"Heartwarming romance"

Elizabeth Harcrest has loved James Dinsmore since they met as children, but he prefers being a rake. However, James' sister Anne detests the Harcrests ever since Elizabeth's brother Rafe married someone else. Anne arranges for Elizabeth and James to be caught in a loving hug.

James refuses to marry Elizabeth. Rafe demands satisfaction as James dishonored his family. In the subsequent duel between two men Elizabeth loves, Rafe wounds James. While convalescing, James begins to ponder how he lives and how he scandalized innocent Elizabeth. He also realizes he misses her, which turns into a revelation that he now knows he loves Elizabeth. While working on a dangerous mission James wonders how he will convince his beloved to forgive his cavalier attitude, as he wants her forever.

Though the sequel to sequel to the delightful SOUVENIR COUNTESS (Rafe's story) has less of the French Revolution as a backdrop SOUVENIR OF LOVE is an enjoyable late eighteenth century romance that will bring plenty of pleasure to sub-genre readers. The story line focuses on the changing attitude of James who knows he done her wrong and is being punished not by the Ton, but his own heart. He makes the novel work though his sister is a classic rat. Elizabeth is a great character and fans will appreciate Joanna Novin's latest charmer due to the metamorphosis of the lead male.

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 25, 2004

Read an Excerpt

Summary

Lady Elizabeth Harcrest never gave a whit about what other people thought—until she found herself an outcast among the ton. Now she'll do anything to escape the petty gossip—even dupe the incorrigible man who helped ruin her reputation into taking her on a wild adventure abroad....

Despite his fiery attraction to Lady Elizabeth, James Dinsmore has other things on his mind...like smuggling a fugitive aristocrat out of revolution-torn France. But when he's blackmailed by the ravishing beauty, he's forced to take her across the channel. By the time he realizes how dangerous—and distracting—it is to have Elizabeth by his side, it's too late. Now he must find a way for them to escape France with their lives—and to convince Elizabeth that his love is her destiny....