"Fabulous historical romance"

In 1818 Winthrope Ryland shocks the siblings when he asks the older sister widow Viscountess Moira Tynsdale instead of the younger beauty Minerva Banning to dance. She is stunned, but Minnie comes to her rescue saying she still mourns her Tony, dead two years. Later a shook Moira tells her friend Octavia (Wy's sister-in-law) that she reacted stupidly to his request because no one ever asks her to dance. Later, Wy demands a kiss from Moira but she refuses believing he is using her to get to Minnie.

William Daniels, who conned Wy into stealing for him years ago demands Wy do one last job or else his brother North's political ambitions will be destroyed; William says he has proof that North worked for Bow St. and saved Wy from prison. William wants Wy to steal a tiara from Moira, but after sharing sex with her for the first time, she catches him acturally returning the tiara to her that he already purloined. She orders him to leave though they both are in love. He must deal with the blackmailer if he has any hope of ever having Moira in his arms again that is if he can persuade her that he can be trusted.

The solid cast makes IN THE NIGHT a fine Regency romance. Readers are blessed with a strong lead couple playing sexual chess, the return of Wy's three other brothers and wives of the married duo, and an interesting secondary character who happens to be gay and the heroine's best friend add depth to a fine tale. Though the final confrontation feels somewhat anticlimactic, sub-genre fans will appreciate fabulous historical romance.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 1, 2005

Summary

Every man has his weakness. And the Ryland brothers are no different. But Wynthrope Ryland has always believed himself an exception to that rule, an exception to every rule. It is the only way he can justify his former life -- a life of crime. Long ago he took advantage of his astounding ability to remain undetected in the most profitable of ways ... and since then, he has been motivated only by the hope of somehow turning his wrongs to rights. Until he meets Moira. Moira Tyndale, elegant, proud, even haughty, a beautiful viscountess in possession of a priceless crown of diamonds. She is to be the victim of his final theft, the one that will set the Ryland brothers free forever from the binds Wyn unknowingly created so long ago. And yet with only the slightest glance, Moira has him more enchanted than he ever believed possible. In her bedchamber -- the very place where the theft must take place -- he discovers passion heretofore unknown. She is his weakness. But will she be his undoing? There are dangerous seductions waiting ...