"Excellent addition to this family saga - funny and romantic."

James and Jason Sherbrooke are identical in every way. Extremely good looking, they make the ladies swoon and the men envious. James has been saddled with the affection and torment of Corrie Tybourne-Barrett for 15 years. Although they bicker and sling insults back and forth, James feels responsible for her.

Now 18, Corrie is to go to London for a little season. But before that can happen, she must trade her breeches and hats for gowns and bonnets. James finds the idea of Corrie becoming a lady highly unlikely and shares his opinion, unable to comprehend that time has slipped by and she's no longer a little girl.

Due to a death threat on James and Jason's father, Douglas, the Sherbrookes go to London to seek out answers. While there and attending a ball, James is shocked to see that Corrie has indeed cleaned up well. In fact, she's beautiful. Corrie follows James and when he's kidnapped, she charges in and helps him escape. After returning home several days later and finding Corrie is shunned by society, James knows what he must do. But convincing her is more difficult than he thought.

After they discover that James is included in the threat against Douglas, Jason is also harmed and the truth unfolds. The twins find themselves separated for the first time in their lives.

I found this latest Sherbrooke family novel to be excellently written, as well as hilarious and romantic, with a touch of mystery. I do hope the next story will have Jason as the leading man.

Reviewed by Tammie Ard
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted February 16, 2004

Summary

Dear Reader,

The Sherbrooke family saga continues with James and Jason Sherbooke, identical male twins who look exactly like their beautiful Aunt Melissande, and not at all like their father, the earl, which riles him to no end.

James, twenty-eight minutes older than his brother, is the heir. He is solid, is James. He's a student of astronomy, rides like a centaur, and unlike his brother Jason, enjoys learning the ropes of managing his father's estates. He no longer sows excessive wild oats, as his neighbor, Corrie Tybourne-Barrett, a brat he's known since she was three years old, looks forward to doing since she turned eighteen. When she nearly shoves him off a cliff, sneering all the while, James hauls off and spanks her.

A promising start. Then, unfortunately, the earl, Douglas Sherbrooke, is shot at. This leads to Georges Cadoudal, a Frenchman in the employ of the English War Ministry with whom Douglas had dealings some years before. But Cadoudal died in 1815, fifteen years earlier. Were there children who might want revenge against Douglas? But the question is why: Georges and Douglas parted friends-at least Douglas believed that they had.

Adventures compound; Corrie hurls herself into the thick of things. As for Jason, he swims like a fish, loves horses, wants to start a stud farm, still sows more wild oats than a man should be allowed, but finally meets a girl who stops him in his tracks. And then what happens?

You will have to read the book to find out. I hope you enjoy yourself. The characters are rich, colorful, and a hoot to boot. The mystery will confound you.