In The Night

Rating:
Summary: Fabulous historical romance.
Review: In 1818 Winthrope Ryland shocks the siblings when he asks the older sister widow Viscountess Moira Tynsdale instead of the younger beauty Minerva Banning to dance. She is stunned, but Minnie comes to her rescue saying she still mourns her Tony, dead two years. Later a shook Moira tells her friend Octavia (Wy's sister-in-law) that she reacted stupidly to his request because no one ever asks her to dance. Later, Wy demands a kiss from Moira but she refuses believing he is using her to get to Minnie.

William Daniels, who conned Wy into stealing for him years ago demands Wy do one last job or else his brother North's political ambitions will be destroyed; William says he has proof that North worked for Bow St. and saved Wy from prison. William wants Wy to steal a tiara from Moira, but after sharing sex with her for the first time, she catches him acturally returning the tiara to her that he already purloined. She orders him to leave though they both are in love. He must deal with the blackmailer if he has any hope of ever having Moira in his arms again that is if he can persuade her that he can be trusted.

The solid cast makes IN THE NIGHT a fine Regency romance. Readers are blessed with a strong lead couple playing sexual chess, the return of Wy's three other brothers and wives of the married duo, and an interesting secondary character who happens to be gay and the heroine's best friend add depth to a fine tale. Though the final confrontation feels somewhat anticlimactic, sub-genre fans will appreciate fabulous historical romance.

Harriet Klausner


Rating:
Summary: Kathryn Smith's best novel yet...
Review: Reuniting all of the Ryland brothers again, this new enstallment in the 'brother' series is the best to date!

Wynthrope Ryland: dashingly handsome, witty, self-assured, and cocky, is a man who also leads a double life. The aristocratic dandy by day, and the heartless thief by night, not even his beloved brother's know of his mysterious past.

One day while coming out of a shop, Wynthrope catches a glimpse of Moira Tyndale, a lovely, if very private lady. The two exchange eye contact and something unbelievable happens to Wynthrope. He falls in love (although he is unaware of this fact at the time).

He begins to pursue Moira, but the lady is also hiding her own secrets. Unfortunately, Wynthrope's past returns to haunt him, and he must complete one last theft before finally set free of his old life. He must steal a beautiful tiara that belongs to none other than the beautiful Moira Tyndale herself. The tiara is a precious gift from her late husband, Tony. But as the time draws near to pilfer the item, Wynthrope learns that he does have a heart after all...

Moira cannot believe that she has finally trusted a man into her life again, especially because of secrets that could ruin her position in society. Yet she is unexplainably drawn to Wynthrope, even as she begins to see a side of him that he hasn't shown anyone else. Unfortunately, all of their efforts towards a relationship goes by the wayside when she catches him stealing from her, and realizes that she was right to have her suspicions. However, her heart is the one that needs convincing.

Wonderful inner-dialogue, great secondary characters, and a hero that is very believeably conflicted yet passionate. Kathryn Smith has outdone herself once again. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did!