Thursday, March 6, 2008

Never Trust a Scoundrel-Gayle Callen

Never Trust a Scoundrel
Gayle Callen
Avon, Apr 2008, $6.99
ISBN: 9780061235054

In 1845 in a game of cards, Lady Banbury assured of her hand raises the stake by anteing up her daughter. However, to her chagrin, Daniel Throckmorten takes the pot, which includes the virtue of Miss Grace Banbury.

Grace is stunned as not only is this out of character for her prim and proper mom; she lost to a noted rake whose family is always embroiled in scandal. However, Daniel may be amused by the affair, but he will never force a female into his bed. Instead his plan is to seduce Grace so that she voluntarily graces his bed. Grace assumes she can ignore his seduction and regain her freedom, but Daniel’s kisses are hard to resist as she has fallen in love with the scoundrel who keeps raising the ante.

The “introduction” between the lead couple is a wonderful unique concept (unless you’re Grace) that brings a distinct freshness to the nineteenth century tale of the romance between a rake and an innocent. Daniel and Grace prove to be much more than the stereotypes as they gamble on love while the eccentric support cast especially her gambler of a mother and his out of control family enhance this entertainingly brisk early Victorian romance.

Harriet Klausner

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