From Library Journal
When young, beautiful Louise Vandermeer hears that the prince her parents have arranged for her to marry is ugly and crippled, she agrees to have a shipboard affair with a mysterious Arab pasha who only meets her in total darkness. Unbeknownest to her, the pasha is really Charles d'Harcourt, who happens to be her fiance. Both she and Charles are consumed with guilt over the affair. The first part of the book is a darkly erotic version of "Beauty and the Beast." Unfortunately, neither the hero nor the heroine is very likable when the story opens. As the author's first title as Judith Ivory, the book is extremely well written; Judy Cuevas's Bliss (Jove, 1995) was a 1996 Rita finalist in the Long Historical category. She lives in Miami, Florida. Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


Book Description
An exquisite American heiress, Louise Vandermeer is beautiful, brilliant. . . and bored-which is why she has agreed to a daring adventure: to travel across the ocean to marry an aristocrat abroad. Rumor has it her intended is a hideous cad-a grim prospect that propels her into a passionate, reckless affair with a compelling stranger she never sees in the light of day.THE BEASTThough scarred by a childhood illness, Charles d'Harcourt has successfully wooed Europe's most sophisticated beauties. For a lark, he contrived to travel incognito on his own fiancee's ship-and seduce the young chit in utter darkness. But the rake's prank backfired. It was he who was smitten-while the hot-tempered Lulu, now his wife, loves only her shipboard lover, unaware it was d'Harcourt all the time! And Charles will never have her heart-unless he can open her eyes to the prince who hides within.


About the Author
Judith Ivory's work has won numerous awards, including Romance Writers of America's RITA, Top Ten Books of the Year, and Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice. With two degrees in mathematics, Ms. Ivory never expected to make her living writing novels. "How did this enormous stroke of luck happen? To live off imagination and invention? You'd think something so much fun would be illegal or at least fattening. I can't figure out what went so right."

ANNOTATION

American heiress Louise Vandermeer has agreed to marry a European aristocrat. Her intended is rumored to be a hideously ugly man, a prospect that propels her into a reckless shipboard affair with a compelling stranger she never sees in the light of day. Unbeknownst to Louise, her mystery man is actually her betrothed, Charles d'Harcourt, whose romantic prank backfires when he becomes smitten with his own fiancee. Original.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

An exquisite American heiress, Louise Vandermeer is beautiful, brilliant. . . and bored-which is why she has agreed to a daring adventure: to travel across the ocean to marry an aristocrat abroad. Rumor has it her intended is a hideous cad-a grim prospect that propels her into a passionate, reckless affair with a compelling stranger she never sees in the light of day.

THE BEASTThough scarred by a childhood illness, Charles d'Harcourt has successfully wooed Europe's most sophisticated beauties. For a lark, he contrived to travel incognito on his own fiancee's ship-and seduce the young chit in utter darkness. But the rake's prank backfired. It was he who was smitten-while the hot-tempered Lulu, now his wife, loves only her shipboard lover, unaware it was d'Harcourt all the time! And Charles will never have her heart-unless he can open her eyes to the prince who hides within.

Author Biography:

Judith Ivory "accidently" acquired two degrees in mathematics, then sold her first novel in 1987 and closed up the math books for good. She lives in Miami Florida, with her two children, two cats and a dog.

FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

When young, beautiful Louise Vandermeer hears that the prince her parents have arranged for her to marry is ugly and crippled, she agrees to have a shipboard affair with a mysterious Arab pasha who only meets her in total darkness. Unbeknownest to her, the pasha is really Charles d'Harcourt, who happens to be her fianc. Both she and Charles are consumed with guilt over the affair. The first part of the book is a darkly erotic version of "Beauty and the Beast." Unfortunately, neither the hero nor the heroine is very likable when the story opens. As the author's first title as Judith Ivory, the book is extremely well written; Judy Cuevas's Bliss (Jove, 1995) was a 1996 Rita finalist in the Long Historical category. She lives in Miami, Florida. (SM)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

No one should miss this one. — Pamela Morsi

A perfect fairy tale for grown-ups. — Susan ELizabeth Phillips