Danelle Harmon - Alexis Harrington
Harmon, Danelle - BELOVED ONE, THE (Avon - 1998) (4+)
Charles de Montforte, a Royal Captain in the British army
and an enemy of the American patriots, is "the beloved one."
During a battle in Concord, Massachusetts in 1775, he
sustains a serious head injury under very unusual circumstances. He is taken to Amy Leighton's home, where she will become his sole support during his recovery. Charles, also known as "the perfect one," is having a difficult time accepting the mistakes he made during the battle in which he was injured, and
he cannot forgive himself. Amy has her own set of problems.
Her stepsisters and father have treated her like a slave since her mother's death, and as a result, she lacks self-esteem. Believing that Amy is the only person who has not betrayed him, the Captain agrees to allow her to accompany him when he returns to England. She needs a new beginning, and in England she will be unknown and able to use Charles' connections to become
a lady's maid.
In a weak moment, the couple succumb to their growing feelings for each other. However, Charles has a fiancée waiting in England, and being "the perfect one," he feels he must honor the engagement and marry the woman. Because Amy has a rare, strong love for Charles, she gives him the freedom he needs to become a whole person again. But upon his return home, when he is reunited with the other de Montforte brothers and their spouses, sparks fly. Ms. Harmon also adds a sense of mystery to the story that involves a secret Amy is keeping.
It's been quite awhile since I picked up a book that I simply could not put down, but that's what happened when I started reading THE BELOVED ONE. The excitement begins on page one and continues to build as the story continues, and the author treats us to some well-written and steamy romance scenes. Even though this book is a spin-off of THE WILD ONE (the story of another de Montforte brother), it stands alone very well. Now I'm wondering if Ms. Harmon will continue with more tales about this family. I surely hope so, because THE BELOVED ONE was a page-turner for me. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Harmon, Danelle - WILD ONE, THE (Avon - 1997) (2+)
Fans of Jo Beverley's Mallorens should find this story somewhat familiar. Wayward and independent-minded siblings dominated by a larger-than-life older brother who knows all, sees all, is all. The story itself was quite readable. Wild younger brother marries his dead brother's American fiancée (who has given birth to his child). Nice ending. Not as intriguing as the Mallorens (a series that would be hard to top), but subsequent sibling sequels have potential. ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
Harrington, Alexis - TASTE OF HEAVEN, A (Topaz - 1996) (4+)
Libby was a mail-order bride, but found herself married to an old man who died shortly thereafter. Not having enough money to return to Chicago, she gets a job cooking for a ranch; but no one told her that Tyler, the ranch owner, is a woman hater. ~Marilyn H. (mlyn@jps.net)
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