Helpful Score: 4
Good read. Interesting idea for the time period. I like that the characters are average in appearance but see in each other things that others do not. A historical mystery with just enough sexy scenes without an over focusing on them.
Helpful Score: 3
This is another of Amanda Quick's light, sexy, historical romantic suspense novels. It is a quick, light, fun read that lives up to Quick's usual combination of a strong, intelligent, independent female protagonist and a dark and dangerous, apparently hard hearted male lead who, layer by laryr, revealed a heart of gold.
Helpful Score: 2
Two intelligent, lonely people work together to solve a mystery and slowly discover love.
Helpful Score: 1
At times I wonder if Charlotte was aware of her effect on Baxter! Poor Baxter! The storyline was good and so was the secondary charachters.
This book is o.k
Mystery surrounds this women and man who Invesigate a murder together. Finding secrets and clues along the way with an affair between the two.
Mystery surrounds this women and man who Invesigate a murder together. Finding secrets and clues along the way with an affair between the two.
Very enjoyable to read as it has humor and a quick plot and
well written.
well written.
Okay. He was burned by acid and she saved her sister from rape.
Fun book, love the strong women characters and how they make a life for themselves. Storyline is interesting and keeps a quick pace!
I love this one. Actually, I love all of Amanda Quick books.
not one of her best but i enjoyed it
Good book.
As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Amanda Quick is an expert with Regency romances.
great book. have read all of quicks and her other names (krentz & castle) This one like all her others was worth the read.
Another great Amanda Quick Novel.
This Regency Romance features Miss Charlotte Arkendale who was betrayed by her stepfather and forced to make her way alone in London with her 14 year old sister. She creates a business for herself - looking into the affairs of potential husbands for spinsters and widows who have recently come into money to ensure that the men are worthy of marriage. She wants to save them from the fate of her own mother's terrible match with her stepfather. When one of Charlotte's clients, Miss Drusilla Heskett, is killed, Charlotte feels that she must investigate the murder to ensure that the murderer was not one of the suitors that Charlotte had advised her to reject. Baxter St. Ives is also investigating Miss Heskett's murder - and Charlotte is his prime suspect. I really enjoyed this light romantic murder mystery. Charlotte is a heroine with a lot of backbone and almost no fear.
The author created a Prologue for both the heroine and a separate one for the hero. After her stepfather had run through the family fortune and been killed, Charlotte had to create a way to maintain herself and her younger sister, Ariel. To that end, she became a discrete investigator of men (who wanted to marry older women who suddenly came into some money).
At the time the story opens, Charlotte is interviewing Baxter St. Ives for a job as a man-of-affairs. What she needs is a forgettable face that is well-versed in asking questions. I gave the book a four stars for the following: I could not believe a woman of such strong opinions would change her mind about hiring St. Ives on such flimsy reasoning. Second, I did not find it realistic that they began an intimate relationship on such short acquaintance. I might have given the book a lower rating but the story is interesting and it moves quickly to a rousing conclusion.
At the time the story opens, Charlotte is interviewing Baxter St. Ives for a job as a man-of-affairs. What she needs is a forgettable face that is well-versed in asking questions. I gave the book a four stars for the following: I could not believe a woman of such strong opinions would change her mind about hiring St. Ives on such flimsy reasoning. Second, I did not find it realistic that they began an intimate relationship on such short acquaintance. I might have given the book a lower rating but the story is interesting and it moves quickly to a rousing conclusion.
charlotte arkendale knew all there was to know about men after all shed made a career out of steering marriage minded women away from untrustworthy members of the opposite sex yet nothing could have prepared her for baxter st ives an arresting stranger too daring too determined too dangerous to be her new man of affairs still perhaps he was the perfect person to help charlotte investigate the recent murder of one of her clients
From the back cover...
Charlotte Arkendale knew all there was to know about men. After all, she'd made a career out of steering marriage minded women away from untrustworthy members of the opposite sex. Yet nothing could have prepared her for Baxter St. Ives-an arresting stranger too daring, too determined, too dangerous to be her new man-of-affairs. Still, perhaps he was the perfect person to help Charlotte investigate the recent murder of one of her clients. So she gave him a chance, never realizing that Baxter, a gifted scientist, would soon conduct a risky exploration into the alchemy of desire, with Charlotte as his subject. But even as he sets out to seduce Charlotte, a twisted killer lies in wait, ready to part the lovers...or see them joined together forever-in death.
Charlotte Arkendale knew all there was to know about men. After all, she'd made a career out of steering marriage minded women away from untrustworthy members of the opposite sex. Yet nothing could have prepared her for Baxter St. Ives-an arresting stranger too daring, too determined, too dangerous to be her new man-of-affairs. Still, perhaps he was the perfect person to help Charlotte investigate the recent murder of one of her clients. So she gave him a chance, never realizing that Baxter, a gifted scientist, would soon conduct a risky exploration into the alchemy of desire, with Charlotte as his subject. But even as he sets out to seduce Charlotte, a twisted killer lies in wait, ready to part the lovers...or see them joined together forever-in death.
