MET BY CHANCE - Lynne Connolly
Triple Countess - Book 3
Samhain Publishing
ISBN: 1-59998-892-5
February 2008
Historical Romance

England – 1750s

Lady Perdita Garland has recovered from injuries sustained in a riding accident two years ago. Now that her brother has recouped the family fortunes, she also has a sizeable dowry. She is just not sure that, after all the snubs and embarrassments she has endured, she even wants to find a husband. And she has certainly not found a kindred soul.

Widowed Charles Dalton, Marquess of Petherbridge, has very recently returned to England from France with his five-year-old daughter, Aimee. If he were to find another wife, he absolutely does not want one like Francine, his first wife, who was unfaithful and totally immersed in decadent court life.

Thinking that Charles and Perdita might suit each other, his aunt and her mother suggest a marriage between them. But when Perdita and Charles first meet, he is in full French maquillage -- white ceruse makeup, lip rouge, and beauty patch. Perdita is immediately put off by his appearance but is still surprised at the spark she feels when he kisses her hand. Charles has donned his disguise because he can hide behind the mask and find out what other people think of him. He, too, is surprised at the spark between them.

Millicent Dalton, Charles’s young sister, is enamored of wastrel Conrad Stalwood, Viscount Berrington. When Charles refuses her permission to marry, Conrad devises a plan for the two of them to run away, taking Aimee with them as assurance that Charles will not only give his blessing but also will not prosecute.

When Perdita finds herself alone in the city and at the mercy of miscreants, Charles is there to rescue her. No matter that Perdita’s reputation might be in tatters, they work together to find Aimee and Millicent, all the while falling in love.

MET BY CHANCE is an enchanting adventure of love’s discovery. Perdita and Charles both learn that appearances can be deceiving and life can be more than expected. Lynne Connolly is an excellent storyteller and leads readers through social labyrinths and seedy back alleys with aplomb and sophisticated style. I really admire her knowledge of the times and people. She doesn’t miss a beat when describing places, sights and smells and allows her characters to react naturally to situations. MET BY CHANCE will brighten a reader’s day and leave a smile in its wake.

Vi Janaway