The Many Sins of Lord Cameron

June 20, 2011
Ashley's steamy third Highland Pleasures novel (after 2010's Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage) matches up widow Ainsley Douglas, an attendant to Queen Victoria who lives her life in gray to match the queen's perpetual mourning, and horse-mad widower Lord Cameron Mackenzie, scarred emotionally and physically by his insane wife. The queen sends Ainsley to the duke of Kilmorgan's estate to retrieve damaging letters being used for blackmail. There Ainsley encounters Lord Cameron, the duke's brother, with whom she shared an attraction years before. As they travel from the Highlands to the French Riviera, Ainsley and Cameron find that mutual passion softens his burdens. While the story offers no surprises, readers will love Ainsley, a strong, independent, cake-loving character who takes the time to consider her options rather than just throwing caution to the wind and following Cameron when he arrogantly beckons.

August 1, 2011

The first time Cameron Mackenzie found Ainsley Douglas in his bedroom, she was stealing a necklace; the next time, six years later, she was on a mission to retrieve incriminating letters for the Queen. Both times, she avoided seduction, but Cam is not about to let the lovely widow escape again as the Mackenzie black sheep carefully sets out to claim his prize. Deceit, blackmail, and subterfuge keep the tension high as Cam and Ainsley thrust and parry in this steamy, compelling Victorian. VERDICT Passionate, well-drawn characters, breathless romance, and a memorable love story will leave readers checking out the earlier books in the series and anxiously awaiting the last in the quartet, The Duke's Perfect Wife. Ashley (Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage) lives in the Southwest.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2011
It was the second time in six years that Lord Cameron Mackenzie caught her ransacking his bedroom, and Ainsley Douglas knows she is going to have some serious explaining to do. As it turns out, Cameron is less interested in Ainsley's reason for being in his bedchambera frantic search for some rather indiscreet letters written by Ainsley's employer, Queen Victoriathan the price he will extract for keeping her secret. The first time Cameron found Ainsley in his room, he tried to convince her to indulge in a tryst with him, but Ainsley refused as she had no wish to dishonor her husband. Now that Ainsley is a widow, she does not have that excuse to fall back upon, and Cameron intends to finally finish the game of seduction. Ashley's latest flawlessly written historical romance richly rewards romance readers with its multilayered characterization; sexy, secrets-saturated plotting; sharp wit; and enthralling writing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)