Scoundrel in Disguise (Five Star Expressions) [Hardcover]

Annette Blair (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

It seems as though Lady Jade Smithfield has ice water in her veins. She has no use for the men in her early Victorian world and has no compunctions about her unmarried state, habit of wearing men's clothes, or the unwanted, abused women and children she takes into her household. Marcus Fitzalan applies to Lady Jade to be her man of affairs, but, secretly, he is attempting to find out who is behind the accidents preventing the railroad from coming to their village in southeast England. What he discovers is that Lady Jade is behind the sabotage. Jade's senile grandmother signed over land to the railroad that Jade desperately wants to get back. Her negative feelings toward the male gender only increase Marcus' determination to win her over. He succeeds, but they still keep their secrets from each other. What begins as a typical bodice ripper turns out to be an enjoyable romp as Blair's characters grow beyond first impressions. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 287 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (ME) (May 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594144834
• ISBN-13: 978-1594144837
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,281,928 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dear Reader,

I finally became a full time writer in 2006 after retiring from my job as a Development Director. I didn't always know I wanted to be a writer, but I discovered Jane Eyre soon after I got my first library card. I was eleven and put a romantic spin on every story I read. I wrote romances about friends and their boyfriends. Racy stuff for which my friends' mother's did not thank me. I could title that time in my life 'THE FIRST TIME A GOODY TWO SHOES GETS IN TROUBLE-YAY!" When my children were young, I jotted plot ideas on corners of envelopes, recipe cards, and such, and threw them in my nightstand.

After discussing a romance novel with my high-school aged daughter, she challenged me to write a romance of my own. That day, I sorted through my plot ideas, picked one, and started. I didn't know what I was doing, but I had a good time. I made my first sale in 1998. I have since moved from Regency England and settled in twenty-first century Salem, Massachusetts; Newport, Rhode Island; Mystic, Connecticut; with mysteries and romances and a host of sassy, sexy witches who tantalize and torment the men in their lives. Hopefully those same characters will sprinkle some magic dust and get a laugh or three out of you.

I have recently seen the re-release of JACOB'S RETURN and BUTTERFLY GARDEN, both Amish Historicals set in Pensylvania & Ohio. Recently, my 4th Vintage Magic, a paranormal cozy mystery series, set in Mystic Connecticut, SKIRTING THE GRAVE followed the release of VAMPIRE DRAGON my 3rd Works Like Magick Novel set in Salem MA.

I'm currently working on my 6th Vintage Magic Mystery, OPERATION PETTICOAT, and the 1st SISTERS OF SPIRIT Anthology both due out next year (2012) along with CLOAKED IN MALICE, my 5th paranormal cozy mystery. Meanwhile, watch Kindle for a new series of magical books in the months to come.

Some of my favorite authors are: Ruth Cardello, Hannah Howell, Nora Roberts, Janet Evanovich, Linda Wisdom & Madelyn Alt.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OMG! This is outstanding!, May 5, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Scoundrel in Disguise (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

This story is set on the East Sussex Coast, England, 1847. Jade Smithfield's grandmother unwittingly sold a land option to the South Downs Railroad before she died. When Jade learned that her man of affairs, Neil Kirby, engineered it, she discharged him. However, when Kirby left he took her inheritance, her copy of the land option sale, and the money from the sale with him. Jade needed that money and receipt if she was to have any hope of stopping the railroad from laying track on her property and keep them from uncovering her grandmother's secret. Then there is Giles Dudley, her fourth cousin twice removed. He intends to inherit the Peacehaven Estate by proving Jade's grandmother insane at the time she made her will. If he succeeds, Dudley inherits everything. Jade and all the people who depend on her will be thrown into the streets.

Marcus Fitzalan wants to save his disabled brother's railroad, and the families who will lose their living without it, by investigating into the railroad accidents halting construction. To do so, Marcus applies as Jade's new man of affairs. But Marcus finds out upon meeting Jade that his philandering days are over. The more learns about Jade and the women and children she takes care of, the more he knows that Jade must have a very good reason for wanting to stop the railroad's construction. However, he cannot help Jade if she does not trust and confide in him.

***** Author Annette Blair combines action and romance with strong characters and a bit of comedy to give her readers a story they will never forget! I could not help but fall in love with little Emmy and her puppy's antics. Nor could I stop myself from feeling as though I knew all the main and secondary characters for real. The story is written so smoothly that I felt as if I was a part of their circle. Such writing talent is rare and I am grateful to have come across this novel. It is heading straight for my Keeper Shelf, never to be loaned out, and hoarded for my future reading pleasure alone. Annette Blair is a master (or is it mistress?) of the Historical Romance genre. I cannot recommend this tale highly enough and I plan to tell everyone I know about it. *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

5.0 out of 5 stars interesting complex Victorian romance, May 25, 2006

By 

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

This review is from: Scoundrel in Disguise (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

In 1847, Marcus Fitzalan visits eccentric Jade Smithfield under the pretense of seeking employment as her business affairs manager. He really wants to learn why Jade is trying to prevent the construction of a railroad in the area that his disabled brother owns. Jade rejects Marcus as too handsome for the twelve brittle women and seventeen children that live under her roof. Besides she believes all men are created equally, nasty, abusive and bad.

However she changes her mind when she sees how good he is reaching out to battered reticent little Emily who is taken with Marcus' dog Tweenie. As he continues to display kindness towards her charges, Marcus also begins to convince her some men can be nice. As they fall in love, he fears she will assume the worst in him once she learns why he applied for the job.

This is an interesting complex Victorian romance with a social message starring an eccentric female obsessed with protecting women and children who hates men as being abusive. Marcus originally arrived to stop Jade from sabotaging his sibling's railroad, but soon finds he loves his employer and needs to help her with her charges. Fans will appreciate this Dickensian spin as "progress" vs. the need of the forgotten downtrodden competes with the hero knowing that he will probably lose his love once she learns of his deception.

Harriet Klausner