Counterfeit Lady

I read this book more than a decade ago, and most of the plot has faded from my memory. The only plot detail I really recall is that the last third of the book isn't as well done as the first two thirds of the book. What I found unique and precious in "Counterfeit Lady" is that the main couple are happy together. For the middle third to half of the book, the couple are happily married and enjoy each other's company -- no arguments, no strife, no misunderstandings or secrets, no one out to kill them, just happy. After all of those other Romance novels filled with misunderstandings & strife, this pleasant atmosphere is refreshing and quite enjoyable. "Counterfeit Lady" conveys that joyful feeling of being in love. With that said, the objections raised by other reviewers are valid. I simply liked it anyway.

I had been looking really hard at the James River series before I decided to take the plunge and by _Counterfeit Lady_. A friend's recomendation is what finally pushed me over the edge, and I have been asking myself why I didn't do it sooner. This book is just plain fabulous. I was emediatly swept up into the book, and had a hard time leading a normal life. Jude Deveraux is a master at her genre, and sure knows how to write! This book reminded me of why I love romance so much. I can't wait to read the rest of the series!Nicole Courtalain was part of the French aristocracy when the Revolution broke out. Her family was slaughtered, and she fled to England. Bianca Maleson found her and decided to take Nicole in as her maid. Not wanting to be an object of charity, but not wanting to have to make it on the streets, Nicole accepted Bianca's offer. Over the months that Nicole lived with the Maleson's she decided that there had to be a better life out there for her. When one of her cousins aproached Nicole on the street with an offer to become a partner with her in a dress making shop, Nicole gladly accepted, working hard to get the money to become partner. Bianca is an obeese woman who is terrified of men. Unfortunatly, she is engaged. While Nicole is taking Bianca for a ride in the park, kidnappers come to take Bianca. Never before having met her, they take Nicole by mistake. Although Bianca has treated her badly, Nicole still feels that she must protect her, so she doesn't tell the men of their mistake right away, planning to let Bianca get back to safety. But, the kidapper's drug Nicole, and by the time she wakes up, she is on a ship already well on it's way to America. The captain is greedy and because Bianca's fiance is paying him much to abduct a woman from England and marry her to him by proxy, he is not willing to turn around, and figures that Nicole will do just as good as Bianca did. Forced into a proxy marriage, Nicole is now Mrs. Clayton Armstrong.Janie, a woman sent to help Bianca on the trip to America, is furious with Clayton. Over the long trip, she and Nicole became very close, and now she is going to give that stubborn man a peice of her mind. But, Nicole and Clayton are stuck with each other as the only way to get their marriage annuled is if they can prove that Nicole was forced into the union, and the only sound witness was on his way back to England. Nicole falls in love with Clay right away, but he is blindly in love with Bianca (for a reason that will only be revealed to you in the book). When it becomes apparent that the marriage could possibly be permanent, Clay starts letting his affection for her out of it's iron clasp, and there may be a chance at happiness for the two. He thinks that although Bianca would have been ideal, Nicole may not be a bad second choice. But there is always the threat of Bianca hanging over their heads, and when she comes to America, thin

_Counterfeit Lady_, the first of the James River Trilogy of books is an engaging story, one that will keep you preoccupied until you reach the end. Searching to reclaim the happiness he's lost, Clay Armstrong plots to have the woman he loves, Bianca, kidnapped and brought to him in America. Plans go awry and he's met by Nicole Courtalain. A turbulent romance begins between the two, with Clay fighting his supposed love for Bianca and Nicole fighting to show Clay that she's the one for him. You'll find yourself almost screaming at Clay's absurd stupidity and hoping that Nicole will punch Bianca. You'll feel the desperation, the love, and every other emotion in this book as if you're living them yourself. The book and characters are so well written, you'll even find yourself feeling sorry for Bianca. Ms. Deveraux really outdid herself with this book and the others that follow in the series. The perfect book for those wanting to experience the magic that is Jude Deveraux's writing.

This book was passionate, and full of romance. I rate it *****. The way Jude Deveraux writes is just breathtaking. She can make you cry, laugh, jump for joy, or fill you with hatred toward the villian. She is truly gifted especially in this mini-series, The James River Trilogy.

Very entertaining, clever plotting and memorable characters. Nicole Courtalain, a traumatized aristocratic refugee from the French Revolution, is kidnapped by mistake by agents of Clayton Armstrong (a strong minded American plantation workaholic who controls and manipulates everyone around him.) Finding himself married by proxy to the wrong bride (but emotionally and erotically drawn to her), is Clay's first lesson in life-doesn't-always-go-as-planned. (Nicole, having escaped the arrest of her parents, burning of her ancestral home, living as a commoner and learning a miller's trade, narrow escape to England, and working as a maid to an arrogantly unhappy Englishwoman--has already learned this lesson.) Nicole falls in love with Clay early and is torn and humiliated by Clay's slow warming to the idea that Nicole may not be such a bad "second choice." Every time it seems like the two may have achieved a "happy ending" an unexpected twist appears to tear them apart. It is not until Nicole grows in strength and confidence and Clay hits rock bottom and learns that love, loyalty and friendship (not things, control or set plans) are the foundation for lasting love and happiness, that the final "happy ending" occurs.