AMANDA QUICK

|| Affair || Mischief || Rendezvous || Mystique ||

Last review(s) added 5/1/98

Historical

Again Amanda Quick wrote a wonderful, exciting, and humorous book that will not disappoint the reader.

Charlotte wants to clear up the murder of Drusilla Heskett. Mrs. Heskett was one of her clients. Charlotte has a private investigation service where wealthy woman can come and ask her to check the background of the men that make a proposal to them. For Mrs. Heskett she had to check the backgrounds of four men and after she gives her the results this strange murder happens. Curiously all others think it was only an accident.

Baxter St. Ives wants to know the solution of this puzzle too because his aunt needed that favor. He applies for the job as a secretary in Charlottes company. He thinks he'll comply with her thoughts. But Charlotte notices immediately the intelligent chemist behind his glasses. She gives him the job because her sister and her housekeeper tell her he looks unobtrusive enough.

Baxter learns very fast how impulsive Charlotte is and that brings her more than one time in dangerous situations. They pretend an engagement so that they can also investigate in the high society. They start to fall in love and the sparks fly between them. That's why Baxter suggests to Charlotte to have an affair with him because he knows what she thinks about marriages.

Somebody wants to separate Baxter and Charlotte, that shows them that they have luck with her investigations. But the unknown person doesn't know how strong-willed Charlotte is. And in the most dangerous situations Baxter recognizes how much Charlotte means to him.

Cheerfully, exciting, and entertaining - a good book which you should not miss whether you are an Amanda Quick fan or want to become one.

Amanda Quick is a wonderful story writer. I love all of her books and "Mischief" is no exception.

Imogen Waterstone is an independent woman who is seeking revenge for the death of her best friend Lucy. She is certain that Lord Vanneck, the husband from her friend, is the murderer. To start her plan, she needs help from Matthias, Earl of Colchester, also known as the Cold-Blooded Colchester.

They first meet in the house of Imogen's deceased Uncle, Selwyn. Imogen asks Matthias for help. He is fascinated by the unusual Imogen and her plan. He cannot refuse and then finds himself in the middle of Imogen's retaliation.

Matthias loses control of Imogen's plan because he fell in love with her. Imogen shares his interest about Zamar (the famous lost world, which Matthias has found) and she is totally different from all the other woman.

Quickly, Matthias takes his chance and marries Imogen. She does not want to give up her plans for revenge and they get in more trouble as strange things happen and they realize they are in danger.

The book tells another wonderful love story with a lot of humor and sighs (from my side) between a strong heroine and a magnificent hero. I loved and enjoyed the story and I can't wait to get her next book.

Augusta Ballinger - One of the Northumberland Ballinger's who were full of "style and dash" - lost her parents in the end of her teen years. She stayed with her Uncle Thomas and his daughter Claudia -- Hampshire Ballinger's who were known to have the money in the family. Claudia and Augusta are two completely different types of ladies. Claudia being one to hold herself in the utmost proper fashion and Augusta assisting the opening of a ladies club - Pompeia's - to be similar to that of the clubs that the gentleman frequent on their nights out, including a book with wagers and a gaming (gambling) room.

Lord Harry Graystone is in search of a virtuous wife. One who can be a mother to his young daughter and be a proper wife to himself. He has a list containing names of the most likely candidates. His friend Sally, owner of "Pompeia's," is also a good friend to Augusta, convinces him that Augusta should be on that list. After seeing Augusta, Harry is intrigued, and even though she is trying to break into a desk that belongs to her host, in the middle of the night no less, he can't get her out of his mind.

He asks Augusta's uncle for her hand in marriage and also to announce their engagement in the paper beforehand so that Augusta can't find her way out of marrying him.

Along with the romance involving Harry and Augusta is some mystery regarding Augusta's brother. He is known to have died a traitor even though Augusta believes his innocense. Someone is trying awfully hard to keep Augusta and Harry off of the track of her brother Richard and his untimely death.

Harry is commanding, yet loving. He insists Augusta do things the proper way, but his love for her fogs up his vision and you will find Augusta getting her way, time and time again. If not right away, in the end she will prevail.

Augusta is an innocent in an improper woman's disguise. As much as she claims to be against the rules the upstanding woman should follow, and even though she wears low cut gowns, she is still naive where many matters of men are concerned.

A first Amanda Quick novel for me, and I enjoyed it very much. The characters where loving and a positive portrayal of real people in love. They were likeable, loveable, and unique.

Hugh the Relentless is in search of the green crystal which has been stolen from Scarcliffe keep. He is staying at the home of Sir Ralf when he meets Alice. She had found the crystal, but shortly after it was stolen from her also. Sir Ralf feels that it is her fault it is stolen and that she should be the one to tell Hugh the Relentless what has happened.

Alice makes a deal with Hugh. She will assist him in finding the missing crystal if he will see to her brother's education and also a dowry for her to enter a convent. Hugh finds himself attracted to Alice, even though she is known for her wicked tongue.

Hugh needs a wife. Especially one who can run a household such as he is sure Alice is capable of. He has seen the rooms she occupies and how clean they are kept. He has also tasted the meals that she had prepared for himself and his men. As a result, they make a betrothal agreement. Once that Hugh tells himself will be real in time, and Alice tells herself that he will eventually break. They strike their bargain and he departs in the morning with Alice and Benedict in tow.

Hugh's father was never able to claim him and so he has grown up a bastard. His grandfather raised him until the time that he died when Hugh was just a boy. Rivenhall keep would never his as it should have been. Then he was raised by a man named Erasmus. He was the father Hugh would never have and he raised him well.

Alice is a brave women who just doesn't seem to notice when danger is in her path. Hugh comes to her rescue, but it is not so many times that you get tired of him saving her red head. There are just as many instances where Alice comes to Hugh's "rescue," and they are sure to make you chuckle.

You may wonder why I rated this story a 3.5. There seemed a time when I started to tire of the bantering between Alice and Hugh. They would go on and on, and never answer the original question. Other than that, this was a good story.