Deborah Raleigh, Some Like It Brazen

Some Like It Brazen

Deborah Raleigh

Zebra, Mar 2007, $6.50

ISBN 0821778579

Used to getting anything she wanted, especially from her father, spoiled Lady Bianca Carstone is stunned when her sire informs her she will not marry the disreputable rake Lord Aldron. Deciding to teach her father a lesson and achieve her objective, Bianca sets in motion a plan to court Edward Sinclair, the new earl of Harrington.

Until the recent death of an unknown distant relative, Edward was a simple gentleman farmer. Now a highly ranked aristocrat, the Ton still belittles him as an upstart Peasant Earl. When Edward meets Bianca for the first time he feels an attraction like nothing he ever felt before. While she plays her scam out using him, he realizes she actually uses a hedonistic shell to hide how much she cares about others less fortunate than her. As they fall in love, Lord Aldron returns with a scheme to split the pair for his personal gain. Unless Edward trusts his beloved, Aldron will triumph.

Regency romance readers will gain plenty of pleasure with this delightful tale starring two likable protagonists who on the surface seem a poor match, but deep inside both share in common plenty such as caring about others. The character driven storyline is fast-paced, gripping the audience all the way though the final confrontation seems a bit too hasty. Still, Deborah Raleigh provides a wonderful tale of the Ton as her heroine proves SOME LIKE IT BRAZEN.

Harriet Klausner