The Beautiful Stranger

June 11, 2001
The final installment of London's Victorian-era Rogues of Regent Street trilogy (following The Ruthless Charmer) explores the consequences of living recklessly. Dashing Lord Arthur Christian, the untitled son of the Duke of Sutherland, is attempting to make reparations for his misspent youth. Consumed with guilt over the untimely death of Phillip Rothembow, his friend and fellow rogue, Arthur determines to go to Scotland to settle a debt accrued by Phillip when he invested in a failing cattle farm. In stead, Arthur finds himself lost in the Highland woods, where he meets Kerry McKinnon, a beautiful and resourceful widow who is struggling to save her farm. Arthur is strongly attracted to Kerry, but he finds that winning her heart is easier than winning her hand; Kerry must wed the dim-witted son of one of her creditors or face eviction. Although Kerry and Arthur are well-drawn and engaging characters, the story is muddled by poorly developed secondary characters and a cumbersome plot involving land-transfer, tenant eviction and villainous aristocratic neighbors who will stop at nothing to resolve a debt. London's writing is smooth, and the sensuality quotient here is high, but the book stumbles to a hasty conclusion.

June 1, 2001
Plagued with guilt over the death of his friend Phillip Rothembow, Arthur Christian, one of the Rogues of Regent Street, decides the only way he can atone for not saving Phillip is by saving his friend's reputation. After learning that Phillip invested in a parcel of worthless land in Scotland shortly before his death, Arthur travels to Glenbaden, Scotland, intent on selling Phillip's holdings to clear up his debts and help out his family. Upon arrival, Arthur meets Kerry McKinnon, who is struggling to keep food on the table for the residents of Glenbaden after her late husband left her with substantial debts. When the feisty woman accidentally shoots him, Arthur is immediately captivated, then finds himself torn between his duty to an old friend and his new love for a courageous, beautiful woman. Demonstrating a gift for both characterization and plot, London wraps up her Rogues trilogy with an adventure-packed tale of love on the Scottish highlands.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2001, American Library Association.)