From Publishers Weekly
Bubbling with both humor and romantic tension from the hero and heroine's first encounter to their final embrace, this cunning tale of an adventure-seeking bluestocking and the "respectable rake" who tries to curb her activities will put satisfied sparkles in the eyes of romance readers. When a trio of sisters, related to Lord Helmsley through marriage, descends on his house for their first London season, Helmsley is confident he can marry them off quickly and return to his own pursuits. But the eldest sister, Marianne, wants to "experience life" and undertake exotic adventures without the hindrance of a stuffy husband. To attain financial independence, she pens anonymous, "absolutely true" newspaper stories about a na‹ve miss and her Heathcliff-like guardian. Adding spice to her column, Marianne proposes that Helmsley teach her about kissing and such before she turns to another man for lessons. Helmsley not so reluctantly agrees, but when he feels he's obligated to propose marriage, Marianne turns him down flat. A delightful battle of wits ensues as Marianne attempts to reconcile her desire for adventure with her newfound affection. Alexander (The Husband List) is a rising star in the Regency arena, and her fan base can only grow with this rollicking romance. (May 8)Forecast: Dispelling the notion that Regencies are on the decline, fans of Julia Quinn and Christina Dodd will turn out in full force for this pleasantly fresh read.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Faced with the chore of looking after his brother-in-law's three country-bred sisters during their first London Season, Thomas Effington, Marquess of Helmsley, hits upon a plan to reduce his inconvenience he simply will find matches for them as quickly as possible. But Lady Marianne Shelton has no desire to be married off. After all, she is an aspiring writer and intends to have adventures and experience life instead of being tied down by a husband. But when her first adventure turns out to involve a bit too much brandy, a stolen kiss, and her very attractive host and eventually evolves into "lessons in life," she suddenly finds herself reassessing her goals. "An aging, intelligent, bluestocking" spinster heroine who likes it that way, an arrogant, "respectable rake" who learns more from his "lessons" than he teaches, and two delightful sisters who are surely destined for stories of their own combine in a lively, laughter-laced, sensual Regency romp that has a bit more to it than some. The snippets from Marianne's anonymous newspaper column, "The Absolutely True Adventures of a Country Miss in London," which introduce selected chapters, are an added plus. Alexander (The Husband List) has written several earlier romances and lives in Omaha, NE. Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

FROM OUR EDITORS

Here's a regency romp by the author of The Husband List. Lady Marianne Shelton feels that ￯﾿ﾽThe Absolutely True Adventures of a Country Miss in London￯﾿ﾽ is an excellent title for the work she hopes to have published as a newspaper serial. Unfortunately, her account of a perfectly proper visit to the Tower of London was too tame to satisfy her editor. When Lady Marianne is given one more chance, she's determined not to fail. She'd be at an utter loss if it weren't for Thomas Effington. The dashing Marquess of Hemsley has been blackmailed into offering hospitality to Marianne, her two sisters, and their chaperone for their London Season. While he claims distaste for the whole enterprise, the midnight kiss he steals from Marianne makes an excellent first chapter for her adventures. But Marianne's plans for a literary career and Thomas's plans to find a husband for the most troublesome of the Shelton sisters are thrown into confusion, when their scandalous ￯﾿ﾽmarriage lesson￯﾿ﾽ turns into a lesson in love.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Lesson #1: Never Tempt a Lady Become a bride? Never! Lady Marianne Shelton has come to London to experience life, and marriage is not part of her plan. To finance her independent future, the pretty country miss pens a series of anonymous stories. Soon they are the talk of the ton-and only she knows that her wicked hero is based on none other than bold, brash Thomas Effington, the future Duke of Roxborough.

Lesson #2: Never Deny a Marquess, Thomas has been thrust into le of Marianne's protector. When she threatens to experience life with the first willing rogue to come along, he decides the best recourse is to tutor her himself. And when he accidentally compromises her honor, he's willing to accept their only recourse: a wedding. Marianne claims she wants no part of marriage, but her intoxicating allure and disarming willingness make her irresistible. And now Thomas is determined to teach her a lesson: that true love will last forever.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Bubbling with both humor and romantic tension from the hero and heroine's first encounter to their final embrace, this cunning tale of an adventure-seeking bluestocking and the "respectable rake" who tries to curb her activities will put satisfied sparkles in the eyes of romance readers. When a trio of sisters, related to Lord Helmsley through marriage, descends on his house for their first London season, Helmsley is confident he can marry them off quickly and return to his own pursuits. But the eldest sister, Marianne, wants to "experience life" and undertake exotic adventures without the hindrance of a stuffy husband. To attain financial independence, she pens anonymous, "absolutely true" newspaper stories about a na ve miss and her Heathcliff-like guardian. Adding spice to her column, Marianne proposes that Helmsley teach her about kissing and such before she turns to another man for lessons. Helmsley not so reluctantly agrees, but when he feels he's obligated to propose marriage, Marianne turns him down flat. A delightful battle of wits ensues as Marianne attempts to reconcile her desire for adventure with her newfound affection. Alexander (The Husband List) is a rising star in the Regency arena, and her fan base can only grow with this rollicking romance. (May 8) Forecast: Dispelling the notion that Regencies are on the decline, fans of Julia Quinn and Christina Dodd will turn out in full force for this pleasantly fresh read. Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal