Rendezvous

Author: Amanda Quick
Published: November 1991 (Bantam)
Category: Historical Romance
Rating: 9/10

I started reading Amanda Quick a really long time ago, back in high school I think, before Putnam published her work. I decided to take a big step back in time and pick up one of her older titles and Rendezvous was a great read after a series of so-so summer reads.

Augusta Ballinger was quite sure that it was all a dreadful mistake. The chillingly pompous and dangerously disturbing Earl of Graystone could not possibly wish to marry her. Why, it was rumored that his chosen bride must be a veritable model of virtue. And everyone knew that Augusta, as the last of the wild, reckless Northumberland Ballingers, was a woman who could not be bothered by society's rules.

That was why the spirited beauty had planned a midnight encounter to warn the earl off, to convince him that she would make him a very poor wife indeed. But when she crawled through his darkened study window, Augusta only succeeded in strengthening Harry's resolve: to kiss the laughter from those honeyed lips and teach this maddening miss to behave! How could he possibly know that it was he who was in for a lesson... as his brazen fiancée set out to win his heart - and an old and clever enemy stepped in to threaten their love, their honor, and their very lives?

I loved Harry and Augusta together. Their relationship was so passionate and the surrounding events didn't take away from the development of their relationship. I had my doubts of Harry at times, when he was trying to make Augusta follow his rules. He figured her personality was something he could fix. Augusta, being the emotional Ballinger that she was, was determined to have Harry love her. Harry is that stereotypical "hero who's been hurt by evil woman in his life and has built a wall around his heart to protect himself" and Augusta is the perfect woman to shake up his regimented life.

This was a fantastic romance with great characters and well-written plot. This is a keeper on my overcrowded bookshelf.