In Regencies, there are two professions available to upper class impoverished girls; one is governess; the other is companion. In Noblesse Oblige, our heroine Marianne Noble is the latter, born a vicar's daughter and now a lady's companion to Mrs. Middleton, a somewhat vulgar, somewhat bleached, somewhat fortyish, somewhat promiscuous wannabe social climber. Mrs. Middleton is targeting the attentions of a Mr. Rivers. To her embarrassment, Marianne finds herself in the unenviable position of being Mrs. Middleton's tool and Mr. Rivers' buffer. Marianne's main consolation is music, a talent that Mr. River's appreciates significantly.

A familiar song bemoans the fact that “some guys have all the luck.” The song might have been written about Quentin Fletcher, Marquess of Devon. Like most friends of the "constantly charmed," Devon’s have had enough of his constant winning at cards and beautiful belles basically falling at his feet. Lord Alton and John Willoughby, come up with a plan to show Devon that he isn’t a demi-god in Jane Toombs’ latest novel, A Beguiling Intrigue.

Have you ever dreamed of your perfect man? A living, breathing male who embodies all the characteristics that would make him a perfect mate? Better yet, the dream man actually exists in real time? Of course, what it all comes down to is: is your dream wishful thinking or an actual glimpse into the future? That’s what Deidre Darlington wonders in Jane Toomb’s newest novel, A Most Unsuitable Bride.

I finished the first chapter of The Offer with mouth agape. Incredulous, I asked myself, as I flipped back to the front cover, "Is this a Catherine Coulter?" The print indicated that it was indeed written by Catherine Coulter and is book two in the Baron Series. I couldn't help myself, it didn't seem like the typical Coulter fare that I was accustomed to, but I forced myself onward. Despite my skepticism (and the urge to ditch the book), I worked through The Offer like a farmer trudging through flooded fields.

Perhaps it really had been the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans, Marie LaVeau who had visited Justin Thibodeaux in the swamps as he'd been looking for the legendary jar holding gold and the secrets of his legacy. If it hadn't been she, then where did he get the gris gris he did not dare to take from his neck? He doubted the memories of his swim in the swamp that night because they could not be real. She had promised to bring back Jean Marie, and she had told him to guard the treasure, and when he turned into an alligator at night, he knew he had to do as she had asked. He loved his childhood sweetheart Jean-Marie even though she'd been gone for five years and he still carried the bullet where she had shot him. He wished she'd come back so he'd have a chance to prove to her how much he loved her--and Marie LaVeau was giving him that chance. But at what cost?

Stephen Chaplin, a barrister and younger son of a baronet, arrived at the Horse and Cart Inn to return a wayward daughter to her grateful mother. He had nothing to do with the girl's misbehavior; to the contrary he was always a perfect gentleman to every woman he met. There had been a tragedy in his life-the death of the woman he loved at the hands of her abusive husband-which made him vow never again to fail a female in distress.

As Regency Romances go, Cathy Maxwell's TEMPTATION OF A PROPER GOVERNESS is different. Her hero and heroine aren't meeting at the height of the season amongst the ton, nor are they traipsing across the county from estate to estate looking for the next meaningless to do. Instead, Ms. Maxwell has written a story that is set in Regency England, adheres to the conventions of the time period, and explores the setting as a part of the love story, but it isn't the reason for the love story. Ms. Maxwell has written a timeless love story infused with a good mystery.

Demon earned his name for his formidable manner in business and with women. The blonde Cynster enjoyed being in charge and was sure that he would never be brought to his knees by a feeble emotion like love or be at any woman's beck and call like so many of his Cynster cousins. Of course that was all before he saw a suspicious rounded backside bobbing in the saddle on his most promising race horse.

Vane Cynster was trying to outrun a storm when he decided to drop in on godmother Minnie for shelter. Minnie's generous nature included collecting indigent relatives and eccentric strays. While expecting an old sergeant wanting to be addressed as general, Vane was instead pleasantly surprised by a nicely rounded rear poking out the shrubbery. Quite a change from his last visit, before he could consider the possibilities, the woman straightened and stumbled back into his arms. Vane earned his name by knowing which way the wind would blow. He clamped his arms around the blonde beauty and realized fate had finally found him.

Alathea was desperate for help, and there was only one person she could turn to: Gabriel Cynster. They had grown up together, and she was well aware that Gabriel would do whatever was needed. Only problem was she couldn't let anyone in the town know that her father had been scammed by an unscrupulous con artist. The family was one small step from total ruin just when her two sisters were ready to come out. Eleven years ago, Alathea was able to twist a bad investment into good at the cost of her own season and any possibility of happiness.

Alasdair Cynster, known to his friends as Lucifer, was determined to escape the fate of his Cynster cousins: marriage. The family saying went "that when Cynsters fell in love it was for life." Lucifer didn't begrudge his cousins their married bliss, but it just wasn't for him. The only natural option was to run fast and far to escape all the matchmaking mamas of the ton. His escape to Devon dropped him right into the middle of a murder where he was inadvertently clubbed by local independent beauty, Phyllida.

Gyle Rawlings, the Earl of Chillingworth, was disgusted to be dubbed as an honorary Cynster by none other than Devil Cynster. Even though his life had been entwined with Devil Cynster's since their early school days at Eton, Chillingworth didn't want to be a Cynster. Everyone knew they tended to fall madly, passionately in love with their spouses and that definitely was not part of his future plans. The best way to trick the interfering Cynsters and fate was to pick out a proper, boring wife himself.

To the average person, it looked like Simon Frederick Cynster had it all: good looks, fabulous wealth, the Cynster name, and women at his beck and call. Simon came to the realization which all Cynster males eventually reach--that a successful marriage gives life true happiness. To achieve this goal, Simon decided on a covert mission to find a wife. No open obvious tactics for him that would catch the eye of every opportunistic mama with a marriageable daughter. Instead Simon opted for a house party at a friend's house.

Richard Cynster wasn't thrilled with the idea of traveling to Scotland, but maybe it was time to finally make peace with his manner of birth. A cryptic message hinted at a bequest from his long dead mother included in her husband's will. Richard decided to go to escape the heat from the matchmaking mamas in London, and to finally make peace with his bastard origins.

The reading of the will also drew fiery-haired Catriona, who was rumored to be a witch, to old Seamus's manor. She didn't want to go; she only went out of respect for her wily uncle. She would pay her respects, dissuade her cousin Jamie from thinking that he would be her guardian, and leave. That was her plan before she saw his face in a divination bowl. Maybe she was wrong to try to seek out her future because this strong, determined looking man would never suit her.

Amanda Cynster, and her twin sister Amelia, almost gave up on the prospect of obtaining an acceptable spouse among London's glittering ton. Then Amanda decided that maybe all the interesting men were not attending the balls, dinners, and other bride market affairs. In fact, they were probably not looking for wives at all. So with that in mind, Amanda decided to descend into one of London's notorious gambling hells and found herself embroiled in a dangerous wager. What started out as a simple lark turned into scandal in the making until the reclusive Earl of Dexter stepped in.