Purchase from
Amazon.com

The Vanishing Viscountess

by Diane Gaston

reviewed by Christine Shoup

January 2008, 292 pages, Publisher: Harlequin, ISBN: 0373294794

Diane Gaston a marvelous author spinning a tale of drama, intrigue, secrecy and love in The Vanishing Vicountess. The first chapter of most books sets the scene, introduces you to various characters, surroundings and etc. This book hits you like a pugilist and knocks your directly into round four with a shipwreck, a heavy conscience, loneliness, lies, mystery, and regret. Let us not forget the fateful coup de foudre - love at first sight; and all by page 18. The Vanishing Vicountess far surpassed my expectations and surprised me by touching me when I least expected it – right from the start.

Adam Vickery, the Marquess of Tannerton is a lonely man, his entire family having all passed on. His estates and finances run like clockwork as they have for two generations now, without him. He is bored. Gaming, sport and women can only captivate one for so long. While he appears to be a rake, he has done some very good things. However, his good deeds go completely unrecognized - which is just as he wishes. He has friends in very high places but does not use his influence with those above him for his own gain either. In short, Tanner is a great guy. His problem is that he does not feel worthy. There are three deaths weighing heavily on his conscience from a time in the past when his selfishness seemingly got the better of him. Can he become the man he desires to be?

Marlena, Lady Corland, like Tanner, is alone in the world. Marlena is also an alleged murderess, running from the Bow Street Runner assigned to bring her back for trial. Her husband was a bounder and a debaucher by all accounts but did she kill him? There was a witness to the murder - the woman Marlena caught in bed with her husband the night of his death. However, finding her would also mean endangering her to the same fate facing Marlena – death. Marlena could not risk endangering another life solely to save her own. Can Marlena escape death as she has escaped Bow Street earning her the nickname "The Vanishing Vicountess?"

This is a beautiful story. It has all of the elements you hope for in a romance. From the first page to the last the story wraps itself around you like a warm blanket encouraging you to trust it just enough to warm you even when you have that brief cold moment of doubt. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves a good historical regency novel or to anyone who loves a bit of a lusty drama and the triumph of the underdog. I know I do! This is the first Diane Gaston novel I've read, but it certainly won't be my last.