The Lady Meets Her Match

February 9, 2015
Conkle’s intense second Midnight Meeting historical (after Meet the Earl at Midnight) immerses the reader in Georgian London, where a wealthy businessman encounters a woman determined to be an independent business owner. Cyrus Ryland, England’s “King of Commerce,” is enthralled by the woman he finds in his study during a masked ball. Claire Mayhew has decided to copy Cyrus’s signature and use it to lease a coffee shop, an arrangement not available to women. Then she escapes into the night, leaving behind a simple brown shoe. When Cyrus locates Claire, he is surprised by her tenacity and desire to retain independence. Their frequent meetings simmer with enticing foreplay as both Cyrus and Claire reveal their innermost secrets and must decide whether to build a future together. A mystery subplot adds an element of intrigue, and Conkle’s eloquent writing makes every scene shine. Agent: Sarah Younger, Nancy Yost Literary Agency.

February 1, 2015
A young woman in Georgian London is determined to make her own way in the world by opening a coffee shop but must get around her wealthy and handsome landlord to do it. The second book in Conkle's Midnight Meeting series (Meet the Earl at Midnight, 2014) opens with a daring housebreaking attempt by Claire Mayhew at the home of her landlord, Cyrus Ryland, the King of Commerce. Cyrus has ascended from humble working-class roots and is now wealthy enough to buy acceptance from the nobility. But in spite of having seven sisters, he's a sexist idiot when it comes to women. "Women need a man's strong, guiding hand," he tells his friend. That's why he refuses to let a woman sign the lease to any of his properties unless she has a husband, father or brother co-sign with her. When Claire fails to get his permission to rent a shop he owns, she sneaks into his house to find a signed document so she can forge his signature on the lease. Predictably, he catches her in his office and is fascinated by her. She escapes, only to leave behind a common work-a-day shoe on his front steps. When he tracks her down, they embark on a long flirtation while Claire feebly tries to hold onto her virtue. The book is an interesting twist on "Cinderella" in which the prince is actually a commoner like his elusive love. But the prose is painfully flowery (why say "Sustenance came sparing by choice" rather than "He hardly ate?"), and many of the lower-class characters are portrayed as being shifty and incompetent at their jobs. This author is one to watch, especially if she's lucky enough to find a more hands-on editor.

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 15, 2015
Wealthy businessman Cyrus is known for thinking women need to be sheltered. He has taken care of several sisters, and does not sign business leases to women. Claire Mayhew wants to run a coffee shop, and during a masked ball she sneaks into his study to copy his signature. When he catches her, a fun flirtation ensues, and she leaves one of her humble shoes behind as she hurries away. Cyrus tracks her to the coffeehouse, where she is finding out that running a business is harder than she expected. And someone is trying to sabotage her by stealing her assets and adding too much salt to her desserts. Cyrus woos her with strawberries and support and begins to recognize the value of an independent woman. Claire also finds joy in being in love with a man who knows she's his equal. Conkle's clever and enjoyable Cinderella tale offers a unique character in her historical businesswoman, along with lively action and fun romantic chemistry. Fans of Jayne Fresina will enjoy this.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)