Barbara Dawson Smith never fails . . . this is part of a series but certainly stands alone without having read any of the others.

Donna D. (
donnadel) wrote on 2/1/2007...
Another great installment in the series of books dealing with the Kenyon's. Set in Regency England.
It is Brighton, 1815 and war veteran Joshua Kenyon embarks on a duel with Pankhurst to settle a long-standing feud where Joshua was rumoured to have abandoned Pankhurst's sister Lily and seduced Lily's best friend. The duel was sabotaged by a mysterious intruder who shot his opponent - and what was even more astounding was that his opponent was a female - identified later to be Miss Anne Neville. She had substituted Pankhurst to rescue her beloved friend from a brush with death.
Who could have wanted Miss Neville's life? Could it be her cousin Edwin who bears a seated grudge when she is the recipient of her uncle's fortune? Could it be the enigmatic Samuel Firth who had intended to shoot Joshua but ended up hitting the wrong target? Barbara Dawson Smith takes readers through a labyrinth of red herrings and paranoia as suspects surface with cloaked shenanigans. The mystery is intelligently plotted and cogently structured to deliver a rousing epilogue.
Even more stirring is the romance. Joshua and Anne complements beautifully in wits and intelligence as well as heart. As the veteran plagued with darkness, Joshua is determined to portect the innocence of Anne by maintaining his distance. Yet as danger approaches his desire to protect Anne wins out!

Jennifer M. (
Jenmonaco) wrote on 5/11/2005...
Book #3 in the Kenyon series Another great book from BDS.