Scandalous Again

February 3, 2003
Dodd, author of the bestselling Governess Brides series (My Favorite Bride, etc.), is back with the first Regency-era romance in her two-part Changing Places series. Lady Madeline de Lacy, one of the most powerful women in England, is struggling to hold her family together following her gambler father's catastrophic loss at cards. When she learns that he has gambled away her hand in marriage and is planning to stake her most precious heirloom in the Game of the Century, she takes drastic action. She switches places with her cousin and companion, Eleanor, and heads to The Game disguised as a companion herself. Eleanor, in turn, agrees to see Madeline's new fiancé and break the engagement. Madeline is accustomed to running her life and the lives of those around her, so posing as a lady's maid proves to be a challenge, especially when she discovers her former fiancé, Lord Gabriel, at the party. Now she must maintain her ruse even as she's drawn to the man she jilted four years earlier. Dodd is known for crafting spicy romances with a touch of humor, and this book is no exception. Less appealing, however, is her alpha-male hero, who spends most of the book punishing Madeline for her past behavior. Still, the story moves along at a bright clip and will likely please Dodd's fans despite a hasty denouement.

February 15, 2003
When her noble but irresponsible father carelessly loses her to a wealthy American in a game of piquet, Lady Madeline de Lacy and her gentle, lookalike cousin Eleanor set out for London to meet her "intended" and set things straight. But when she learns that her father plans to rectify the situation by wagering the family's heirloom tiara at the exclusive Game of the Century, Madeline convinces the reluctant Eleanor to go to London in her stead while she tries to stop her father. In a bizarre turn of events, Madeline arrives at the game dressed as a lady's maid and encounters the ruthless man she jilted four years earlier and has never forgotten. Despite the clich d "trading places/hidden identity" device, readers will enjoy the lively pace, sassy humor, and fascinating characters. The first in a two-part Regency series titled "Changing Places," this book will be followed in November by Eleanor's story, One Kiss from You. Fans of Dodd's earlier "Victorian Governess Brides" series will be waiting for this one. Dodd, a popular writer of sensual historicals, lives in Texas.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.