"This story is set on the East Sussex Coast, England, 1847. Jade Smithfield's grandmother unwittingly sold a land option to the South Downs Railroad before she died. When Jade learned that her man of affairs, Neil Kirby, engineered it, she discharged him. However, when Kirby left he took her inheritance, her copy of the land option sale, and the money from the sale with him. Jade needed that money and receipt if she was to have any hope of stopping the railroad from laying track on her property and keep them from uncovering her grandmother's secret. Then there is Giles Dudley, her fourth cousin twice removed. He intends to inherit the Peacehaven Estate by proving Jade's grandmother insane at the time she made her will. If he succeeds, Dudley inherits everything. Jade and all the people who depend on her will be thrown into the streets.

Marcus Fitzalan wants to save his disabled brother's railroad, and the families who will lose their living without it, by investigating into the railroad accidents halting construction. To do so, Marcus applies as Jade's new man of affairs. But Marcus finds out upon meeting Jade that his philandering days are over. The more learns about Jade and the women and children she takes care of, the more he knows that Jade must have a very good reason for wanting to stop the railroad's construction. However, he cannot help Jade if she does not trust and confide in him.

Author Annette Blair combines action and romance with strong characters and a bit of comedy to give her readers a story they will never forget! I could not help but fall in love with little Emmy and her puppy's antics. Nor could I stop myself from feeling as though I knew all the main and secondary characters for real. The story is written so smoothly that I felt as if I was a part of their circle. Such writing talent is rare and I am grateful to have come across this novel. It is heading straight for my Keeper Shelf, never to be loaned out, and hoarded for my future reading pleasure alone. Annette Blair is a master (or is it mistress?) of the Historical Romance genre. I cannot recommend this tale highly enough and I plan to tell everyone I know about it. Detra Fitch, Huntress Reviews

HARRIET KLAUSNER

Blair, Annette
Romance
Scoundrel in Disguise

Annette Blair, Five Star, May 2006, $26.95 ISBN: 1594144834

"In 1847, Marcus Fitzalan visits eccentric Jade Smithfield under the pretense of seeking employment as her business affairs manager. He really wants to learn why Jade is trying to prevent the construction of a railroad in the area that his disabled brother owns. Jade rejects Marcus as too handsome for the twelve brittle women and seventeen children that live under her roof. Besides she believes all men are created equally, nasty, abusive and bad.

However she changes her mind when she sees how good he is reaching out to battered reticent little Emily who is taken with Marcus’ dog Tweenie. As he continues to display kindness towards her charges, Marcus also begins to convince her some men can be nice. As they fall in love, he fears she will assume the worst in him once she learns why he applied for the job.

This is an interesting complex Victorian romance with a social message starring an eccentric female obsessed with protecting women and children who hates men as being abusive. Marcus originally arrived to stop Jade from sabotaging his sibling’s railroad, but soon finds he loves his employer and needs to help her with her charges. Fans will appreciate this Dickensian spin as “progress” vs. the need of the forgotten downtrodden competes with the hero knowing that he will probably lose his love once she learns of his deception.

THIS IS AN INTERESTING COMPLEX VICTORIAN ROMANCE
* long sentences, long paragraphs, long chapters, and lots of description * * straight-line plot * * simple and straight forward * * a real 'page turner' * * the intent is to entertain * * background is detailed * * focus is on people and the psychology of characters * * focuses on several characters of different sexes whose lives are intertwined * * characters are developed over time * * memorable and important secondary characters * * will leave you feeling content, at ease, peaceful * * conventional, traditional * * ending wraps everything up *
The geographic setting(s) of the book: Victorian.
The time period(s) of the book: 1847"
Harriet Klausner

ROMANCE REVIEWS TODAY

SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE - Annette Blair
Five Star (Hardcover)
ISBN: 1-59414-483-4
May 2006
Historical Romance

Newhaven, on the Coast of East Sussex, England - 1847

Lady Jade Smithfield's wastrel father left her to her grandmother to raise. Her grandmother and the abused women and children she sheltered in Peacehaven Manor finished the job of teaching Jade that men are all rotten and never to be trusted. When her grandmother died, Jade inherited both the estate and the Benevolent Society for Downtrodden Women. Unfortunately, her grandmother's man of affairs took advantage of the dying woman to sell an option on part of her land to the South Downs Railroad without consulting Jade. When she learned of it, she fired him, and he hasn't been seen since...and neither has the option money. Jade cannot allow the railroad to go through, lest the digging uncover a family secret.

Marcus Fitzalan has come to Peacehaven Manor to apply for a position as the owner's man of affairs in order to investigate a series of accidents that are hindering the building of the railroad. He's heard the owner is a little unconventional, but he's unprepared for the reality. The house is full of women and children, the staff is composed only of elderly men, but it's Lady Jade who knocks him for a loop. Dressed in form-fitting black leather breeches, she looks him over as though he were a stallion for sale, yet it's obvious to him she's ignorant of the affect she has on him as a man. Marcus's impertinent tongue gets the better of him, and he blows the interview. Though Jade doesn't hire Marcus -- he makes her much too uncomfortable -- she allows him to stay until he can catch the next day's coach.

Later that day when Marcus gentles a scared little girl, Jade's heart softens toward him enough that she hires him to keep her books.

SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE has a riveting plot with several suspenseful threads. Right away, readers will wonder what secret Jade hides and whether she'll get her money back. The mutual, seemingly impossible to act upon attraction between Jade and Marcus is immediately evident and rivals the railroad accidents in piquing interest. Another tantalizing thread is the gradual unfolding of Marcus's real identity and the motives behind his actions.

The relationship between Marcus and Jade seethes with a sexual tension that is relieved by their humorous banter. Marcus considers himself a bit of a scoundrel, but his gentle, caring manner with little Emily and the battered women in the manor belies that. And so does his love for his brother.

With its warmth and wit, SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE teases the mind and touches the heart. Luxuriate in its rich emotion, its lively narrative, and wonderful, very human characters. Jane Bowers

Myshelf.com

Jade Smithfield has no fear of scandalizing society as she continues to run the home for downtrodden, frightened women and children, nor does she have a fear of keeping dangerous secrets. What she does have is a fear of men. After all, since she was a little girl, she has always remembered hearing of how her grandfather beat her grandmother, and living with mistreated women has hardened Jade's heart against men.

Marcus Fitzalan is riddled with guilt over an accident that changed his brother's life by putting him in a wheelchair. Now it seems someone is trying to ruin his brother's railroad, so Marcus will do all he can to find the person. Getting a job at Jade's home was first on his list; however, falling for the beautiful scandal was never in his plans. Marcus cannot believe that the woman he loves is the one creating such havoc and he will do all he can to save her and the railroad.

Scoundrel in Disguise is a magnificent read that will entertain readers from beginning until the end. Each character is brought to life in their on unique way. Readers will also love the other stories going on in this wonderful book. Ms. Blair has a truly unique way of grabbing readers' attention with her stories, leaving readers little time for anything else until the book is finished. Scoundrel in Disguise is definitely a book for the keeper shelf. Tangela Williams

Love Romances

Lady Jade Smithfield is determined to regain a land option that her grandmother sold to the railroad prior to her death. Not only does she not want the railroad going through the property, she is desperate to keep a family secret from coming out. Marcus Fitzalan’s brother’s railroad must be built despite the accident that befalls it. Marcus is determined to help him succeed in this business venture and if he needs to infiltrate Jade’s household then he will. Marcus becomes her man of affairs and investigates the accident that is stopping the railroad’s progress.

The focal point of this story is the hero and heroine. They are well-developed characters. Jade is an intrepid heroine who is determined to keep the railroad out of her land. She is a three dimensional woman with flaws. It is her stubbornness and her grit that keeps her going. She could be described as eccentric but she stands behind her beliefs. She helps abused women and children. All of this makes Jade the woman she is. Marcus finds himself more than a little interested with her - he falls for her the minute he lays eyes on her. Marcus finds himself torn between his loyalty to his brother and his newfound feelings for Jade. It is a tightrope he walks as he tries to solve the mystery of who is causing all the accidents. Marcus’ good looks and charms count against him in Jade’s eyes but he slowly wins her over. He is a wonderful hero who can show tenderness. Marcus and Jade are fun to watch as they try to resolve their feelings and their perceptions of each other.

This is a believable romance between two very strong and entertaining leads. With a strong supporting cast, Ms. Blair weaves a tale that will pull the reader into it. It moves at a steady clip with a nice blending of suspense and romance. SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE is another entertaining story from Ms. Blair. Reviewed by Susan

HISTORICAL NOVELS REVIEW

SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE

Annette Blair, Five Star, 2006, $26.95, hb, 286pp, 1594144834

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 ... a worthy read and a charming romance. Rebecca Roberts

Annette Blair, National Bestselling Author

Scoundrel in Disguise

SCOUNDREL IN DISGUISE

Biting my truant pen, beating myself for spite: "Fool!" said my muse to me, "look in thy heart, and write." ~~Sir Philip Sidney

"I like nonsense, it wakes up the brain cells. Fantasy is a necessary ingredient in living; it's a way of looking at life through the wrong end of a telescope . . . And that enables you to laugh at life's realities." Dr. Seuss

Copyright © 2002 by Annette Lague Blair. All rights reserved. Revised: 05/11/2008

Web Mistress: Annette Blair