Ten years ago, Lady Charlotte Hayward made a tragic mistake. Vulnerable after her mother's death and rebelling against her father, Charlotte gave her heart to a scoundrel who left her alone and pregnant. Only her stepmother's intervention prevented anyone from knowing her disgrace. After she gave birth, her stepmother gave her son to a childless couple. Charlotte returned to society with no one, not even her father, privy to her shameful behavior. Charlotte refuses to marry, knowing she cannot enter into marriage with a lie. To distract her numerous suitors, Charlotte is an expert on how not to get married. She bores them by being as placid as a cow, or she plays a nitwit with the men until they decide marriage with her would be a disaster. When a rake moves to the adjoining estate to restore it, her well-protected heart develops a crack.

The youngest of five sons, Darius Carsington occupies his time with intellectual studies on animal behavior with an emphasis on animal mating. The agricultural community and the Philosophy Society greatly admire his work. Darius' father however is not impressed. Lord Hargate wants Darius to settle down and undertake a paying profession. He further demands that Darius stop his indiscriminate womanizing. Darius argues that mating is a natural instinct and emotional attachment is not necessary. The argument does not sway his father. Lord Hargate gives Darius one year to prove his worth by improving and making a deserted estate profitable.

Darius accepts his father's challenge and with a logical plan starts his strategy. He doesn't plan on meeting a woman who sets his cool detachment on fire. Charlotte bewilders and puzzles him with her contradictions. As Darius struggles with his feelings, Charlotte's heart is reawakening to possibilities.

There are certain authors who consistently guarantee an entertaining tale with fascinating characters, smart and funny dialogue and a satisfying plot. Loretta Chase is one such author. Feeling low, read one of her romances. You're sure to find an uplifting story that will put a smile on your face.

Book Summary

Irresistible Force

Darius Carsington is a spectacularly handsome rake with a rare intelligence and no heart, a man who divides his time between bedding loose-moraled women and writing scholarly papers. He finds society's "perfect darlings" exceedingly boring. But there's something intriguing, and not quite perfect, about faultless Lady Charlotte Hayward. He senses a crack under her polished surface, and finding it is a challenge he can't resist.

Immovable Object

Lady Charlotte is so beautiful, charming, and gracious that no one has noticed what an expert she is at Not Getting Married. Early on, she learned a painful lesson about trust . . . and temptation. In the years since, she's devoted her life to being all she ought to be—and she's not about to let a man like Carsington entice her to do everything she shouldn't.

A Splendid Collision

But the rules of attraction can easily overpower the rules of manners and morals, and sometimes even the best-behaved girl has to follow her instincts, even if it means risking it all.