The Pursuit of Pleasure
Lizzie Paxton wants nothing more than to be a widow, in charge of her own destiny and free to make her own choices. She feels that it’s the only choice for her – as a young lady of the late 18th century, she’s expected to marry, but a husband would only try to control her. An opportunity arises in the form of Lizzie’s childhood sweetheart, naval captain Jamie Marlowe, whose upcoming tour of duty will put his life in grave danger. If Lizzie will agree to marry him on short notice, Jamie promises to bequeath his property and his fortune to her so he can keep it out of his preening cousin’s hands. What begins as a marriage of convenience quickly turns to passion, and the couple is forced to face their impending separation. Plenty of twists and turns (and a few erotic love scenes) ensue.
While the pacing is a little slow at times, Lizzie is an appealing heroine whose curiosity and zest for life is enjoyable. The chemistry between Lizzie and Jamie is believable, although they spend much of the book separated, and the espionage/smuggling subplot adds suspense to the story. Recommended for readers who enjoy spicy historical romance.
