Compromised

January 14, 2008
Recently returned to 1829 London after years spent abroad with their ambassador father, the two Alton sisters are preparing for their “Season”—at least beautiful demure Evangeline is. Too tall, too outspoken and too intelligent Gail, however, views the prospect with horror. Escaping the household turbulence for a peaceful early morning ride in the park, Gail finds herself knocked into a lake when an overbearing, well-dressed gentleman, Maximillian, Viscount Fontaine, can't control his horse. Gail's temper flares when he blames her for the accident. She's justly upset, then, when he's seen kissing Evangeline in the family's moonlit conservatory during her debut ball. Since Max's father has ordered Max to find a wife in three months or be disinherited, the beautiful Evangeline suits as well as any woman, but—surprise—Max soon finds himself obsessed with witty Gail. All's well that ends well, but numerous overwritten passages and an incongruous subplot compromise the story's good humor.

March 15, 2008
The first time Abigail Gail Alton runs into Maximillian, Viscount Fontaine, the two wind up taking an unexpected fall into the lake. The next time their paths cross, at a ball thrown by her family, Gail casts up her accounts all over Maxs shoes. The third time the two meet is the day after, whenMax, caught in a compromising kiss with her sister, has just become engaged to Evangeline. Max and Evangeline seem perfectly matched, and Gail couldnt be happier for hersister. Really, she couldnt be more delighted. After all, it isnt as if Gail is in love with the way-too-sexy-for-his-own-good, annoyingly arrogant Max. Nobles clever and graceful debut Regency romance is simply sublime.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2008, American Library Association.)