A Perilous Attraction

Catherine Maury, a woman of passion, determination and joie de vivre, lights up the pages of A Perilous Attraction, Patricia Rowell's promising Regency-era debut. At the start of the book, Catherine's guardian announces that he has frittered away her fortune and sold her in marriage to Charles, the seemingly cold but considerate earl of Calbeck. Left with no other options, Catherine proceeds with the nuptials and, while teaching her stoic husband how to embrace life, she slowly grows to love him. The only obstacle they must overcome is a maniacal killer who is determined to terrorize Catherine. This outlandish subplot is one of the book's weaknesses, as is Charles, who doesn't come into focus until midway through the novel. Still, Rowell has drawn a memorable heroine who succeeds in capturing the hero's heart as well as the reader's.