"A well told tale"

In 1820 London, thirty-five years old Gyles Rawlings, the Earl of Chillingworth, decides it is time to marry. Unlike the Bar Cynster brood he considers close friends, but who have married for love, he plans to wed a bride who will add property to his estate. With that in mind, he has his businessman investigate prospective brides. Based on the report, Gyles chooses Lady Francesca Rawlings as his future spouse for a piece of property she owns that he wants to gain the deed.

The marriage is arranged as a business deal, but at the altar, Gyles fails to look at his bride until the vows are exchanged. When he lifts her veil, he finds not the docile Francesca he expected, but her wild cousin of the same name. Angry and feeling duped, Gyles wants to reject his wife, but cannot resist her siren's call and soon he learns what the Bar Cynster males now know that it is ALL ABOUT PASSION for one special person.

Though this tale's theme of a doubting rake falling in love is the same as several of her previous novels, Stephanie Laurens imbues freshness to her story line. The romance between the lead couple is ardent and having the "courtship" occur after their vows adds vigor to the mix, especially since Gyles has quite a self made mountain to surmount. Regency romance readers will enjoy this story and relish the upcoming books starring the distaff twin cousins seeking a man on a par with any Cynster male.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 23, 2001