Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful; what a great read!
Review: This book had everything - great characters, romance, mystery, unrequited love, delightful child and a big ginger tabby cat. What more can you ask for? Helene is everything you want in a heroine. She is self-sufficient and a force to be reckoned with. But she is also mindful of her position as a governess and though rather a wild child at 17, she is quite different at 27. She returns to Chalcote Court and is reacquainted with a Camden Rutledge, Lord Treyhorn, her childhood cohort and first love. His young daughter, age 6, has not spoken in three years and is just the type of special child Helene has worked with for years. Camden, a widower, carries a world of responsibility on his shoulders. He also loves his daughter and wants the best for her. His staid personality conflicts with Helene's passionate nature and tension abounds each time they interact. Eventually even Cam cannot resist what his heart desires. The love scenes are sensual but not intense. All the secondary characters are wonderful from the aging valet, to the angelic child Ariane. Bentley, Cam's brother, and Catherine, his sister, are so well fleshed out; they feel like family to the reader! And each is scheming to achieve ... what? (I'll leave you to read the book and find out!) There are many stories in this one novel and you become thoroughly embroiled in each. And I just love a man who talks to his big ol' cat (Boadicea). I did not give this a 5 because of a rather distasteful incident involving Bentley and Helene - I didn't think it added to the story. But I still will recommend this highly - and I am off to find other Liz Carlyle books since this was my first, but definitely not my last!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful; what a great read!
Review: This book introduced the Rutledge siblings Camden, Earl of Treyhern, his sister Catherine (No True Gentleman) and youngest brother Bentley (The Devil You Know). I read (and enjoyed) Catherine's story first, then read (and adored) Bentley's so I thought I should go back and read Cam's. Ms Carlyle has a definite knack for creating an overall tone that reflects her characters. Cam is pensive, circumspect and deliberate and, as with the man, this book had me a bit impatient waiting for things to happen. Therein lies my only complaint with this book. Because much of the story is told in flashback, at times it felt slow, like nothing was happening. Their father, the dissolute and lecherous Randolph "Randy" Rutledge is a notorious libertine who is quickly running his estate and family into ruin. When Cam was young, his father took a mistress whose daughter Helene became Cam's best friend. But as they grew to teenage, they became something more and Cam wound up compromising Helene. Helene's mother whisked her off to the Continent never to be heard from again breaking both teens' hearts. It falls to Cam to drag the family back from the brink of financial ruin and he does so by marrying the malevolent, but wealthy Cassandra. The marriage is torture but ends several years later with Cassandra's death and leaves Cam with a daughter who cannot or will not speak. After his father dies (while debauching the governess) Cam hires a new governess - who turns out to be his long lost Helene! The shock of seeing one another again after all these years turns them both inside out and both realize that the attraction they felt so long ago is still very much alive. But what to do about it? He's an earl and she's a mere governess. Not to mention that Cam has made a verbal agreement to marry his cousin, Joan. Meanwhile Helene is making good progress with Ariane and determines that there is nothing physically wrong with her - that the child has suffered some sort of trauma that has caused her to keep silent. During her years on the Continent Helene studied the controversial subject of psychological disorders and feels confident that she can reach Ariane. But perhaps someone does not want Ariane to speak for fear of what she might reveal! There's lots of emotional angst here, between Cam and Helene, between Cam and Bentley (that boy is such a lost soul!). There are also secrets to be revealed about Cam's late wife Cassandra, a shocking trip to Gretna for an unexpected couple and of course, will Ariane ever speak? A recommended read.
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 *s Full of emotion, angst and family secrets
Review: This book introduced the Rutledge siblings Camden, Earl of Treyhern, his sister Catherine (No True Gentleman) and youngest brother Bentley (The Devil You Know). I read (and enjoyed) Catherine's story first, then read (and adored) Bentley's so I thought I should go back and read Cam's. Ms Carlyle has a definite knack for creating an overall tone that reflects her characters. Cam is pensive, circumspect and deliberate and, as with the man, this book had me a bit impatient waiting for things to happen. Therein lies my only complaint with this book. Because much of the story is told in flashback, at times it felt slow, like nothing was happening. Their father, the dissolute and lecherous Randolph "Randy" Rutledge is a notorious libertine who is quickly running his estate and family into ruin. When Cam was young, his father took a mistress whose daughter Helene became Cam's best friend. But as they grew to teenage, they became something more and Cam wound up compromising Helene. Helene's mother whisked her off to the Continent never to be heard from again breaking both teens' hearts. It falls to Cam to drag the family back from the brink of financial ruin and he does so by marrying the malevolent, but wealthy Cassandra. The marriage is torture but ends several years later with Cassandra's death and leaves Cam with a daughter who cannot or will not speak. After his father dies (while debauching the governess) Cam hires a new governess - who turns out to be his long lost Helene! The shock of seeing one another again after all these years turns them both inside out and both realize that the attraction they felt so long ago is still very much alive. But what to do about it? He's an earl and she's a mere governess. Not to mention that Cam has made a verbal agreement to marry his cousin, Joan. Meanwhile Helene is making good progress with Ariane and determines that there is nothing physically wrong with her - that the child has suffered some sort of trauma that has caused her to keep silent. During her years on the Continent Helene studied the controversial subject of psychological disorders and feels confident that she can reach Ariane. But perhaps someone does not want Ariane to speak for fear of what she might reveal! There's lots of emotional angst here, between Cam and Helene, between Cam and Bentley (that boy is such a lost soul!). There are also secrets to be revealed about Cam's late wife Cassandra, a shocking trip to Gretna for an unexpected couple and of course, will Ariane ever speak? A recommended read.
Rating: 
Summary: A KEEPER!!
Review: This is the second book I've read by LC (the first being My False Heart) and I'm simply amazed. Beautiful characterization, good suspense (well, if you've been reading them as long as I have you may figure this one out), great love scenes. . .Buy it. Enjoy it. You'll want to keep this one and read it again at a future date. PLUS, all women should buy LC's books to support her tasteful covers. No ridiculous looking half naked men and women in uncomfortable poses. Thanks LC.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty Like the Night Delivers
Review: This one is not your same old romance novel. It first struck me like what you would find on a PBS series. Well written and well paced. The characters are real. The visuals you see in your minds eye are wounderful and realistic. You can feel the tension between the characters. The sexuality is smoldering. The story is intense and keepts you turning from page to page. This ones a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty Like the Night Delivers
Review: This one is not your same old romance novel. It first struck me like what you would find on a PBS series. Well written and well paced. The characters are real. The visuals you see in your minds eye are wounderful and realistic. You can feel the tension between the characters. The sexuality is smoldering. The story is intense and keepts you turning from page to page. This ones a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: An enchanting read
Review: This story was so interesting, such a page-turner. And the author put in just enough suspense to make the reader never want it to end. I would highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: An enchanting read
Review: This story was so interesting, such a page-turner. And the author put in just enough suspense to make the reader never want it to end. I would highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: A moving, dramatic and poignant love story
Review: Viscount Treyhorn, Grayson Rutledge, knows it will take a lifetime or more to overcome his now deceased father's wicked ways. Even in death, Grayson's sire managed to cause a scandal after being found with the governess. Still, Grayson's biggest concern is the well being of his six-year old daughter, Ariane, suffering from the trauma of her mother's death. She is now unable to speak. To that end, he has hired Helene de Severs, who has had great success helping children heal through her expertise in psychiatrics. When Helene arrives at Grayson's estate, he is shocked to realize she is Helene Middleton, his first and perhaps only true love. As Grayson and Helene work closely trying to reach Ariane, their once youthful feelings blossoms into a deep and enduring adult love for one another. However, not only does their love jeopardize their attempts to assist Ariane, someone dangerous lurks in the shadows willing to insure that nothing come of this budding relationship. BEAUTY LIKE THE NIGHT is an enchanting Victorian romance that will enrapture fans of the sub-genre. The story line provides readers with insight into the nineteenth century, notably the rise of the new sciences such as psychiatrics. Grayson is a heroic person struggling to do what is best for his family, especially his beloved child, even as he falls in love. Helene is an intrepid person confronting her love for Grayson vs. Ariane's needs. Although the subplot of external danger is not needed to further this strong historical romance, the audience will recognize that Liz Carlyle has written a stimulating story worth reading. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Carlyle does it again
Review: Well I was not disappointed with the latest Liz Carlyle novel. From the first paragraph I was hooked, and chuckling all the way. I love Ms Carlyle's turn of phase and her use of humor, as she told the story of Helene and Cam. Two very contrasting individual's that are the perfect foils for each other. I am still chuckling about the way that Helene with no effort or even knowledge had Cam turned inside out and not knowing which way was up. He meant to do one thing, but just being in her presence found him doing the opposite I loved it. But more than that the book plot had substance and lead you down a merry path right into the mouth of danger. A tender story of first love's second chance, doing the right things even when they are the hard things and taking the risk for happiness. This book has something for everyone. Hats off to a great storyteller, and please keep them coming.
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