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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Don't be fooled by the cover. Nancy Drew never had this much fun.,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Lady in Black (Paperback)
Well, pan-fry me in a cast-iron skillet and call me cornbread! Just when I thought I had read everything Christina Dodd had written, I happened upon this hidden gem in Amazon's sub-basement archives. Primitive cover art that looks like something rejected by the publishers of my big sister's 1950s Nancy Drew collection, plus the early date of publication, gave me low expectations, relative to Dodd's better known work. But I'm such a fan, I couldn't resist.
Yowsa! :-D Here's how my inner panel of judges arrived at a score of 4: Sensuality: Level Orange! The shower scene is a solid DEFCON 5 and we should all be grateful it didn't trigger a global nuclear exchange. Originality: 5. Technical: 3.75. (Darn Russian judges!) Mind you, I had a blast with this little book. But even Christina Dodd had to start somewhere, and if I scored this any higher, there would be no room to reward the high polish that is typical of her later novels. That said, "Lady in Black" is sheer fun; as sexy, witty and entertaining as anything I've read in the romance genre lately. Who else but Christina Dodd would think of making her heroine a butler with a faux-English accent (it's part of the job description, she explains) whose duties to her elderly employer include helping put his pants on. That's what she's doing when the old guy's sexy grandson happens upon the unsettling sight of gramps and his young blonde butler tumbling about on the bed, laughing, and engaging in what appears to be un-butler-like behavior. Reid accepts the innocent explanation of their morning routine, but has a tougher time accepting the obvious friendship between his grandfather and an attractive female employee. Add the the fact that there's a new will - with this woman's name on the list of those who stand to benefit from his grandfather's death - and Reid naturally suspects the worst. (Shades of Anna Nicole!) The stage is set for the kind of tension between grandson Reid and butler Margaret that Dodd so skillfully brings to a sizzle. What a delightful afternoon I spent with this book, and how eager I am to look for other Lost Works by my favorite authors. The trick? Search amazon by the author's name, and use the pull-down menu to list the results by Publication Date. Recent or upcoming books will be listed first, and a minute or so spent scanning back in time might reveal a hidden treasure like this one. Happy hunting. And if you're very, very lucky, happy showering!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This butler knows judo!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Lady in Black (Paperback)
...Good story, characters, and plot. The growing desire and love between Reid and Margaret is nicely paced. You know something is going on with the kidnapping plot, but up until the very end you can't be sure. About the only drawback was Reid's forcefulness in pushing the relationship with Margaret. But it worked.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Read,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Lady in Black (Paperback)
I tracked down a copy of this book based on the review posted by shereads, and I'm glad I did. This is a small book, but it has everything you'd want for an entertaining read.
After a devastating personal tragedy, Margaret Guarneri needs to start over with her daughter, Amy. She attends butler school and lands a job w/ Jim Donovan, an elderly--and very rich--Houston businessman. Margaret thrives on the security and stability of her new life, but everything changes when Mr. Donovan begins receiving kidnapping threats and Reid Donovan arrives to find out why his grandfather suddenly changed his will. Reid is rich, powerful, and devastatingly attractive. Despite his suspicions about Margaret's intentions towards his grandfather and her possible involvement in the kidnapping/extortion plot, he is drawn to the cool and detached Margaret and is determined to crack her facade. Margaret is equally determined to resist, but the magnetism between them is intense and undeniable. The relationship that subsequently develops between Reid and Margaret is both incredibly sweet and incredibly sexy. Almost all of the characters are believable and richly drawn. Mr. Jim Donovan is a lively and intelligent man who chafes at the restrictions enforced on him by age and infirmity. He fills the void by taking an interest in the engaging Amy, scheming w/ his friend Manuel, and playing matchmaker. Other wonderful characters include Mr. Jim's colorful cook, Abigail; Reid's taciturn bodyguard, Nagumbi; Margaret's vivacious friend, Chantal; the mysterious Dommy and Jules; the smarmy security expert, Cliff Martin; the urbane Frenchman, Pierre; and even Simon the footman. I'm not one to laugh out loud when reading, but this book is both hot and humorous. I certainly smiled when reading the scene where Reid and Pierre casually dropped under the dining room table to privately discuss Reid's pursuit of Margaret, only to be publicly and embarrassingly caught. I also smiled at the scene when Reid was delivered back home after being questioned about "his intentions." Or the scenes where he turned up the pressure on Margaret. Or. . . well, you get the idea. Ms. Dodd is an incredibly gifted writer and this is a gem of a book. Initially, I rated it a solid 4 stars based on the slight weakness of a somewhat contrived kidnapping plot and villain. I also thought Reid's suspicions of Margaret were a tad exaggerated and prolonged. But those are very small quibbles and, after re-reading the book yet again, decided that I really should have added an extra star. Track down a copy of this book (don't be put off by the cover art) and treat yourself.
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