The Barnes & Noble Review
Secrets, desire, and intrigue swirl in this sexy and charming historical romance set in Georgian England by New York Times–bestselling author Virginia Henley. Beautiful Irish sisters Maria and Elizabeth Gunning dream of taking the stage in London until their ambitious mother finds out that career would wreck their chances for marriage. Undeterred by the family's lack of money and status, their mother introduces the "Gorgeous Gunnings" to society under false pretenses, with dazzling success. Maria immediately enters into an advantageous, though loveless, marriage. Pursued by many, Elizabeth is only interested in the dangerous and handsome John Campbell, the Duke of Argyll, the only man who knows her secret. Though he returns her passion, John cannot marry a woman without standing. What will happen if Elizabeth is forced to marry the odious Duke of Hamilton to resolve her father's gambling debts? The plot never flags in this tale of star-crossed lovers, and Henley adds richness to the story through her detailed description of Georgian life and society. Ginger Curwen