"Delightful romance by a highly prolific author!"

Tired of being treated as a child by his narrow minded, overly critical father, Maxwell Longford, Earl of Merimont, has a final row with him, resulting in having his already meager stipend totally denied to him. Down to his last guineas and with no one willing to extend him any credit, Max indulges in a game of cards, thinking he may as well enjoy the last of his freedom before crawling back to his father and agreeing to his plans. Lady Luck hands Max not only a fat purse, but also with the deed to a country estate. Master of his own home and lands, Max is thrilled to finally be free of his overpowering father and in a position to try his hand at agriculture and estate management as he's always wanted to.

Hope Ashburton lives in the quiet countryside as a spinster, caring for her seriously ailing mother. Having grown up listening to her mother's general distrust of men, Hope doesn't see them in a favorable light. Even her cruel uncle, upon whose land they lease a dilapidated house, has done very little to assuage her predilections. Upon first setting eyes on Max, Hope finds herself accosted for he mistakes her for a servant. A ninety-nine year unbreakable lease assures Hope that she and her mother are safe in their home - but Max refuses to leave since he is the rightful owner of the land and the house now. Then he informs Hope that he has party of friends arriving to stay awhile - and some members of this group are courtesans! Hope's already low opinion of men drops even lower. However, the two soon reach a solution to their very unusual situation!

Allison Lane's THE BELEAGUERED EARL is an entertaining regency romance with colorful characters and plenty of unpredictable twists and turns. It was interesting to watch the interaction between Max and Hope as they sparred continuously and came to grips with their situation. The dialogue is witty and the plot moves along quickly, holding the reader's attention to the very end.

Ms. Lane has presented her fans with a wonderful story in THE BELEAGUERED EARL. I found it to be a delightful romance by a highly prolific author and well worth the read!

Reviewed by Leena Hyat
Courtesy Heart Rate Reviews
Posted July 4, 2001