For the Love of Lila (Leisure Historical Romance) [Mass Market Paperback]

Though he thinks Lila is a bit of a loose screw, Tristan cannot allow a single woman to travel unescorted across the Channel especially the daughter of his former mentor who would want him to keep her safe and that includes her reputation. As Tristan accompanies Lila on her excursion, they pose as a married couple. This proves quite easily to perform as they begin to act like newlyweds because love has cemented the relationship even if Lila wonders about her vaunted independence.

FOR THE LOVE OF LILA is an amusing historical romantic romp starring two delightful lead characters. The story line is breezy and loaded with the antics of Lila that places her and Tristan in awkward situations. Tristan is a bit too perfect as the knight in shining armor ready to enter any fray that Lila seems to cause to keep his beloved out of harm's way. Though the tale feels more like a 1930s madcap comedic anachronism, Jennifer Malin furbishes readers with an amusing reading experience that the audience will demand similar tales from the author.

Harriet Klausner

For example, Tristan is about to throw his hat into the political arena. So naturally his solution to helping Lila travel to Paris is to suggest that she travel with him as his 'pretend' wife. Just the thing for any budding politician -- a sex scandal in the making. Of course Lila has her own ideas: she wants to make the voyage by masquerading as a boy. I won't go into what happens next except to wonder why, if Mary Wollstonecraft (Lila's idol) was able to travel to Paris just as the French Revolution was heating up, in the company of a married couple without the aid of a disguise, Lila Covington couldn't do the same thing? The list goes on, chapter after chapter both Lila and Tristan behave in either one reckless and careless manner or the other. So that you actually begin to wonder if an intellectual prowess and basic common sense are mutually exclusive of each other?

On the other hand, the authour really does a rather brilliant job of portraying the contrary desires of our confused heroine. She wants to experience life without the usual conservative restraints, but she also wants to have a lasting and meaningful relationship with Tristan. And she is frustrated that these two desires seem mutually exclusive. And in spite of my rising irritation with both Lila and Tristan, Jennifer Malin did a fairly good job of engaging my curiosity to see how this novel would end. So, all in all I would say if you're able to put up with the sometimes foolish behavior of both the hero and the heroine, than this novel should entertain.