The Mysterious Miss M

Madeleine had truly desired a man just twice. The first time was when she was on the brink of womanhood; she had been lured and compromised by Lord Farley, then thrown out by her father. She was forced to work as a prized prostitute in Farley’s gaming hells whilst her siblings believed her to be dead. The second time was when she was won by a breathtakingly handsome young soldier, who was taking a short break before going back on duty. Lieutenant Devlin Steele was the first man to be kind to her and considerate of her feelings. He had made her laugh and made love to her as if she was a young lady not a forced whore. Maddy never forgot Devlin, in fact his memory kept her sane.

When Devlin returns to the unsavoury gaming hell he is shocked when Farley brutally slaps a young woman. Because he interferes, Farley gives Devlin the troublemaker in lieu of a gambling debt. It is not until they are outside that he recognizes Miss England, Madeleine. She begs him to let her bring another woman, presumably her maid, and to leave instantly before Farley changes his mind. When they arrive at Devlin’s lodgings it is apparent that part of her baggage is a small girl, Madeleine’s daughter, Linette.

Madeleine knows that her time with Devlin is limited. He is the youngest son of a respectable family, and she believes that she is unworthy of him. Each day is treasured and she lovingly stores up her memories for a future that he will not be a part of. Devlin too, savors his time with Maddy and Linette. His brother, the Marquess, has insisted that he marry a woman of quality before he can receive his own estate. Devlin is growing short of funds and must wed a woman he does not love if he is to support the woman he cherishes. As a man of honor he would never see Madeleine again once wed to another.

Diane Gaston’s award-winning debut novel is a definite keeper. The plight of a young woman that the world has turned its back on will win the hearts of readers. Fate has been cruel to her, but Maddy accepts her lot in life with dignity and a willingness to pay her own way with hard work. Her love is so deep that she cannot help but to put Devlin’s life before her own, even though her heart is breaking. Devlin despairs that he left a girl that he believed was a woman in such a place for so many years. Although he feels honour-bound to help her, the love he feels is too strong to deny. This is an unusual tale for a Regency book because the heroine was once a prostitute. The bedroom scenes are erotic without becoming overly graphic. The tale had this reader hooked right from the first cheeky bedding scene in the opening chapter, and it is definitely impossible to put down. This is the first book in a series of three related Regencies. If you enjoy Historical books, but do not usually read Regencies, you will want to add these to your collection. Diane Gaston is a Regency pen name for Historical author Diane Perkins.

Reviewed by: Naomi