Lady Hellfire

I've read several of Robinson's books and 'Lady Hellfire' is probably my favorite. Independent American miss meets arrogant English aristocrat Alexis then the fireworks begin. Alexis, who has more mistresses than he can handle, is intrigued by the American. He does not, however, approve of her behavior. He thinks to mold her into the proper English lady. Katie's mother, who is English, thinks along those same lines. Katie, who wants to make her mother happy and who finds herself falling for Alexis, tries to become their ideal lady. The trouble lies in the fact that Katie has not had the sheltered life of an English girl. She has run her father's financial empire since his death and is used to doing things her way. She realizes that she is not happy in her new role and also realizes she must be true to herself. Alexis is an interesting character. Tormented by his past (what romantic hero isn't?), he himself is hardly qualified to try to mold anyone. He should be more concerned with getting his own act together. His mother is obviously ready for Bedlam. His uncle is a religious zealot with a neglected wife who is hardly the proper English lady she appears. The story, I think, is really about the emergence of Katie's strength of character. She got a little sidetracked during the course of the book. Can't Alexis see that the things he admires about Katie at the beginning of the book are the very things that intrigue him? Can Katie's strength save Alexis from a doomed future? Alexis, so sure of his own superiority, might have benefited from a large conk on the head early in the book.'Lady Hellfire' is sometimes funny and sometimes sad with an interesting plot and a host of interesting characters to make it an entertaining read.