Marry in Haste and Francesca's Rake

by Lynn Kerstan

In "Marry in Haste," a young Englishwoman running from an arranged marriage encounters a love-struck colonel who makes her an offer she cannot refuse, and in "Francesca's Rake," London's most notorious rake is captivated by an Italian heiress, who, unbeknownst to him, is his betrothed. Original.

Genres: Romance, Regency

Mass Market Paperback

First published December 6, 2005

About the author

Lynn Kerstan is a former college professor, folksinger, professional bridge player, and nun.

Her first book, A Spirited Affair, published in 1993, was a double RITA finalist. In 1996, she took home a prestigious RITA Award for Gwen's Christmas Ghost, written with Indianapolis resident Alicia Rasley via E-Mail. A pioneer of on-line collaboration, she had previously collaborated with Rasley and Julie Caille on Lessons in Love, the world's first Electronic Regency Romance.

A four-time RITA finalist and regularly featured on awards lists, Kerstan has won the CRW Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill Award, two San Diego Book Awards, two Romance Communications Awards, and been a finalist for the National Readers' Choice Award, several Romantic Times awards, and the Holt Medallion.

Kerstan lives in Southern California, where she plots her books while riding her boogie board and does character research at the San Diego Zoo.

Reviews

[Lynne Tull · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually two books under one cover. I wanted to read the third book of a trilogy and this was my only option...a single book was not available. I got this one on Paperback Swap. These are the third and fourth books of Ms. Kerstan that I have read. I really like her writing style. In "Marry in Haste", the third book in the Valliant Brothers series, she made me laugh, smile, tear-up and cry. Evoking all these emotions in one book is not an easy thing to do no matter the genre. "Francesca's Rake" is a stand-alone book. It was an entertaining, light read. All of the scrapes that this family got into and the hero came to their rescue all for the sake of revenge/love kept me smiling. I am usually impatient with silly routines, but there was a little more depth that held my interest. It is an enjoyable book and I recommend it to you.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so I've only read Francesca's Rake. You know, with the requisite bookish, voluptous spinster, and the hot, making-a-change-of-heart rake who falls in love with her. Fun times, if that's what you're going for.

[Lisa]

Really good. Alex and Diana Valliant are one of my favorite couples, and Galen/Clay and Francesca are up there, too.