Kimberly Logan, A Kiss before Dawn

A Kiss before Dawn

Kimberly Logan

Avon, Dec 2005, $5.99, 384 pp.

ISBN: 0060792469

In 1827, the Earl Tristan worries about the third robbery in less than a month by the Oxfordshire Thief. He goes to London where he meets his prot g Bow St. investigator Peter Quick, who is like a son to him. He asks Peter to come home to find the felon because the earl's pregnant wife Deirdre is upset and needs him to do so. Only for Deirdre would Peter return home; he fled four years ago because of his feelings for Tristan's sister Emily.

Emily is worried because she is the Oxfordshire Thief blackmailed into stealing out of fear the threats from an odious man to expose her mother will ruin her sibling. She runs into Peter who thinks she is still the most beautiful woman in the world. Emily finds she still desires Peter though he deserted her four years ago. They act cold towards each other. Tristan informs Emily that Peter is here to capture the thief; this frightens her as she knows he is dedicated and obstinate and fears Newgate awaits her, but must do what she feels is right.

This exciting suspense contains a touch of a police procedural as performed by the Bow St. investigator. The lead couple is a terrific pairing as they love one another, but he believes she deserves better than a rejected son of a whore augmented by the return of the stars from the previous book (see A KISS IN THE DARK). Though Emily falling for blackmail without any proof seems inane for an intelligent person like her, fans will enjoy this thrilling late Regency romantic suspense.

Harriet Klausner