"Engaging Victorian-American romance"

In 1895 governess Claire Orwell rejects the sexual advances of her employer Lord Nardees so he has her accused of theft. She is sent to Newgate where the Green Tooth keeps her safe from the advances of other inmates and also arranges for Queen Council Lord Northway to represent her in Magistrates Court where he gets her freed. Northway obtains a job for Claire to open up the Saratoga Springs, home of the wealthy Duchess of Beaumont. Claire gets Northway to liberate the Green Tooth, who cleans up as Olivia Sutton.

In New York, everyone assumes that Claire is the Duchess who has not been seen in several years. At first she tried to correct the error, but soon begins to enjoy her "new" life especially when wealthy tycoon Hank "Silver King" Cassidy arrives in town. As Claire and Hank fall in love, she wonders how to tell him the truth without losing him; knowing full well that the Duchess is coming soon and could have her incarcerated for impersonating her.

This engaging Victorian-American romance is a fun tale based on the classic "Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practice to deceive". The characters make the late nineteenth century in this Upstate New York resort town seem alive so that the audience can savor a taste of the past. Although a second subplot involving Nardees crossing the Atlantic seems unneeded though suspenseful, Americana readers will enjoy attending the season along side Claire and Hank.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 15, 2005

Summary

They were well-matched opponents in the game of seduction. Tempted by the idea of living a life she could only imagine, Claire Orwell decides to impersonate the flamboyant Duchess of Beaumont when she's mistaken for the merry widow. Or course, there's only one way for the innocent young woman to be convincing--she'll need to seduce the most sought-after man in Saratoga Springs. . .by playing hard to get. Wealthy, eligible and wildly attractive, Hank Cassidy has never found himself so mesmerized by a woman. After one look, he knows he must make her his. But the duchess is not an easy conquest, and he soon finds himself caught in a seductive game of cat and mouse. Until passion gives way to true love-and they discover there's far more to lose than either had bargained for. . .