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Summary
Summary
USA Today Bestseller
Biweekly marriage proposals from men who can't see beyond her (admittedly breathtaking) looks are starting to get on Lady Clara Fairfax's nerves. Desperate to be something more than ornamental, she escapes to her favorite charity. When a child is in trouble, she turns to tall, dark, and annoying barrister Oliver Radford.
Though he's unexpectedly found himself in line to inherit a dukedom, Radford's never been part of fashionable society, and the blonde beauty, though not entirely bereft of brains, isn't part of his plans. But Clara overwhelms even his infallible logic, and when wedlock looms, all he can do is try not to lose his head over her . . .
It's an inconvenient marriage by ordinary standards, but these two are far from ordinary. Can the ton's most adored heiress and London's most difficult bachelor fall victim to their own unruly desires?
Reviews (4)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Chase's fourth entry in the Dressmakers Series (after Vixen in Velvet) is a scintillating and sensual read. Thirteen years after Oliver "Raven" Radford and Lady Clara scuffled with Raven's cousin Bernard, Lady Clara and Raven are reunited at his London law office. Clara wants to find Toby, a pauper boy. Raven knows this involves infiltrating the dangerous street gang run by the notorious Jacob Freame (who already has a vendetta against Raven), but he realizes that he faces an even greater peril-that of falling in love with the beautiful, blond Clara. What ensues is a blend of action and suspense set amid Clara and Raven's witty banter and increasing sexual tension, as they scheme against shady characters and navigate their growing love for each other. In addition to the powerful social commentary on women's role in society and the life of youth in London's poverty-ridden back alleys and schools, Chase's tongue-in-cheek tone captures tender and humorous nuances in character descriptions and actions, creating fully realized characters and a rich plot. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary Agency. (Dec.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Beautiful heiress Lady Clara Fairfax is getting tired of proposals from men she doesn't want, so when she meets brilliant, compelling barrister Oliver Radford, she is intrigued, then enthralled as the two attempt to save an urchin and survive the dangerous aftermath of their benevolent alliance. Lady Clara is the catch of the season, but so far no one has tempted her to be caught. To escape the endless line of suitors vying for her hand in marriage she has become involved in the Milliners' Society for the Education of Indigent Females, which "housed and educated girls determined, against prodigious odds, to be respectable." Tired of being a society ornament, she finds great pleasure in improving lives, and when one of the society's protges asks for help retrieving her brother from a sordid street gang, Clara approaches Oliver Radford, a barrister well-known for his powerful legal mind and his flexible social connections from all walks of life. Radford is a perfect ally for the task. However, rescuing the boy puts them all in unexpected danger from both a risky illness and a vicious enemy. At first drawn to Radford's intelligence, which too often swings toward impatience, Clara is torn between putting him in his place and rising far above his low expectations, but once he understands that her outer beauty and fashion-plate style are simply window dressing to a bright mind and conscientious spirit, they understand they have met their matchesand perfect matesin each other. Now all they have to do is outwit their enemies and settle into an unexpected social position, both of which are complicated obstacles to a happy future. Chase moves beyond the couture Noirot sisters in her historical Dressmakers series, and the unconventional pairing of an aristocrat and a barrister, plus an exploration of London poverty and the well-intentioned "ragged schools," adds fascinating social and historical texture. Chase retains her well-earned star status. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* Lady Clara Fairfax knows why most of the eligible bachelors in the ton want to marry her, but Clara wants a man who can look beneath her famous beauty and legendary sense of style and see that she not only has a mind of her own but also that she enjoys using it. In other words, Clara needs a man like barrister Oliver Raven Radford. Clara knows that Oliver is the best person to help her locate Toby Coppy, the younger brother of one of the students at the Milliners' Society for the Education of Indigent Females, a London charity that Clara supports. However, Clara finds that convincing Oliver to allow her to help will not only take all of her wits but a few of her feminine wiles as well. RITA Award-winning Chase is in fine form with the fourth brilliant addition to her best-selling Dressmakers series (Vixen in Velvet, 2014) as she deftly stitches together superbly nuanced characters, a captivating plot that realistically deals with both the glitter and grime of the Regency era, and a graceful writing style fueled by a resplendent sense of wit to create a romance to cherish.--Charles, John Copyright 2015 Booklist
Library Journal Review
While Lady Clara Fairfax was raised to be a duchess, that's the last thing the intelligent, well-read, and stunningly beautiful young woman wants to be. Stifled by both her sex and her station, she yearns for adventure and to make a difference. When the opportunity to help lands in her lap, she embraces it with both hands-and ends up embracing nobly born barrister Oliver Radford as well. With action that flows from the crime-filled London rookeries to the glittering upper-class ballrooms, this cleverly plotted, vividly descriptive historical evokes the flavor of pre-Victorian England with flair, precision, and all the appropriate class clashes. VERDICT This exceptional romance features a heroine who only wants the freedom to be herself and a strong, insightful hero who encourages her. With flawless research, exquisite sensuality, and brilliant repartee that extends to the bedroom, this is another unforgettable winner from the impeccable Chase. Chase (Vixen in Velvet) lives in Worcester, MA. © Copyright 2015. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
