Unveiled

Unveiled is historical novel about Jane Rosemoor who decided never to marry because she has mental illness in her family. She meets Earl of Westfield and starts to fall for him and because of her fear that the mental illness worsens after given birth she fights the attractions. The Earl of Westfield also fears that anyone that her loves will die so he fights falling in love. As a mental health professional I found the descriptions of mental illness and the fear of family member very real to life. Check out the whole Ashton/Rosemoor series; TO LOVE A SCOUNDREL (1) UNLACED (2), UNVEILED (3) and UNDRESSED (4).

I've just discovered a new favorite author! Unveiled is one of the best historical romances I've read this year. I loved the heroine, Jane, and the hero Hayden was super-sexy! The chemistry between them was SO hot, and I laughed and cried throughout the book. All in all, a terrific, very satisfying read--highly recommended! My only disappointment came when I went to the author's web site to get her backlist, and found out this was only her second book! I was all set to glom everything she'd written. Oh well--I just ordered Unlaced, and I'm eagerly awaiting her next book.

While I liked Ms. Cook's first novel, Unlaced, I believe I enjoyed this one even more! Unveiled is a charming and emotional love story with two lead characters who truly make you empathize with them. Hayden and Jane are obviously made for each other, and watching them fight their feelings--and each other--only makes the moment when they finally admit their love all the sweeter. A page-turning read!

Jane Rosemoor, a beautiful young woman of five and twenty years, has received many offers of marriage since her come-out. Jane has turned every one of them down - giving various reasons, but never relenting of her decision to remain unwed. Jane believes that a strange melancholy that affects women in her family will affect her as soon as she weds and begins to bear children. This melancholy has led to madness in some members of her family and she refuses to take any chances with her own sanity. Jane is firm in her commitment to remain unwed...until she meets Hayden, Earl of Westfield. Hayden Moreland, Earl of Westfield, has determined to marry without falling in love. He believes he is cursed, having already suffered great losses in his life. He needs a wife, an heir, and guidance for the niece he has adopted. Believing that he offers Jane what no other man could, he delivers a poor excuse for a proposal - then is shocked when he is turned down. Despite their private vows - one never to marry, the other never to love - these two strong, willful people are destined to be together. Kristina Cook weaves a skillful story and will have you secretly cheering Hayden in his pursuit of Jane even while you applaud Jane's no-nonsense approach to spinsterhood. Unveiled is a winner!

Setting - Derbyshire, England 1824 -- Miss Jane Rosemoor, at the age of five and twenty was a beautiful young woman who'd received countless offers of marriage during her many seasons in London - and she'd turned them all down! She was secretly afraid that a mysterious malady of madness and melancholy that afflicted several of the female members of her family would ultimately be her fate should she marry and bear children. She was relatively content with her decision to remain a spinster up until the moment she met the outrageously arrogant and sinfully handsome Earl of Westfield Hayden Moreland, Earl of Westfield having lost so many people that he loved in his life had come to believe that he was cursed. Believing that if he loved, he would curse that person and they would be taken from him, he refused to allow himself to get romantically involved -- thinking as to suffer another loss would be too much to bear. He doesn't want romance, but he does need an heir and his young niece and ward needs a woman's guidance. Thinking that Jane, as a twenty-five year old spinster, would be honored (and grateful) to accept what he was offering he proposed a `badly worded' and `insulting' proposal of marriage and was shocked that she turned him down flat! In spite of Hayden's denial of engaging his heart, and Jane's secret fear of eventual madness, the two had were bound to come to terms with an overwhelming passion and a love neither could deny. *** I loved this totally charming tale with it's lively scripted smart and sassy dialogs between the protagonists. With vivid and amusing scenarios the pace was quick and the pages flew in this very lively romance. Both protagonists were very well developed and displayed a great deal of strength and character. Having had the pleasure of reading the authors debut novel UNLACED, this certainly proves that she is an author to watch showing a truly wonderful talent with her sexy and delectable writing style. --- Marilyn, for www.romancedesigns.com ---