Melody Thomas, Wild and Wicked in Scotland

Wild and Wicked in Scotland

Melody Thomas

Avon, Jan 2007, $5.99

ISBN 0061129593

In 1874, American heiress Cassandra Sheridan attends her betrothal ball in Hampstead, England, but instead of a joyous, festive affair, the colonist is upset as her fianc , whom she has never met, fails to arrive. Though she knows this is an arranged match between her family money and his title as an Earl, she thinks Devlyn St. Clair is a pompous, selfish cad probably womanizing.

Rather than sit around wondering about the rogue she is engaged to marry, the steel-spined Yank decides to journey to Scotland. During her quest, she meets a dashing scoundrel, who vows to keep her safe even before he realizes that she is his American fianc e Cassie. Though she knows she should detest him, Cassie falls in love with her companion who reciprocates her feelings. However, he must complete his mission as a British spy in a cat-and-mouse game with the notorious Russians - Nicholas Ivanov and his consortium cohorts. The Cossack thirsts for an-eye-for-an-eye, with Cassie being the perfect revenge for Devlyn killing his son, though that was in the line of duty.

WILD AND WICKED IN SCOTLAND is an exhilarating, Victorian, romantic, espionage thriller starring a delightful, intrepid heroine and the spy who came out of the cold due to her love for him. The storyline is fast-paced as Devlyn knows he will do anything to keep Cassie safe as he fears that the duplicitous, clever Russian knows his weakness and will exploit it; she is the cheese that his adversary will move and manipulate and murder if it would destroy him. Melody Thomas provides a fabulous, one-sitting historical thriller.

Harriet Klausner