Sunday, July 18, 2010

Swept Away By A Kiss-Katharine Ashe

Swept Away By A Kiss
Katharine Ashe
Avon, Jul 27 2010, $7.99
ISBN: 9780061965623

In 1810 after two years of exile in Boston, Lady Valerie Monroe is on her way back home as she knows her brother Valentine the earl forgives her foolishness. Although her upper crust American relatives led by Cousin Abigail are concerned that she travels alone on a Dutch merchant ship, Valerie cannot wait to reach Portsmouth.

On the vessel Valerie meets passenger Jesuit priest, Etienne LeMarque who prefers the Anglo version of his given name Stephen. They are attracted to one another, but both hesitate. When pirates capture their ship, he keeps her safe until they are rescued. In England her hero whom she loves disappears breaking her heart. However, she is stunned when she enters a salon only to be introduced to her beloved Viscount Steven Ashford who loves her too. However, he has a quest to complete unaware that the adversary he seeks now has a pretty pawn to use to destroy him.

This is a wonderful Regency romance starring two likable lead characters who are fully developed so that the reader understands what motivates them besides love. The story line is fast-paced from the moment Valerie goes on deck to breathe only to find her breath stopped upon seeing Etienne. He is shocked by his attraction as he has no time for the distraction of desire. Sub-genre readers will appreciate Katharine Ashe’s fine historical.

Harriet Klausner

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