THE PERFECT STRANGER

Author: Anne Gracie ISBN: 0425210529 4/2006 HISTORICAL Publisher: BERKLEY SENSATION
Time Period: France 1818

They vow to love, honor, cherish... With her signature spirit, Faith Merridew has left everything she's ever known for the man she thought was the love of her life. Instead he leaves her name—and dreams—in the dust. That is, until she crosses paths with Nicholas Blacklock, a Waterloo veteran, who offers to save her reputation with a marriage of convenience. ...and then get to know one other. A hardened soldier, Nick hides a deadly secret-and tries to keep Faith at arm's length. But even though Nick can command legions of men with a word, his orders go sweetly ignored by his convenient bride. And as they come to know one another more deeply, she brings out in him things he thought dead: gentleness, laughter...and love...

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Anne Gracie's THE PERFECT STRANGER was just a perfectly delightful book to read. It's the third book in her "Perfect" series and if you haven't read the previous two, not to worry because this book stands alone.

There is an array of wonderful characters in THE PERFECT STRANGER. Each one of them will enter your heart. Faith Merridew is the heroine and is a very strong and very loving character. Unfortunately, she was tricked into thinking she was married and ran away from her "husband". After enduring what would kill most gently bred women, she stumbles (literally) into Nicholas Blacklock. After Nicholas fights off her attackers and tends to her wounds, she is bound to tell him her predicament. She would never have guessed that this handsome, gentle man would be the one to save her and change her life forever.

Nicholas... Now here's a hero to make your heart skip a couple of beats! He's on a secret mission with his two comrades: a wily red bearded Scot named Mac, and Stevens, Nicholas's groom since he was a boy. After listening to Faith's story, he decides they should marry, thus saving her reputation and also making his mother very happy. Convincing her that their marriage would be in name only, she accepts, and very quickly they are married. After the marriage she has agreed to stay with his mother; she would be free to live her life and he would be free to continue on his mission. But things don't go quite as planned after they consummate their marriage. Faith refuses to leave him.

Nicholas is disappointed in himself for not being able to resist this beautiful and charming woman he married. You see, he has a very terrible secret and he just can't let Faith know what it is. He needs her to go away, to spare her the horrible pain that Faith would endure if she knew his secret. They cannot fall in love—no matter what...

THE PERFECT STRANGER is one of those books that needs to be read from beginning to end in one sitting. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. From the very beginning of the story when Faith is being chased and literally lands in Nicholas's arms, to the ending that makes you believe in the power of true love, THE PERFECT STRANGER is a must read!

Julie Kornhausl