Five influential regency gentleman are planning to overthrow the English monarchy but two people keep getting in their way. In their treachery, they have murdered the father of the heroine, debutante Marguerite Balfour. She gets even by planning their public humiliation and censure by the most creative and diobolical means. Enter the brash, clever, and totally capable Irish-American hero Thomas Donovan, who happens to have dealings with the same five conspirators for some weapons deliveries, as an emissary to President Madison. They keep running into each other and the inevitable flaming hot erotic hands-on romance blossoms between them. Mr. Donovan cannot quite figure out why Marguerite plans revenge but he quietly seeks to protect her because of the five conspirators three are buffoons but two are cunning and deadly. This is one of the best combinations of regency Mystery, intrigue, and romance that I have read in years. The author cleverly introduces our heroine in the prologue as a sweet, charming but mischevious young girl and how her beloved parents shaped her into the brilliant, relentless and calculating woman she is. She outwits almost everyone but cannot fathom the roguish and analytical charm of the inappropriate and reckless American adventurer. I cannot recommend this book enough. The characters, especially the hero, heroine, and the five conspirators fairly leap off the pages of the book. (less)