Determined to find a husband, Miss Eleanor โNellโ Bowman attends a ball put on by the Duchess of Greycliffe, fondly referred to as the Duchess of Love. But she roundly dismisses the suitors the matchmaking hostess has invited on her behalf. For itโs the duchessโs dashing son Ned, Lord Edward, who long ago captured Nellโs heartโand roused her desire. All it takes is a pair of conveniently misplaced silky red bloomers to set the handsome widowerโs gaze on this unusual girl who is clearly more than meets the eyeย .ย .ย .
After more than a year of mourning, Ned longs to finally start anew. At first glance, the birthday ball his mother has thrown in his honor is decidedly lacking in suitable mistresses. But he senses something unexpectedly alluring beneath the veil of Nellโs plain exteriorโsomething sheโs anxious to reveal, and the lonely Lord is incapable of denyingย .ย .ย .
Named one of ALA Booklistโs top ten romances for 2012ย
โAn engaging tale that balances greed, jealousy, and malice with humor and sweetness.ย .ย . . Readers will cheer.โ โPublishers Weekly (starred review)ย
โOnce again MacKenzie creates a historical romance that will keep readers entertained from beginning to end.โ โBooklist (starred review)ย
โWith capable hands, [MacKenzie] blends a touch of poignancy with just the right amount of humor into this delightful love story.โ โRT Book Reviews
Includes a bonus novella!A native of Washington, DC, Sally MacKenzie still lives in suburban Maryland with her transplanted upstate New Yorker husband. Sheโs written federal regulations, school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, and swim league guidance, but it wasnโt until the first of her four sons headed off to college that she tried her hand at romance. She can be reached by e-mail at [email protected] or by snail mail at P.O. Box 10466, Rockville, MD, 20849. Please visit her home in cyberspace at www.sallymackenzie.net.