Connie Mason, The Price of Pleasure

The Price of Pleasure

Connie Mason

Leisure, Dec 2007, $6.99

ISBN: 9780843957457

In 1798, Reed Harwood is incarcerated in the infamous French Devil's Chateau for espionage; Reed expects to die as no one locked inside this hell hole survives. However, British agent Fleur "the Black Widow" Fontaine buys his freedom.

Reed has heard rumors that the Black Widow uses her purchases as toys before discarding them. However, instead Fleur is kind to him and emits a sense of purity about her. She never tries to seduce him, although he admits to himself he is seduced by her innocent lure. He returns to England where he learns he is now an earl, but the woman he loves remains in France. Risking his life, Reed goes back to France to bring Fleur home with him as his wife, but danger follows them across the Channel.

This exhilarating historical romance stars two terrific protagonists who risk their lives to save one another. Fleur is a fascinating character as her reputation is that of devouring male prisoners that she bought for her entertainment, but Reed quickly realizes that is a sham used by her to help her buy freedom for the imprisoned. Although a late suspense seems unnecessary, readers will appreciate Connie Mason's strong late eighteenth century romantic tale of love in two cities.