A Dangerous Man [Mass Market Paperback]

Candace Camp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2007

Eleanor has always been looked on askance as 'the bossy American' by London society, the very antithesis of British virtue and propriety. Now, at the death of her husband, she has been appointed trustee to his estate, and the proverbial fur is flying. Infuriated, her mother-in-law sends Lord Anthony Neale to put an end to Eleanor's nefarious gold-digging ways.

Anthony and Eleanor clash immediately. He thinks she's a siren who uses beauty to entrap men. She thinks he's a haughty, cold English snob. Despite their initial misgivings, they are increasingly drawn to each other. But someone is threatening Eleanor, and as the break-ins and other malicious activities begin to pile up—it's Anthony who tops the list of probable suspects!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The prolific Camp again pits an independent American heiress against the staid traditions of English aristocracy (as in So Wild a Heart) in this winning Regency mystery romance. Already grieving over the tragic drowning death of her husband, the gifted composer Sir Edmund Scarborough, the strong-willed widow Eleanor, known among London society as "the bossy American," is unprepared for the enmity of his family. When Edmund's overbearing, histrionic mother learns Edmund had appointed Eleanor the trustee of his estate and that she is bringing his ashes—and not his body—home for burial, she accuses Eleanor of murdering her son and sends her brother, Lord Anthony Neale, to investigate. Eleanor and Anthony clash immediately, but a rash of mysterious intrusions draws the two closer, and they begin to suspect that gentle Edmund's death was no accident. Pulling together political intrigue, a delightful menagerie of characters and two likable, unconventional leads, Camp has again produced a fast-paced plot brimming with lively conflict among family, lovers and enemies. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Anthony, Lord Neale, is absolutely certain that Eleanor, Lady Scarbrough, married his nephew, Edmund, to get her hands on his fortune. But she actually married her friend, a sickly musical genius, to get him out of the clutches of his toxic mother and take him to Naples for his health. Edmund does get better, only to drown in a boating accident. Now Eleanor has returned to London with her adopted children and unconventional servants, and Anthony realizes that she is no fortune hunter. But Eleanor's deceased husband turns out to be less innocent then he seemed, and his death may not have been accidental. Camp's suspenseful romance features political intrigue, a mystery, a surprise villain, a smart and plucky heroine who is determined to do the right thing, and a hero who gradually sees his way clear. The author of An Independent Woman (2006), among other romances, has penned another entertaining read. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: HQN Books (March 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373771363
• ISBN-13: 978-0373771363
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #427,859 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Nice writing, nice romance, March 8, 2007

By 

statengirl (Massachusetts, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Mass Market Paperback)

Eleanor, the widowed Lady Scarborough, returns to England following her husband's death in a boating accident in Italy. Eleanor is an American, and her husband's upper crust British family shunned her during their very brief marriage, mistakenly believing her to be a fortune hunter. She is now trustee of the money he left to his young sister. This does not sit well with her mother-in-law, who believes Eleanor murdered her son. She sends her brother Anthony, Lord Neale, to confront Eleanor who - needless to say - is quite offended. (Anthony and Eleanor met only once before, during which he rudely offered her money if she would not marry his nephew). Despite their mutual dislike, Eleanor and Anthony have an immediate and intense attraction to one another. As they attempt to sort out their warring emotions, Eleanor becomes the target of a mysterious stalker. Soon she and Anthony are working together to solve the mystery...and dreading the hours they must be apart.

I enjoyed this book. Miss Camp has a comfortable writing style and she does a good job of creating sexual tension between the leads. Anthony and Eleanor are perfectly matched, and their transition from contempt to more tender feelings is nicely done. Their frank and impassioned conversations are a particular delight. The love scenes, though fairly tame, are satisfying. The romance between Eleanor's staff members is curiously left unresolved, Eleanor's good friend Julianna inexplicably fades from view, and the ending leaves our hero and heroine - although quite happy - in a somewhat precarious situation. Nonetheless, this is a good read with very likeable leads and a nice romantic feel. 3 1/2 - 4 stars

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars nice, June 8, 2007

By 

msbooklady "msbooklady" (Biloxi, MS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Mass Market Paperback)

When Lord Anthony Neale's older sister Honoria pleads with him to talk her son, Lord Edmund Scarborough's fiance out of the wedding, he is stunned to find himself so strongly attracted to the outspoken American, Eleanor, who informs him that she and Edmund have already married by special license. Eleanor, a wealthy heiress, meets Edmund and is delighted by his musical talent but is drawn to him by her protective nature because he is sickly and is dominated by his mother who demands all his time and money. Eleanor has a habit of taking on the weaker castouts and has in her employ several employees she rescued from dire situations and she is raising two orphaned children she took in off the streets. Eleanor takes Edmund to Italy hoping the climate will help his health but then he is killed in a freak boating accident and the Italian authorities demand that his body be burned under an archaic law dating back to the time of the plague. When Eleanor returns to England with Edmund's ashes and in charge of the trust for Edmund's sister Samantha, Honoria again approaches Anthony to intercede. Mistakingly convinced that Eleanor is a fortune hunter, Honoria says she believes Eleanor murdered Edmund. After making a few insulting insinuations about her character, Anthony is stunned to find out that Honoria is not only far wealthier than Edmund ever was but that her fortune is in line with his own substantial fortune. Vowing that he will make it up to her and tired of fighting his attraction to her, Anthony pursues Eleanor with everything he has. When it becomes clear that Eleanor is in danger and that there may have been suspicious circumstances to Edmund's death, Anthony vows he will protect Eleanor if it is the last thing he does.

This is a wonderfully written story and the characters interesting enough. I was happy with Eleanor, but at times, I thought the author shortchanged us with Anthony...the details on his life and background were sketchy at best and I like to know what kind of people my hero and heroines really are. The story was still entertaining enough, a little predictable a time or two but very good.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars my first time, March 23, 2007

By 

susy notwen - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A Dangerous Man (Mass Market Paperback)

I have never read a Candace Camp book before. Quite frankly, I'm not entirely into historical romances (Julia Quinn and Amanda Quick being the exceptions!). However, I was desperate and needed something to read, so I picked this Camp book up and promptly read it cover to cover. I liked the fact that the heroine was intelligent and strong-willed. I also liked the fact that both hero and heroine were capable of connecting the plot "dots" with some degree of speed and intelligience. Sometimes I just want to throttle the main characters as they belatedly come to some obvious connection or conclusion within the storyline. Sigh. But I am not a writer, just a simple reader who likes smart characters and a bit of sexy moments thrown in to make a book enjoyable. Enjoy this one!