Unlaced

Ambition can become a passion, but it will never match the passion found in true love…

The Marquess of Mandeville, Henry Ashton will not ever be a slave to love. He knows that love is an unnecessary diversion and frivolity, because he watched his own father waste his life catering to his faithless wife. The new Lord Mandeville is looking forward to taking a role in Parliament. The bride he marries will give him political influence; she will have excellent breeding and always behave correctly. He will not be swayed from his purpose in life by a beautiful face and falsely sweet disposition. Henry almost fell into this trap in his youth, only to realise that he was being cuckolded; his fiancée already had a lover.

Lucy Abbington has been preparing for her first season in London because it is her father’s dearest wish. She is sponsored by close family friends, the Rosemoors and she is to share her coming out party with their daughter, Susanna. Lucy can’t wait for it all to be over so she can return to her passion, treating sick and injured animals. She intends meeting with a veterinarian student and friend in London, to study and learn from his notes. Lucy knows that she can never find a husband who will accept her peculiarities and has sadly accepted that she will never know the joy of her own children.

Lucy is riding free, her hair unbound, wearing her brother’s breeches and linen shirt when she comes across a man walking beside his limping stallion. She admonishes him for riding the beast too hard and points out the torn tendon. Lord Mandeville is astounded when he realises that this urchin is female and seems to know what she is talking about. He leaves Phantom in her capable hands to be stabled, as he is already late for a dinner date with the Rosemoor family. After discussing politics with Lord Rosemoor, Lord Mandeville is introduced to the most exquisite creature, Miss Lucy Abbington. When she looks at him fully he registers that he has seen those beautiful deep green eyes before, she is the girl in the breeches! Lucy had no idea that this man was the Lord Mandeville, it is little wonder that ladies fall in love with him so easily. Yet Colin Rosemoor had warned her to steer clear of Lord Mandeville, he is mysteriously moody and has a scandal in his past.

Readers are going to love this historical debut from author Kristina Cook. Not only do you fall in love with her hero and heroine, but the secondary characters are also very well developed without becoming distracting. She sets the pair on a slow course of falling love against all that they believe. Indeed to find each other, both must be willing to sacrifice their ambitions. To each, their ambition is their life so it will be no small sacrifice. Kristina Cook revisits a time when attitudes and prejudices played a major part in decisions such as marriage; love was rarely taken into account. As readers prepare for the tender resolution between Henry and Lucy, all will be torn asunder in the dramatic and heart-wrenching concluding chapters. The story is quite fast-paced and compelling, with an ending that kept this reader enthralled and not wanting it to finish. The best news is that Kristina Cook has more books planned to follow on – Unveiled will be released early in 2005. A very highly recommended debut book – not to be missed!

Reviewed by: Naomi