The Lady in Question [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Setting - London 1820 --- Barely a wife and now a widow, Philadelphia `Delia' Effington, Lady Wilton, has returned to London from a six month stay in the Lake District hoping that the gossip from her precipitous and scandalous marriage to Charles Wilton had died down - but mostly because she missed her family and wanted nothing more than to have them welcome her back into their fold. What Delia didn't know was that her husband had been working as an agent for the government and her life could be in danger. Consequently, the very dashing bachelor, Viscount Anthony `Tony' St. Stephens, an agent himself, disguised himself as her elderly butler, and was installed in her house, along with a team of agents to protect her.

In a most unusual household, with a bumbling butler, a footman who resembled a linebacker for the Green Bay packers, and a cook whose culinary skills were non-existent, Delia would form a bond of friendship with her elderly butler, never realizing that his bumbling wasn't due to his advanced age - poor dear - but because he'd never been trained as one. Tony was a good listener though, and as Delia poured her heart out, he was losing his - to her! Soon Tony would be playing a dual role, as the butler and himself as a totally smitten suitor.

No matter how the dashing viscount stirred her heart Delia, now independent, and still wanting grand adventures, didn't want to make another mistake. Tony would have to convince her that marrying him would be the grandest of adventures.

This was a charming romance that had me smiling from front to back cover. Though the description speaks of the mystery of a missing notebook, that portion of the plot paled and seemed to fall to the wayside as the romance and seduction took center stage. I didn't find the book to be much of a mystery so much as a lighthearted and sweetly enjoyable regency romance. I will say that what I have experienced while reading this author's work is that she has a way with turning phrases into the most delightful and witty dialogs! Reading her words is like watching a movie with all the pauses for effect a fine actor would incorporate in his delivery. Truly enjoyable and definitely a book I can recommend to warm your heart.

I couldn't get into this book at all.. It just seemed a little far fetched that the "Lady in Question" was around the butler and Sir St. Stephans alot and still didn't see...that must have been a really good disguise or maybe our "Lady in Question" wasn't very perseptive. And really would a lady have such a close relationship with the butler? Just seemed a bit convienent.. I didn't like St. Stephans. He didn't match his profession at all..you'd think he'd be more careful and guarded but he just jumps right in to wanting to get married and forgets about his duties. The whole plot with the notebook...I forgot all about it...what was the point?

This is the fourth novel by VA I have read. I also read, "Until We Meet Again" (good), "The Wedding Bargain" (really good) and "The Husband List" (not bad). I enjoy this author as her books always have strong female leads and solid and strong male leads. No wimpy characters with her. In turn, she always gives you an interesting plot line and witty dialogue that is never boring. And when I say witty I mean it. Many reviewers say a book is "laugh out loud funny" or "characters that will have you howling with laughter" etc...and I NEVER do. This author really does take witty dialogue to new heights. Kind of tongue in cheek laughter that is just right in a romance novel. Her love scenes are never hot and dramatic - they are not the main ingredient to the stories and that is just fine for me. Some other authors give you steamy and hot - VA gives you wit, fun and adventure.

This story as usual had twists and turns to keep you busy. Lead character Delia, ran off with her first steamy lover and married him in haste. Scandal ensued and she was outcast from society. Her husband mysteriously died within a few weeks of marriage and she was left alone to weather the scandal and re-build her life. She came from a large and well known high ranking family - The Effingtons' - and had the support of her twin Cassie and that of her family as time went on. On the side, Viscount St. Stephens is a spy of the crown and is sent to keep an eye on Delia in case someone wants to harm her. Her late husband was a spy unknown to her so, someone could be after her. St. Stephens masquerades as an old butler running her household and befriends her. He then takes on a dual role when he meets her at a ball later on as himself.

Of course as the story progresses, she comes out of mourning, decides to become a woman of adventure and experience and he offers to show her the way. St. Stephens has to hop to and fro as he is a butler one day and the Viscount the next. The story is light and fun and interesting to read. Their relationship develops nicely - both with the butler and with her future lover. The ending works well too. We find out who the killer is of her late husband, how she finds out about St. Stephens dual identities and if their relationship works out and the society accepts them again.

Some readers might not buy the whole premise of a young hot guy being able to pose as an old butler but, he was a top spy and going in disguise and doing it well was part of your job. Same with the other people that staffed Delia's house - they were all spies in disguise too. Let's not get too picky - it's a story after all. Plus...I think you'll get engrossed in all the other characters that are tied to the spying business as well (people in Delia's family, etc.).

It was natural that Delia and the butler learn to take to one another. They are couped up nearly alone at her new estate and spend weeks going over books, estate documents and more putting her life back together again. It's only natural they bond as time went on. Since most of her family and friends abandoned her in the beginning...she had only her new staff to turn to. Why not the butler? Buying into the friendship of an older gentleman and a young widow is not that unlikely.

It is a tad irritating that Delia didn't have the good sense to not sleep with the first guy who showed her serious interest (her first husband) - she was from a top family after all and should have known better. Like another reader said- she was immature to make one mistake and then jump into another relationship with the Viscount only months later. She seemed to always talk about the need for adventure but, I never really felt she was the adventurous type to be honest. I wish her months spent in seclusion made her more wise and wary but...alas, it made her want to seek another adventure. Sigh...will this silly woman never learn? But...St. Stephens making her enjoy the camel adventure in the park helped put her childish ways in perspective. He certainly made her take adventure like an adult finally.

If you can get past a few of these silly things...I think this one will work for you. Whenever I read these books, I try to keep in mind, this is a light love story - not first class literature. If you are looking for a book that is entertaining and light, this is the perfect book for you.

This author writes unlike any other I have read and that's a plus as I have read thousands of love stories over the years. We all have our favorites who write hot, steamy love stories (Nicole Jordan, Gaelen Foley, Sabrina Jefferies) , those that write dark, morose and heavy stories (Katherine Sutcliffe, Megan McKinney, Laura Kinsale), those that write soft, sexy and dreamy love stories (Laura Guhrke, Jacquie D'Alessandro, Patricia Grasso, Brenda Joyce, Mia Ryan, Christina Dodd, Lisa Kleypas, Judith McNaught, Jillian Hunter, Cathy Maxwell,) and so on. Add Ms. Alexander to your library for a good read that always keeps you smiling and interested. Plus...the ending of her books never disappoint.