Whirlwind Affair

Author: Jacquie D'Alessandro
Published: October 2002 (Bantam)
Category: Regency Romance
Rating: 8/10

Ack, I'm about eight books behind in my reviews! I picked this one up because Whirlwind Wedding was a fun book, and I'm slowly gathering the rest of D'Alessandro's backlist for my ginormous TBR. Alberta, the heroine, was mentioned in WW, as the friend that drove Elizabeth to leave her home in America. Elizabeth, now the Duchess of Bradford, had a vision about Alberta's no-good husband-to-be, and Alberta thought her friend was just jealous and trying to ruin her happiness. It turns out Elizabeth's vision was very correct, since Mr. Brown was a womanizer, thief, and blackmailer to boot. As this is one of those books I read a while ago, I'll quote the blurb for summarizing purposes.

After the scandalous duel that made her a widow, Alberta Brown was left destitute--and in possession of a cache of ill-gotten goods. Determined to right the wrongs of her thieving husband, she sailed to England to locate the owner of a gentleman's ring bearing an intriguing coat of arms. But a series of mishaps on-board soon convinced Allie that she was enmeshed in a perilous game. Yet none was more dangerous--or irresistibly tempting--than the dashing stranger waiting on the dock.

The marriage-minded Lord Robert Jamison was searching for a women who aroused that certain something. He never expected to find her in this uncommonly pretty, fiercely independent American he'd been asked to escort back to a splendid country estate. Allie was in grave danger--worse, she vowed never to marry again. Yet Lord Robert's will was just as strong--and he planned to make this maddening creature his wife, even as passion drove them into each other's arms...and a reckless liaison flamed into the season's most indiscreet and irresistible affair of the heart...

It's always refreshing to see a hero who's looking for a love match. Usually it's the fresh-faced virgin who dreams of a handsome, titled, wealthy man to love her, but Allie and Robert are different. She vows never to make herself vulnerable to a man who might hurt her, and Robert knows this is the woman he's been waiting for. While Allie doesn't want to marry again, she knows that she's attracted to Robert and agrees to an affair.

The background plot involving the return of the coat of arms ring is interesting, if not a bit predictable. The ring brings danger for Allie and Robert, as they are kidnapped, and Allie's room in London is burgled twice. However, this danger causes Robert to become protective of her, but not in an overbearing way. It's sweet and makes you want Robert for yourself, and perhaps want to shake Allie a little.

We also get to see Elizabeth and Austin from Whirlwind Wedding, as Robert and Allie arrive at Bradford Hall just in time for the birth of their child. Of course there's some good-natured joking over Austin's worries regarding the length of childbirth and ruining Elizabeth's favorite rug with his intense pacing.

This was a fun read, and I have picked up a bunch of other D'Alessandro titles from the library. Yay for backlists!