A Woman of Virtue [Mass Market Paperback]

Liz Carlyle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2005

From the grandeur of regency Mayfair to the dark danger of London's East End, Liz Carlyle sweeps you away with a powerful story of a love born against all odds, as an honorable young widow stands fast against the cynical rogue who seems determined to consume her, heart and soul.

A Woman of Virtue

In the lonely months since her husband's death, Cecilia Lorimer has hidden her emptiness by devoting herself to a charity mission for the unfortunate women of London's slums. But when the dashing Lord Delacourt takes control, she feels an uncharacteristic urge to flee. Just six years earlier, Delacourt had proven himself to be the immoral rake society called him, nearly ruining her reputation in the bargain.

It's whispered that the womanizing Delacourt is vain, vindictive, and merciless. But he's a man who honors his wagers -- and one result lands him in his brother-in-law's godforsaken mission, face-to-face with the woman who has long haunted his dreams. When treachery closes in, only he knows how to guard Cecilia from the consequences of her own principles. Can a profligate knave persuade a virtuous woman that he is worthy of her trust -- and her love?

--This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Setting: London, 1824

Sensuality Rating: 8

Another romp of a tale from rising star Liz Carlyle! David, the dissolute Lord Delacourt, happens upon the mistress of his dreams, complete with flame gold hair and a couple of, ahem, other attributes that lead Delacourt to nickname this vision of female pulchritude "Peaches." But he quickly discovers that his perfect woman is no fille de joie; no, she's Lady Cecilia Markham-Sands, a genteel if impoverished young woman very much on the marriage mart. Caught in a compromising position with the virtuous virago, the reportedly disreputable Delacourt does the honorable thing and offers to marry Cecilia. But Cecilia wants nothing to do with the womanizing lord and refuses his troth, much to Delacourt's surprise and even dismay.

Years later when fate intervenes in the form of Delacourt's interfering brother-in-law, Cole Amherst, from Carlyle's earlier novel A Woman Scorned, Cecilia, now the widowed countess of Walrafen, once again encounters her nemesis Delacourt in the most unlikely of places, running a shelter for rehabilitated prostitutes in London's slums. But when the unfortunate women in their care begin to turn up dead, Cecilia and Delacourt put aside their animosity to discover who is preying on their defenseless charges. Thrown together by the investigation, passion quickly replaces antipathy, and the fires that have been simmering for six years flame out of control. Readers will love Carlyle's flowing prose, heated love scenes, and titillating portrayal of the macabre. Let Liz Carlyle make a fan out of you!--Alison Trinkle --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

Review

Karen Robards Sensual and spellbinding....Liz Carlyle weaves passion and intrigue with a master's touch. --This text refers to an alternate Mass Market Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Star (March 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416510605
• ISBN-13: 978-1416510604
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,295,322 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

During her frequent travels to London, Liz always packs her pearls, her dancing slippers, and her whalebone corset, confident in the belief that eventually she will receive an invitation to a ball or a rout. Alas, none has been forthcoming. While waiting, however, she has managed to learn where all the damp, dark alleys and low public houses can be found.



When Liz isn't living in the 19th century, she resides in Cary, North Carolina with her husband, a corporate attorney, and their four very fine felines.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At Last My Prayers Are Answered!, March 9, 2001

By 

Philamina Hollandsworth (Native American Valley, Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Woman of Virtue (Mass Market Paperback)

Finally! A book that's worth $6.50 the publisher is asking! Liz Carlyle delivers what I hunger for, and seriously BIG kudos go out to Sonnet for publishing a full-bodied romance instead of a 385-page version of "romance light." If this book were a desert, it would be filled with fat, calories, sugar, and every other wicked-good substance known to woman. No silly fluff, no big misunderstanding plot, no too-stupid-to-live heroine. Carlyle's books are erotic enough to be worthy of the name ROMANCE without scrimping on emotional depth. Yes, this book is one of those now-endangered species -- a romance with a plot, as well as a troupe of wonderful characters. (And I'm not even talking about the hero and heroine yet.) My only question is, if Sonnet can publish books like this, why can't other publishers?

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely wonderful and deserves more than 5 stars!!!, March 2, 2001

By 

Guppie - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Woman of Virtue (Mass Market Paperback)

I just finished the book and I don't want it to end. Like all of Liz Carlyle's books, A Woman of Virtue is an absolutely wonderful book to read!!!

The story of Lord David Delacourt and Lady Cecila Markham-Sands will tug at your heartstrings. It is a story of love lost and love found. Six years ago, David almost ruined Cecilia by almost compromising her. He offers her marriage, but our feisty heroine declines his offer. David, good looking, titled, rich but has been living a life of a dissolute rake could not fathom the idea that a woman like Cecilia would throw his offer back at his face. Now six years later they meet again, for David has lost a wager to his brother-in-law Cole (hero of Liz's previous book A Woman Scorned) and must work at his mission for 3 months while he is away in the country with his wife Jonet. To David's surprise he comes face to face with the now widowed Cecilia who also works at the mission. Still wildly attracted to each other, they try to work side by side, while trying to solve a mystery concerning a murder of one of the women who stays in the mission. Of course, the mystery in this book does not overshadow their romance.

A Woman of Virtue does not have a big misunderstanding. The characters are open and very adult about their feelings for each other. David is a wonderful hero, though very tortured about his past. Cecilia is a feisty heroine who is not ashamed to share her feelings, sensual or not with David. Great secondary characters support our h/h. Hilarious Kemble, the valet, (meet him in My False Heart), Etta the lady's maid, Max de Rohan the chief inspector and of course characters from Liz Carlyle's previous books.

The love scenes in this book are truly hot, but written so sensually it will warm your insides and make your toes curl with pleasure. The prose is heaven, for only Liz Carlyle can write a book and virtually transports you back in time. With her vivid descriptions she can make you feel like you are there yourself. All your five senses will be working when you read a book written by Liz Carlyle and A Woman of Virtue is definitely a book worth reading and enjoying. You will be able to feel the characters joy, sorrows and love. You will be able to see and smell the places, taste the food and wine, and hear the music playing.

Don't walk to the bookstore but run for A Woman of Virtue will not disappoint, it will only leave you wanting more books written by Liz Carlyle. And like me, you will not be able to wait for her next book to come out called Lady Catherine's Fortune.

Go! Buy A Woman of Virtue and read it! NOW!!!!

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A STELLAR STORY, April 14, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Woman of Virtue (Mass Market Paperback)

Liz Carlyle gets better and better. Before this book, Beauty Like the Night was my favorite, but this one delivers more. Humor (thank you LC), mystery, a strong female lead (but not too strong), a hero to salivate over (of course), a great love story with a little seduction on the side (again, thank you LC - I love the seduction) and hot love scenes. But more than that, LC makes her secondary characters so interesting you want to know more about them. Kemble is a hoot! Where did he come from and how did he pick up so many talents? Max de Rohan (and his dog) is so interesting, you wonder where he goes and what he does after each leave taking. It's easy to spin a story around two characters and draw you into their lives, but when an author fully and lovingly developes minor characters too. . .well, you're in for a treat. Still waiting for Bentsen's (from Beauty Like the Night) story, LC!