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Audrey Colbert had taken every step to make sure that her cousin, Chloe, would be happily married. She’d chosen the man herself and through the careful tutoring of Chloe ensured that Lord Arncliffe would fall madly in love with her. Who wouldn’t? Chloe was everything Audrey was not, petite, dainty, and beautiful, whereas Audrey was tall, stately, and ordinary. However, the moment Audrey realized that her cousin would be the one marrying the handsome Lord Arncliffe, she also realized that she was the one who wanted to marry him, and for the man that he was, not his title.
Connor, the Marquess of Arncliffe, had never dreamed he could have Chloe as a wife, but with her cousin Audrey’s encouragement, his dream had finally become a reality. Chloe had said yes to his proposal, even though she told him he’d not been very romantic about it. Now that his dream was a reality, why was he suddenly discontent?
Chloe is kidnapped and Audrey goes in search for her, but not before Connor arrives to visit with Chloe. Desperately trying to keep the kidnapping a secret, Audrey lies and says that she is looking for her lover. Connor, never one to leave a woman in distress, insists he help Audrey on her quest. The journey, however, only serves to deepen Audrey’s true feelings for Connor and her guilt at having to lie to him. Connor as well is overcome by Audrey’s personality and quite beauty, and begins to wonder if he’s engaged to the wrong cousin. Will they follow their hearts to a lifetime of love with each other? Or will they let propriety rule their love?
STOLEN AWAY is an entertaining story of love and adventure. Shannon Donnelly has written a madcap adventure historical style that was just plain fun to read. Sometimes historicals seem the same, no matter the author, but Ms. Donnelly adds uniqueness to the genre with her wit and passionate characters. I thoroughly enjoyed being STOLEN AWAY by this fun story.
Reviewed by Tina Burns
for The Road to Romance
August 26, 2004
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