"Exciting Regency Romantic Mystery"

In THE PAID COMPANION Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Amanda Quick, proved again to me why she has remained my number one author for many years. I read THE PAID COMPANION in one sitting, as I couldn't wait to see what this wonderful couple was going to do next.

Once again Quick creates a hero, Arthur Lancaster, Earl of St. Merryn, who while not handsome, is in every other way a very exemplary hero. Arthur captured my interest from page one. In the prologue he is at his club when he is told that his betrothed has eloped. All of the gentry present watch him with bated breath, each wanting to be first to spread the news of his reaction. Arthur disappoints them, when he calmly walks into the card room and spends the night winning hands. Of course, this just enhances his legend for eccentricity in the fascinated Ton.

Arthur is clever, funny, brave and compassionate--what more could a reader want in a hero? But, what good is a wonderful hero if he doesn't have a heroine to match? In Elenora Lodge, Quick has given Arthur a woman who is every bit as compassionate, clever and brave as he. When they meet, both are immediately drawn to each other and trust is given early on.

For me the early trusting of each other is what makes Quick (Krentz) books so enjoyable. I detest books where trust isn't given until the end of a torturous romance. How can you have love without trust?

Arthur is investigating the murder of his Great-uncle and he needs someone to pose as his fiancee, while he searches for the villain. Logically, Arthur goes to a bureau that provides paid companions, where he hires Elenora. She is having trouble finding a new position, because she does not have the subdued biddable air that is expected of a paid companion.

Elenora is recently impoverished because her stepfather stole her inheritance and lost it in a mining scam. She is left homeless and then quickly jilted by her fortune hunting fiancee. But she quickly rebounds and it is obvious that she is strong enough to deal with the Earl of St. Merryn.

Elenora while not beautiful, is full of energy and immediately sets about bringing light to Arthur's gloomy home. She quickly picks up on a scam going on under Arthur's nose and stoutly defends the victims; earning their undying affection.

I especially enjoyed the secondary romance between Arthur's friend Bennett and his relative Margaret; who is supposed to be Elenora's chaperone. It was fun watching the widowed Margaret find love for the first time.

The action in THE PAID COMPANION is quick moving, but Arthur and Elenora's romance never gets lost in the shuffle. The focus stays on them as they try to unmask a murderer before he kills more people.

Arhur and Elenora are well grounded in their world. Arthur and Bennett's relationship is a delight. While Elenora has two confidantes who are also obviously not cut out to be paid companions either, I hope that this is not the last we see of Lucinda and Charlotte or for that matter Elenora.

There are not as many sexual scenes in THE PAID COMPANION, as in past Quick's, but there is lots of banter and sexual tension which I enjoyed a lot. Quick writes conversation very well and the quickness of Elenora and Arthur's wits make them a well matched pair.

In short, I really enjoyed THE PAID COMPANION, which is Quick's first book for Putnam. This Quick is going on my comfort reread shelf next to Ravished and Rendezvous--good company indeed.

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted May 18, 2004

Summary

The Earl of St. Merryn needs a woman. His intentions are purely practical—he simply wants someone sensible and suitably lovely to pose as his betrothed for a few weeks among polite society. He has his own agenda to pursue, and a false fiancée will keep the husband-hunters at bay while he goes about his business. The simplest solution is to hire a paid companion.

Finding the right candidate proves more of a challenge than he expected. But when he encounters Miss Elenora Lodge, the fire in her golden eyes sways him to make a generous offer.

Her sorry financial circumstances—and dreams of a life of independence—convince her to accept. But St. Merryn appears to be hiding a secret or two, and things seem oddly amiss in his gloomy London home. Elenora soon discovers that this lark will be a far more dangerous adventure than she'd been led to believe. And the Earl of St. Merryn will find that the meek and mild companion he'd initially envisioned has become a partner in his quest to catch a killer—and an outspoken belle of the ball who stirs a bothersome passion in his practical heart.