She is stylish and aloof, yet she always manages to maintain a polite demeanor. She is beautiful, graceful, and has incredible spirit. Emma can be one tough nut to crack, but there is one man who can get to her even if no other man on the earth stands a chance.

That man is Jack Devreux. Jack has changed very much in the past thirteen years. He has become wealthy and restored his family's reputation. He is more masculine, more muscular and more cynical than he was as the young man that Emmaline was going to marry so long ago. Also, not an entirely bad thing is how handsome and charming Jack has become. He made my heart skip a beat more than once.

I loved watching as Emmaline and Jack reacquainted themselves with a love that they had thought lost to them. Watching Jack slowly, but surely, break through Emma's defenses and deal with painful issues from her past, brought tears to my eyes. These are two beautiful, loving characters, there is no doubt about it.

LADY EMMA'S DILEMMA is refreshing and fun, with a whole lot of great romance thrown in. Rhonda Woodward does not disappoint in this delightful, lovely story.

Kristal Gorman