The Marriage Bargain

October 15, 2005
Three years ago, Emma wanted to kiss Spenser. Now she wants to kill him. Their marriage in name only saved her from having to wed Spenser's loathsome uncle, and before he went off to war, Spenser promised Emma that she would have everything she needed as his new wife. But when Spenser returns home from battling Napoleon, he seems to have forgotten all about Emma, who has spent the last few years struggling to keep his family estate from falling into ruin. When unusual circumstances finally bring Emma and Spenser together again, Spenser discovers Emma is no longer the vulnerable young lady he married but is, instead, a resourceful and beautiful woman. Now, in order to win back his wife's trust and love, Spenser must first agree to a new marriage bargain. Perkins' elegant writing and gift for subtle characterization enhance her latest quietly brilliant historical Regency, in which she expertly adds a hint of danger to a sweetly sensual, thoroughly satisfying love story.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2005, American Library Association.)