Julia Ross, Games of Pleasure

Games of Pleasure

Julia Ross

Berkley, Nov 2005, $14.00

ISBN: 0425205657

Lord Ryderbourne is stunned when Lady Belinda rejects his proposal of marriage, as she gave no hint that his attentions were unwanted; instead she accepted a proposal from impoverish Lord Asterly, while informing Ryder she felt he was too dangerous and powerful for him. On the way home, his ire and humiliation vanish when Ryder notices a dinghy containing a nearly naked female that looks ready to tip over. He rescues the battered unconscious woman, who he assumes is running from an angry abusive husband. Ryder takes her to the nearby Merry Monarch Inn, where after she awakens they spend the night together. In the morning she is gone.

When Ryder continues his journey home, he finds a note from her thanking him as Sir Lancelot, and informing him that she is Miracle Heather, the most notorious harlot in London, and now a killer too. Unable to resist, the heir to a dukedom follows Miracle's trail, not yet realizing the danger to his heart from a woman he is falling in love with, and from those who pursue her under the cloak of justice, but want to insure she is silenced from revealing secrets that could harm them.

GAMES OF PLEASURE is an exciting historical romantic suspense thriller that never slows down from the moment that Ryder rescues Heather from the small boat, until the final confrontation. Ryder is a courageous heroic individual, while Heather is a caring damsel in distress. Though their first night together, when she was battered and unconscious, just before their NIGHT OF SIN seems implausible, fans will not care, as Julia Ross provides a pleasurable passionate tale of love on the run.