Following her parents' dictates, Lady Julianne is perceived by society as the earl's perfect daughter. Julianne represses her emotions until her father announces her engagement to the aloof rake, the Duke of Eastling. With visions of her entombment in Cornish away from her friends, Julianne gathers her courage and takes a risk for one adventure before she is bartered off. Months ago, a Bow Street Runner caught her attention. He represents every trait she longs for in a man -- strength, integrity and a sense of stability. She can never have him forever, but maybe for a little while he can be hers.

Talented Bow Street Runner Gideon Mayne is investigating a thief who prowls through society robbing the rich of their jewels and murdering any witnesses. He pushes aside his farfetched feelings for a society princess he met in a previous case. Gideon knows the idiocy of chasing after impossible dreams. Trying to refocus his attention on the case, Gideon is called in when Lady Julianne receives a threatening note and an attempt is made on her life. His worst nightmare occurs when he must guard Julianne from a possible killer.

Julianne's little white lie of a threat on her life gets her Gideon's attention. Now all she needs to figure out is how to seduce him. Using the inappropriate books from the Ladies Literary Society, she concocts a scheme, which works too well. Now Julianne has tasted paradise and cannot image returning to a life where she is little more than an ornament.

Ms. D'Alessandro has created a powerful visual imagery of her heroine's stifled existence that will haunt readers throughout the story. The glass coffin metaphor, coupled with the lack of hope in their ill-fated love affair and the desperation of their circumstances, could have made for a dark read. Instead, Ms. D'Alessandro uses her characters' innate goodness and adds light humorous touches with the promise that love can overcome all.

Book Summary

The Ladies Literary Society of London gathers again for a ghost story...

Lady Julianne Bradley has always longed for wild adventure. Unfortunately, the man with whom she wishes to share her fervor can never be hers. Tormented by her desire, she’s preparing for a suitable marriage when ghostly occurrences straight out of her latest read start happening—and to protect Julianne, her father hires the very man her heart cries out for.

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