LORD KANE'S KEEPSAKE

Author: Sandra Heath ISBN: 9780709080923 7/2008 HISTORICAL Publisher: ROBERT HALE LTD.
Time Period: Regency

Gerald Kane made Miss Emma Rutherford an offer unthinkable to refuse. The handsome lord had both title and wealth to support his suit, plus Emma's father's emphatic approval. He had even given Emma the fabulous Kane diamonds to seal their troth. How then could Emma let Lord Kane's affair with the most stunning beauty in London interfere with her engagement? How could she listen to the seductive suggestions of Lord Kane's archrival, the irresistible if infamous Lord Avenley? And how could she possibly hold out for the one thing that Lord Kane neglected to pledge? His love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Sandra Heath sets her historical romance, LORD KANE'S KEEPSAKE, in 1809 Regency London, where young Emma Rutherford has just come into a fortune and caught the eye of recent widower, Lord Kane. Her father is so excited for her that he doesn't even consider that Emma might not want to marry this man. Throw in the complications of Emma's half brother falling in with a gambling hell villain, and the chienne (French female dog) who goes by the name of Raine trying to convince Emma to abandon Lord Kane so Raine can scoop him up, and the plot thickens and twists. Will Lord Kane and Emma make it to the altar? Will they even make it to their betrothal ball? He attempts to quell Emma's fears by presenting her with a family heirloom—the Kane Keepsake. She would rather he give her his heart.

Heath presents the quintessential Regency romance with extensive narration of historical personages, events, buildings, meals and the multitude of wardrobe changes. The characters are very sympathetic and react in typical fashion for the day. The plot includes dueling for honor, the villain blackmailing Emma, Lord Kane appearing to have a mistress, Emma appearing to betray Lord Kane, and all the scandal! Heath's characters are finely crafted and easy to imagine from her thorough descriptions. Emma and Gerald grow and develop and open up their hearts to each other. They shock everyone by calling each other by their first names. There are only fairly chaste kisses in stolen moments away from their chaperones.

LORD KANE'S KEEPSAKE (a U.K. reprint) is a beautiful love story, well told, and easy to read. I recommend LORD KANE'S KEEPSAKE, especially to any beginning reader of Regency era romances as this is very instructive as to who the typical players are and how they live.

Susan Barton