4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lady in waiting?, April 9, 2005
This review is from: Courting the Countess (Mass Market Paperback)
In her hazy condition, Countess Brook Meylan imagined she was dead;
her husband had finally succeeded in what he had threatened. He had
murdered her. But what she awoke to was the realization that it was
her husband who was dead, she was loosing her baby and she was barely
alive. To escape the merciless gossip in London, Brook retreated to
her family home on the Cornish coast to heal in private. It was a
seven day coach ride from London, and a sanctuary from the world.
With the death of her husband, Brook no longer yearns for the
companionship of a man.
Lord Mallory Claeg is a scoundrel whose fame as an artist and
libertine affords him many golden opportunities as a seducer of
beautiful women, especially widows. Only one woman has ever claimed
his heart, his wife who was killed in a duel. After her death Mallory
vowed that women would only fill his bed, never again his heart.
Brook has been away from London for two years, and has become
complacent with her solitude. Mallory, up to his old tricks, rents a
cottage on her estate. But for reasons he cannot fathom, Brook is
not just another conquest, he is secretly becoming obsessed with the
Countess. Brook is encumbered by Mallory's attention, and although
his reputation precedes him, she cannot dismiss the fact that he
makes her feel things she never thought possible. Should she open her
heart to him or seal it forever? When family matters send Mallory
and Brook back to London, Brook learns the sordid details of her
husband's death. And Mallory's roguish past rises up to challenge the
love they are starting to build. Brooke cannot deal with more gossip
so for a second time she flees London. Also for a second time Mallory's
heart knows pain, but this time he knows how to heal it.
COURTING THE COUNTESS is a return to the scandalous world of the
Bedegraynes' family series. Barbara Pierce has again journeyed into
the darker, wickedly sexual side of aristocratic romance. The
complexity of her characters will have readers, who are unfamiliar
with this series, glomming her previous books. This is historical
decadence with a flair. (RAW Rating: 3.5)
Reviewed by aNN
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
fine Bedegraynes Regency romance, October 31, 2004
This review is from: Courting the Countess (Mass Market Paperback)
In 1810, Lady Brook Meylan has remained in exile rusticating since her spouse and child died two years ago. Most people assume she mourns the loss of her husband, but she hated him for physically and mentally abusing her; she grieves for her child. She vows never again will a male freely do whatever he wants to do to her under the label marriage. To enforce her edict, Brook only shows up at family events hosted by her blood family and only when they really pressure and coax her.
Artist Mallory Claeg is known as a womanizer who knows how to treat a lady with respect especially in his portraits and his bed. When he meets Brook at a family event, he offers the widow pleasure, but she aloofly rejects his advances though this man is tempting to her. This is a unique experience for a man hitting a home run every time he swings his bat (the anachronism fits). Stunned and already half in love, Mallory begins COURTING THE COUNTESS.
Though on the surface, Barbara Pierce's latest Bedegraynes Regency romance seems similar to many of the sub-genre offerings, the author provides her tale a lift due to the wonderful likable lead characters, who quickly have readers wanting the best for them. Mallory is a delightful rogue who uses his painting reputation to sham an interest in the Cornwell landscape so that he can court the woman who heats his blood with an icy look that would freeze a penguin. Their relationship makes for a fun time for fans.
Harriet Klausner
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
