Shirley Conran: Three Complete Novels

In 1886, scandal rocked the New York jet set (or is that carriage set?) with Lily Blakesmore being at the center of the storm. For the outrageous behavior that led to her disgrace, Lily is forced to flee from high society, forevermore to be known as "Crimson Lily". Ten years later, Lily must return to New York to take care of her newly orphaned nieces and nephew. Lily pretends to be flamboyant in order to hide her inner anxieties. Meanwhile, Morgan Elliot believes that business man and confident to politicians, John Crandall, is crooked. He plans to get the goods on the man and expose him. To accomplish his quest, he takes a job at Blakesmore House, but when he sees Lily and the vile graffiti painted on her wall, he wants to quit the assignment. As Morgan continues to investigate, he becomes obsessed with knowing what really happened a decade ago, since Lily is clearly a caring person. The couple have somehow managed to fall in love with each other, but distrust and betrayal engulf Lily, making it seem impossible for her to share a lifetime of happiness with anyone. No one does the gay nineties New York better than Linda Francis Lee. Like her previous tale, THE BLUE WALTZ, her current novel, CRIMSON LACE, is a fantastic period piece that brings alive a bygone era. The lead protagonists are charming and wonderful, and the support cast add that city pizzazz to the mix. The historical story line has bits of intrigue to spice it up, turning Ms. Lee book into a must read for fans of Americana romance. Harriet Klausner