Raised on the streets, Danny has no memory of her real family. After she is banished from her gang because she helped Jeremy Malory steal back his friend's jewels, she blackmails him to give her a job in his house. Danny dreams of becoming respectable and having her own family. Although he wants the beautiful and unique Danny as his mistress, Jeremy concedes into giving her a job as his upstairs maid. Later, with the help of Jeremy's cousin Regina, Danny is transformed into a lady in an attempt to help Jeremy avert yet another Malory scandal. As Danny poses as Jeremy's fiancee, many members of the ton seem to recognize her, raising questions as to her true identity. Danny gives in to Jeremy's seductions and falls in love with him but soon finds that someone is trying to end her life.
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The review of this Book prepared by Nicole Trammel
In this latest edition of the Malory series, Johanna Lindsey tells the story of Jeremy Malory, the bastard first son of James Malory as previously seen in A Gentle Rogue.
Jeremy has grown up and is establishing a new townhouse in London. Jeremy is looking for a good thief to steal back the family jewels his friend Percy has lost in an unfair gambling match. Enter Danny, the girl disguised as a boy thief who his recruited to do the job. Danny is an orphan who was found in the slums of London as a child with amnesia.
Danny is kicked out of her thieves gang for helping Jeremy, so she finds him and blackmails him into the respectable job she desires as maid in his new residence. From this point, Jeremy and Danny help each other out with scheming females and her unknown past.
The review of this Book prepared by Angel Manners
Atria, Apr 2004, 25.00, 368 pp.
ISBN: 0743456254
Jeremy Malory helps his friend Percy Alden recover family heirloom rings he lost when gambling under the influence. The distraught Percy has avoided his beloved mother for he knows how upset she would be if she sees his ringless fingers. Heddings who won the rings has refused to sell them back to Percy, which is why they are in a dump of a tavern in London's worst slum.
They capture fifteen year old Danny, who grew up on the means streets as a pickpocket. They quickly learn the tall male teen is a beautiful female urchin Dani. They enlist her help giving her no option besides the law; Dani steals back the jewels from Heddings. However, by assisting a member of the Ton, she has violated the rules of the street felons and is exiled. Honor forces Jeremy to hire Dani as a servant. He tutors her to act like a lady and soon begins falling in love with Dani. She has loved him from the first moment she saw his “pretty” face. However, Dani knows that an aristocrat would never marry the likes of her and anything less would shatter her heart.
The return of the Malory family is a reason for rejoicing for fans of the series. The exciting story line is at its best when it furbishes a regency equivalent to My Fair Lady starring two fine protagonists. When the terrific tale twists into too easily resolving the class distinction issue, readers still obtain a wonderful subplot, but also will wonder what if Johanna Lindsey left the concern at its most difficult. Still Malory fans will appreciate this delightful addition to one of the author's best ongoing sagas.
Harriet Klausner
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
