Starred review from February 15, 2009
Meet the Huxtables, a quiet country family whose lives take an unexpected turn when the youngest, 17-year-old Stephen, becomes the Earl of Merton and he and his three sisters are swept up in the unfamiliar social whirl of the ton. Young, widowed Vanessa Huxtable Dew is not about to let her elder sister, Margaret, sacrifice herself once again for her siblings, especially when it means wedding the arrogant Viscount Lyngate and giving up the dream of marrying the soldier she loves. So outspoken Nessie proposes to Lyngate herselfand his agreement stuns them both in "First Comes Marriage". Peppered with brilliant banter, laced with laughter (the proposal scene is hilarious), and tingling with sexual tension, this story of two seemingly mismatched people struggling to make their marriage work tugs at a few heartstrings and skillfully paves the way for the stories to come.
When a reckless wager puts the rakish reputation of Baron Montford at risk and threatens to ruin beautiful, innocent Katherine Huxtable, Monty puts the issue to rest by claiming failure. However, three years later the two meet again, and this time they strike a double wagerwhere falling in love is the stakesbut this time the results are far different. Exquisite sexual chemistry permeates this charmingly complex story that seamlessly interweaves family issues with the far-reaching effects of scandal and happily ensures another Huxtable's wedded bliss in "Then Comes Seduction".
Five years after jilting his fiancée and running off with her sister-in-law, the Earl of Sheringford is back in town and on a mission: to find a bride acceptable to his grandfather and marry her within 15 daysor lose everything. Amazingly, the solution literally falls into his arms when a distraught Margaret Huxtable, fleeing an unwanted suitor, crashes into him at a ball. But if Sherry wants to win Meg, he will have to convince herand with only two weeks to do so, it won't be easy. A multitude of fascinating threads, some cleverly unexpected, come together beautifully in this tightly woven plot that is shot through with secrets and lies and takes a hard look at what honor really means. Sparkling with sharp wit, lively repartee, and delicious sensuality, the emotionally rewarding "At Last Comes Love" metes out both justice and compassion; totally satisfying. Stephen's story, "Seducing an Angel", will be a June hardcover release. (For an incisive Q&A with the prolific Balogh, see p. 90.)
Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.