The Bachelor's Bargain

right from the start the book is funny. it easy to read and hard to put down.

This is Regency at its best! Such an absolutely delightful book this was. There was romance, intrigue, inspiration. Anne Webster is a great character, with spunk, courage and faith. Ruel, the Marquess of Blackthorne is the hero you can love. Both characters marry each other for ulterior reasons to further their own motives, never thinking that they would end up actually loving each other. Of course, the reader knows they will and it is such a great trip watching them do so. And another couple also find true love as well, which I am looking forward to reading about in another book. (Hint to the author!) The book preceding this, 'The Affectionate Adversary' plodded along much slower than this one and this was the better of the two by a long shot. The first was good, mind you, but this one much, much better. I adored it!

After trudging through Affectionate Adversary this book was a breath of fresh air. I read it in ONE setting. I loved the action, adventure, and true romance of BB. I would recommend this book to all, you can even skip Aff. Ad. as you don't need it's preface. This is the Palmer I love!! Let's hope Courteous Cad is just as good.

I absolutely loved this book!! The plot kept me guessing, the characters were delightful, and the ending made me wish the book had been twice as long!! This is a great second in this series, and I can't wait for the next one!

In 1815 Devon, England, servant Anne Webster desperately hopes to sell the Honiton lace to her employer Alexander Chouteau, son of an earl, so that she can use the money to hire a barrister to represent her incarcerated father. His crime was supporting the Luddites who complained about working conditions before rioting. However after a prayer for help though she knows God is aware of her family's predicament, but before she can offer her wares, his long thought dead brother, the Marquess of Blackthorne and the actual heir to the earldom, has come home. Ruel Chouteau assumes no woman would marry an adventuress rogue like him but wants to keep the mothers from throwing their singles at him so he proposes to Anne to prove his worthlessness, but before she can respond she is accidentally shot and is apparently dying. On her death bed she accepts his offer thinking he would have to help her family as honor dictates he does. However, to their shock, Anne miraculously recovers forcing the duo to face marital survival as the tabloids look forward to much scandal from them. The sequel to THE AFFECTIONATE ADVERSARY (the link being Society Tattler Miss Pickworth) is an intelligent Regency romance starring a strong support cast and two interesting obstinate lead protagonists. The story line is action-packed but driven by the lead pair as she needs his wealth and power to assist her father and her family while he sees her skill with silk as a means for his future. Fans will appreciate Catherine Palmer's fast-paced one sitting historical. Harriet Klausner