UNDRESSED

Author: Kristina Cook ISBN: 082177980X 6/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: KENSINGTON/Zebra
Time Period: England & Scotland, 1819

A GENTLEMAN WITH A PLAN… Although Colin Rosemoor’s reputation for fast living is well earned, he is not guilty of cheating at cards, a charge that casts him from polite society. Since his accuser has convinced the lady Colin planned to marry of his guilt, Colin enlists the help of his friend, Hugh Ballard, to win her—and his honor—back. Yet a chance meeting with Hugh’s long-lost sister may change everything. An exceptionally intelligent Highland lass with an interest in astronomy and an independent streak, Brenna Maclachlan is wholly unique—and therefore irresistible. A LADY WITH A PROBLEM… Brenna is capable, outspoken, and perfectly able to manage the Scottish estate where she was raised. But she’s completely unprepared when an English earl and his wife appear on her doorstep and inform her that she is really their daughter. Whisked off to London, completely out of her element, she is gradually drawn to Colin—and horrified to learn her new family has betrothed her to Colin’s worst enemy! Yet the twists of fate pushing them apart quickly transform into passionate adventures that draw them closer than ever—and expose everything.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

I most always find myself in a dilemma when I read a Regency romance. I tend to agree with this historical era's critics who claim the period has been 'done to death'. On the other hand, I absolutely love the Regency period!

All the glamour, the tradition, the fashion (not to mention the hunky aristocratic heroes), the elaborate entertainments are right up my alley! Toss a feisty heroine (who has got to be a virgin) into the mix and I'm just about in hog heaven...

If a Regency is well done, I don't really care if the period's romances have become somewhat stale.

Kristina Cook's UNDRESSED has some really good things going for it. Aside from solid writing and great pacing, UNDRESSED's two lead characters are extremely well-done.

Colin Rosemoor, in particular, is a great hero—without being especially heroic. Accused of a crime he didn't commit, Colin is set afloat in a hostile ton where he used to be a darling. This conflicted character is at once both honorable and weak—a young man who has never been challenged to be more than a product of the idle peerage.

His challenge comes in the form of Brenna Maclachlan, a lady who was kidnapped at birth and raised in Scotland. Although most of London society looks down their stuffy noses at the awkward, somewhat course Brenna, Colin likes the brash, spirited, intelligent Brenna just fine. And while Brenna struggles to bond with her somewhat distant, newly found English family and with what she perceives as a useless ton, her one bright spot is her relationship with Colin.

Their shaky romance, another highlight of this story, is full of gobs of delicious sexual tension. Together, this mismatched couple is simply...more.

UNDRESSED, the third of Ms. Cook's Ashton/Rosemoor series, is not only a nice stand alone, it is also entertaining, sexy, with some nice twists and some interesting secondary characters. I hope Colin's sister Jane gets her own story. Oh, as Ms. Cook is a new-to-me author, I've got to find copies of the first two books in the series, UNLACED and UNVEILED...

Debbie Jett