A Lady Awakened

November 14, 2011
Grant’s debut Regency romance is sensitive and sensual. Determined to protect her estate and tenants from her nefarious brother-in-law, widow Martha Russell must produce an heir soon enough to claim he was fathered by her deceased husband. Her new neighbor, Theophilius Mirkwood, has been banished to the countryside for his rakish ways—but a rake is just what Martha needs. She proposes to pay him for a month of clandestine interludes with the end result of conception. When Martha refuses to overtly respond to Theo’s skilled ministrations, he becomes determined to give her pleasure as well as a son. Grant details Regency country life beautifully, with a firm and respectful hand, and the subtle yet engrossing courtship is enchanting and gratifying as it transforms these two strong-minded and very unlikely lovers. Agent: Judith Ehrlich Literary Management.

Starred review from December 1, 2011

Faced with the possibility of losing everything for lack of an heir after the unexpected death of her husband, prim Martha Russell takes matters into her own hands and strikes a bargain with her worldly, currently penniless neighbor, Theophilus Mirkwood. She will give him the money he needs, and he will give her a month of passion, in the hopes of conceiving a child. But Martha's businesslike attitude and refusal to enjoy the arrangement puts a damper on the entire process--and results in some of the funniest pillow talk ever. While the protagonists are beautifully rendered, the numerous secondary players are developed with the same care, adding depth and creating a rich, realistic picture of rural English life. VERDICT Tantalizingly sexy, heartwarming, and oh-so funny, this romance is unforgettable; a stunning debut. Grant lives in the Pacific Northwest.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from December 15, 2011
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Martha Russell is a desperate woman. After her husband Richard's unexpected death, ownership of Seton Park, her current home, will revert to the new heir, the reprehensible James Russell. Unless, that is, Martha is pregnant with Richard's son. While Martha knows she is not pregnant, the rest of the countryside does not, which gives Martha one month to rectify the situation. Martha's new neighbor, Theophilus Mirkwood, is rumored to have been banished to the countryside to repent his wicked life in London. All Martha has to do is convince Theo to agree to a month of discreet trysts with her, and she may wind up with the heir she desperately needs. The only problem is that Martha did not factor falling in love with Theo into her simple business proposition. Grant expertly imbues her elegantly written, emotionally powerful debut with a compelling combination of exquisitely nuanced characters and lusciously sensual romance. Sweet, poignant, and completely satisfying, A Lady Awakened is a romance to treasure.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)