"Amusing Regency romance"

Running from a blacksmith who he cuckolded, Sir Alasdair MacLachan, accompanied by his brother Merrick and their friend Quin, duck into a fortune teller's tent. The Gypsy informs the three hedonists that their wicked past is catching up to them. Only Quin seems shaken by the prognostication.

That night young Esmee Hamilton arrives at Alasdair's home carrying an infant Sorcha Guthrie who she claims he sired. Stunned but recognizing the family eye color, he listens as Esmee explains their mother recently died so their stepfather tossed both out of his home as neither shares his blood. She cannot care for her half-sister as she must work as a governess. Alasdair believes her story though he fails to recognize the name of her mother. He hires Esmee to care for his offspring. As his brother and friend think he is a fool, Alasdair falls in love with Esmee though she constantly rips his skin for his transgressions; she hides from him that she feels the same way because she believes a leopard cannot change its spots nor can a rakish gambler.

Regency romance fans will enjoy this fine amusing tale starring a reprobate and a reformer. The story line focuses on the changing relationship between the lead couple as the heroine converts from disdain to love while Alasdair has no concept of what hit him since the Gypsy cursed him. Liz Carlyle opens her trilogy with a humorous novel that will leave her audience looking forward to what happens to Merrick and Quin.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted September 24, 2005