The Water Nymph [Mass Market Paperback]

Michele Jaffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 26, 2001

When Sophie Champion crosses paths with the imperiously dashing Crispin Fascari, the notorious "Earl of Scandal," her circumstances are awkward -- and precarious. Disguised as a man, and seeking clues in the suspicious death of a loved one, smart, beautiful Sophie arrives at the scene of a murder -- only to fall into a tangled web designed to implicate her. Now, her salvation lies with Crispin -- and he has a mysterious agenda of his own. Locked in a battle of mutal distrust and magnetic attraction, Sophie and Crispin strike a boldly seductive bargin that binds them together in their search for answers among London's darkest streets -- where love is a secret killer, waiting to strike again.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In The Water Nymph, Michele Jaffe meets the standard of steamy passion, tense mystery, and historical detail that made last year's debut, The Stargazer, such a success. In this novel, our hero, Crispin Foscari (the "Earl of Scandal"), and heroine, Sophie Champion, meet over the recently murdered body of her friend. (This is not the only similarity to The Stargazer, but hey--Jaffe knows a good thing when she sees it.) Crispin accuses Sophie of murder, but agrees to give her some time to prove her innocence. As they search for the true killer, Sophie and Crispin find their common interests extend far beyond that of a murder investigation, and some steamy passion develops.

This novel is sure to be a huge hit: its combination of suspense and passion keeps the pages flipping by at a fast enough rate to keep you cool on a Texas summer day. And did I mention the love scenes? Do not lend this one to your mother, but recommend it to your best friend, and sit back and watch her blush rise. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Like the Scarlet Pimpernel, outrageously handsome and brilliant Crispin Foscari, the earl of Sandal, who first appeared in Jaffe's The Stargazer, has carefully built a wastrel's reputation while making quite another as Phoenix, invaluable spy for her majesty, Queen Elizabeth I. Now, however, he is in a spot: he has been given only a little more than a fortnight to find the person who's accusing him of treason. Meanwhile, he is investigating a beautiful and brilliant woman, Sophie Champion, who is suspect in Elizabethan England because she has seemingly endless resources, is a heroine to the street people and may have had something to do with her godfather's death. Crispin is smitten, however, and Sophie assures him she is neither a murderer nor any kind of malefactor, but she cannot be sure that he is above suspicion. Their rollicking adventures, detailed lovemaking and spirited sparring make for a great read, despite episodes of purple prose and predictable plot developments. It is clear from the very start, for example, that Crispin and Sophie will wind up together, and there are far too many references to the heroine's "tender bud." And Sophie's station in life is a stretch of the imagination: she becomes exceedingly rich at age 16, but keeps her wealth secret; she buys an old abbey with a gorgeous room full of stained glass, and fills it with needy women. And she's beautiful to boot. Still, Jaffe's second historical romance marks her as a writer to watch. While the novel calls for a bit more suspension of disbelief than readers may be willing to give, the protagonists are captivating, and one hopes that Jaffe will focus next on Crispin's intriguing family.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star; Reprint edition (June 26, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671027425
• ISBN-13: 978-0671027421
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,957,189 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mysterious, Romantic, Suspenseful: Absolutely Stunning, November 2, 2000

By 

E.L. Cruz (Mission Viejo, Ca United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Water Nymph (Hardcover)

THE WATER NYMPH is Michele Jaffe's second book in the Arboretti series. This one takes place in England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Crispin Foscari, the dashing Earl of Sandal, has been framed and Queen Elizabeth has given him only a few weeks to solve the mystery and clear his name. The beautiful Sophie Champion has been simultaneously investigating the murder of her godfather. Never did she imagine that she would be swept into a world of intrigue, deception, and sizzling passion after meeting the Earl of Sandal and becoming involved in their entwining mysteries.

This book blew me away. Plain and simple. I never knew that mystery could be seamlessly woven into the intricate folds of romance to create a passionate, suspenseful, and touching love story.

Although this story possesses all the classic romantic elements like love lost, love gained, sex and suspense, this romance is much more complex: it takes all these elements and increases them tenfold to create a romance like none other. The chemistry between Crispin and Sophie is undeniable. The mystery surrounding them is electrifying. The hot love scenes are hypnotizing. The beautiful backdrop of Crispin's exotic hanging garden is breathtaking.

This book is worth far more than 5 stars. Not only does it follow in the magnificent footsteps of THE STARGAZER, but the ending is so spectacular that you'll be left yearning for the story to go on forever.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Captivating and Sexy, July 7, 2000

By 

Constant Reader (Los Osos, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Water Nymph (Hardcover)

During the Elizabethan Age, Crispin Foscari and Sophie Champion first meet over a dead body. Crispin is there as an agent of the Queen and Sophie is there because she thinks the dead man is a link to the death of her beloved foster father. Although Sophie is dressed as a man (which allows her to move about the City freely). Crispin immediately sees through her disguise. He is beguiled even though he has been a lover to many, many women. The paths of Sophie and Crispin cross again and again and each time the sexual tension increases. The love scenes in this book are extraordinary and you will probably never look at peach (yes, the fruit) in the same way again. Through many twists, turns and often comedic encounters, Sophie and Crispin each come to the same conclusion which solves the mystery of more than one murder. Crispin plays a number of roles and it is a guess which one he is playing at any given time. I suspect that the author will continue this series with at least one book about the cousins who are introduced late in "The Water Nymph". It is not necessary to read the prequel to " The Water Nymph", which is "The Stargazer", in order to enjoy "The Water Nymph"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Water Nymph review, January 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Water Nymph (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book. I read all 418 pages in 2 days. Sophie and Crispin made and attracting couple. All the romance with a murder mystery added. This is one book that I will read again and enjoy just as much as I did the first time.