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Romance Book ReviewsViolets in the Snow by Patricia GrassoDell, Jan., 1998.Paperback, 356 pages. ISBN: 044022408X. Ordering information: Amazon.com. 
Isabelle Montgomery is all alone in the world except for her adored
older brother, Miles and a guardian angel, Gisell, whom only she
can see. When Miles goes to the colonies to pursue a business
venture Isabelle is left at the mercy of her hated stepmother
and detestable two stepsisters. Then, to make matters worse,
she discovers that Miles has arranged for her to have a guardian
while he is away: Lord John Saint-Germain, one of London's
wealthiest and most notorious rakes. Saint-Germain sweeps
into the picture and carries off a reluctant Isabelle and her
eager stepfamily to London for proper debuts in order to catch
husbands. But somewhere along the way, Lord Saint-Germain discovers
a passion for his ward which is only dampened by the fact that she
talks to her "imaginary friend", making her appear unstable.
While these two fence with each other to discover their true
feelings, danger lurks in the form of Saint-Germain's
brother-in-law who irrationally blames Saint-Germain for his
sister's death and will do anything to have his revenge --
including ruining Isabelle.
A Cinderella story set in a Regency background, Violets in the Snow is a charming romantic fairy tale. Saint-Germain is a lovable rascal with a kind and passionate heart under his commanding exterior. Isabelle is a lovable heroine as is her guardian angel, Giselle. A light-hearted read with an appealing storyline, Violets in the Snow will delight lovers of fairy tales and romance. Mountain Bride by Susan SawyerAvon Historical Romance, Oct., 1997.Paperback, 343 pages. ISBN: 0380784793. Ordering information: Amazon.com. 
Lord John Winslow, the second son of the Duke of Havenshire, led
a pampered existence -- until his father the Duke determined that
a trip to the new "Second Sons" colony of Rugby, Tennessee was
just what his profligate son needed to toughen him up and teach
him to earn a living. After all, his elder brother Alexander would
inherit the title as well as the family estate and wealth under
England's primogeniture laws. Told that the colony would resemble
an English village in a beautiful landscape, Lord Winslow agrees
to the journey with the idea that he will make his fortune in a few
months then return to his life in England consisting of lawn
tennis, horseback riding, gambling and womanizing. When he arrives
at the colony he is aghast to find a primitive town peopled with
colorful, kind but unsophisticated and uneducated mountain folk
including Coralee Hayes, a beautiful widow who is not impressed
with the Englishman's arrogant ways. As Winslow gets to know the
townspeople and begins to work for a living for the first time
in his heretofore luxurious existence, he finds a new perspective on life as
well as a tempestuous relationship with the beautiful Coralee,
who is determined not to fall for a spoiled aristocrat who will
eventually leave Tennessee for his beloved England.
Susan Sawyer creates a fascinating and unusual hero in Lord Winslow who discovers his own strengths under his pampered exterior with the help of the uneducated but wise Coralee. The historically accurate details of the "Second Sons" colony and the tensions between Lord Winslow and Coralee combine to make an enthralling read. An entertaining and thoughtful romance. Murder While I Smile by Joan SmithFawcett Crest, Jan., 1998.Paperback, 217 pages. ISBN: 0449224945. Ordering information: Amazon.com. 
The Berkley Brigade, the adventuresome foursome who manage to
combine sleuthing and romance with their social duties as the
London ton's most popular young social set, is back in this
lighthearted Regency tale. This time, a mysterious French comtesse
appears on the scene selling possibly forged works of art and
setting her cap at Lord Luten, much to the chagrin of Corinne
de Coventry, Luten's fiancé. Lord Luten decides to get closer
to the possibly spurious comtesse in order to discover whether
she is selling fake paintings to his friends, or worse, becoming
involved in English politics and influencing Parliament as to
which firm should get a lucrative arms contract which could affect
the war effort in France. Unfortunately, he decides not to inform
his fiancé of his plans which
infuriates her, to say the least. When the comtesse's painter who
is responsible for the forgeries turns up dead -- found by
Corinne -- the race is on to find out just what the comtesse's
game is: espionage, romantic intrigue or both? A charming and
lighthearted romantic tale for those who like the spice of
a little intrigue with their romance.
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