"wonderful May-December regency romance"

In 1813 single mother widow Countess Beatrice Campton chaperones her niece Emily to a masquerade party where she is dressed as Artemis. Marquess Thayne just back in England after eight years in India wants her; boldly Gabriel tells Artemis that. They surrender to their desire sharing a pleasing tryst.

Not long afterward, the latest catch of the season Gabriel searches for his masked lover as he knows she shared his passion as this is not JUST ONE OF THOSE FLINGS. He also surprisingly finds himself attracted to the standoffish older Beatrice especially when he looks into the heat her eyes emit. When Gabriel realizes that Beatrice, not a simpering debutante, is his beloved lover, he decides to go all out to make her his knowing full well the scandal that will percolate and even understands the difficulty of convince his beloved. He tries to persuade one of the card carrying Merry Widows that they can share a life together especially IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT if she would take a chance on love with his best weapon, kisses.

Once again Candice Hern provides readers with a wonderful May-December regency romance filled with humor, wit, and romance as the catch of the season courts the Merry Widow. The story line is fast-paced; however, the interrelationships between the fully developed cast (not just the lead couple) make for a fun intelligent historical. Fans will know the sub-genre is hale and hearty after reading Candice Hern's latest tale.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted July 25, 2006

Summary

The Merry Widows are thought to be the finest ladies of society... though secretly their thoughts are quite unrefined.

With the comforts of wealth to replace the absence of their husbands, the Merry Widows need not trouble themselves again with marriage. But that doesn't mean these five friends must deprive themselves of their most basic need—physical pleasure. So they each agree to take a lover...or two.

Beatrice, Lady Somerfield, is too busy chaperoning her headstrong niece and overseeing her own young daughters to find time to take a lover—until one night at a ball when a masked stranger makes her realize the delights she's been missing. When she learns his identity, however, an affair seems impossible. He is Gabriel, the Marquess of Thayne, just returned from India, the catch of the Season—and the one man half the debutantes of London (including Beatrice's niece!) want for a husband.

But Thayne is thoroughly captivated by Beatrice, and their attraction leads to several mutually satisfying encounters. As he searches for a bride among the Season's young ladies, he finds himself increasingly drawn to the beautiful, sensual, more sophisticated Lady Somerfield, and suspects his mistress might make the perfect wife. But will Beatrice's deepening feelings for Thayne be enough to overcome her vow never to marry again, and the scandal once their relationship is revealed?