DAWN ENCOUNTER

Author: Jennifer Blake ISBN: 0778322130 1/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: MIRA
Time Period: 1840's New Orleans

They are perhaps the most dangerous men in New Orleans, skilled swordsmen who play by no rules but their own-heroes to many, wicked to some, irresistible to the women they love... Lisette Moisant is a widow, courtesy of the swordsmanship of Caid O'Neill, one of the city's legendary maitres d'armes. He bested her loathsome husband in a duel, but now she is a pawn of schemers who wish to steal her fortune and see her dead. It is Caid to whom she turns for protection, and guilt leaves him no recourse but to agree to Lisette's request. But soon a whispering campaign is being waged against them, suggesting the two plotted to kill Lisette's husband all along, that she is a woman of loose morals and he is nothing short of a murderer. In a society where reputation is everything, the scandal and accusations threaten Lisette and Caid with ruin, and the person responsible will stop at nothing until they have paid with their lives.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

En Garde!!

The second book in Jennifer Blake's Masters at Arms series is DAWN ENCOUNTER. It is an exciting and romantic story between the widow, Lisette Moisant, and maitres d'armes, Caid O'Neill. It's a wonderful book from beginning to end that can stand alone or be read in order of the series.

Jennifer Blake writes with such detail, that she transports you with words to French New Orleans and to a time where men fight with swords to defend their honor and their love. Dark and dashing Caid O'Neill is such a man. He is bound now to protect the woman whose loathsome husband he killed in a duel. Lisette wouldn't want it any other way. After watching Caid from afar, she is sure he is just the man to protect her from her father-in-law, who is dead set on getting her to live back in his house and to produce the heir she and his son never had. Lisette also wants Caid not only as a protector, but also as the lover she never had. A role that Caid is more than willing to play, but only if her reputation won't suffer for it.

DAWN ENCOUNTER is one of those books that once put down, you can't wait to pick back up and read more. There is hot, sexual chemistry between Caid and Lisette that spices up almost every page. The sword fighting and duels bring a touch of action and adventure to the story, as well. I can't wait to read the sequel!

Julie Kornhausl