"Amusing Regency romance"
In 1813, the Regent of snobbery is Katherine Deveraux,
daughter of a marriage between a duke and an heiress to a
dukedom. Her superior airs turn ugly when she avenges a
slight from a fellow student at Mrs. Treadwell's Academy
for the Elevation of Young Ladies. Though her actions
could have ended tragically, Katherine shows no remorse.
The school's secret partner Countess Christiane d'Oliveri
worries about her charge's indifference while Katherine's
father and stepmother visit Russia. As she heads home from London after rectifying Katherine's
actions, Christiane notices Alain Montclair enter a
gentleman's gambling hall. She asks for his help with
bringing Katherine down a couple of pegs by getting her to
fall in love with him before he deserts her. Kent sounds
perfect for the part when an irate spouse decides to skewer
Alain for cuckolding him. Alain turns on his charm on Katherine, but she ignores
him. Soon he realizes that the superiority complex hides a
lonely woman seeking the love she lost when her father
stopped mourning her mother with her. The French wastrel
and the English parvenu fall in love, but can he can
overcome her formidable mental defenses? THE SUITOR is an amusing Regency romance that cleverly
provides a subtle message on the strengths of women
intertwined into the plot. The lead couple is a delight
and the return of Treadwell and d'Oliveri (see HOW TO KISS
A HERO)add a feel of homecoming to the humorous story
line. If any Regency author has a right to act snobbish it
is Sandy Hingston who always furnishes superior novels. Harriet Klausner
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted June 15, 2002
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