Lady Delafont's Dilemma (Zebra Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Donna Simpson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821766740
• ISBN-13: 978-0821766743
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,352,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When I was a kid, I thought you had to be someone extraordinary to become an author. I always loved to read and write, but was too unsure of myself to believe that I could ever become a published author. I've been fortunate enough in my life to have someone stand by me and repeatedly tell me I can do it. My advice to anyone who wants to write is, find someone who believes in you and cling to them! It's not an easy road, but it's worth it.

I read mysteries - Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers, among other authors - and then discovered, quite by accident, Regency romances. I suppose it's no surprise that when I decided to try writing seriously, I wrote a Regency. Absentee Heart, my first attempt, was published by Rubenesque Romances in 1997, but is still available online from Blackfriars Publications.

My first *big* break was with Zebra Books, for their Regency line. Lord St. Claire's Angel, my first with Zebra, is still a favorite among many reviewers. I wrote over twenty Regency romance novels and anthology contributions for them, and adored every moment of it.

But I wanted more' I wanted to write longer and more in-depth stories. I wanted to explore a darker side to life, and go beyond the shores and time of Regency England. I love mystery, and feel that every good story is truly a mystery in a sense; even if there is no murder involved in a romance novel (though there actually *may be* in my newest books - wink wink!!) there is mystery in love.

How are the hero and heroine going to get together? Will they know immediately that they belong together, or will they have to suffer and find each other through turmoil? What will happen to keep them apart, and can they defeat every obstacle to come together finally?

I have been fortunate enough recently to move on to write paranormal (werewolf) historical romance for Berkley Books and am loving every second of it. Set in the Lower Saxony region of Germany in 1795, the 'Awaiting' books are a fabulous and thrilling departure for me. The spookiness of a gothic castle in Germany, lies and deception, twisted family secrets and the dark world of weird occurrences makes for a rich and colorful tapestry when woven with human foibles and thrilling, erotic love and lust!

Romantic Times said about my first paranormal with Berkley, Awaiting the Moon, that: 'By mixing a classic gothic with paranormal overtones Simpson has a winner. This impossible-to-put-down romance belongs alongside Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney and Daphne du Maurier. Here is a pure classic plotline with just the right touch of the ominous, the perfect amount of suspense and plenty of sexual tension to keep you reading late into the night and finish satiated.'

About the second they said: 'Simpson continues the Wolfram saga as a young woman becomes entwined in dark secrets while threads of werewolves myth, greed, passion, lies and deceptions swirl around pulling you into a tightly crafted paranormal romance with gothic overtones. Victoria Holt would be proud.'

I was thrilled! What an honour to be compared to those writers. As I suppose you can tell, dear reader, I'm enjoying the ride so far... long may it last!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great follow-up!, August 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Delafont's Dilemma (Zebra Regency Romance) (Paperback)

I just finished Lady Delafont's Dilemma, and I really liked it. I thought it was a great portrayal of the way two people who love each other, and have hurt each other badly, can still heal themselves and their relationship. Emily, like a lot of women, still loved the husband she split from despite their problems, but time has given her a new perspective. She has matured over the years she and Delafont have been apart. What I liked best was that the people seem so real! They mess up, get angry, say things they don't mean, but it doesn't stop them from loving each other, and I found myself really rooting for them to get back together. I didn't think Emily was a wimp at all for wanting her husband back. She dealt with her own temptation, and she didn't just lay down like a whiny victim or act like his doormat. That was what her husband noticed first, was that she had regained her old fire, the spirit that had been sapped out of her by their problems. I won't divulge here why the Delafont's really broke up - it's kind of an important plot line, but it really has nothing to do with him thinking she is unfaithful or vice versa. The real reason is complicated, but realistic. It happens all the time, and I'll only say it has to do with how people make assumptions and blame each other without understanding all the facts of a case or what is in their spouse's mind. I have to say, I was rooting for the Delafonts. Their physical attraction to each other was well-handled, and the steps they had to take, the grudges against each other they had to release, was true to life. In all, I thought it was a realistic and sensitive portrayal of the give and take it requires to fix a badly damaged marriage. After all, neither one of them is perfect, they're human. If they were perfect, they never would have broken up in the first place. I read Lord St. Claire's Angel, too, and thought this was a good follow-up given that Emily is a more mature heroine with a troubled, broken marriage, which is explained in the first book. If I have any trouble with this book, it is that maybe they are all just a little too civil toward each other - the mistress, Emily and Delafont - but it is not out of keeping with the way the characters are developed. I liked the book. It is a little more complex than Simpson's first, and maybe that is a bad thing in some people's eyes, but a little variety never hurt. I look forward to the last book in the series. I hope it ties up the Delafont's story line, finally. I would recommend Lady Delafont for anyone who really wants to get into the characters in a book. I thought the secondary characters were great too.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A DEFINITE KEEPER!, August 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lady Delafont's Dilemma (Zebra Regency Romance) (Paperback)

In my opinion LADY DELAFONT'S DILEMMA is definitely a 5 star keeper. A sequel to Donna Simpson's LORD ST. CLAIRE'S ANGEL it tells the story of Lady Emily Delafont, aunt to the heroine of previously mention book. Why did I rate it five stars? #1 - It has a wonderfully diverse and fully developed cast of characters. #2 - It is a touching tale of how young love shadowed by doubts, assumptions and miscommunication falls by the wayside only to re-emerge later stronger and better for the adversity it has been through. #3 - It didn't take until the last page for the hero and heroine to realize they still cared for each other, even though they still had trials and misunderstandings to work through. #4 - It has an overweight heroine who is portrayed as beautiful AND desirable and (shock) she doesn't lose the weight by the end of the book! (Superficial I know but a nice change nonetheless.) And #5 - Last but definitely not the least, LADY DELAFONT'S DILEMMA has a wonderful epilogue. I love epilogues as I feel they tie the story together and this epilogue is very touching and left me feeling very satisfied. I could go on and on but I just wanted to let readers know that if they are looking for a touching, romantic story about love and the growth it goes through they shouldn't pass up this book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plus-size heroine in Regency Romance!, March 6, 2004

By 

Gypsi Hart - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lady Delafont's Dilemma (Zebra Regency Romance) (Paperback)

I don't usually read Regency romance novels, but I really liked this one. The heroine,Emily, was a plus-size woman separated from her husband. She was overweight, but was comfortable with her body and still had men chasing after her. Her husband, Baxter, loved her always and thinks she is even more beautiful than ever. Even though the love scenes were tame, the sexual tension was good and the characters had such great love for each other that I didn't notice a lack of detailed love scenes.
If you enjoy this book, Lady May's Folly, should be read after this one. It talks about the characters May and Etienne who in this book stand out and the author makes the reader want to get to know them better. Nice read.