An Unexpected Engagement [Mass Market Paperback]

Sara Reinke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007

Charlotte Engle finds herself on the wrong end of a pistol when her coach is stopped by notorious highwaymen, the Black Trio. Although Charlotte survives the encounter none the worse for wear, her mother, Lady Epping, decides Charlotte is in need of a husband to protect her. Charlotte is inclined to agree only when introduced to Kenley Fairfax. Kenley is charming and handsome, a young lord with a sordid past and a reputation for trouble. He’s just the sort to strike Charlotte’s fancy—and horrify her mother. When Lady Epping arranges a marriage to an insufferable cad, however, Kenley comes to her rescue declaring she has already agreed to marry him. Kenley charms and excites Charlotte more than any man she has ever met, but can she really marry someone she has known less than a week? A man with secrets in his life he keeps fiercely guarded? Not to mention one her mother despises? The closer Charlotte draws to the truth about Kenley, the more she realizes he might be capable of far more treachery than she had believed possible, and the more she finds herself involved in a web of deceit that includes late-night conspiracies, highway robbery, cold-blooded murder, and—most unexpected of all—love.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Sara Reinke currently lives in Louisville with her husband, son, cat and dog. She wrote her first short story when she was four and has been writing ever since.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 359 pages
• Publisher: Medallion Press (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932815910
• ISBN-13: 978-1932815917
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,633,130 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

"Definitely an author to watch." That's how Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine describes Sara Reinke. New York Times best-selling author Karen Robards calls Reinke "a new paranormal star" and Love Romances and More hails her as "a fresh new voice to a genre that has grown stale." Dark Thirst and Dark Hunger, the first two books in her Brethren Series of vampire romance are available now from Kensington/Zebra Books. The third installment, Dark Passion, is available in print and ebook formats from Double Dragon Publishing. Her latest release, Backwoods, is available in multiple ebook formats, as well as paperback. Visit online at www.sarareinke.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars fresh voiced, Highwayman story, February 11, 2007

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Unexpected Engagement (Mass Market Paperback)

Charlotte Engle is on route to her sister, who is about to have her baby. Naturally since this is middle 1700s, she is accompanied by her elderly aunt, Maude. However, life is about to take an exciting turn as their coach is stopped by a Highwayman. Charlotte is hardly your shy, retiring miss, so she wields her barbed comments and her accurate pistol work to save the day. Mother dearest thinks darling daughter needs taking in hand and so arranges a betrothal to Lord James Houghton. Charlotte is not so thrilled, as she has an eye set on being a writer, despite this was hardly the goal of a proper lady.

More so, she meets Kenley Fairfax who encourages her wicked ways. She is delighted with the man who appreciates her wit in a time when women were supposed to be dullards. Only, she is smart enough to see Fairfax is more than he seems.

Reinke is a fresh voice in romance writing. You get a clear sense she is more than willing to follow in the footsteps with the tried and true writers of the genre who have gone before, but she is going to do it drumming to her own beat. That shall set her apart and quickly engage readers.

I am looking forward her her Kensington debut release, Dark Thirst. I hear it's a very different vampire romance that will quickly gain her the lion's share of the spotlight.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars delightful Georgian romantic suspense, February 10, 2007

By 

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

This review is from: An Unexpected Engagement (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1748 heeding her mother's call to come home from London as her sister is about to give birth, Charlotte Engle returns to the family estate in Essex County accompanied by her Aunt Maude. However, the notorious Black Trio highwaymen stop her coach. Unable to sit idly by she fires a shot at one of the thieves, punches another, and hooks the heart of the one accosting her with her sharp tongue. No one is harmed, but her mother misinterprets what happened and decides her daughter needs the protection of a husband, selecting Lord James Houghton who declares he loves Charlotte though she rejects him.

At a party, Charlotte, the author of insightful essays on social and economic ills, meets Kenley Fairfax, who admits he not only has read her chapworks but admires her intelligent arguments. He even suggests that she hide her gender so men would get past their horror of a female author and read her logical opinions. They are attracted to one another and when her mother tries to force James on her, Kenley intercedes insisting they met in London and have an arrangement. However, as she falls in love, she realizes her beloved has secrets (ironically readers know both though the heroine does not) that could end their relationship before they say I do.

Though James's greed fails to surface until very late (his arrogance is in the reader's face from the onset), AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT is a delightful Georgian romantic suspense with the thriller aspects coming late. The story line centers on the heroine who knows what she likes and loves and what she detests, and is unafraid to act on her judgment. Readers will appreciate Charlotte's courage as she unravels a web of deceit that would send most of her female peers into vapors.

Harriet Klausner

5.0 out of 5 stars AN UNEXPECTED ENGAGEMENT, October 12, 2010

By 

DENNIS ALFLEN (TACOMA, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Unexpected Engagement (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the same book as Outlaw Lover, so if you have read that book, dont buy this one...Outlaw Lover is free to download on Sara Reinkes website, that is how I read it.