"fast-paced early nineteenth century romantic suspense thriller"
Meg Barrette was walking near the seafront of Folkstone
with a friend who has to go home while she goes on to
visit the lending library. Afterward, a storm strikes
before Meg can reach shelter; she slips and loses
consciousness. When she awakens she is on The Mary Rose,
a ship at sea with Captain Cosimo in charge. Cosimo
explains that his men were to pick up Ana, his espionage
partner, but instead erred. In fairness Meg looks like
the missing Ana, who Cosmo fears has been captured by the
French. Cosimo realizes that his guest is feisty and brave so he
wonders if she can replace Ana on a key mission. She
finds herself attracted to him though she knows he is the
wrong type of man for her. Still as he tries to seduce
her into cooperation on two fronts, the boudoir and the
French, he never expected to fall in love with what should
have been an expendable pawn. Instead he now has to
decide whether to save his Meg or the lives of a thousand
strangers. ALMOST A LADY is fast-paced early nineteenth century
romantic suspense thriller that takes off from the moment
that Meg awakens on the Mary Rose and never slows down
until after Cosimo has to decide between love and the
common good. Meg is an intriguing protagonist whose
courage even Cosimo admires though she adapts to espionage
perhaps too easily. Still she and her beloved rogue make
for fine high seas and on land anti-Napoleonic escapades. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted January 8, 2006
SummaryIn this exhilarating new novel of romance and intrigue,
New York Times bestselling author Jane Feather tells the
tale of an adventurous young woman and the hardened spy who
is unexpectedly—and most inconveniently—captivated
by her....
Independent and inquisitive, Meg Barratt wants nothing to do
with any stifling society marriage. Meg yearns for the kind
of passion that exists only in books—until a violent
storm lands her on the high seas with the most dangerous and
seductive man she's ever encountered...or imagined.
For Cosimo, women are objects, to be manipulated for
business or pleasure...sometimes both. But when the
seafaring assassin accidentally kidnaps Meg on his latest
mission, he must reconsider his position. Recruiting his
unsuspecting captive for the danger ahead is far more
challenging than he expected—and far more seductive.
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