Search - Winter Fire (Malloren, Bk 6)

This continuation of the Georgian England Malloren family series is a pallid, confused story with poorly developed characters. I only kept reading it because I enjoyed seeing the Mallorens again. If you've never read Beverley, definitely don't start here!

The saga of the Mallorens continues in this terrific story of the Marquis of Ashart and Genova Smith. The setting is Rothgar Abbey over a Christmas season. Ashart and Genova has been forced into a false betrothal to protect her reputation. Ashart and Lord Rothgar have been mortal enemies for many years and have not been in each other's company in as long. This is Jo Beverley at her best.

(from Amazon.com)Genova Smith convinces her employers, the elderly Trayce ladies, to let her bring an abandoned baby with them to a Christmas party at Rothgar Abbey, even as she does her best to get the Marquess of Ashart, the man she mistakenly believes to be the father, to accept responsibility for his actions. Ash has no intention of claiming the child, but he agrees to accompany his great aunts to the holiday fete, despite the family tragedy that has turned Ash and the Marquess of Rothgar into mortal enemies. When she is caught with Ash in a seemingly compromising situation, Genova agrees to a pretend betrothal but has no intention of giving in to her desires for the wickedly handsome Ash. While truth and forgiveness unite two long-estranged branches of a family, an intelligent, ever sensible heroine and an elegant, sinfully seductive rake spar with splendidly sexy results.

(my personal opinion)Not as good as most of the previous Malloren novels, but entertaining nonetheless. If you are reading the series, you definitely need to read this before "A Most Unsuitable Man", which is a sequel to this book.

So far, this is the most fun story of the Malloren series. I enjoyed the fun and comraderie of the hero and heroine. I suppose part of my enjoyment is because I knew all of the other characters in the story and their relationships. A good, enjoyable read.