Always a Lady [Paperback]

Setting ? Ireland ? England 1838 --- In the third installment of the Marquess of Templeston Heirs trilogy, Christopher ?Kit? George Ramsey has grown up and come into one of his inheritances. Along with two of his life-long best friends he travels to Ireland to both claim his inheritance as the Earl of Kilgannon, and as he laughingly joked ?find his destiny?. What he did find along with his title, and a beautiful castle, was a newly acquired ward. Initially he assumed that the ward would be a young girl and all he?d need would be to hire a governess, etc. What he discovered instead, was that his ?ward? was a stunningly beautiful young woman. In addition, and according to Father Francis, Mariah?s dying mother had made him promise on her deathbed that he would see to it that Mariah?s guardian, the Earl of Kilgannon, make sure that her daughter be given a seasons debut. Now, this was going to be quite a feat since his ward had been raised in the convent, her only accomplishment was as a heavenly head baker and she had virtually no training at all in the society rules that governed the ton.

Having been brought up in a convent since the age of six, Mariah Shaughnessy, kept alive in her heart, the memory of young boy she?d met 14 years earlier. That young boy, who of course was Kit, at the advanced age of eight had then kissed her and promised he?d return to marry her when they were all grown up. Naturally, they did not recognize each other and he had never known her name and although she knew the boy?s name to be Kit, as a grownup everyone was now referring to him as Lord Kilgannon. Before they realized their bond and childhood connection Kit and Mariah were falling in love. It looked to be clear sailing until a buried memory of Mariah?s surfaced, both in her mind and in the flesh, that threatened their dreams of a happily ever after.

I believe that the author saved this third book, which really should have been the second novel in this trilogy, as the best for last. It would be hard to find two more deserving or sweeter protagonists. Kit?s boyhood and lifelong friends, who played wonderful supporting characters, were what everyone should wish for in true to life friends. The humor aspect, using Mariah?s frankness and confessions to Father Francis were a definite hoot! Disclosing the contents of letters from deceased parents of both Kit and Mariah ? both of these ?orphans? were apprised of the deep and abiding love of being wanted and cherished ? and yes, the reader can expect these letters to definitely bring tears to your eyes. Once again, the reader is treated to an enormously happy, sweet and very charming ?fairy tale? romance that most romance lovers certainly dream about. Bottom line ? this was an enormously satisfying and sweet romance sure to bring a little joy to your heart. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

This book should have come second in the series. Read it after Once a Mistress; the second book occurs much later in time and this one finishes explaining all that took place in that first book.

Kit is SO sweet; what a wonderful young man! (Cakes--you'll understand when you read it) I'd let him marry my daughter. Mariah is also sweet, and innocent, and together they make, perhaps, the nicest couple in the genre. There's wit and heart and heartache here, and it all blends together extremely well. The minor mystery centers around the death of Mariah's mother; the villain is truly villanous, but he is dispatched too easily.

There are a few niggling errors, like "Here, here!" instead of Hear, hear!" But all in all, it's a delightful book. Very heart-warming.

Kit, the little boy from Once a Mistress, is now a young adult out to find his destiny. Little does he know what skeletons in his closet he'll discover in the process. In between finding out the truth of his birth and growing up to be his own man, he falls in love with Mariah, a girl he met long ago but doesn't recognize.

Mariah has a past just as twisted and uncertain as Kit's, just in a different way. Her parents both died when she was young and grew up sheltered in a convent.

The story is filled with characters that are easy to like and relate to. Humor and mystery are intertwined to keep the plot moving along quickly with little drag.

*** On a side note, I didn't care for Once a Mistress. I had a very hard time getting past the storyline and the major inconsistencies. However, this book clears up most of the inconsistencies from the other, so if you're like me and rolled your eyes when Kathryn kept calling Kit, Drew's heir presumptive, or wondered how the old Marquess could possible deed Swanslea to Kathryn or give the dowager cottage away, it has all been cleared up in this one.