Gypsy Heiress

Ostracized by both gypsy and English because of her parents' mixed marriage, Liza, her parents, and grandmother, had travelled together in a gypsy wagon. Now everyone is dead and gone leaving Liza travelling alone. Mistaken for a poacher, she is taken before Alex, Earl of Brockhaven and his brother Robert. Alex and Robert recognize the distinctive gold medallion she wears and eventually it is discovered that she is an heiress to a fortune since her grandfather was the Marquis of Chadbourne.Her appearance also means that her cousin Isabella and her husband Vincent have lost the bulk of their fortune --- although they are by no means poor. Isabella is a famous beauty from h*** (the girl you'll luuuuuv to hate) and Vincent seems like an amiable gentleman and much put upon husband by comparison. By a quirk of fate, Alex is her legal guardian --- which works just fine for him since he has quite a history with Isabella and Vincent and has been waiting for just this opportunity for some well deserved payback. Yes, it's the ol' wolf-for-guardian-watching-ward-as-lamb ploy and provides ample opportunity for their increasing attraction to each other.Speaking of wolves, along the way, werewolves and murder get mixed into the pot and Liza and her new friend, Ellen, get embroiled in scrapes that ---as always with the Curtises --- means some pretty good laughs. Robert fills what I call the Cat Role (fellow Windflower fans will know what I mean) well enough and, since this IS strictly a regency-type overall it's a pretty light story both in terms of emotions and love scenes, as it were. Still, gotta admit Eliza's swim in the pool was pretty memorable . . . but I digress.I was rather torn between 3 and 4 stars for this one. While this story was very good, I also felt, at times, that it could have been a little better. Just a little more polish, or something, if you catch my meaning. However, I first read it a long time ago and always remembered it and recently found it and re-read it. It's ability to remain memorable enough to stay in my mind after so many years (and so many other stories) was what finally prompted the 4 stars. Enjoy, friends.

if you can find a copy of this book grab it and don't let it go. great for an evening read. good plot, funny moments, and a happy ending. i buy anything they write. wish they would write more. this one is also on my do not loan list