"Another Justiss regency that can't be missed"

Sinjin Sandiford is home from the war against Bonaparte. His finances are in shambles due to his mother's extravagances. The only thing he can do is marry an heiress although he is loath to do so. He finds the women of the upper class frivolous and foolish so determines to find a proper wife from the middle class. He visits his first love that has since married happily (THE WEDDING GAMBLE by Julia Justiss). She and her husband decide to help him find the perfect wife. The first person he runs into is the beautiful Clarissa Beaumont who is the celebrated favorite of the ton. She is bold, strong-willed and sometimes foolhardy. She is exactly the kind of person that Sinjin wishes to avoid.

Although Sinjin meets a charming middle class woman, there is no spark in their relationship. He tries to figure out why there is so much electricity in his dealings with Clarissa. Surprisingly, he finds much to admire in her. Her strength, beauty and kindness tantalize but she certainly is not the proper wife that he has been visualizing for himself.

Clarissa gets into one scrape after another with the handsome Colonel Sandiford coming to her rescue. But how could he possibly live without this enchanting creature? She is obviously not a proper wife but she may be the perfect wife for Sinjin. Julia Justiss has done it again. She has written another can't-put-it-down regency romance. Her writing is superior and her characters are captivating. It is obvious that she will not be writing fast enough for me. This is another of her Harlequin Historicals for my keeper shelves.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted September 13, 2001