Romancing the Countess by Ashley March

In a word? Wow.

In three words? Oh. My. God.

Coincidentally, this book is also Elizabeth Hoyt's book of the month for September.

I had the pleasure of discovering Ashley March's debut novel, Seducing the Duchess last year -- and I became an instant fan.

This was a lovely, unconventional read. Leah and Sebastian are the victims of their spouses infidelity. They agree to keep their spouses affairs a secret and try to go about living their own lives. Leah doesn't mourn in the conventional way and this annoys Sebastian. She hosts a small house party in the guise of honoring her husband's life and Sebastian attends, in an effort to control the damage.

They cross paths and match wits during the house party. There is a strong attraction between the two but they fight it. As it ends, Leah accomplishes what she had intended all along. She and Sebastian part ways, knowing they would never meet again.

But circumstances bring them together again.

The story is a wonderful reflection of what love is in a romance novel -- more often than not, lust/desire is the driving force that brings the hero and heroine together.

This one is a thoughtful and very gradual development of feelings and attraction --

Leah and Sebastian are wonderful, consistent and sympathetic characters.