Historical
Desires of a Perfect Lady
By Chris
Mar 16, 2010 - 12:07:42 AM

Widowed beauty, Lady Olivia Rathbourne, is finally free of her monster husband.  Surviving the last ten years, estranged from family and friends, Olivia hopes it's finally safe to breathe again.  That is, until the terms of her late husband's will are revealed.  She can either continue to live on an insignificant allowance, further enslaving Olivia to her husband in death; or she can complete three of his partial antique collections and inherit the full estate.   Her only hope for success is to rely on the one man who failed to save her from the monster in the first place. 

A decade ago, Sterling Harrington, the Earl of Wyldewood, was betrothed to the love of his life.  Lies ended their betrothal, with Sterling cursing Olivia's name.  When the truth of her betrayal reveals a blackmail scheme, Sterling realizes just how wrong he's been.  He might as well have thrown her to the wolves.  In truth, he can never comprehend the torment she endured at her husband's hands.  So when she comes to him for help, he promises she'll earn her freedom and independence; but more importantly, he vows to himself to never fail her again.

The title, DESIRES OF A PERFECT LADY, while totally apropos, barely scratches the surface when it comes to excitement in Sterling's and Olivia's story.  Reminiscent of the adventures in "Indiana Jones" movies meshed with the sarcasm of that 80s classic "Romancing the Stone", DESIRES OF A PERFECT LADY defies the traditional historical romance; although, truth be told, the hero and heroine never have a hair out of place.  

While Sterling's feelings of duty and responsibility forever outweigh his sense of fun and adventure, he's also funny, charming, and deliciously sexy.  Olivia is strong and willful, and in true tortured woman style, ready to take on the world to gain her freedom.  Maintaining her sense of self through such a torturous marriage is a feat of amazing proportions; and it's all attributed to a secret list of desires she kept to remind herself of the things she would do when her life was her own again.  

Newly reunited in their common cause, it's not hard to imagine why Sterling and Olivia fell in love with one another the first time.  But ten years is a long time, and both have changed, sometimes unrecognizably.  Their journey, while fraught with inherent danger, also exudes some nicely tangible emotions – the need to ask for forgiveness, as well as bestow it, and to be loved for who you are, good and bad.  Also let's not forget, there's a decade of sexual frustration to surmount, so "namby-pamby" this story definitely is not.  

DESIRES OF A PERFECT LADY showcases some wonderfully witty repartee, escorts the reader to exotic locations across the globe, and much like any romantic adventure film, our hero and heroine escape potentially dangerous situations with nary a scratch.  So vivid is this novel that readers will boast at the end, "What a great movie!  I mean, book!"

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