Fleeing Heiress [Paperback]

That damsel is Miss Thea Strafford. Her sister's fiance has kidnapped her, and plans to take Thea to Gretna Green! Lord Cardiff comes to her rescue, and takes it upon himself to see that she is safe.

But our hero and heroine are out of the frying pan and into the freezer. The next day, Thea's father and brothers barge in--and demand that Cardiff marry Thea! (at gunpoint!) Her numbskull brothers kidnap them, and the rest of the novel begins. Thea and David have to deal with her eccentric relatives, renew Thea's deteriorating reputation, and try to thwart the unwanted marriage... with some funny results!

Yes, the book is rather funny. And sweet. And thoroughly entertaining. However, I would have liked just a bit more romance. And I thought it ended too quickly. But it's still a very good read. Definitely recommended! Good job, Ms. Buck!

Recently home from the wars, and fresh from attending a house party where he successfully apprehended a French spy ("The Chester Charade"), Lord David Cardiff was on his way home when he decides to break his journey at a small inn. At the inn, he overhears enough of a conversation to realise that a young lady, Thea Strafford, has been abducted against her will and that her abductor is intemt on carrying her off to Gretna Green in order to force into marriage. A honourable and chivalrous gentleman, Cardiff steps in and rescues Thea from her tormentor. A happy ending all around, one would think. Except that the following morning brings Thea's father and her twin brothers -- three incredibly stubborn and thickheaded men -- who then decide that Cardiff must now marry Thea in order to restore her sullied reputation. What follows is a humourous and somewhat witty romp as Thea and Cardiff endeavour to cajole and divert these gentlemen from their purpose Will Thea and Cardiff succeed? And what of the feelings of warmth and admiration that each is beginning to feel for the other?

There was so much to enjoy in "The Fleeing Heiress". The plot, the characters (from the sensible and much put upon heroine, to the intelligent and gentlemanly hero, to the brick-brained Stafford men, not to mention athe eccentric cat loving grand aunt), the humourous episodes -- this was a really well thought out and brillaintly penned romance novel. And while many things about this novel was quite a la Georgette Heyer, this did not mean that "The Fleeing Heiress" lacked an original voice. To the contrary, "The Fleeing Heiress" had a fresh feel to it. There was nothing recycled or stale or incongruous about it. And I do think that Gayle Buck succeeded in both paying homage to Georgette Heyer (if this was indeed what she was setting out to do) as well as putting her own personal stamp to the book. Smoothly told, and in an engaging and humourous manner, this is a book to be savoured and enjoyed. Definitely a 5 star read.