LOVE WITH THE PERFECT SCOUNDREL

Author: Sophia Nash ISBN: 9780061493287 3/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency

Twice jilted in the last two years, the achingly beautiful yet stoic Countess of Sheffield has given up on love. Now she's no longer capable of maintaining the elegant, serene facade with the members of the Duchess of Helston's secret circle of friends. And so she flees…only to encounter wretched disaster during the carriage ride north. But little does Grace know that once she faces all fate has tossed her way, she will find a new life…with a tall, rugged stranger who not only saves her life but forces her to dig deep into her hidden reserves of desire and fortitude to blossom into the woman she was destined to become—a lady willing to sacrifice all for a mysterious, yet powerful man who insists he is nothing more than a perfect scoundrel.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

From the first page, LOVE WITH THE PERFECT SCOUNDREL is enchanting. Instantly the reader is introduced to Grace, a woman on the run from the mistakes Cupid has delivered to her. She is a sympathetic character, someone who sees her past with perfect clarity and who has a mission in mind to safeguard her heart against similar issues in the future. But even the best-laid plans can go awry, and a carriage wreck leaves her good intentions by the wayside.

Michael is a man who defies convention. He cavorts with known thieves and hides secrets from Grace, convinced that if she knew the truth he would never be able to convince her to take him seriously. They have a passion that sizzles, as a meeting beneath the mistletoe illustrates quite memorably. Grace, a rich woman whose social standing defies inspection, must decide if living with a scoundrel is a better—or worse—option than taking her chances with other, more suitable, men.

The writing is flawless, the story entertaining and the characters, even the seamier ones, jump right from the pages. I enjoyed this novel completely, loving the fact that, for a few hours at least, I was in another time and place surrounded by some delightful characters. Very well done!

Kay James