One Night Is Never Enough
Anne Mallory
Avon, Feb 22 2011, $7.99
ISBN: 9780062017307

Anyone who meets Lady Charlotte Chatsworth assumes she has frozen tundra for a heart as she comes across as unfeeling colder than the polar caps. Her father owes a major gambling debt so he offers Charlotte to the highest bidder. She does not argue with her reprobate father because if she does not acquiesce, her sister Emily will be next on the auction block.

Gambling parlor owner Roman Merrick detests Chatsworth as a worm who refuses to accept responsibility for his actions and vices. Roman is attracted to Charlotte so he accepts her father's offer of a night with Charlotte for his vouchers. Roman and Charlotte spend the evening playing chess while she knows she wants him but she needs to marry up not down.

Although the theme of betting a female loved one as a stake has been done frequently in historical romances (see The Seduction by Julia Ross), Anne Mallory provides a fresh regency romance due to the strong cast especially the lead couple. Charlotte is a strong person sacrificing her virtue and a good match to protect her sister from her wastrel father; although she knows her efforts may prove temporary as dearest dad is a gambling addict. Roman is everything she should loathe in a man until she sees how kind and caring he is. Readers will enjoy their chess match including Trant, another suitor of sorts.

Harriet Klausner