Not Quite A Lady

Every time Loretta Chase comes out with a new book, I waiting at the bookstore to buy my copy or, in this instance, waiting for the postman to bring it as I'd pre-ordered it from amazon.

Not Quite A Lady arrived on Friday. I had it read before the weekend was over. I could have read it much more quickly if I hadn't had to write Flynn and Sara. But I need them to support my book-buying habit, so they take priority.

But I'm happy that I stole the time to read Loretta's latest. Lady Charlotte Hayward, the lady who isn't quite, certainly seems on the surface to be everything a lady ought to be. She's kind, generous, helpful, loving, a good daughter, a fine friend, a doting older sister. But Lady Charlotte has a secret . . . and that secret is what makes her 'not quite a lady.'

Darius Carsington, the youngest of the brothers featured in Loretta Chase's most recent books, is not interested in 'ladies' in any case. Women are fine, but 'ladies' require commitment and marriage, and Darius is interested in neither. He is that multi-faceted man -- a scholar and a rake -- and he sees no reason to change.

But once Darius meets Lady Charlotte, both their lives and their priorities begin to change.

Not Quite A Lady is a wonderful, lively read in which Loretta Chase's deft wit and humor mingle with deep emotion and which brings complex characters into conflict with society's rules.

I thoroughly enjoyed it -- right down to the pigs.

If you are looking for a good read, Not Quite A Lady is worth a look. And if you enjoy it, start picking up Loretta Chase's backlist, particularly Lord of Scoundrels, Mr Impossible, and Captives of the Night. They're all marvelous. Others are, too, but you can find that out for yourselves.