Until You're Mine

Very simply, I enjoyed this book. I hope Ms. Higdon considers writing another novel soon.

Whispering campaigns can be devastating to anyone, much less a politician. Sound familiar? Well, the technique is hardly new-Shakespeare utilized the tactic in Othello nearly four hundred years ago. When Julian Norcliff, Earl of Lockwood, became the target of nasty innuendoes regarding his sexual preferences, his secretary Malcolm (himself rumored to be one of those preferences!) devises a scheme to shut up the whisperers. The Earl could hardly take a wife-he already had one, although she was in Italy and he was in England. Their marriage of convenience barely lasted through the ceremony before circumstances separated them. Since then, Julian had kept himself busy with his estates and Parliament. Now though, he'd have to try another tactic. Laura Lancaster was a struggling young actress who found herself stranded in England, the war of 1812 keeping her away from her home country of America. She'd been visiting her mother in Paris, but fled to avoid a rather forceful would-be suitor. She was determined to support herself, rather than doing as the rest of the actresses did, becoming the mistress of a wealthy, usually titled gentleman. Her friend Celia Carteret was blissfully happy with her Lord Belgrave, but Laura just couldn't think that solution right for her. Until a slightly different solution was created by Malcolm, one that would benefit both parties. Lockwood's money would furnish a small house and provide suitable clothing for Laura, who would appear with him in public, pretending to be his mistress. Privately, however, they would be merely acquaintances, not lovers. It was to be hoped gossip about them would kill the rumors. This short plot summary barely begins to cover the entire story, but whatever a reader wants from a book will most likely be found here in this truly delightful concoction. There is romance, to be sure, along with history, and a mystery involving charges of treason, murder and other unpleasantness. The author travels skillfully from Seven Dials to Mayfair to Shadowhurst (the Earl's country estate) with descriptions that will make you feel you're there, as well. Although categorized as 'historical romance' which it certainly is, the book has a decided Regency flavor to it as well, unusual in such longer works. I'd not read anything by this author before, but I do hope she continues writing about the Regency period. Actually, I liked this book so much I read it a second time! Might there be a story about Julian's younger brother, Randal? One can but hope. One can also hope that when the year's best books are listed in various places for various reasons, UNTIL YOU'RE MINE will be at the top of those lists. It certainly deserves to be there!

This was one of the best books Lisa has written. If you want a book that keeps you glued to your seat then this is the one. It kept me wondering who was going to end up with who. IT ended the way I wanted it to end. Very happy and exciting. If you want one you just can't put down this is the one.

Stranded in Regency London, American actress Laura Lancaster agrees to pose as the mistress of a British aristocrat embroilded in scandal. Things get complicated when Lord Lockwood becomes a temptation she cannot resist. Their affair creates another scandal when his faithless wife is murdered and Laura is accused of the crime. True love, as always, conquers all!

I've read Ms Higdon's other books, and this one certainly didn't disappoint me either! I'm a fan of the Regency period anyway, but get frustrated when I read glaring errors or characters behaving like they'd never do in real life. It quickly became obvious to me that this book is well-researched, the characters come alive, and I got fully involved in not only the compelling love story, but the secondary characters' lives. Once I started reading, I didn't want to stop! Kudos to Ms Higdon for a fantastic, romantic story that took my breath away!