A LADY AT LAST
By Brenda Joyce
ISBN# 0373771371
HQN, December 2005, 384 pages
Historical Romance_Regency
$6.99 (US) $9.99 (CDN)

Reviewed by Laurel
November 2006

After her father is tried and convicted of piracy, Amanda Carre is desperate to save him. When she barges into Governor Woods house brandishing a pistol demanding an audience she is disarmed by Cliff de Warenne who is there on business. He promises he can get her into speak with Woods, but she has to behave and act like a lady. She promises and soon shocks Cliff and Woods with her daring proposal, her body for her father’s freedom. Having been raised by pirates, Amanda knows how to charm a man with her feminine wiles, wield swords and sail ships. She loves her father and cannot see her life without him in it. The plan almost works, if it wasn’t for the interference of the chivalrous but yet dangerously handsome Cliff de Warenne.

Known as the greatest gentleman privateer, Cliff de Warenne is a charming and dashing rogue who can have his pick of any women. The third son to the Earl of Adare, he left his home when he was fourteen and sailed his way into success where he is respected and feared by his enemies and friends alike. He is taken aback when he hears that Rodney Carre is about to hang he instantly wonders about the child that will be left behind and what is to become of her future. After witnessing her bold actions and behaviours he discovers that she is not a child but a young woman ten years his junior, with a mother in England. Agreeing to become her chaperone, Cliff brings his two children Ariel and Alexi for the six-week voyage and demands that Amanda learn lessons in deportment and how to be a lady.

Once they land in England, Cliff takes his responsibilities very seriously and provides a suitable dowry in hopes of making a successful marriage for her. He stuns his family at his protective nature in regards to her. He thinks he is just being a proper guardian to Amanda, but his family knows better. Finally after all these years Cliff de Warenne has fallen in love, and he does not know it.

As the latest instalment in the de Warenne Dynasty series, A LADY AT LAST is a delightful and charming story. It’s a story that will leave readers in breathless satisfaction as these two characters discover the passion and undying love between them. Amanda was taken right out of her element going from a pirate’s daughter to respectable lady. She intrigued Cliff from the start; he silently applauded her courageous spirit and really fought a hard battle with himself as he struggled with his attraction to her. A LADY AT LAST showed a side of Brenda not seen in many of her other novels her sense of humour. Cliff and Amanda provide many humorous interactions between them resulting on many laugh out loud moments, all the while the passion is present between them. Family members are also quick to tease Cliff, something that every family does from time to time and was very refreshing to read as we are kept abreast of characters previously written about. A LADY AT LAST will not disappoint readers who have been following this series, it romantic, sexy and sweet. It’s a classic Cinderella story and I could not think of a better story for these two characters.

Reviewed by Amanda
August 2006

Hot on the heals of THE STOLEN BRIDE comes the latest in Brenda Joyce’s de Warenne Dynasty, A LADY AT LAST. LADY is the story of Cliff de Warenne and Amanda Carre. Amanda is a pirate’s daughter, and has been raised on the sea. Her father’s past has caught up with him, and he is arrested and scheduled to be hanged. Amanda charges into the governor’s office with a loaded gun in an attempt to bargain for her father’s freedom, and this is where she first encounters Cliff.

Cliff recognizes Amanda, also known as La Sauvage. He has seen her, running free along the shore for many years. He is surprised to realize that she is no longer a child, and sympathizes for the upcoming loss of her father. However, there is nothing he can do to stop the hanging. On the day of the event, he sees her in the crowd and takes her away. Amanda tells him the things that her father shared with her in their last conversation, including the fact that she is a well bred lady’s daughter, and that if she goes home to London and seeks her mother out, she will be taken care of. Cliff offers to sail her there.

Cliff finds Amanda beautiful and spirited, but very innocent and someone he must deny his lustful longings for. He knows what a hard life she has had, and wants to give her a chance at a better one. He sees her as a diamond in the rough, and realizes that he must use the six weeks they have on the sea to turn her into a lady that the ton, and her mother, will accept. Having two children of his own, Cliff has their tutor also instruct Amanda in educational matters and in the ways of society. Amanda is drawn to Cliff, and wonders what it will take to make her good enough for him.

After six weeks on the sea, Cliff and Amanda arrive in London only to find that Amanda’s mother wants nothing to do with her. Amanda was born out of wedlock and has remained a secret ever since. Cliff decides to provide Amanda with a dowry and marry her off himself, only somehow, it would seem that no suitor is good enough in his eyes. And now that Amanda has a dowry, her mother is taking another look at her in a new light.

This book was classic Brenda Joyce, with spitfire heroines, strong sexy heroes, and everyday villains. Cliff’s desire to do the right thing in spite of what his heart told him won me over and made the ending that much more fulfilling. Amanda truly evolved into a lady and didn’t have to settle for anything she did not want. It was exciting, it was heartbreaking, and it was romantic. You will love it.