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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Delightful beginning to Mayhem in Mayfair series, June 30, 2007
This review is from: Sleepless at Midnight (Mayhem in Mayfair, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Lighting flashes. Thunder rumbles. And the heavens open up into a downpour. In the dead of night an eerie scene develops. House guest Miss Sarah Moorehouse notices from her room a dark shadowy figure with a shovel hurrying across the gardens. If she didn't know any better she could almost believe this scene was taken right out of the pages of a book. Specifically The Modern Prometheus or *Frankenstein*, the scandalous novel that she and her friends from the Ladies Literary Society of London are secretly reading. But its not Victor Frankenstein digging up body parts to create a creature, its Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston, who is mysteriously skulking about. Intrigued, Sarah goes about finding out exactly what the her handsome host is doing in the gardens. And its not gardening for sure, for the man can't tell a dandelion from a daisy!
Matthew could live quite happily if he never saw another shovel or flower garden again! Damn! He must rescue his family from ruin and only weeks are left to complete his task. Like a dark cloud looming over his head, he doesn't need additional distractions. He has too many already. Especially with this house party -aka find-an-heiress-to-marry-party- in full swing. And now he has to deal with a poor spectacled spinster spying on him. Did she know what he is about? Hard to tell when in her vicinity he turns into a hormonal beast, losing himself in those big eyes and lush lips. He can't seem to concentrate on anything other than her. Which is making his task even that more difficult. And he must accomplish his goal, his honor demands it.
But what happens when a murder is discovered? Could it be he spying spinster or the mysterious marquess? Someone is watching and waiting. Time is quickly running out. Will Matthew and Sarah band and work together? Lay their hearts and fears out in the open? Will they be able to say goodbye forever when the party is over?
D'Alessandro is one of my favorite authors and she never fails to provide me with some great romantic fluff. Definitely light and always with a scene at the end worthy of my heart doing tumblesaults (usually when the hero declares himself). A break from the heavy and heady historicals one often finds.
I always love her hero and heroine's and these are not an exception. Both Sarah and Matthew are unique characters that carry around pain from their past. This similarity draws them closer to one another. As unlikely a match as they are on the outside (he a handsome titled gentleman and she a poor plain spinster) they are kindred spirits. Both are able to see beyond the facade to the real person beneath. And to watch their love grow is delightful. D'Alessandro is deft at drawing out these characters and their relationship and love in a believable way.
A fine light romance with several *cough*holy momma!*cough* love scenes (makes me wish for a claw foot bath tub ;).
I highly recommend D'Alessandro's
Red Roses Mean Love -really the best and funniest set of secondary charaters ever
The Bride Thief -a masked hero traipsing about the countryside helping damsels in distress (need I say more?)
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Why Not Just Stick to the Romance? (C+ Grade), July 8, 2007
This review is from: Sleepless at Midnight (Mayhem in Mayfair, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
D'Alessandro has an interesting concept with this first book in her new Mayhem in Mayfair series. If you are a fan of the hero falling for the heroine because of her personality and not her looks, meaning she is considered to be an ugly duckling, you will enjoy this romantic regency. But our author still sticks to the old plot device where the hero must find a rich heiress and marry including a somewhat annoying mystery. If she had let that go and kept to the sweet yet sensual love story, her latest would have been a winner.
Sarah is a quiet, reserved woman who looks in the mirror and sees nothing worthy. She is happy with her books, drawing and endearing group of friends. But she has dreams of a man wanting her for her self-worth and not care about her looks. Matthew, the hero first comes across as vain and petty, but as he grows to know Sarah, he sees her for what she is and she begins to shine. She becomes beautiful to him because her personality shines through and for that he is adorable
Talk about scorching love scenes! All I have to say is rub-a-dub-dub. I have never read some hot bathing scenes before between our two lovers and here they are the spotlight of the book. But again, the annoying device where our hero is mysterious for no other reason.
Well, at least he is not an English spy!
Simply, a so-so read but at least she has caught my interest for the next coming books.
Katiebabs
Confessions at Midnight
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Romance, drama, and a bit of danger., June 30, 2007
This review is from: Sleepless at Midnight (Mayhem in Mayfair, Book 1) (Mass Market Paperback)
Matthew Devenport, Marquess Langston, must marry an heiress within the next few months. However, a trip to London and courting ladies would take time away from a second vital task. His solution is to invite some gentlemen, unwed ladies, and chaperons to Langston Manor for a house party. Matthew could look over the ladies, court the one he chooses, and never have to cease his search in the garden. (But his search would have to be done late at night when no one would see.)
Problem is that even though the beautiful heiresses are exactly what he needs, Matthew is drawn to Viscountess Carolyn Wingate's plain companion, Miss Sarah Moorehouse. Sarah is not only plain, but wears spectacles. She is Lady Carolyn's sister, but a lowly physician's daughter and no heiress. Matthew would never have noticed her except he unexpectedly meets her in the garden as she sketches. Their brief exchange is anything but boring. No weather, no fashion, but a REAL and intelligent conversation. Sarah quickly becomes everything Matthew wants, but cannot have.
All the ladies, minus the chaperoning mothers, form the Ladies Literary Society of London. Instead of poetry and other novel approved by Society, they decide to read "Frankenstein". During a lively discussion, they decide to create the perfect man - figuratively, of course. Each is assigned a task. Sarah is to pilfer a shirt from their host, Matthew Devenport. When Sarah spies Matthew in the garden, at midnight, with a shovel, her imagination goes wild.
While Sarah and Matthew are distracted by each other, someone else is watching. Someone who wants what is buried in the garden. Someone who has already killed once for it and may again.
***** Jacquie D'Alessandro brings enticing characters and drama to her readers once again. Sarah Moorehouse is unique and a refreshing change from normal Society ladies. Romance, drama, and a bit of danger make this novel spectacular. I cannot recommend this one highly enough. DO NOT MISS IT! *****
Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.
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