Lord of the Night [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Wiggs (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 15, 1993

From bestselling, award-winning novelist Susan Wiggs comes this classic tale of danger and romance. Winner of the RITA^® Award, the highest honor from Romance Writers of America, it is an enthralling, unforgettable tale of the dark allure of passion and the enduring power of love.

Under cover of night. . .

Sandro Cavalli, Lord of the Night, is legendary for bringing criminals to justice. But in the city's shadowy alleyways, a new, deadly plot is afoot—a sinister threat that even Sandro needs help to uncover.

He enlists the aid of an alluring, sensuous beauty, Laura Bandello. But Laura's innocent loveliness may hide a dark secret, and Sandro vows to keep his distance. Yet the deeper he delves into the underworld, the harder he falls for Laura. Pursued by unspeakable danger, Sandro risks his honor, his reputation, and even his heart—all for the love of a mysterious beauty he can't quite trust.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The first romance Susan Wiggs ever read was Shanna by the incomparable Kathleen Woodiwiss, which she devoured while slumped behind a college vector analysis textbook. Armed with degrees from Texas and Harvard, and toting a crate of "keeper" books by Woodiwiss, Roberta Gellis, Laurie McBain, Rosemary Rodgers, Jennifer Blake, Bertrice Small, and anything with the words "flaming" and "ecstasy" in the title, she became a math teacher, just to prove to the world that she did have a left brain.

Susan's bestselling novels include The Charm School, which was voted one of RWA's Favorite Books of the Year. She is the proud recipient of three RITA^® Awards for Lakeside Cottage, Lord of the Night, and The Mistress, and is often a finalist for the prestigious award. Her books appear regularly on numerous "Best Of" lists and bestseller lists throughout the world.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Original edition (October 15, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061080527
• ISBN-13: 978-0061080524
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,584 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Susan Wiggs's life is all about family, friends...and fiction. She lives at the water's edge on an island in Puget Sound, and she commutes to her writers' group in a 17-foot motorboat. She's been featured in the national media, including NPR's "Talk of the Nation," and is a popular speaker locally and nationally.

When her recent novel, FIRESIDE, hit #1 on the New York Times, the author reportedly reacted to the news by "putting on my lipstick and sweeping the patio." Why? Because she knew that within a matter of minutes, her girlfriends would show up to pop the bubbly and help her celebrate. [Update: FIRESIDE has been chosen of one of Amazon.com's Top Ten Romances of 2009.]

According to Publishers Weekly, Wiggs writes with "refreshingly honest emotion," and the Salem Statesman Journal adds that she is "one of our best observers of stories of the heart [who] knows how to capture emotion on virtually every page of every book." Booklist characterizes her books as "real and true and unforgettable." She is the recipient of three RITA (sm) awards and four starred reviews from Publishers Weekly for her books. Her books make frequent appearances on Amazon's "best of" lists. Several of her novels have been listed as Indie Next picks and optioned as feature films. Her novels have been translated into more than two dozen languages and have made national bestseller lists, including the USA Today, Washington Post and New York Times lists.

The author is a former teacher, a Harvard graduate, an avid hiker, an amateur photographer, a good skier and terrible golfer, yet her favorite form of exercise is curling up with a good book.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Venitian mystery and romance, June 8, 2001

By 

Carol Peterson Hennekens (Colorado Springs, CO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

In a genre that is famous (infamous) for 1)doing certain settings over and over and over; and 2)insisting that one of the protagonists be an American or British; it's a refreshing change to find a book that breaks both "rules." It's even more fun when it's a genuinely good book.

"Lord of the Night" is set in 16th century Venice and follows the romance of Laura and Sandro, both natives of that city. Laura is an aspiring painter (training with Titian) who is planning to finance her studio by becoming a courtesan. Sandro is a forty-something nobleman who heads up the police. They meet when the Doge's assistant is killed just after visiting Laura's bordello. Shortly thereafter ruffians assault Laura and the mystery begins....

In someways this is a May to December romance. Indeed, the obstacles to their joining are obvious from the start - he's twice her age and would lose his status as a noble if he marries a commoner. She, in turn, has genuine artistic talent if she can just get admitted to the all-male Academy. He, of course, is not too wild about her finacing plans.

The mystery works well in this romance and has a genuinely surprising ending. I also really enjoyed the insights on life in 16th Century Venice.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars MYSTERIOUS, MYSTERY!!, February 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

I just read this and thought it was one of the best mystery romance books ever. I figured out a little of it as I went along but was amazed at the surprise right at the end. How wonderful to write such a different type of story involving a marvelous man in a May to December romance. I loved her Raven and the Rose as well. Am about to start on her Lily and the Leopard. She is a wonderful writer. If you like good romance, a great mystery, and some very unusual characters get this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do I Hear A Waltz?, August 3, 2009

By 

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

This review is from: Lord of the Night (Mass Market Paperback)

It was a surprise to me to find such an old title--over a decade--on display for recent purchase. But when I started reading this soft, dreamy novel that was the only time I checked for the date. It's because in the current climate of hard edged, all purpose alpha female leads, this novel featured a clever, ultra feminine lead. Wafting about as an artist's model, draped with beautiful fabrics by open windows with soft breezes coming in, this heroine was definatly not of the more recent batch. Still it was refreshing. The male lead is older, but wiser and still not afraid to compete with younger and more foolish "boys" for the hand of the "lady". A lovely book to comfortably read and enjoy with few surprises.