Stephanie Laurens, The Edge of Desire

In brief, I wouldn't let my 13 teen year old listen to it (audio book) but the seduction passages kept me walking on the treadmill further then I would have.

The Edge of Desire

Stephanie Laurens

Avon, Sep 2008, $7.99

ISBN: 9780061246364

Lord Christian Allardyce and Lady Letitia Vaux were in love with plans to marry once he returned from the war against Napoleon. However, while he risked his life, her father forced Letitia to marry for money; as he wasted the family funds on horrific speculation. When he returned from overseas in 1815, Christian is stunned and vowed to never marry; he signs on with six former "government" workers who knew that the adventure was over; these comrades in arms formed the Bastion Club whose perquisite for joining is to never marry. Ironically since chartering the club last year, his six 'brothers' have said I do.

In 1816, Letitia sends a note to Christian begging him to help her brother Justin who is accused of killing her spouse of eight years Randall. Although he hates her, he never stopped loving her; to his chagrin, he agrees to investigate. As they work together, prideful Letitia tries to hide from her sleuthing partner that she still loves him and never stopped thinking of him even when she was with Randall.

This is a brilliant last of the original magnificent seven Bastian 'brothers' tale. The storyline is a fast-paced Regency romantic mystery in which the lead couple remains on 'The Edge Of Desire' while following false leads, clues to nowhere and increasingly the evidence point to her brother's guilt. Stephanie Laurens is at her best with this superb second chance at love historical whodunit.

Harriet Klausner