Beauty and the Baron

April 1, 2003
Abandoning her childhood dreams of marriage, Angela Lacewood is resigned to life as a poor spinster when she receives an unusual proposal from Lord Lucius Daventry. To please his dying grandfather, Lucius wants Angela to pretend to be his fiancee, and in return he will help Angela's brother purchase a commission in the military. Angela would do anything for Lucius' grandfather, who happens to be one of her dear friends, but she has her qualms about becoming involved with Lucius, whose wicked reputation as "Lord Lucifer" is the subject of much local gossip. Giving into Lucius' request, Angela soon finds that the disfigured war veteran has his reasons for haunting the night, but even more disturbing is the fact that she is falling in love with the reclusive nobleman. A sunny heroine with a penchant for sweets and a brooding hero with a love of the stars find their own happily-ever-after ending in Hale's latest gracefully written historical, which features both sweet charm and delicate wit.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2003, American Library Association.)