"Mighty Fine Historical - Sensual"

Beautiful daughter of a respected barrister on the King's Bench, Christina Bower was attuned to society and in her very first season understood her prospects. Of common- birth she knew that the very dashing Adrien Hunt, seventh Earl of Kewischester was far beyond her reach. Unfortunately she found him totally intriguing and made her feel things she'd never before experienced. Adrien's very scandalous reputation as a libertine made even her title mad father shake his head in disgust, so papa was delighted when Christina settled for the eldest son of a baron.

It would be three years later before their paths would cross again, when Christina would dare to admit to herself that she found the dangerous rogue irresistible. The more she fought the attraction, the more Adrien pursued. Their games would become in some ways a war of dominance, as Christina entered into Adrien's dangerous world of intrigue but only time would tell if they could both emerge as victors in the battle of love.

*** Sometimes publishers re-issue authors older books and for this reason of bringing back the previously entitled STARLIGHT SURRENDER, the folks at Avon should be commended for a brilliant decision that is sure to please and enthrall a whole new generation of readers. I LOVED this story! The passion, the sensuality, the danger and the excitement kept the action in overdrive with some of the most memorable seductions and steamy sensuality I've read in a long time. Both Adrien and Christina were fabulously complex characters. Christina is older, not quite as naive as her when she first met Adrien. Unaware, she had accompanied her cousin to an earl's estate in order to lick her wounds after being sued for divorce for not being able to give her husband an heir. Christina hadn't realized that the absentee earl was Adrien. She was not immune to the charms of Adrien and somewhere in the back of her mind she knows she should run. Giving into her feelings would be tantamount to inviting heartbreak as he would never consider her as a wife and she could not tolerate becoming his mistress. He was a man whose affairs were legendary, his mistresses legion, and though she knew how glorious it might be, in the end he would break her heart as surely as he himself would eventually need to marry and produce a legal heir.

Set during the French Revolution, Christina is eventually caught up in Adrien's struggle to save imprisoned French aristocrats from 'Madame Guillotine'. Adrien is an enigma to Christina, whose actions and attention clearly tell her how much he loves her yet he can't say the words and has no intention of marriage. Handsome as sin, fabulously wealthy, a quintessential arrogant aristocrat, freely acknowledging several illegitimate children whom he clearly cares for, but is confounded that Christina is not satisfied in remaining his mistress. He clearly needs a boot in the behind to straighten him out -- but I loved him anyhow!

Ms. Ivory's prose is flawless in depicting the lush backgrounds of the magnificent estates and boudoirs to the dark and mysterious alleyways of Paris as she vividly paints the characters living and loving in all these fascinating locales. Ivory pens a classic full bodied sensual romance that is a testament to why I love and read romance! Outstanding and highly recommended.

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization Reviewing for www.themysticcastle.com

Reviewed by Marilyn Rondeau
Posted November 29, 2006