Victoria Chancellor - Loretta Chase
Chancellor, Victoria - ACROSS THE RAINBOW (Love Spell - 1997) (4+)
David Terrell is a pilot who is raising his six-year-old daughter by himself after the death of his wife. His daughter wants a new mommy, and she insists that her father fly through a rainbow to find a beautiful fairy princess to be her new mom. To humor her, David finally flies through a rainbow—and he finds himself in 1886 Wyoming...on the same land he now owns in 1997! Of course he also finds beautiful Analisa Ludke. I really enjoyed this time-travel. ~Karen W. (YWQE15B@prodigy.com)
Chase, Loretta - LAST HELLION, THE (Avon - 1998) (5)
"According to etymologists, the name [Mallory] meant unhappy or unlucky. In the Duke of Ainswood's family history, however, the name meant Trouble with a capital T... They were hellions, born that way, notorious for it."
Vere, the last Mallory hellion, is ill-suited to be the seventh Duke of Ainswood; and the tragic death of his beloved older cousin and young heir have added to the burden of representing a place in society (and in his family) that he desperately tries to deny. Vere Mallory doesn't change his hellish ways, he only gets worse—until one momentous day, when he attempts to intervene between two women arguing over a young girl in a London back alley. A scuffle ensues and Mallory gets punched out by Lydia Grenville, a beautiful, blonde, blue-eyed voluptuous Amazon. She's a crusading journalist, with a mission to expose the inequities and cruel treatment of the poor by the peerage, who care for little else except their own debauched pleasure. Vere Mallory is a prime example of this noble class, in her view.
Lydia Grenville is a woman to be reckoned with, and Vere soon determines she's a menace to society. Her penchant for getting into trouble rivals his own. They are meant for each other! In what can only be described as a clash of titans, Vere and Lydia manage to survive encounters with each other. Together, they set the ton on its ear as they right wrongs, defeat villains, uncover long-held secrets, mend friendships, and face their own inner demons while falling in love. Their relationship is tempestuous, and their friends, family and acquaintances are soon consumed by it as well.
The story moves along at a furious pace, and the dialogue zings with Chase's singular brand of wit and searing pathos. How the author manages to juggle so many independent plotlines and characters is a wonder, and the way they all interweave is a testament to Chase's talent and imagination. But the romance is always central, and an absolutely luscious romance it is. Vere and Lydia are a wildly passionate couple. Their zest for life and love has been tempered by their sorrowful pasts, which makes their relationship all the more poignant and gratifying. Romance fans and Loretta Chase devotees should rejoice after almost three years of waiting. THE LAST HELLION was indeed worth the wait. Enjoy, it's great! ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
Chase, Loretta - LORD OF SCOUNDRELS (Avon - 1995) (5)
Witty, poignant, sexy, and wonderful—especially the glove scene. Definitely way up there among my favorite romances of recent years. Chase is a writer who rarely disappoints me. I only wish she was more prolific! ~Elena P.
Chase, Loretta - LORD OF SCOUNDRELS (Avon - 1995) (5)
One of only two books I rated "5" in 1995. The hero who had a sad childhood meets his nemesis in a woman who outwits him at every turn. This is the third book of a trilogy, but it can be read independently. Very highly recommended. ~Gail (bookbabe@javanet.com)
Chase, Loretta - LORD OF SCOUNDRELS (Avon - 1995) (5)
One of my all-time favorite books. A beastly, befuddled rakehell falls for an incredibly lovely bluestocking. The only weakness this book has is the last page (there are no more words left to read!). LORD OF SCOUNDRELS should have a guarantee printed on it which says, "You'll love this book." ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
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