"fine historical Regency"

In 1814 Viscount Marcus North, a card carrying member of the Royal Brotherhood whose perquisite for joining is being an illegitimate son of the Prince of Wales, reenters polite society to sponsor his half sister Louisa. He becomes upset when Simon of Foxmoor courts Louisa because the duke is part of the Prince's inner retinue and he wants to keep his sibling away from the royal he detests for bedding his mom one week after his dad died.

Simon's half-sister Regina Trent intercedes on behalf of her brother. Marcus agrees to allow Simon to see Louisa only if Regina allows him to court her. Expecting the renowned "La Belle Dane Sans Merci" to refuse, she shocks him when she accepts his terms as he figured no one would want to be seen with the "Dragon Viscount" whose own mother spread nasty tales about him. As Regina and Marcus begin seeing one another, they fall in love, but he believes her brother has a sinister motive for courting his sister while she thinks her sibling is in love. Their siblings' relationship may destroy their chance for happiness.

The sequel to IN THE PRINCE'S BED, TO PLEASURE A PRINCE is refreshed by the intruding relationship between Marcus and the Prince; Marcus not only detests the Regent, but refuses to allow his half-sister to see the royal. The prime story line played out between Marcus and Regina is fun to follow and fits quite comfortably within the norm of the sub-genre. However, the secondary cast especially the half-siblings, his "regal illegitimate friends, his deceased mother, and a more humanized Prince then the usual caricature make for a fine historical Regency.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 31, 2005

Summary

Beautiful Lady Regina Tremaine has turned down so many suitors that she's called La Belle Dame Sans Merci. The truth: she won't marry because she carries a dark secret. She sees no good reason, however, why her brother shouldn't court the lovely Louisa North -- even if the girl's brother, the notorious "Dragon Viscount," objects.

Marcus North, Viscount Draker -- bastard son of the Prince of Wales -- is rumored to be a monster who holds women captive in his dark castle to have his way with them. He has been exiled from polite society for years. But when Lady Regina makes a plea on her brother's behalf, Marcus proposes an outrageous deal: her brother can court Louisa so long as Marcus can court Regina. Can the beauty and the beast survive a proper courtship when the devastatingly improper passion between them threatens to cause the scandal of the century?