"The Rake and the Widow"

Valeria is a widow. She had been married to a man that she loved but who had never loved her so that they had a marriage in name only. Much to Valeria's dismay, he died calling for the woman he truly loved.

Teagan Fitzwilliams has a reputation for being a handsome rogue and a gambler. Due to circumstances of his birth and lack of fortune, he has been forced to live by his wits. He is not accepted in polite company.

Valeria Arnold catches her maid and a gentleman in some disarray in her barn. Embarrassed, she dismisses the gentleman and scolds her young maid. He is a stunning gentleman that she thinks of for several days after the incident. The more she ruminates about him, the more she decides to find out what passion is all about. She has the perfect plan. Knowing that Fitzwilliams will be leaving for London shortly, she seduces him thinking that she will never see him again. (Ha!) They make love with all the passion that Valeria could want.

A few months later, Valeria is invited to London by her grandmother-in-law with all expenses paid. All she can think about is possibly seeing Teagan Fitzwilliams again. She is unaware that he is thinking about her as well and that he is not quite the rascal that people think him. They become good friends. He has perfected his charming persona and rakish charm but he isn't sure that she and others will really accept him if he shows the real Teagan.

Teagan definitely has a reputation as a bad boy but the reader soon finds out that he isn't quite the rake that polite society makes him. As he is revealed little by little in MY LADY'S PLEASURE, we soon see him in a totally different light although I did get somewhat annoyed with him for his immaturity in not taking control of his life sooner. Although Valeria is a good kind-hearted woman, she knows what she wants from life. One thing she does not want is another loveless marriage like her first one. She values Teagan's friendship and is very attracted to the handsome Irishman. The fortunes of the hero and heroine are a little too easily solved but nevertheless MY LADY'S PLEASURE is a very enjoyable read. As always, the writing is fresh and carries the reader along for a fascinating and entertaining ride.

Reviewed by Marilyn Heyman
Posted May 4, 2002

Summary

Widowed Valeria Arnold has experienced little of the delights of love—until a chance encounter with half-Irish gambler Teagan Fitzwilliams leads to a stolen interlude that bedazzles them both. Wistfully they part, expecting never to meet again.

Then an unexpected invitation brings Valeria to London for the Season. Teagan knows he should keep his distance, lest Valeria's reputation be tarnished by his own, but when the lady requests his escort, he cannot refuse. Once again under Teagan's spell, Valeria must decide what she really wants: remarriage to a proper ton gentleman—or a passionate affair with this most improper rogue...