The Fleeing Heiress (Signet Regency Romance) [Paperback]

Gayle Buck (Author)

Book Description

Series: Signet Regency Romance | Publication Date: May 6, 2003

Kidnapped heiress Thea Stafford has one hope-and his name is Lord Cardiff. But saving her from an uncertain fate is not enough, especially when they happen to fall in love.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After overhearing a strange conversation at the inn where he is staying, Lord David Cardiff feels compelled to intervene and winds up rescuing Thea Stafford from her older sister's fiance, who had abducted her. Thea's gratitude turns to embarrassment when her father and two brothers show up and insist that Lord Cardiff must now wed Thea to salvage her reputation. In spite of her efforts to convince her relatives of the lunacy of their plan, Thea and Lord Cardiff are forced at gunpoint to begin a journey to Gretna Green. When the right opportunity presents itself, Thea and Lord Cardiff escape, and eventually Thea finds refuge with her uncle. With Thea now safe, Lord Cardiff doesn't have any need to continue in the role of her protector, but the idea of marrying Thea suddenly seems quite appealing. A hero with a taste for the outrageous becomes involved with a heroine whose eccentric family entangles him in several outlandish situations in Buck's latest witty, deliciously quirky Regency. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Signet (May 6, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451208374
• ISBN-13: 978-0451208378
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,080,942 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Astounding! I read it twice!, May 6, 2003

By 

Detra Fitch (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fleeing Heiress (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Lord David Cardiff had been hit with a piece of shrapnel while fighting in Spain. He returned to England on wounded leave. En route to London he stopped for the night at an inn. He overheard a lady nearby in need of help and did not hesitate to offer it.

Miss Thea Stafford had been abducted by her sister's fiancé and was being taken to Gretna Green. Her abductor needed money and Thea had much more than her sister. He did not care that Thea hated him. Se was thoroughly compromised! But Lord Cardiff made short work of THAT idea.

One the man was gone, Lord Cardiff decided to delay his trip to London and escort Thea back into the arms of her family. Thea explained how single-minded and hard headed her two brothers and father were. He understood shortly thereafter when the trio showed up to "rescue" her!

One her relatives understood the problem had been dealt with, it should have all been over. Instead, the father ordered his sons to force Thea and Cardiff to Gretna Green at gun point and see them wedded. He had decided that Thea HAD to wed and Cardiff would suit just fine. From then on, the world went mad!

This book is so good that I read it twice! It is over flowing with humor and I found Thea and Cardiff to be the only sane people during most of the book. Thea's family is more "stubborn" (a.k.a. pig-headed) than anyone I have ever met!

Author Gayle Buck has earned herself a place of honor on my bookshelf. I can hardly wait for her next release. Astounding!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Journey, July 20, 2003

By 

B. McBroom "busybeme" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Fleeing Heiress (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

Gayle Buck takes a simple story and weaves it with details which make you see how the heroine and hero feel. Thea's embarrassment caused by her family but yet her love for them shows through. And Lord Cardiff is the strong but not overbearing hero. You can actually picture him as someone who could carry off spying for the government with none the wiser. If there was anything about this book I didn't like it would have to be a little wordiness with the banter back and forth between Thea's brothers. Otherwise an excellent story. Someone else may consider this a five star book but unfortunately I just read something else right before it which I had to compare it to that was a 5+ star and had to judge accordingly.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a wonderful read, May 10, 2003

By 

tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Fleeing Heiress (Signet Regency Romance) (Paperback)

If you're looking for a somewhat lighthearted and humourous Regency-era romance novel reminiscent of Georgette Heyer's wonderful books, you have to take a look at Gayle Buck's latest offering, "The Fleeing Heiress."

Recently home from the wars, and fresh from attending a house party where he successfully apprehended a French spy ("The Chester Charade"), Lord David Cardiff was on his way home when he decides to break his journey at a small inn. At the inn, he overhears enough of a conversation to realise that a young lady, Thea Strafford, has been abducted against her will and that her abductor is intemt on carrying her off to Gretna Green in order to force into marriage. A honourable and chivalrous gentleman, Cardiff steps in and rescues Thea from her tormentor. A happy ending all around, one would think. Except that the following morning brings Thea's father and her twin brothers -- three incredibly stubborn and thickheaded men -- who then decide that Cardiff must now marry Thea in order to restore her sullied reputation. What follows is a humourous and somewhat witty romp as Thea and Cardiff endeavour to cajole and divert these gentlemen from their purpose Will Thea and Cardiff succeed? And what of the feelings of warmth and admiration that each is beginning to feel for the other?

There was so much to enjoy in "The Fleeing Heiress". The plot, the characters (from the sensible and much put upon heroine, to the intelligent and gentlemanly hero, to the brick-brained Stafford men, not to mention athe eccentric cat loving grand aunt), the humourous episodes -- this was a really well thought out and brillaintly penned romance novel. And while many things about this novel was quite a la Georgette Heyer, this did not mean that "The Fleeing Heiress" lacked an original voice. To the contrary, "The Fleeing Heiress" had a fresh feel to it. There was nothing recycled or stale or incongruous about it. And I do think that Gayle Buck succeeded in both paying homage to Georgette Heyer (if this was indeed what she was setting out to do) as well as putting her own personal stamp to the book. Smoothly told, and in an engaging and humourous manner, this is a book to be savoured and enjoyed. Definitely a 5 star read.