When It's Perfect

I have yet to find a book by Ms. Ashworth that I haven't loved. There is a freshness about her writing that is both unique and rare, imho. I am not a fan of gothics, however, the romance blew me away. A very sexy read that will leave you guessing until the end. Don't let the other reviews scare you. If you can find this book, please give it a try. You'll fall in love with Lord Renn as much as Mary did.

I enjoyed this book a lot. Contrary to another reviewer, I think this book is much better than "Winter Garden" (one of the author's prior books). The lead characters are warmer, more engaging - less cool, aloof. Granted, the mystery wasn't much, and I would have preferred a darker, more gothic atmosphere, but this book concentrates most on the relationship building between the two main characters. Marcus Longfellow, Earl of Renn has come home from Egypt to discover his beloved younger sister Christine has died just months before her wedding. In her letters to Marcus she had confided to him that she "feared for her future", but was not specific as to why. Worried, he heads home but arrives too late. Christine's letters were also full of one Miss Mary Marsh who had been hired to work on Christine's wedding trousseau. She and Mary became friendly and the mischievous Christine engaged in some long distance matchmaking for her new friend and favourite brother. And so when Marcus decides to investigate Christine's death, he asks Mary to help him. He feels he knows her already from Christine's letters and that he can trust her to help him uncover the truth. Who better to know Christine's state of mind near the end than her new confidant?Mary is from a good, but not aristocratic, family and is very conscious of her station in the Renn household - as a paid employee. Though she and Christine shared much, Mary held back much as well. Guilt, shame and heartache haunt Mary but she keeps all this to herself. As Mary and Marcus spend time together, they are drawn to each other, sweetly sharing bits of what Christine told each of them about the other. Their attraction grows and heats up, but Mary still holds some of herself back knowing that her past and lack of rank make any future between them impossible. But she obviously doesn't know Marcus as well as she thinks!I adored Marcus! How another reviewer could call him "aggravating" is beyond me! He was handsome, funny, naughty, yet tough and determined as well. And I heartily enjoyed the easy friendship (not to mention the passion!) that they shared. They were a really sweet couple and in the end you (and they) see what Christine saw all along - they were perfect for each other.

Adele Ashworth establishes herself as one of romance's best authors with this incredibly emotional story of secrets and seduction. Home from Egypt to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sister's death, Marcus intends to discover the truth at any cost. He needs Mary Marsh's help. Mary was one of his sister's closest confidents and Marcus is certain she can help him uncover the truth. What neither Marcus nor Mary counted on was falling in love with each other. Marcus is a wonderful combination of strength and sweetness while Mary protects her heart and secrets under layer after layer of self-preservation. And underneath several of those layers are some pretty racy undergarments that have Marcus longing for a private showing. . . This is a book not to be missed!