"Enjoyable Regency romance"
In 1797 England, angry aristocrat Geoffrey Selwyn believes
his wife cheated on him though Anna swore she did not.
When she gives birth to a boy, he takes the boy away with
him. Heartbroken she gives birth a few minutes later to a
twin a girl she names Althea. Fearing Geoffrey will steal
Thea if he learns about her existence, Anna flees to the
British West Indies. Twenty-three years later, Anna has been dead for a decade,
but Thea is a partner in Merewether Shipping with her
Uncle Ashby. Pierson Drake needs a blacksmith to fix his
steam engine so that he can sail back to Liverpool in a
timely manner to insure his investors make their money.
He ignores Thea who offers to help him until he learns he
needs her to hire the blacksmith. She assists him under
the stipulation that he takes her to London because she
wants to look at several discrepancies in the business
books. He is blackmailed into agreeing. On the voyage
over they fall in love and he wants to marry her, but she
refuses because she knows what an inflexible male can do
to a loving female. TOUCH ME is an enjoyable Regency romance starring two
likable protagonists carrying plenty of relationship
baggage; hers as described above and his being an
illegitimate offspring. The story line is character
driven as the cast especially the support players vividly
brings out England, the West Indies, and to a lesser
degree sailing the Atlantic in 1820. Fans of historical
tales will want to journey with Lucy Monroe as her
wonderful tale will touch readers hearts, making them look
forward to future passages starring the heroine's half-
sister and twin. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted August 25, 2005
SummaryMiss Althea Selwyn, born in England and raised in the West
Indies, is quite unlike any lady of Pierson Drake's
acquaintance. Outspoken and opinionated, she can curse like
a sailor and add up a column of figures in her head. Drake
realizes immediately that there is more to her than meets
the eye, and he is pleased to have the opportunity to
unravel the mystery when she cleverly maneuvers him into
taking her back to London on his ship.
Drake is shocked to find himself completely enthralled by
Thea's combination of passion and innocence, intelligence
and loyalty—and a stubborn recklessness that could put
her in harm's way. For Thea is determined to discover who
has been embezzling money from the shipping venture she
manages with her uncle—and someone is willing to do
whatever it takes to ensure she never reaches London alive.
Luckily Drake is no ordinary pampered English gentleman. He
was raised under a cloud of scandal, and he's had to scheme
and fight to attain his present position of wealth and
power. Now it will take every asset at his command to keep
Thea out of trouble—and in his arms where she belongs.
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