Elusive Passion

by Kathryn Smith

Book Overview

Who is the mysterious Varya? On the surface she's a woman who tempts men beyond reason, but no one has touched the heart of the elusive creature...that is, until now Miles Christian, the Marquess of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380816105
• ISBN13: 9780380816101
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Great Debut

Varya, gifted pianist and so very elusive and mysterious--- not a bit of scandal touches her which is why - although she `works' for a living and lives extremely well she is accepted and sought after by members of the ton. Miles Christian, the Marquess of Wynter, working undercover is abducted at gunpoint, accused of murder, then knocked out silly -- by a woman who he soon discovers is the elusive Varya. Although he feels furious towards her she is still the most magnificent creature he has ever seen and she arouses in him feelings he had long since buried after the death of his wife. For Varya, she cannot believe the attraction for the man she believed killed her very best friend. His very presence is enough for her to throw caution to the wind but more than feelings of betrayal to her dead friend, the fear of discovery of her true identity keeps both of them playing a very dangerous game of cat and mouse as they agree to team up to uncover the murderer. Caught in a compromising position, Varya reluctantly agrees to `pose' as Miles's mistress in order to continue their investigations even though the ton's fickle delight over her changed dramatically. Later she would be determined not to relinquish her hard-won independence to a man's desire -- unless she can capture his hardened heart.This novel took off from page one and kept the suspense and excitement right through to the end. --- The main characters were very well fleshed out and interesting and I loved the scene where Varya got Miles `plastered' during a card game on vodka. Funny, sensual and with a nice little mystery --- excellent debut novel for an up and coming author.

WONDERFUL...FUNNY....ROMANTIC

Kathryn Smith does it again. I loved this book. There were parts that made me laugh so hard that I almost fell off my bed. I really liked the main characters....Great read!

Unique, passionate and loads of fun

Check out this wonderfully written novel if you're in the mood for something new and refreshing. Anyone who reads it is bound to put Kathryn Smith on the auto-buy list! The characters of Miles and Varya are well developed, the love scenes are scorching, and the action is non-stop!

A great debut. This Regency historical mystery is teriffic

In 1814, in a nasty part of London, Marquess Miles Christian, working undercover for the Home Office, pretends intoxication to catch some vicious thieves. His ploy fails to net the thugs, but as he begins to leave, a masked woman holds a pistol on Miles. Varya Ulyanova accuses Miles of murdering her best friend Isabella Mancini, his former mistress. Christian has an iron clad alibi on the date that someone strangled Isabella, but Varya does not believe him and leaves him unconscious. Miles begins his own inquiries into the identity of his female assailant and into Bella's killer. His investigation leads him to Bella's friend Varya. As they fall in love while working together, seeking a killer, the murderer turns his/her attention towards Varya. ELUSIVE PASSION is an action packed Regency romantic mystery that centers on a who-done-it. The lead couple is a delightful duet who intermingle love and an investigation into a strong relationship that readers will adore even as they enjoy the clever story line. Fans of Regency romances and historical mysteries (in spite of a cover targeting readers of the former genre) will enjoy Katherine Smith's debut novel. Harriet Klausner

Elusive Passion-- a Fabulous Debut by Kathryn Smith

Elusive Passion (Avon Historicals, 2001) by new author Kathryn Smith is a fabulous debut that will no doubt leave readers breathless for more! From it's uniquely intriguing opening scenes, to it's lushly satisfying ending, Elusive Passion takes readers and on an unforgettable journey through Regency-era London. Ms. Smith's uncanny knack for detail, coupled with her obvious penchant for creating both refreshingly interesting characters and plots results in a story that readers will thoroughly enjoy. Kathryn Smith is bound to become one of the romance's genre's finest authors. Her star is definitley on the rise, so be sure to catch it with Elusive Passion!