A Dangerous Beauty (Widows Club, Book 1) [Mass Market Paperback]

Sophia Nash (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 29, 2007

Love, n. A temporary insanity curable by marriage or by the removal of the patient from the influences under which he incurred the disorder.
The Devil's Dictionary, Ambrose Bierce

A Courageous Outcast . . .

Rosamunde Baird has lost everything and has no choice but to accept an invitation to spend a season with a dowager duchess and her clandestine ladies club. Determined to stay in the shadows and live quietly, she has sworn never again to come face to face with adventure and temptation, two things that brought her ruin years ago. But then the Duke of Helston dangles before her the very things she craves most . . .

Lord Fire & Ice . . .

Mysterious Luc St. Aubyn has a much-deserved reputation for exuding blistering passion at night and frost the morning after. What demons drive this audacious war hero to hide secrets about the dowager's club and his devilish dictionary? When he's blindsided by his reactions to a virtuous siren, he has no choice but to reveal all during a scandal that will doom them . . . or save them, if only they dare to believe in love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Eight years ago one kiss from Lord Sumner, the Duke of Helston's heir, ruined Rosamunde Baird's life. She refused to marry him and was cut socially by her family and polite society. Now a widow in dire financial straits, Rosamunde once again finds herself flirting with scandal when she accepts an invitation to stay with Merceditas St. Aubyn, the dowager duchess of Helston. As the patron of the "Widows Club," the duchess's one goal is to help her ladies find the happy-ever-after endings they deserve, and she believes Rosamunde's future holds a romance with the current Duke of Helston, Lucifer St. Aubyn. But Rosamunde is determined not to destroy her carefully cultivated, quiet new life by even considering an affair with the devilishly tempting "Lord Fire and Ice." Beautifully nuanced characters and elegantly polished writing infused with a wickedly subtle sense of wit blend together brilliantly in RITA-winning Nash's exquisitely sensual, superbly romantic Regency historical. Charles, John

About the Author

Sophia Nash was born in Switzerland and raised in France and the United States, but says her heart resides in Regency England. Her ancestor, an infamous French admiral who traded epic cannon fire with the British Royal Navy, is surely turning in his grave.

Before pursuing her long-held dream of writing, Sophia was an award-winning television producer for a CBS affiliate, a congressional speechwriter, and a nonprofit CEO. She lives in the Washington, D.C., suburbs with her husband and two children.

Sophia's novels have won twelve national awards, including the prestigious RITA^® Award, and two spots on Booklist's "Top Ten Romances of the Year."

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 29, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061231363
• ISBN-13: 978-0061231360
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #741,977 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sophia Nash's first three Regency romances won eight national awards, including a RITA award, Romantic Times Award for Best Regency Romance, and a spot on the American Library Association's Top Ten Romances of the Year. Her first single title Historical from Avon/Harper Collins hits the shelves June 2007. Raised in America and France, Sophia began her writing career as a television producer for CBS, and also held stints as a congressional speechwriter, and a nonprofit CEO before pursuing her long-held dream of writing fiction. Readers may may enter contests and learn more about her national award-winning novels via her website: www.sophianash.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Put - OUTSTANDING, June 22, 2007

By 

M. Rondeau (West Springfield, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dangerous Beauty (Widows Club, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Spirited and passionate for life Lady Rosamund grew up loved and spoiled by an adoring father, but after an innocent and impulsive mistake her world came crashing down. To avoid a forced marriage with a man whom she knew loved another, she ran away and married a man who unbeknownst to her would show her over the next eight years what degradation and servitude was all about. Finally widowed and free without means to support herself she is saved by an invitation from the Dowager Duchess of St. Albyn to spend the season with her and her clandestine ladies club. Trying to stay in the shadows as much as possible and not draw attention to herself, she can't help being tempted by the dowager's sinfully handsome grandson, Luc St. Aubyn aka, Lord Fire and Ice.



A war hero, Luc St. Aubyn is a mystery to most not only hiding his secret pain behind a blistering cynical persona, but his secret profession as the mysterious author behind a sarcastic and cynical dictionary that has taken the ton by storm! As much as these two emotionally scarred individuals face off with outrageous dialogs meant to best one another, they only up the ante for a passionate coupling that eventually reveals truths that set them free to love and live.



Wow! I knew Ms. Nash from her terrific traditional regencies but she has upped the bar with this longer historical proving to me she is the real deal with a star that has definitely reached its pinnacle. This first novel in the `merry widows' series was filled with emotion and an impressive cast of extremely well developed characters from Rosamunde and Luc to the dowager duchess Ata who also proved to be a tiny force to be reckoned with!



The story was well conceived and flawlessly implemented in bringing Rosamunde back to the scene of her downfall. The times Rosamunde courageously held back her tears were the times I shed mine for her and the heartache she had endured. The reader will also relish the witty banter between Luc and Rosamunde as he tried to provoke her into letting loose the passionate and adventuresome spirit he recognized which she tried to hold back. Their passion was extremely palatable and steamy and you'll find yourself cheering Luc on as he initiates Rosamunde in the ways of love and passion between a man and woman as well as applaud the way Luc, Ata and the merry widows all gather together to defend and speak up to those who try to cause further pain to our courageous heroine. This is one read that promises a wealth of entertainment, laughter, poignancy, tears and joy that I heartily recommend. Write fast Ms. Nash, I can't wait to see what else you have in store for the `merry widows'!



Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization - for, www.ck2skwipsandkritiques.com

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lush, Lovely Definition of Relaxation, June 19, 2007

By 

C. Farley "seafaire" (Bakersfield, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Dangerous Beauty (Widows Club, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

For many readers a good thriller or (horrors!) romantic suspense is the way to go, but if you have more than enough stress in your life with no need to go out and purchase a book to add more--go no further than this terrific book. Written in a descriptive manner than takes you right into the heart of a beautiful setting, with caring individuals throughout the novel that are unpredictible and fresh, this writer is well worth your investment of time and $$$. The only reason I didn't give a higher rating is the "dreadful" secret takes a little tooo looong to be explained. This writer will be an auto-buy for me from now on when I need an escape from both the rigors of the real world and so many "urban fantasy" popular novels. Find a pile of fluffy pillows, some soft socks so your bare feet don't get chilled, a lovely cuppa' tea and take a break.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it!, June 10, 2007

By 

Theresa Duloup (Andover, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Dangerous Beauty (Widows Club, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)

Really, really loved this book! It was such a beautiful, passionate love story - the best I've read in a long time.

The characters were richly drawn - especially the hero who was so charismatic and darkly humorous. He was brooding, sensitive, and oozing sexuality. The heroine, Rosamunde was an intriguing woman who longs to live life to the fullest but was forced to repress her desires due to previous scandal. And the dowager duchess who has invited her to stay with her for the season as well as a group of other widows was absolutely hilarious. This book is deeply emotional, very sensual, and the prose is excellent. I highly recommend it.