I've read many romances, historicals being my first choice. This one, is the absolute best. I like nearly all of Ms. Brockway's novels, so when I found this one in auction I bid on it and won. It is enthalling! Perfect in everyway. This book is a regency Gone With The Wind. Epic and romantic. I loved both characters, their personalities, quirks and chemistry! Just perfect! A must read for anyone who loves a great romance! Track this book down and find it! Perfect story, perfect characters, and perfect ending. In my opinion, that is Ms. Brockway's specialty: perfect endings. I always reread them because of their perfection! Find this book and read it. It's a book you'll keep forever.

Synopsis: Lady Catherine (Cat) Sinclair's family needs money. Her mother has remarried and all but run off, leaving her to care for her siblings and a rundown estate. In desparation, she goes to seek out her step-uncle, Thomas. He was supposed to have been quite a rake in his time at court. Her plan is to have him teach her how to be a seductress so that she might land Giles Strand as a husband.

What follows is pure chemistry....

These characters drew me in and came alive like few have ever done before. I have enjoyed Connie Brockway's other books, but none like this one. It is well worth the read!

PS - the other favorite is Paradise by Judith McNaught.

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much. I love almost everything that Connie Brockway has written...except for Anything for Love, which wasn't all that great IMO. But Promise Me Heaven knocked my socks off. It was NOT your typical regency historical. The chemistry between Cat and Thomas positively sizzles. And as a wonderful surprise we get glimpses of Colonel Henry "Jack" Seward and Giles Strand, those wonderful guys from All Through the Night. It's hard to find, but it's a great read. Another note: Cat and Thomas turn out to be the great-grandparents of Avery Thorne, the hero of My Dearest Enemy. I just love connections!

So, go out and find this book. You won't regret it.

The only word that comes to my mind when asked to describe this book is: WOW! There's no doubt about it, this is one of the best book I've ever read. AS YOU DESIRE just have it all: love, wit, drama, family, and of course, the laugh out loud humor that is just so charming!

Some might find this book a little too light on the emotional side because of all the funny parts but nevertheless, this incredible story still tugs the old heartstrings as the readers experience the frustration, loneliness, and all-consuming love the book's hero, Harry, feels for his annoying, yet delightful best bud, Dizzy. It was just so delicious seeing him trip all over his feet trying to get his beloved Dizzy away from his too-handsome cousin, while debating with himself whether to tell her how he truly feels for her.

Also, the reason why I totally fell in love with this book is because it was such a delightful contrast to the tired plot where the hero is ridiculously determined to cling to his bachelorhood and its all up to the heroine to convince him that he loves her and should marry her. This book has none of that. Dizzy might have loved Harry years ago but ever since he refused her because of her tender age (and his honor) she convinced herself that Harry is not her knight-in-shining armor and its all up to Harry to convince her otherwise.

Take my word for it, this is one of the best books you would ever read and it's definitely worth every penny. The hilarious twist of the hard and cynical gravedigger who turns into a quivering pile mush when paired with the beautiful scholar whose romantic and naive musings were at odds with her genius mind is just way too good to pass up! Believe me, this is the one book you would never want to slip away from you.

It's 1890 in the Egyptian desert and a perfect setting for a touching romance. Harry Braxton and Desdemona (Dizzy)Carlisle, both from England, have been close friends for five years and neither will admit they are desperately in love with the other.

As You Desire is truly the most enjoyable book I have read from page one. The first pages of the book grab you quickly and by page ten, you are swept up in Harry and Dizzy's relationship and laughing and sighing over the fantastic hero, Harry. The first half of the book had me laughing again and again.

The synopsis on the back of the book refers to Harry as a notorious rake. I did not see him in this manner. He has a real heart and his character is written well as a very desirable but concientious man. He adores Dizzy but hides from her a problem that he fears would repulse her. Reading the book, I did not understand the seriousness of his problem, but once I finished the book, I read the author's notes at the end of the book and realized that his problem was considered to be very significant in 1890. I suggest that you read the author's notes before beginning the book to understand many of Harry's feelings.

Dizzy has thrown herself at Harry three years earlier and he had refused her advances due to her young age and his hidden problem. She was a child genius and is now a talented translator of ancient manuscripts. She is a very likable heroine and is embarassed by her earlier overtures that Harry declined. She longs to return to England someday.

Harry and Dizzy enjoy their close friendship. When Harry's handsome cousin comes to visit him from England, he fears Dizzy is slipping away from him and sees her welcoming his cousin's attentions. The romance between Harry and Dizzy develops quickly at this point and it is one of the sweetest I have read. Connie Brockway is a fantastic author and does no formula romance writing. Everything about this book is fresh and unusual. Although I feared some misunderstandings arising towards the middle of the book, this author simply does not write silly misunderstanding between her love leads as we so often see in historical romance novels. Harry and Dizzy are each very hesistant to reach beyond the confines of their friendship. They communicate well and don't get lost in lies. There is a beautiful sensual scene between the two that I would rate about a three (see more about me for these guidelines) but this is a story that does not need additional sensual writing.

The action of this book is quick for the first half, then falters for another fourth of the book and then picks back up to deliver a very satisfying ending. This is a book you will probably want to save to read again someday. I read many books each week and find I remember few storylines. This is one story that has stayed with me for months now. It is simply outstanding.

This is my favorite romance of the genre. Why? Because Connie Brockway really wrote a love story, a story about romantic little things, about two people who had a real relationship and not just the usual "yeah-yeah" back and forth. Dizzy and Harry are just perfect for one another and the setting is inviting. Not the usual backdrop at all. It's Indiana Jones in Cairo with the usual bad guys and fun. When I can't find a good romance to read, which is often these days, I go and reread this book, and I highly recommend it to all romance fans! It's not to be missed. Ms. Brockway, please leave Scotland and come back to Egypt where you belong!

The joint collaboration between best-selling romance marvels Christina Dodd and Connie Brockway yields a fruitful Once Upon a Pillow in which four frothy romance spanning from 13th century to Victorian, Regency right up to contemporary times are interconnected through a majestic poster-bed. Masterson Manor now functioning as a small museum in Devon-Cornwall border is the pride of curator Laurel Whitney. However the bleak financial downturns has made it difficult to survive and Laurel is sadly giving a last tour as a guide, spinning tales of romance that the Masterson bed was famous for. Starting with the crusader knight who made the bed, Sir Nicholas who tames his headstrong wife Lady Jocelyn, a roguish mercenary knight who mistakenly seduces the wrong heiress to the passionate romance between a smuggler's sister and a captain in pursuit, Ms. Dodd and Ms. Brockway keeps the readers in a light schmaltzy mood that will fire their impulses to curl their toes in bed with a hot read.

Very interesting and unique concept for a romance novel. The book starts with guide/historian Laurel Whitney leading a tour group through the Masterson Manor. The highlight of the tour is the Masterson Bed, which has been "well" used for centuries by the Masterson heirs.

Laurel entertains the visitors to the house with romantic tales of the beds previous owners. There is a story of a medieval knight, an Elizabethan scamp, and a "to die for" army Captain. The last story of the book ends up being about Laurel herself and her own encounter with the "bed".

This was a thoroughly enjoyable book. It was lighthearted, funny, a pleasure to read. Each individual story was short (only about 75 pages), but the characters were well developed and plots (while not complex) where well thought out and engaging. The three historical stories were not related to each other (except that they all shared the same bed), but everything was tied nicely together through Laurel recounting of the tales.

The cost of the book is a little pricey for its length, but after reading the story(s) I was not sorry for shelling out the $$$ bucks.

This was a pretty nice quartet of stories encompassing an old manor and ruin of a castle with one common element tying it all together - the Masterson BED. It is told from the perspective of the modern day curator, Laurel, who is quite devasted that this small museum would be closing. So this, her last tour day, all the stories of the 800 year old 'bed' are being told.

It starts out with the first Masterson. A Knight from the crusades and how the bed came into being in the 1200s - Really liked this story 5*!
Then jumps 300 years to the mid 1500s with another rather impoverished mercenary knight who must find an heiress to pump money into the castle and surrounding town to save his soldiers and serfs - This was wonderfully romantic and exciting - Give this 5*
Then another 300 years later we have the story of the Pip and Ned Masterson in the 1800's when smuggling was ripe along the coast and Pip's efforts to save her brother and thwart the man she lusts for. - This offering a 4-1/2*

It is finally completed with our curator, Laurel, and Max - he being the supposed handy man making the manor house ready for the mysterious 'new' owners - a good story but I can only give this 4* (honestly,I am not a contemporary story person) plus the plot was weaker than the rest.

All in all, this was a very enjoyable quartet of stories telling the 800 year history of 'the bed' and what went on 'once upon a pillow'.

It is difficult to believe that this is the same writer who penned All Through the Night. It seems I'll always compare every book Ms. Brockway writes to that wonderful, romantic, and emotional story. However, this is an edited review where I have given The Bridal Season a second and third reading, and a serious look (and much higher rating). As I wrote before, our heroine, Letty Potts, is a wonderful creation.

Ms. Brockway, whom I consider one of the most talented romance writers in the business, is attempting to write "To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis" only romance-romance style. I firmly believe that Ms. Brockway spent a lot of time working this plot, it just snowballs, and there are some unexpected laughs and some wonderfully romantic moments. I love Letty's hat, and this character's thought process. It's honest and not cliched or childish. This is a woman who really falls in love
for all the right reasons.

Sir Elliot (I even had his name wrong earlier) is a nice hero, but one that needed a little more edge, and a little more doubt about Letty. However, this is really Letty's story, and she reigns supreme. I do think this is a much better book than the Scottish trio. It shows Ms. Brockway at her best. But it is not her best work. The plot wraps up a little too neatly and quickly for the rest of the story. And although she does recapture some of the "little romantic things" of As You Desire, her POV style (while clever and probably necessary) creates a great deal of emotional distance for the reader. If I am hard on Ms. Brockway, it is because she is my favorite writer in romance. I would have loved to give this book 5 stars but could not. The first time around I gave it two, probably because I was disappointed in her direction. I think I must have drifted through it not really paying attention.

The Bridal Season is a delightful romance. It is certainly one of the best romance stories out there--it captures the period nicely--it has a good plot--it is funny at times, and Letty Potts is a crazy confection. We cannot stop reading because we have to know how this woman is going to manage the tangled web she has created. A big star for Letty taking the fall instead of the croquet ball!!!! I've already pre-ordered the next in the series. Good Luck Ms. Brockway. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED by a demanding reader.

Get ready for a delightful surprise - Connie Brockway's latest book Bridal Season is a COMEDY! An absolutely hilarious, witty story of a young woman con artist, Letty Potts, who tries to fool the local countryside folks into believing that she is Lady Agatha Whyte, a famous Wedding Planner from London. Everyone falls for the act except for the sharp ( but very handsome) local magistrate, Sir Eliot March. He doubts her identity from the moment she steps off the train but quickly becomes enamored by her quick wit, fast repartee-type dialogue and her astonishing smile (complete with dimples!) The barbs that fly between "Lady Agatha" and Eliot's former love, Mrs. Catherine Bunting are extremely entertaining as is the famous croquet match! Here's Brockway writing in a light, frivolous style that's so infectious, it just sucks you in!! Because the reader's having so much fun, we forgive her momentary lapses like calling a young boy a "tweenie" and referring to her job as that "wedding thingie". A bit too modern, but who cares..There's an unexpected, tension-filled denoument and an expected romance-filled happy ending. Don't miss Ms. Brockway's more serious works: All Through the Night and My Dearest Enemy as well as the absolute BEST: the McClairen's Isle Trilogy: The Passionate One, the Reckless One and the Ravishing One. All highly recommended.

I usually don't write book reviews since they are so time consuming, but I had to do this one out of my appreciation for Ms. Brockway's talent. I think she's one of the best romance writers out there- equally capable of both humor and angst. The Bridal Season is a charming, funny read and I loved the music hall comedienne heroine, Letty Potts. I bought the book the day it came out hoping that it would pull me from my romance reading slump. I wasn't disappointed. What I appreciate most about Ms. Brockway's characters is that they are never conform to some romance genre cliche. Letty is a sharp, laughter-loving woman who is somewhat of an opportunist. The very decent and upright Sir Elliot is a perfect foil for her. If you've never read a Brockway book, then this book is a good place to start. If you have, then I think the Bridal Season is as enjoyable as My Dearest Enemy or As You Desire. I eagerly await the next book in the Bridal series.

Thanks once again to Ms Brockway for her rich characters. She really has a way of making her characters real. They become a part of your life while you are reading her stories. I loved Jack and Anne. They were perfect for eachother. Their passion for one another ignites the pages of this novel. I can't wait to read another of Ms. Brockway's novels. I must go and search Amazon.com once again.

This book is a jewel. Rarely have a book gripped me by the neck and dragged me into a story so magical that I never wanted it to end. Jack Seward is a secret intelligence officer in the trail of Anne Wilder, a female cat-burglar who may have stolen a document of importance that threatens Regency england's security. Jack was a man with painful past : he had lived a false identity, and was so withdrawn from most human compassion that he was almost the emotionless ghost some thought him to be. Anne, on the other hand, was the opposite: she had been suffocated by the attention of an obsessive husbandand lived in guilt and low self-esteem. She thrived on taking risks in order to feel alive. Seeing these two challenge each other over rooftops and on dance floors was like watching a chess match, riveting and intense, but ultimastely satisfying in the outcome. For these two characters needed each other, to teach other to feel and love again. Miss Brockway was most poetic in her writing. When Anne was missing, a frantic Jack searched for her, asking people he met as if they had seen her. But it was useless, 'for their eyes were on the ground, and she, she flew', thought Jack. This romance is also compelling in that it was Jack who opened himself first to Anne. He admitted his need for her love and affection, and his attempts to keep her safe from his employers even as he tried to win her heart were a heartbreaking read. This book made me feel many things. Pain at the torment these people go, tears at the healing of their ravaged souls, and finally, a bittersweet lump in my heart as I said goodbye to the people I've known for a few hours yet cared about. Connie Brockway had worked magic - a magic that we readers experience oh-so rarely in reading a book. Get this book - it's well-worth the investment.

Since I believe the basics of the plot of this story are amply and efficiently covered by the reader reviews that precede this one, I won't attempt to go into another re-cap. What I do wish to contribute, however, is what struck me most about this darkly compelling and riveting tale; namely, that Ms. Brockway displays a writing style superior to anything else offered in this genre, something fine enough to withstand the power of time and "trends" in romantic literature. There is an artistic finesse and subtlety in the dialogue, which would indicate that the author credits her readers with a certain amount of sensibility and intelligence.

Brockway writes a true period piece - no machismo "Fabio" lords, no saucy-but-virginal maidens. Nobody is a street scamp who discovers he/she is a bluebooded, wealthy aristocrat by the end of the book. Jack and Anne are far more complex and multi-faceted. Jack is dark, driven, and sexy, yet always very controlled; meanwhile, he's in complete turmoil inside. Anne is quite likable, yet human, with an aching emotional void which she seeks to fill by her reckless behavior. The story is equal parts tenderly romantic and darkly sensual. The "scene" in which Jack requests to hear his Christian name on Anne's lips gave me goosebumps!

The secondary characters are refreshing, unique, and fascinating, rather than mere foils for hero and heroine.

In sum, a fine, full-bodied read which has probably ruined me against any others that will follow!

Do you love intense, tormented, yet honorable heroes? Do you enjoy stories full of passionate motives, plots, daring actions, deceptions, and self-sacrifice? Do you like your heroine complex?

This is the romance for you!

Ash is irresistibly tough, vulnerably loving. His father--a spawn of hell--is a force to be reckoned with (and do I want to see him get his comeuppance!). He can't always do what he feels is the moral thing to do, or the kind thing, but he tries to do what is right, despite the odds.

Rhiannon is suppressing a horrid past. Haunted by nightmares, trying to be a woman she thinks she should be to attain "a safe life", she is nevertheless drawn to this dangerous, passionate, similarly haunted man--Ash Merrick.

The sexual tension is combustible. The prose is impeccable and lyrical. The plot is smart and fast.

A rivetting read. It's going to take three books to work out the complexities of the machinations in this romantic suspense trilogy, but what a ride! As eager as I am to see the culmination, I know I'll regret reading that last page.

Wonderful work, Ms. Brockway. Do I see another RITA in the future?

*Mir*

I was browsing the romance aisle at the bookstore and read the back of the book. To be honest I bought it because the name Ashton Merrick (Merrick being my maiden name), caught my attention. I am a die hard romance fan and to find a book where the hero had my last name was extremely intriguing. From the first page I was hooked and read the book completely in one sitting.

I've also read Ms. Brockway's The Reckless One and enjoyed that immensely. I haven't gotten Fia's story yet, but I'm dying to get my hands on it. I know that Ms. Brockway's characters are fictional but it's fun to imagine I might have such a wonderfully dashing, handsome and exciting man, as Ashton Merrick, in my family history. Most of my clan came from Wales, but there is also some English as well as Scottish ancestory in my family.

Thank you Connie for both of these delightful books and I'll look forward to reading more of your wonderful stories.

Wow,wow,wow! I'm still reeling from The Passionate One, the story of Ash Merrick and Rhiannon Russell. I've never read Connie Brockway before, but boy! was this terrific! Ash was a wonderful, tortured hero and Rhiannon a lovely, insightful heroine. The whole novel was multilayered and complex - deceit and lies layered one over the other. A fabulous, exciting story, not just a beautiful love story. I'm so glad it's the beginning of a trilogy because I can hardly wait to carry on with the stories of Raine and Fia. One more thing about Ash - his character reminded me of two other wonderful "tortured heroes": Reggie Davenport from The Rake and Michael Kenyon from Shattered Rainbows, both books by Mary Jo Putney. Anyway, bravo Connie! You have a new true-blue fan in me.

MCCLAIREN'S ISLE: THE RAVISHING ONE is the stunning conclusion to Connie Brockway's dark saga of the Merrick family. In this final installment, Lady Fia Merrick takes center stage. She has spent years under the thumb of her evil and domineering father, Ronald Carr. Over time, she has discovered many things about the sire she previously worshipped, including the insinuation that he murdered her mother, Janet. As the story opens, Fia, recently widowed, is desperately plotting to regain her late husband's estate from Carr's clutches and to gain her freedom from Carr's manipulations at last.

The only other man who has held as much, if not more, sway over Fia's outlook on life is Thomas Donne. She worshipped him from afar as a child, right up until she overheard a vicious and unfortunate conversation in which Donne expressed his loathing of Fia as "Carr's whore." But, whether she likes it or not, Thomas is back in her life.

Thomas McClairen, youngest and only surviving heir of the McClairen laird betrayed by Carr, has been infiltrating the Merrick camp for years under the name of Thomas Donne. When Carr deserts Wanton's Blush for greener pastures, Thomas obtains the property and begins to restore Maiden's Blush to her former glory. But all his plans will be for naught if the one woman he has never been able to forget, Fia Merrick, succeeds in her plans to corrupt his business partner. He does the only thing he thinks he can in the circumstances: he kidnaps Fia and takes her to McClairen's Isle to foil her schemes and save his partner. Little did he know that he would fall under her spell and become more captive than captor...

The ending of this trilogy is nothing short of magnificent. All the loose ends are tied up, and Carr gets his due in a most unusual plot twist. The epilogue allows readers a tiny peek into the futures of the Merricks and McClairens; at last, these tortured souls have the chance at their own happily-ever-after, not to mention a real shot at being part of a functional family.

I would recommend this thrilling trilogy to all Brockway fans, first-time Brockway readers, and anyone who likes Scottish tales with a little passion, recklessness, and ravishment thrown in. Brockway's well-written prose conveys the tales of these characters with wit and talent. The MCCLAIREN'S ISLE trilogy is a truly satisfying read.

McClairen's Isle: The Ravishing One is Connie Brockway's energized finale to the trilogy and Ms. Brockway has steered the third installment with an excellent plot on Fia Merrick and Captain Thomas Donne to a grand finish. Fia Merrick is in silent angst - being ruthlessly manipulated like a social puppet in England, the Earl of Carr plans to secure his power using Fia as a boarding step. She is left devastated when she finds Thomas critical of her because of her position as a daughter to Carr.

The Ravishing One shines - and Fia catapults the narration to one of strength and emotional intensity. Her affection towards Kay, her desperate escape into a quick loveless marriage makes her a passionate character. She is drawn into treachery when she realizes that Thomas is in fact McClairen who is intent on vengeance on the Earl of Carr for his betrayal towards his clan. The ending is heartbreakingly tender with Fia giving herself and Thomas a chance to be freed of the devious Carr, and learns the healing powers of love.

Ms. Brockway stirs with her dialogue but falls short in saturating the book with Scotland Highlands charm; the descriptions are not too detailed enough to bring the rustic charms of Irish to life. This, however is compensated by her strength in spinning a galvanized tale and climaxes with a waxing finish - with a joyous reunion of the family with her brother Ash and Raine. Such committed and buoyant writing only leaves me to say that I am McClairen's Isle: The Devoted Reader.

Connie Brockway delivers her best with the third book in the McClairen's Isle Trilogy. "The Ravishing One" is a must read! From the glitter and glamour of 18th century London to the wild and untamed Scottish island know as McClairen's Isle, Ms. Brockway brings us Fia Merrick, daughter of the dispicable Ronald Merrick, Earl of Carr. Introduced in " The Passionate One," and again revisited in " The Reckless One," Ms. Brockway concludes this majestical trilogy with the best novel of them all. Fia Merrick is raised by her decadent father, Carr, to be nothing more than a high priced whore, or so Thomas Donne aka Thomas McClairen believes. Fia is devestated to learn his low opinion of her, since she fancies herself in love with him at the tender age of fifteen. Fleeing her home, Wanton's Blush, formerly known as Maiden's Blush, Fia hies herself off to London to elope with an aging low-lander Scot. Hoping to inherit his fortune upon his death, Fia is dismayed to learn (after her rather hasty marriage) that he has two heirs, Kay and Cora. When her husband does indeed die, not without some help from Carr of course, Fia is further dismayed to learn that Carr is now the owner of Kay's inheritance and that he has her dancing to his tune to regain it. A tune that Fia has no wish to dance to. Carr wants her to marry into a powerful family, much against Fia's wishes. Without much choice, she sets out to become London's most well known lady, a lady with a somewhat tarnished background known throughout society as "The Black Diamond". When Thomas Donne/McClairen sets eyes upon the lovely Fia Merrick after six years, he is dead set against her, blaming her for the many sins of her father, for she is his daughter after all. When his dear friend and business partner seemingly falls for her, Thomas knows he must do anything to prevent them from wedding. So he 'abducts' her, or tries to since she is rather willing, and sweeps her off to Scotland. To McClairen's Isle, where he is restoring the ruined Wanton's Blush to her former glory, Maiden's Blush. Much to his surprise, he soon finds that there is more to Fia than meets the eye. And Fia herself must learn to trust in Thomas, no small thing since she has never trusted a soul in her life. With heartwarming scenes and wonderful characters, Ms. Brockway makes you feel as if you have stepped back in time to the handsome rogues and beautiful ladies of old. With a surprise ending (involving Gunna and Carr), and all of the beloved characters from the previous books: Ash, Rhiannon, Raine, Favor, and Gunna, this series is a must read. When I turned the last page, after reading the author's note, I was actually sad that their story had come to an end. I am hopeful, however, that Ms. Brockway will take us once again to McClairen's Isle and back to all of our favorite characters. Thank-you Ms. Brockway, for a wonderful and heartwarming trilogy!

This is such a great book, the luscious kind that just completely sinks you into the story.

Avery Thorne, his sickly, asthmatic past behind him, finds that his uncle Horatio has died and left Mill House, Avery's inheritance, to outspoken woman's rights champion Lily Bede. If Lily can run Mill House for five years and show a profit for it, the place is hers. If not, it goes to Avery.

A disillusioned Avery travels the world for most of those five years, and as Lily must get to him a quarterly allowance, they begin corresponding, most of their letters filled with barely filled insults, which amuse Avery's fellow adventurers and Lily's friends in Mill House.

Avery eventually comes home, only to find that the spinster he expected to find is a beautiful woman, who nonetheless, suffers the shame of not being accepted in society because of her illegitimacy. Their first meeting is filled with tension and eventually they give in to the attraction they feel for each other, but Avery will not have Lily without marriage, and Lily fears her rights as a mother would be gone if she married Avery.

Connie Brockway writes wonderfully lush books that don't go into purple prose territory - her characters (main or secondary) are always fully drawn and interesting, and My Dearest Enemy was a delight to read.

Man! Different strokes for really different folks! I read this book in one sitting and I really think it deserved to get RITA for best long historical and it did! I wanted MORE letters! They became a sort of wonderful, perverse courtship that just swept me right into the lives of the hero and heroine. Lily and Avery are one of my fave romantic couples and their story just makes you happy.

I'm slightly disappointed with this book. I loved All Through The Night and As You Desire, rereading them often, and I waited every week in bated breath when this book came out. Then when I read it at first, I groaned. "This isn't as good as the others!" I exclaimed.

But I was wrong. This book is not like the others, because it is different. Each Brockway book tells its own story, and this one tells of a love so quaint and sweet I couldn't help but to love the characters.

Avery Thorne was my kind of guy. Sensitive, intelligent, shy, yet so dependent on, he is such a wonderful character. His letters and Lily Bede's make me chuckle aloud, and when they finally meet face to face, sparks really fly.

This book lacks the sensuality of love scenes typical of Brockway's books, but the tenderness and warmth are intact. The characters are vivid and fully drawn. Lily and Avery are so funny, so happy, so alive together it is hard not to succumb to smile and laug! hter seeing them fall in love.

My only complain is that Lily took too long to realise who she was in love with, but all in all, with beautiful prose, wonderful characters, humour, and love - this book is a keeper.

After reading "The Passionate One," which I loved, I quickly bought all the Connie Brockway books I could find and settled in to wait for "The Reckless One" to be published. However, I was disappointed to find that this book is not among her best. I admired the twisting plot--shady pasts, overbearing relatives, jail break, betrayal, false names, treasure hunting, fake and real ghosts--but I felt the plot overshadowed the characters' romance. Favor and Raine were so busy getting from A to B that they never developed a true spark.

The book starts out good and is going great. It is hard to believe that Raine would go home and not confront his father. He could then look for the treasure with ease. He certainly could have attempted to explain to Favor that if she married him she would also have the Merrick name and would have as Raine's wife been able to live in the McClairen castle. If she truly believed that all she had to do was go the Italy and wait until Carr died and then she would inherit her husband Carrs property. Wrong, scotland law would not prevail, English law would as scotland was under English law. The title Earl of Carr would have passed to the eldest brother in the Merrick line and certainly Raine could have gotten the property Favor wanted from his brother. It is still a good book by Connie Brockway and I am looking forward to Fia's story.

Ms Brockway returns to top form after the disappointing "The Passionate One". The story is unrelentingly dark and turbulent, with two characters tortured beyond tortured, but they find redemption through their love for each other. Raine and Favor are two people whose lives have been filled with nothing but pain and guilt and loneliness - watching them complete the hollow in each's soul is simply an enchanting experience.

The story is filled with exciting intrigue and the villian Ronald Merrick, Earl of Carr deserves the Loreena Bobbitt's VIP Cut Treatment. The secondary characters shine - Fia, Gunna - these people are as real as Raine and Favor.

Great plot, wonderful love, and an utterly satisfied reader - that's a great combination, right?

I loved Justin, he was witty, handsome, and had one of the best personalities in a hero ever created. Evie was lovely and wonderful as well, and a perfect match for Justin.
The problem? By about page 100, the outcome of this book was pretty well set. From the onset we know Evie and Justin will end up together, of course, but since the direction of the spy ring plot came out so early in the story, that was pretty much it for me, as that was the whole story. As great as Evie and Justin were, the story no longer held my interest.

Justin Powell never reneges on a favor - and this fact proved propitious to wedding planner Evelyn Cummings Whyte who stumbled upon him walking out of Mrs. Underhill's bedroom covertly a decade later. Evie who now steers the business after her aunt's elopement has a client who requested the use of Justin's ancestral abbey for her conjugal venue. She desperately needs this opportunity to prove herself to the public. Unknown to her, the sedate Justin with his guise as an ornithologist is a British spy who is instructed by his mentor Beverly to expect the arrival of a diabolical machine stolen from other countries. What both of them did not expect was a even greater hoax to make Justin the bait....

Amidst the deluge of romance novels today with similar espionage plot, Bridal Favors prominently stands out refreshingly with its well-executed twists. Yet what makes Bridal Favors such an explosion of sheer joy and bliss is Ms. Brockway's creation of a subdued and complexed hero with intellectuals and her charmingly vulnerable Evie who despite her average looks fascinates with her ingenuous mix of innocence and wits. The couple evokes tender feelings and chaste romance that has long faded away from the explicit romance nowadays we have come to expect.

This frothy enchanting tale under the magnificent ensemble of secondary characters like Lady Boughton, the fashion consultant Merry and the cantankerous Beverly is whimisical with Ms. Brockway's wry humour. Though some parts of the espionage plot comes out occasionally too clever for me to hook on, it is partly because I am swept away languorously by the oddball pair to their march up the altars.

I'm delighted that Connie Brockway continues the excellence of THE BRIDAL SEASON in this second installment of the ill-fated Whyte's Wedding Planning Agency. With the same sharp, droll humor and insightful attention to social detail she exhibited in that earlier work, Brockway brings to life little over-compensating, domineering Evie and her perfect foil, Justin. The story races along involving a really decent little mystery, a wonderful cast of supporting characters, and enormous physical as well as intellectual magnetism between the leads. A fun, fun read and well worth the effort of seeking out.