"delightful Regency romance"

Justin knows he is just as wicked as his mother, who deserted him, his siblings, and their abusive father. When Justin was seventeen; his father said no decent woman would want him. Justin taunts him when suddenly his dad chokes and dies.

In 1817 young lords foolishly bet on who can bed the "Unattainable" who has rejected three proposals. His best friend Gideon wages 6000 pounds that Justin will fail to bed the Unattainable within a month. Justin recognizes the Unattainable as Arabella Templeton, a very tall lady who when he was eighteen and she was ten punched him in the nose; he still remembers thinking as he fled that one more shot like that one would have knocked him out. He goes up to her, but she is cold towards him. However, before he leaves he takes her hand as if he will kiss it, but instead bites it.

At a ball, Arabella rejects her fourth proposal; a teasing Justin realizes that she makes him feel alive especially when she warns him that she is much bigger now than when she beat him up so he better beware. As they fall in love, Justin believes he is undeserving of her leaving it up to Arabella to prove otherwise though he acts like the unattainable.

Regency romance readers will appreciate the delightful lead couple and enjoy the return of the stars of Perfect Bride. Arabella is a wonderful strong protagonist who needs her inner strength to help her beloved battle his childhood demons. Although Justin can become wearisome with his belief that he deserves nothing, fans will root for Arabella to persuade him otherwise.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted November 23, 2004

Summary

Perfection is in the eye of the beholder ... Proud of his reputation as a rogue, Justin Sterling intends tobe the first to bed "The Unattainable" -- the Season's most luscious debutante -- and win the wager that's the talk of the ton. However, he never expected the enchantress in question to be Arabella Templeton, who once stole his heart and owns it still. Now the notorious scoundrel will have to prove to her that his intentions are honorable ... while protecting her virtue from every other rascal in London. Arabella will marry only for love -- and she does not need her childhood nemesis to act as her self-appointed guardian! Though the arrogant cad seems sincere, she is well aware of his rakehell history and won't be swayed by his considerable charm and disarming good looks. For it would be pure madness for Arabella to ignore the voice of reason that whispers "beware!" and heed instead a traitorous heart that insists Justin Sterling would make ...