"Delightful Love Story"

Lady Clarissa Crambray isn't totally blind, but without her spectacles her near-sightedness makes the world around her an entire blur. This condition has caused some very embarrassing moments for Clarissa even though her nasty stepmother has forbidden her to wear them stating that would-be suitors would not find her attractive wearing them. Additionally, a long-ago scandal when she was twelve doesn't help matters in attracting the most eligible of bachelors.

Adrian Montfort, the Earl of Mowbray has avoided society since he was badly scarred in the Napoleonic wars. Self- consciousness over his disfigurement added to his reclusiveness but at the urging of his family he now knew he must find a suitable wife. Finding Clarissa to be self- effacing, witty, as well as not being able to see his scars, he arranged to meet her secretly. When another unfortunate 'accident' found them compromised a wedding was inevitable, but when Clarissa received her new spectacles would she still feel the same for him? Of course, if Adrian didn't discover who was trying to harm Clarissa, the issue of her spectacles would be moot.

*** This was another charmingly delightful read that fans of Lynsay Sands have come to expect from this master wordsmith. The development of both the main characters was pure perfection and they were flawlessly cast together. I could empathize with both their feelings of inadequacy. Adrian, once so handsome the angels would have wept, would naturally feel self-conscious over his facial disfigurement, especially with the incident that occurred with one particularly unfortunate intimate dalliance. Clarissa was developed from the very beginning for the reader to instantly embrace and love. Putting these two dynamic characters together was nothing short of brilliant. In knowing Clarissa couldn't see his scars allowed Adrian to relax enough and discover that she wasn't quite the walking disaster everyone proclaimed. The addition of a bit of suspense in discovering who was trying to kill Clarissa was a bonus, and her forgiving nature towards those that had tried to hurt her only made loving this heroine inevitable. Suffice it to say, Ms. Sands is an author that writes a love story that puts a smile on my face from the beginning to the very end leaving me totally entertained and extremely satisfied.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted October 11, 2006

Summary

He's been warned that Lady Clarissa Crambray is dangerous. Stomping on toes and burning piffles, the chestnut-haired beauty is clearly a force with which to be reckoned. But for Adrian Montfort, Earl of Mowbray, this is just the challenge he needs. He can handle one woman and her "unfortunate past." Can any woman handle him?

Lady Clarissa Crambray wants a husband, but maybe not as much as her stepmother wants one for her. Doffing her spectacles might make a girl prettier, but how will she see? Yet, as all other suitors seem to shy away in terror, there comes a man to lead her to the dance floor. A dark, handsome blur of a man.