"Great Regency"

Viscount Aubrey "Stony" Wellstone is broke with creditors breathing down his neck demanding reparations. He tries gambling, but that just increases his astronomical debts. He sees no relief until a friend Lord Parkhurst who he owes money to mentions escort duty he does not want to perform. Stony and Parkhurst agree to erase his gambling debts if he provides proper escort to a young debutante. Aubrey agrees and realizes he has a way to earn money without getting married or dirtying himself in trade. He will become an aristocratic escort.

Independent and feisty Ellianne Kane arrives in London seeking her missing sister. She prefers to ignore the Ton especially losers like handsome Stony, but needs the services of a professional escort if she is to make progress on her quest because she must be able to enter the homes of the elite. To his shock, Stony falls in love with his client, but how to persuade Ellianne that he wants her not her money when he knows to her he is a lowly paid escort.

A PERFECT GENTLEMAN is an invigorating Regency romance that turns the aristocracy upside down through Ellianne's disdain of the upper crust especially the cash strapped Stony. The story line is very humorous as Ellianne keeps boxing Stony's ears with fabulous set downs, but he keeps coming back for more blows and not because the fee is good. Ellianne is a wonderful feisty heroine, who pretends indifference to Stony insisting her heart is made of stone when it comes to the likes of him, but knows deep down that she him like he does her. Fans will value this amusing historical tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 15, 2004

Summary

Viscount Aubrey "Stony" Wellstone is at the end of his rope—and the end of his family's once-great fortune. Desperate, he tries his luck at the gaming tables, where an offer to exchange his debts for a gentlemanly favor leads to a profitable new profession...as an honorable escort accompanying the cream of the ton.

Fiercely independent Ellianne Kane would normally have no use for an upper-class attendant—but she is in dire need. Her younger sister has vanished while in London, and she aims to find her. Only Stony's knowledge of proper society can help her in her quest. And only Stony can prove to her that there is far more to him than money...