Successful novelist Amanda Briars buys herself a scandalous present to celebrate her 30th birthday. Of gentle birth, unwed, and still a virgin, she contracts with a well-known madam to deliver a lover to her home. When handsome publisher Jack Devlin knocks on her door, it doesn't take him long to figure out that Amanda thinks he's someone else entirely. Intrigued, he stops just short of taking the lady's virginity, for he has other plans for the talented writer.

When she discovers Jack's true identity at a gathering of writers and publishers, Amanda is first angry, then fascinated, as he is a powerful force in the London publishing industry. Jack is determined to court Amanda not only to publish her novels, but also to lure her into his bed, and it isn't long before the two are deeply involved. But their path to happiness is strewn with stumbling blocks: Jack has a past that haunts him, while Amanda's family would be hurt by a scandalous liaison.

Trading this for another Kleypas book.

RELEASE NOTES:

in trade........

Recieved today as part of a Kleypas trade. The other title was Stranger in My Arms. I have hopes that this one will be better. :) Thank you, three104!

It's really sick how much I enjoy these romance novels, sometimes way more than a literary classic or something simple like Harry Potter. Lisa Kleypas is now tied with Johanna Lindsey as my favorite romance author.

This story was both unique and familiar. Bits of it reminded me of Lisa Kleypas' most popular novel, Dreaming of You. The leading lady is a novelist and Jack Devlin, like Derek Craven, is a hard, self-made man with an empire named after himself. However, Jack is nowhere as dark, cynical, and tortured as Derek Craven. And Amanda Briars is not prim, petite Sara Fielding. She's older than Jack by five years! That's an uncommon situation in a historical romance. Usually, I don't like middle-aged heroines, but Amanda was enjoyable and refereshing. She's insecure. Her body isn't perfect like the idealized temptresses so typical of this genre. Her chemistry mixes perfectly with Jack Devlin, who I imagined to look like Patrick Dempsey of the ABC drama, Grey's Anatomy. (In fact, I posted a picture of Patrick Dempsey with this journal entry.)

Kleypas really has a knack for description. Her imagery of food and decor are especially strong. The details never overshadow the action, either. She's a talented writer, this Lisa Kleypas.

Mailed to Sidney1220 today in trade for another Kleypas title, Worth Any Price. Hope she loves it like I did. Enjoy!

Received in the mail today. Thanks...

And I just can't resist commenting on your journal entry...30 is hardly middle-aged! Especially in this day and age...

And I don't usually go for romances in which the heroine is older than the hero. But we'll see...

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10/10/2005 Flipped through this book but couldn't really muster up enough interest to read it. Promised to snowluz via bookrelay.

10/13/2005 Mailed during lunch.

Book received via bookrelay. Thanks!