The Bio
Anna Wren, a simple widow who lives with her mother-in-law and a maid she took in years before, is sadly in need of money. When the job of secretary to a recently returned Earl opens up, Anna applies for the post. She works on transcribing the Earl's theories on agricultural practice at the Abby's library, gradually coming to know a man who has been deeply scarred by the loss of his family to small pox, and then his wife in childbirth years later. Anna thinks her only chance to be with Edward romantically is to play a demimonde in one of London's brothel houses, wearing a mask to disguise her features. A single night of pleasure to relieve her growing feelings for him, a man whose social standing is so far above her own as to make a match between them unthinkable.
The Review
I enjoyed this book. I don't think it lived up to its hype very well though. Although the narration of the book was top notch, I felt that the characters' feelings and pasts were not adequately explored, and parts of the book dragged on. It was not a very compelling read. There were some 'mystery' aspects to the book, but they never truly came to the fore even at the book's end (which featured a half heart, ill plotted, unsurprising 'blackmail' event).
This historical romance was good enough to pass the time, but I have read better books from the same genre - by authors such as Lynsay Sands (who's works often feature wonderfully comedic scenes), Teresa Medeiros and Gayle Callen, for instance. I might at some point in the future read more of this author's work, but I'm not going to log onto booksonboard and buy her back catalogue anytime soon, unfortunately.
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