To Wed a Stranger

February 15, 2003
Beautiful, titled, totally desirable, but practically "on the shelf" at 27, Lady Annabelle Wylde has had many flirtations but has never found love. Nevertheless, she knows she must wed; resigned to a loveless relationship, she dutifully agrees to an arranged marriage with Miles Croft, Viscount Pelham, a man she hardly knows. Disaster strikes on the couple's honeymoon as virulent influenza robs Annabelle of her beauty and vitality, and their relationship takes on a deeper dimension as they learn to know each other and discover what is really important to them. A charming, emotionally intense story that beautifully addresses the issues of self-worth and the true meaning of love, this novel will appeal to readers who like their historicals intelligent, thought-provoking, and thoroughly romantic. A number of characters have links to Layton's previous books, including Annabelle herself, who appeared in The Chance as a rather spiteful "other woman." Layton is a beloved writer of Regencies of the traditional and historical variety and a RITA Award winner. She lives on Long Island, NY.

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