From the elegently appointed drawing rooms of London's most exclusive clubs to an imposing country estate in the heart of Dorset, comes a provocative tale of a free-thinking beauty, a dignified lord, and a mad impetuous love that defied all logic...
Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously disturbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why, it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virtue. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules.
That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled in through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded in strengthening Harry's resolve: to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that is was he who was in for a lesson...as his brazen fiancee set out to win his heart-and an old and clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives?
Janet T. (whip01) from HASTINGS, MI wrote on 4/24/2007...
Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously distrurbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why, it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virture. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules.
That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled in through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded in strengthening Harry's resolve: to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that is was he who was in for a lesson...as his brazen fiancee set out to win his heart - and an old and clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives?
Corina L. (sylvermystic) from KINGSVILLE, TX wrote on 4/6/2007...
I love all the Amanda Quick books.
Patty L. (paperbacklover) from MOKENA, IL wrote on 12/4/2006...
The scholarly Harry Fleming, earl of Graystone, prizes loyalty above all else. A former spy, he is haunted by his failure to nab a traitor known as the Spider. Furthermore, his wife was "a lying, deceitful, falsehearted bitch." Now a widower, Harry's in the market for a second wife. He has selected as his bride Augusta Ballinger, a reckless but steadfastly loyal woman, and knowing she will balk, he persuades her guardian to present the engagement to her as a fait accompli. Despite her attraction to Henry, Augusta is indeed convinced that a free spirit doesn't belong with a stick-in-the-mud scholar. But the marriage proceeds, and as Harry tries to fashion a proper wife out of Augusta, he begins to believe that a document linked to the suspicious death of her brother two years earlier may offer a clue to the identity of the elusive Spider.
Liz C. from CYPRESS, TX wrote on 9/10/2006...
Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously distrurbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why, it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virture. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules.
That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled in through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded in strengthening Harry's resolve: to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that is was he who was in for a lesson...as his brazen fiancee set out to win his heart - and an old and clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives?
Beth Ann B. (ladypeyton) from EAST HAVEN, CT wrote on 7/9/2006...
From the elegently appointed drawing rooms of London's most exclusive clubs to an imposing country estate in the heart of Dorset, comes a provocative tale of a free-thinking beauty, a dignified lord, and a mad impetuous love that defied all logic...
Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously disturbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly marry her.Why,it was rumoured that his chosen bride must be a veritablemodel of virtue,and everyone knew that Augusta,as the last of the wild,reckless Northumberland Ballingers,was a woman who could not be bothered by societys rules.
Joy J. from WYLIE, TX wrote on 6/26/2006...
From the elegantly appointed drawing rooms of London's most exclusive club to an imposing country estate in the heart of Dorset comes a provocative tale of a free-thinking beauty, a dignified lord, and a mad, impetuous love that defied all logic....
Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously disturbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why, it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virtue. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules. That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled in through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded in strengthening Harry's resolve: to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that it was he who was in for a lesson...as his brazen fiancee set otu to win his heart--and an old clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives?
Janine A. (Janine) from FLORENCE, SC wrote on 12/27/2005...
From the elegantly appointed drawing rooms of London's most exclusive club to an imposing country estate in Dorset comes a provocative tale of a free-thinking beauty, a dignified lord, and an impetuous love that defies all logic
Nancy E. (neckrote) from PARLIN, NJ wrote on 11/12/2005...
Agusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously disturbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virtue. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules. That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled in through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded to strengthening Harry's resolve; to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that it was he who was in for a lesson...as his brazen fiancee set out to win his heart--and an old and clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives? Funny, facinating, Amanda Quick! A blend of intribue and romance.
S W. (TakingTime) from EAST MOLINE, IL wrote on 11/3/2005...
Set in London.........exclusive clubs, country estates, Earls,common folk and their enemys weave this story into a enchanting romace novel