To Tempt a Bride

November 15, 2003
Ever since she could remember, Camille has been in love with Eric, but he seems to think of her only as his best friend Miles' younger sister. Camille knows that she's no beauty, and her habit of honestly saying what she thinks rather than adapting the demure ways expected of a regency miss is the despair of Miles' wife, Annabelle, who chaperons Camille through her first Season. Yet Camille still has hopes of one day catching Eric's interest, hopes that appear to be dashed, however, when Eric rescues Nell Baynes, a beautiful young stranger. Hospitality demands that Camille open her home and her circle of friends to Nell, and Camille doesn't expect Eric to ever notice her. Then, just as Eric finally seems interested in Camille, a dangerous villain throws an unexpected detour in their path to romance. Layton's superb characterization, including the wonderfully devious yet very practical Nell, and lovely writing, tempered with a nice dash of wit, will delight readers who enjoy historical regencies by Mary Jo Putney or Mary Balogh.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)