Scoundrel in Disguise

By Annette Blair

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It is 1847 in Sussex, and Lady Jade Smithfield proudly defies propriety by wearing trousers, employing only male servants, and using her home as a safe haven for downtrodden women. Obsessed by a need to keep her dead grandmother’s secret, she is determined to prevent the South Downs Railroad from laying tracks near her property.

Marcus Fitzalan wants to save his disabled brother’s railroad, and the families who will lose their livelihoods without it. Marcus gains the position of Jade’s man of affairs and secretly investigates the accidents that have been halting construction. What he finds out about the accidents, Jade, and her downtrodden women deeply astonishes him. Jade and Marcus find worthy foes in each other, sparring with words and passionate embraces, as they both fight to make their ambitions realized. Only one of them can win.

With a mix of mystery, and just a hint of humor, Blair draws the reader into a seductive novel sizzling with sensuality and infused with action. This is a well-written book, with interesting characters and a delightful story. Although Jade is just a shade too modern for her times, and the storyline a bit predictable, this is a worthy read and a charming romance.