Regency England

For Lady Jane Guthrie, life has never been wonderful, but lately it has been rather grim. First sold into a loveless, abusive marriage, then widowed, now Jane is little more than a servant in the home over which she once presided. When friends coax her to attend a masquerade ball, she seizes the chance to enact a small rebellion against the insufferable relations who would keep her in mourning, and an unpaid servant, forever. She borrows a daring golden gown and goes out for a night of diversion. She does not know that she will see the one man she has secretly loved since childhood, and lose her heart all over again.

Seth Rutledge, Earl of St. Claire, recently returned from the war, carries ugly scars on his face and his heart. In his youth, a girl betrayed his love when she sought a richer prize. Then, when a riding accident he was involved in blinded his sister, he blamed himself. Now his older brother is dead, and Seth is head of his family. He seeks a marriage of convenience -- no love involved -- and hopes to find a woman who will take care of his sister in the event of his death. He attends a masquerade ball where he meets a mysterious, enchanting woman, one he wants to possess, but who eludes him. Obsessed by the masked seductress, Seth is surprised to find himself also attracted to a quiet but lovely widow, Lady Jane Guthrie, an old childhood friend. Is it possible to feel the same intense sexual attraction for two women? After one stark sexual encounter with the masked woman in the golden gown, he is startled to discover that the woman is none other than Jane, now pregnant and desperate. They must marry, but will marriage bring them a life of happiness, or will the past keep them from truly knowing and loving one another?

ONE NIGHT WITH YOU combines several elements of a classic romance story, a heroine who needs rescuing, a surly hero with a bruised heart, and some hot love scenes. Jane is an oppressed and downtrodden character, which is believable, considering the reality of women’s history. She has an independent streak and is willing to fight for what she wants. Seth is harder to like; he cannot resist Jane’s appeal, but he will not trust her, and guilt makes him overprotect his sister, preventing her from living a richer, fuller life. Seth is as oppressive as the family from which Jane escaped. Though Ms. Jordan ensures a happy conclusion for Seth and Jane (hint: Seth admits to being a complete *ss, and they have sex in some unusual places), there are a few loose ends left; we never know what happens to Jane’s stepson, nor Jane’s loyal friends. The plot held my interest, but some of its characters kept me from being drawn more deeply into the story and from caring about what happened to them. ONE NIGHT WITH YOU is an entertaining book, and the author is growing in her craft, making it a worthwhile read for historical romance fans.

Lisa Baca