They Seek Him Here, They Seek Him There

Title: The Bride Thief (2002)
Author: Jacquie D’Alessandro
Genre: Regency Historical, Stand Alone Novel, 357 pages
Sensuality: PG

Reason for Reading: recommendations on message boards

Grade: B

At six-and-twenty, Samantha Briggeham knew her marital prospects were fading by the season and she was pleased by the thought. She had no intention of being betrothed–especially against her will–to a man she did not love. She had a plan…and it didn’t include being swept into a pair of powerful arms and spirited away by a masked rider. News of Sammie’s heroic rescue from undesired wedlock turned her into the toast of the ton, wooed by suitors far and wide. But she couldn’t forget the swashbuckling brigand who’d abducted her–something about him intrigued her completely. Then she met Eric Landsdowne, the dashing and seductive Earl of Wesley.His exploits were legendary, his life filled with danger. He was the elusive Bride Thief, who had his own reasons for helping young women escape the unhappy fate of arranged marriages, and whose true identity was a scrupulously guarded secret. But from the moment he rescued Sammie–only to discover she’d already managed to get herself un-betrothed–Eric knew he couldn’t lose her a second time. Marriage was out of the question. Which left only one option: A clandestine affair that might lead to scandal, social ruin, and the unmasking of a love-bested legend. . .

The Bourne Rejection

Dad called, telling me to bring a bottle of Opus One to his birthday dinner. Since Dad exists to make my life difficult, um, love ya Dad I knew that I would not be able to find a bottle in at any of my neighborhood wine shops. Nope, I have to haul arse downtown to this hoity toity joint complete with a wine bar. All is not lost cause I get this cutie to help me out. He looks the intellectual type with lines of worry in his forehead. So adorable. He serves me a helping of I’m-checking-you-out. I body message back I-might-be-interested. It’s going good. I almost dont mind the $195 price tag for the Opus One. Almost. So, as I am paying I open wide my tote. Inside, I have a loud, red & yellow t-shirt that I got from Baltimore that says “I’m a Crab” (Get it? Maryland. Crab. Ha!) and a yooge apple green leather Hermes of Paris wallet. A copy of Joanna Bourne’s The Spymaster’s Lady is barely peeking underneath but of course, my wino would-be boyfriend sees it.

“What are you reading?” he asks eagerly. Eagle eyes. Great. I have eagle eyes, too. Maybe we’re a match made for some aerie.

Since he has eagle eyes, I decide not to fool around. I defiantly plop the book on the counter so that he can have a good gander. “The Spymaster’s Lady,” I coo innocently. “It’s really good.”

Wino would-be boyfriend turns as red as the crab on my t-shirt. Which is good because I refuse to be embarrassed and I guess one of us had to. He hands me my purchase avoiding my eyes. Oh well. As I walk out into the sunshine, the Mastercard dude intones:

Paperback Novel . . . . $8.00
Crab T-Shirt . . . . . . . . $35.00
Bottle of Opus One . . . $195.00
Look on Wino’s Face . . Priceless

TBR Day: The Ungrateful Governess by Mary Balogh

Author: Mary Balogh

Grade: C-

Genre: Traditional Regency
Pages: 218. Stand alone book.
Sensuality: PG
Copyright: 1988

Reason for Reading: Although I love Balogh regencies and have been reading her from almost the beginning of her career, I have put off this one for years because governess romances are on my Ick List. Also, many of Balogh’s early works are inconsistent in quality and this one did turn out to be one of her duds so my intuition was right for once. IMO, Balogh doesn’t hit her writing stride until about 1990.