Wyneth
Jones is an intelligent, vibrant and determined woman. She will stop at nothing to get
what she wants. When she finds out that the
landlord, Viscount Ashford ("Ash") is going to open coal mines in Snowdonia, she
acts as a representative for the farmers that live there to stop Ash from opening the
mines. She bargains with Ash, offering him half of the farmer's profits and their rent to
keep him from opening the mines and when push comes to shove and she is feeling defeated
when he refuses, she accepts Ash's counter offer when he asks for Wyneth herself. Wyneth decides that she will pretend to be a
courtesan, even giving herself nom de plume of "The Venus Mound"
and asks Ash to travel to Snowdonia with her to show him the improved farming techniques
and to meet the wonderful farmers as well. Wyneth
fights her attraction to Ash and is surprised at her intense feelings for him and soon
begins to have doubts about continuing her charade. Little
does Wyneth know that Ash suspects that she isn't really a courtesan at all but he
continues to play the game she started and vows that he will not give into the temptation
of "The Venus Mound", ever!
From the first
page of this book I enjoyed the fun, hilarious dialogue.
Ash and Wyneth's quick, comical attitudes with each other is priceless. And even though I had a difficult time getting
into the story at first, I soon changed my mind when Wyneth was convinced by one of the
secondary characters that if Ash found out that she was lying to him, then he would be
furious and that he would go ahead with opening the mines.
Of course by this
time in the book, I had to continue to see what Wyneth would do and how the story would
play out. I was pleasantly surprised at the
added suspense in the book, that all was not what it seemed in Snowdonia. Someone wanted
Ash dead! I ended up enjoying the book
immensely. The characters were witty, intelligent and the relationships between Wyneth,
Ash and the farmers are touching and heartwarming. Ash
is an intelligent rogue and is the hero perfect for headstrong Wyneth. This book was enlightening, refreshing and highly
entertaining.
Reviewed by Tracey West for The Road to
Romance
January 21, 2003
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