Cathy Maxwell
Maxwell, Cathy - BECAUSE OF YOU (Avon - 2/99) (5)
The villagers of Sproule, deciding the mourning period for their vicar has lasted long enough, have asked the vicar's daughter, Samantha Northrup, to vacate the vicarage. Worrying about what she will do and where she will live, Samantha is given a temporary reprieve when she takes in a stranger, feverish with influenza, from the local inn and tries to nurse him back to health. He is the same man who had awakened her in the middle
of the night, insisting on visiting the locked grave of the Duke of Ayleborough and claiming to be Marvin Browne. Three days later, Samantha is near exhaustion when a group of local women stop in for tea. They are shocked when Mr. Browne appears in the doorway without a stitch of clothing on; and since Samantha has been compromised, the result is a forced wedding.
Yale Carderock, former rake and youngest son of the Duke of Ayleborough, had traveled to England from his home in Ceylon to prove his worth to his estranged father, only to learn upon his arrival that his father is dead. Not wanting anyone to know who he is, he pretends to be Marvin Browne, the name of his former tutor. When Yale's brother, the present Duke, arrives in the village unexpectedly, he is anxious to see his former teacher. He is stunned when he discovers the brother he believed to be dead. The Duke then coerces the newly married couple to return to his home, where the fun really begins between the morally correct Samantha and the rakish Yale.
Cathy Maxwell has written another great Regency romance—a tender, moving story you will savor. The main characters are richly defined as the author shares their thoughts and actions and develops their relationship toward a deeply satisfying conclusion. The scenes in the epilogue are so emotional that I was moved to tears, and her definition of love through the eyes of the family retainer, Fenley, is profound. BECAUSE OF YOU exhibits love of family, subtle humor, tenderness, and sensuality in a tastefully written romance. It is a pleasurable read from beginning to end, and promises to leave you with an all-around good feeling. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
Maxwell, Cathy - MARRIED IN HASTE (Avon - 8/99) (3+)
Setting: London, 1814
Beautiful, charming, and willful Tess Hamlin—the darling of the ton—is driving her brother crazy! She's had numerous offers of marriage, but refused them all because she's not ready to settle down. Unbeknownst to Tess, however, her brother has spent her entire inheritance and wants to marry her off as soon as possible before anyone finds out.
While attending a rout, Tess becomes bored and proposes a wager with some of her friends: the first to receive a marriage offer that evening will win a prize. As she surveys the ballroom for a prospective "victim," she senses she's being watched and turns around to see a tall, dark, virile stranger staring at her. The handsome man happens to be Brenn Owen, the Earl of Merton, who's come to London from Wales to find a wife. Hoping to use Brenn to win the bet, Tess talks and flirts with him, but word gets out about the shocking wager...and she finds herself in the middle of a messy scandal.
Brenn is a war hero who needs a wife—a very wealthy wife. He inherited an impoverished earldom along with a crumbling castle, and even though he doesn't want to get married, he has no other choice. When Brenn first spies Tess across the ballroom and hears about her wealth from an old military friend, he thinks marriage to her would be perfect. Since he's a stranger in town and no one knows of his penniless state, he goes in pursuit, ignoring his friend's warning about the lady's willful nature.
When all the hoopla about the wager hits, Brenn conveniently offers to marry Tess as soon as possible to protect her from the gossip. Although she protests her brother's acceptance of the marriage offer, Tess consents when she learns of her poverty. At least she'll be content in the grand home of her new husband. Marriage plans are quickly made, but Brenn suspects Tess and her brother are hiding something from him. What will happen when the new bride and groom discover the truth about each other?
Adding an unusual twist to a familiar plot, Cathy Maxwell serves up a charming and fun Regency romance. Although the hero and heroine are a bit self-centered and selfish at first, their personalities are endearing and lovable. The deceit on both their parts makes for a lively, hilarious romp. My favorite scene in MARRIED IN HASTE is the wedding night; not only is it sizzling, it's hilarious as well! Readers who enjoy sensual Regency romances that revolve around a BIG misunderstanding will be delighted. ~Sharon Laird for Bookbug on the Web
Maxwell, Cathy - WHEN DREAMS COME TRUE (Avon - 1998) (4)
Even though the setting is Regency England, WHEN DREAMS
COME TRUE is not reminiscent of the average Regency novel.
The heroine definitely doesn't fit the mold of a proper
lady and the hero doesn't care anything about the "rules
of the game." Pierce Kerrier, the handsome Earl of Penhollow who had been lovingly raised by the local villagers, worked beside them rebuilding the rich estate of Penhollow. They felt
it was time for the Earl to marry and have an heir, so at the request of the Widow Haskell, the local healer, they gathered together by the sea where she performed a magic ceremony in
order to summon a bride. At the widow's instructions, each member spoke to the "Winds" and "Force of Night," voicing their wish for a trait or talent to be found in the Countess-to-be. Therefore, they are not surprised when they later learn how
these wishes are fulfilled....
Eden, an abandoned child with no last name, had been digging in the garbage in a vile part of London when Madame Indrani, the mistress of a famous brothel, discovered her. Even then, watching this filthy, starving young girl, Madame saw her spirit and future beauty. She took her under her wing, and in the following years Eden was groomed to become an elegant and accomplished courtesan for a sultan in the Far East, where Madame Indrani had happily served when she was a young woman. The virginal Eden is eventually sold for the astronomical sum of 25,000 pounds, and when the ship that is transporting her to the sultan encounters a storm, she slips away from the guards and escapes in a lifeboat.
Pierce, while enjoying a pleasurable day of fishing, notices the tide washing a boat ashore. Experiencing a strange feeling, he dives into the sea to attempt a rescue before the boat crashes against the cliff. He finds a sunburned, exquisite beauty who is starving and unconscious. Immediately he becomes both protective and possessive of the woman, and takes her to his home. Imagine his surprise when she awakens and appears to remember nothing about her past.
As the story continues, both Pierce and Eden learn what trust and true love mean as Eden's dark secret becomes known. The author makes this story so believable, and the unusual twists and turns she adds will keep you interested until the very end. You will not only fall in love with the hero and heroine, but discover a true Regency treasure as Ms. Maxwell weaves a romantic tale, binding two lost souls together. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
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