Stephanie Laurens, To Distraction

To Distraction

Stephanie Laurens

Avon, September 2006, $7.99

ISBN 0060839104

In London, four of his founding brothers who made up the Bastion Club, chartered to fend off "marauding mamas", have succumbed to love and marriage. Retired espionage agent Viscount Jocelyn Deverell vows never him, even as he knows his aunt is the family mole trying to do him in with a wife; what he remains unaware of is she has chosen feisty independent Phoebe Malleson as her nephew's perfect match.

Phoebe is a difficult choice because she distrusts men, who she believes all use and abuse helpless females. In any event, she is too busy to care how much she desires Deverell; still, he plans to court her anyway. Instead she serendipitously rescues maltreated servants from wealthy miscreants; she knows the male Ton would never support such a venture, especially led by a crusading female. However, Jocelyn realizes he loves Phoebe, but must overcome her stereotyping of men and persuade her he would not harm her. When she becomes embroiled in a dangerous scenario involving operation rescue, only her beloved Deverell can keep her safe and save the abducted female servants.

Though similar in many ways to the previous Bastion adventures, TO DISTRACTION is a fine Regency romance due to a refreshing and fascinating villain. The storyline is fast paced, as Phoebe ignores her feelings, her desires, and her man, to go about her dangerous underground activity to rescue abused servants; while Jocelyn accepts his feelings, his desires, and his woman as he goes about his "dangerous underground" activity to pursue her. Stephanie Laurens provides a fine Bastion romance.