NEVER A LADY

Author: Jacquie D'Alessandro ISBN: 0060779411 8/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency London

Impossible! Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton, left his beloved Cornwall for London to find a bride—some comely, proper, wellborn lady to bear him an heir. Certainly not someone like Madame Alexandra Larchmont. Yes, she's the toast of the ton, and a rare beauty to be sure. But she's also a fortune-teller. And Colin has an excellent reason for keeping a sharp watch on this one... The cards have warned Alexandra for years about a dark-haired stranger who would wreak havoc with her life, so when she sees him at a soiree, her first thought is to run. Unfortunately, she overhears a murder plot, and the only person she can turn to for help is a man she knows she should stay away from, a man who eyes her with an undisguised hunger. But fate's strange turns are Alexandra's stock in trade. And if love is written in the cards, surely nothing is impossible!

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Jacquie D'Alessandro gave a unique twist to her next book, NEVER A LADY. She added just a slight touch of the paranormal to the storyline, thus making the book an even more compelling read. NEVER A LADY is the follow up book to D'Alessandro's 2005 Regency romance, NOT QUITE A GENTLEMAN.

"It's in the cards"—the Tarot cards, that is, and Madame Alexandra Larchmont is gifted at telling the ton their past, present and future for a price. An ever-popular special guest at the ton's gatherings, Alexandra is making a name for herself in society. What Alexandra is really doing is making money by reading her tarot cards and then using that money on housing and taking care of underprivileged children.

I simply love this woman! The most fascinating characteristic of Alexandra is that she really can tell fortunes with the tarot cards, and when she meets a man from her past at a party, her gift becomes a hindrance instead of help. Much to her utter dismay, if this man recognizes her and remembers what happened between them years ago, he could ruin her. The only thing Alexandra can do is flee from the party and hope to never see him again. When she has a problem leaving the party she decides to hide in the library until things settle. What happens next is going to change her life—she overhears a murder plot! Once the conspirators leave the library, she decides to leave the party by literally jumping out of the window. Lucky—or rather—unlucky for her, the man from her past is there to ease her fall. Will he recognize her?

Colin Oliver, Viscount Sutton, is on the lookout for a wife. What he wasn't on the lookout for was a lovely woman who was jumping out of the library window at the Lord and Lady Malloran's soiree. When he discovers who this fleeing beauty is, he can't help himself but become reacquainted with her and play along with her game of not knowing who he is. However, he remembers the night years ago, when she tried to pickpocket him and failed miserably. She looked so different now than from the street urchin she was back then. Colin goes so far as to ask for a private tarot reading from Alexandra, and she complies. With luck he'll learn what she is doing posing as Madame Larchmont, and what happened from that night to now.

Alexandra and Colin have no idea how much danger they are in. Not only must they protect themselves from a ruthless murderer, but also they must protect themselves from the hot, fiery passion growing between them. Their past, present and future all play a big part in their relationship.

The passion between Alexandra and Colin is intense. D'Alessandro composed a delicate love story between them that will undoubtedly have romance fans swooning while holding their book! NEVER A LADY is a remarkably moving love story that has just enough intrigue, danger, lust and love wound throughout it. Throw in a touch of the paranormal and you've got yourself one book that you'll want to run out and read!

Julie Kornhausl