The Nude: A Historical Romance (Five Star Expressions) [Hardcover]

Dorothy McFalls (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Expressions | Publication Date: May 2009

Love and danger collide in this tender Regency romance.

All of London is enthralled by the mysterious Dionysus's latest masterpiece, a sensual woman reclining on an ornate settee, entitled The Nude.

Elsbeth, Countess Mercer, recognizes Dionysus's work. This isn't the first time he's caused havoc in her life. This time, though, his painting has put her at the center of a vicious scandal, for the figure in the painting looks shockingly like her . . . nude. Before he can hurt her again, she sets out to find the artist and prove her own innocence.

Nigel, the Marquess of Edgeware, has several problems of his own on his hands. A smuggling ring is using his Dorset estate's shoreline. Someone is trying to kill him. And now a feisty widow is coming close to discovering Dionysus's identity. Seducing the lady might be the swiftest course for diverting her attentions.

He doesn't realize how such an affair would affect her heart . . . or his own.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Lady Elsbeth Mercer believes all her misfortunes are caused by the mysterious painter Dionysus. She married her first husband in the belief that he was an artist who spoke to her soul, only to find out that he was an abusive man whose only saving grace was to die on the battlefield. Just as she starts to feel comfortable in society, Elsbeth is once again the subject of gossip when her face appears on the latest nude painted by Dionysus. Nigel, the Marquess of Edgeware, is determined to help Elsbeth clear her name while guarding Dionysus’ true identity. When his plan to restore Lady Mercer’s respectability backfires, they are forced to marry. Then, just as she believes Nigel truly is a man she can trust, thoughts of Dionysus and a mysterious plot to kill Nigel threaten to destroy their tenuous relationship. McFalls has a special gift for handling serious subjects with a gentle touch, an invaluable trait that will endear her to Regency romance fans. --Patty Engelmann

About the Author

Award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy McFalls enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing", "perfect", "filled with emotion", and "lined with danger."

Product Details

• Hardcover: 357 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME); 1 edition (May 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594147671
• ISBN-13: 978-1594147678
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,957,734 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Award-winning author Dorothy McFalls was born in New York but raised in South Carolina. She makes her home on an artsy beach community in South Carolina with her husband, two dogs, and fluffy cat. Though writing has always been a passion for her, she pursued an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Biology and a graduate degree in Public Administration and Urban Planning. She then put her educational experience to use, having worked in all branches and all levels of government including local, regional, state, and federal. She even spent time during college working for a non-profit environmental watchdog organization.

Switching from government service and community planning to fiction writing wasn't as big of a change as some might think. Her government work was all about the stories of the people and the places where they live. As an urban planner, Dorothy loved telling the stories of the people she met. And from that, her desire to tell the stories that were so alive in her heart grew until she could not ignore it any longer. In 2001, she took a leap of faith and pursued her dream of writing fiction full-time.

Now an award-winning multi-published author, Dorothy enjoys writing in several different genres. Her works have been nominated for many awards including: Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award, Reviewers International Organization Award, National Reader's Choice Award, CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, and The Romance Reviews Today Perfect 10! Award. Reviewers have called her work: "amazing", "perfect", "filled with emotion", and "lined with danger."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, December 7, 2011

By 

Mary Kay Benson - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Nude: A Historical Romance (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

I love great historical fiction. This is not that. It is more a soft core porn corny potboiler, badly published with tons of typos and mistaken words in phrases and the plot is so predictable.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars refreshing Regency romantic suspense, May 23, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Nude: A Historical Romance (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

In 1814 following the death of her husband in the Peninsular War against Napoleon, impoverished Countess Elsbeth Mercer moves into the home of her uncle, his wife and two daughters. Everything is fine until a painting of her is found. Upset, Elsbeth seeks out the artist, Dionysus, of whom she has never met, but fell in love with his landscapes years ago; he tricked her into thinking Mercer was the artist.

Marquess Nigel Purbeck refuses to divulge the identity of the artist to the demanding irate Countess who wants the artist to tell the Ton she did not pose for it. Still he is attracted to her and seduces the widow. However, his actions leave her in danger and he too from apparently a friend accused of smuggling while she struggles between her long time love of the artist and of the reclusive Marquess.

THE NUDE is a wonderful refreshing Regency romantic suspense starring two fully developed fascinating lead characters. Elsbeth is a delight as she demands the Marquess introduce her to the painter who has scandalized her. Nigel is the more mesmerizing protagonist as the audience will wonder why he is a semi-hermit with the influence he obviously has amidst the Ton. The artist comes alive mostly in the minds of Elsbeth and Nigel making for an entertaining historical triangular romance.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfied Customer, February 6, 2010

By 

RomanceReader (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Nude: A Historical Romance (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

Book was as described and it came well packaged and within a reasonable time. I would buy from them again.