A Notorious Proposition (Avon Romantic Treasure) [Mass Market Paperback]

When it comes to reading an Adele Ashworth romance, readers can expect an excellent story, in-depth characters, and a sensuality that oozes from the pages, keeping a reader riveted to the book. It is no different with this new title "A Notorious Proposition."

Revisiting a place called Winter Garden from a previous book of that name back in 2000, we find two people who left an intense emotional and physical love behind two years ago due to undercover government intrigue, mystery of missing Martello diamonds and amnesia. The handsome Garrett Burke, who is the mysterious Winter Garden's Marquis of Rye, left the beautiful Lady Ivy Wentworth in his warm bed after an intense night of love to finish this mysterious business with the intentions of returning and asking for her hand in marriage. But then it seemed everything went wrong and to make matters worse, due to an injury he received that evening while trying to retrieve the famous Martello diamonds, he is left with no knowledge about what actually happened that night and the aspects of his relationship with Ivy. He is so confused that he actually suspects she may actually be involved in the nefarious plot; especially because her brother is missing since that fateful night.

Now it is two years later and the diamonds and other individuals besides Ivy's brother, involved in the original mystery are missing. Everyone seems suspect, but most of all, it is Ivy that is the one deeply hurt at Garrett's treatment of her, past and present, and his suspicion toward her. Her reputation is at stake, together with her fear for her brother's life and his possible involvement in the original theft and current mystery. Garrett and Ivy find themselves thrown together at Winter Garden, at the invitation of the Marquis of Rye, who Ivy does not know is actually Garrett, while walking a fine line of suspicion, love and hate. Will Garrett find the diamonds and who is responsible for their theft and his injury, while at the same time will his memory return so he can remember just how important Ivy is to him? Will Ivy help Garrett by using her famous talent as a seer, to find her brother and somehow rediscover the diamonds and the love she once had for Garrett, while fighting the continuous sensual desire she discovers she cannot put behind her since that fateful night two years ago when Garrett left her in his bed?

Adele Ashworth is a superb talent that seems to get better with each book that is a definite keeper. Crime, mystery, and sensuality combine with excellent storylines and interesting characters to keep readers patiently awaiting a next release.

'A Notorious Proposition' is a rather misleadingly-titled book as there was no notorious proposition in the book, at least not that I noticed. Instead, set in 1850, it features Lady Ivy Wentworth, a seer whose brother is missing, who has been tasked by the mysterious Marquess of Rye to investigate ghosts in his new property. Two years before Lady Ivy loved and lost Garrett Burke, a man who was looking for the missing Martello Diamonds. When Lady Ivy meets Garrett in the village of Winter Gardens she has real animosity towards him because of the way in which he discarded her after seducing him. However they soon find themselves having to work together to explore mystery tunnels in the Marquess of Rye's house in their search for the diamonds. Do the tunnels hold more than just cobwebs and dead cats? Is there more to the history of Garrett and Ivy than they both realise? Is there more to Garrett than Ivy realises?

This story was a reasonable read with the characters exploring dusty tunnels, trying to find diamonds, attending a ball, that sort of thing. However it also felt rather loosely plotted without a strong thread of characterisation to hold it together. The names of the characters also felt unconvincing for the time - Ivy and Garrett - and the author's dialogue was peppered with modern-day Americanisms that aren't appropriate for the time and location in which the book was set. The pace of the story ramps up a little at the end where the various threads all join together and the villain or villains are identified but the suspense was never that great and, having finished the book, I doubt I shall remember much about it within a week.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Two years ago, while on assignment for the Crown, Lady Ivy Wentworth gave her heart to Garrett Burke, also on assignment for the Crown, only to have it broken. Garrett left her asleep in bed to search for the missing Martello diamonds . . . and didn't return. So, when Ivy, a known seer, comes to Winter Garden at the request of the mysterious Marquess of Rye to rid his new house of ghosts two years later and sees Garrett once again, at first, she is anything but thrilled. They are both after the Martello diamonds and eventually work together to look for them while trying to outrun a villain.

Reunited lovers is one of my favorite romance themes and this story is one of the best I've ever read. While some people consider this a sequel to Ms. Ashworth's WINTER GARDEN, it certainly stands just fine on its own. Garrett and Ivy are very well written characters who practically leap off the pages. Ivy is an intelligent heroine who doesn't overreact or do something stupid when Garrett reveals a secret. Garrett is a sexy hero who is also incredibly sincere. Because of their past, there is a tremendous amount of underlying sexual tension when they are together which makes for a beautiful love story. The scenes when Garrett and Ivy are searching for the diamonds through secret corridors and passageways was very reminiscent of my first book love, Nancy Drew. And it is during those scenes that they rediscover their passion for one another. This book is brilliantly written and I will wholeheartedly admit that I enjoyed it even more than I did WINTER GARDEN. I highly recommend it!