A Bride Unveiled

August 22, 2011
Hunter’s second Bridal Pleasures historical romance (after A Duke’s Temptation) springs from an innocent childhood friendship in the 19th-century English countryside. Miss Violet Knowlton is the naïve ward of her aunt and uncle; Kit is a workhouse boy who escapes “the palace” on occasion to explore the churchyard graves. Too soon, the two must abandon child’s play for the adult world. When they chance to meet again during an impressive performance of Kit’s swordsmanship, he is surprised to find Violet a gentlewoman, rising in society and betrothed to boorish Sir Godfrey. As they dance together for the first time, memories of their friendship add “a secret intimacy, a whisper of spice to their reunion.” With so much against them, however, can their renewed affair stand a chance? Hunter draws the reader in with a compelling plot and engaging characters in this smoothly written tale of love lost and found.

Starred review from October 1, 2011
Violet Knowlton knows the importance of following rules. Despite a few infractions in her past, she has done her best to become the lady her Aunt Francesca wants her to be. The next logical step for Violet is to marry perfectly proper merchant Godfrey Maitland. Everything seems to be going according to plan until Violet unexpectedly encounters Christopher Kit Fenton, the celebrated ma+tre d'arms, who has been teaching the gentlemen of London, including Godfrey, how to properly wield a sword. Ten years ago, Kit encouraged Violet to break rules and live life adventurously. Upon seeing Kit again, Violet is suddenly tempted to abandon Godfrey and everything for which she has worked so hard. Fueled by equal measures of sizzling sexual chemistry and rapier wit, the latest addictively readable addition to Hunter's Bridal Pleasures series is a thoroughly romantic literary treat.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)