Dark Angel / Lord Carew's Bride Two Novels in One Volume

This book by Mary Balogh is a reprint of two stories first published in 1994. In "Dark Angel" the two cousins Jennifer Winwood and Samantha Newman look forward to having their first season in London together. Jennifer's marriage to the extremely good looking, devilishly blue-eyed Lord Lionel Kersey had been arranged by their parents five years ago and ever since Jennifer has believed herself madly in love with the devastating handsome and impressing Lord Kersey. Although they have not seen a lot of each other throughout the years, Lionel is about to officially announce their engagement now and Jennifer seems to be the happiest girl in the world .......... if there were not the scandalous, recently returned new Earl of Thornhill, who seems to pursue her diligently. Everybody in her surrounding keeps warning her off to even talk to the outrageous Earl, but to Jennifer he seems like an old, trustworthy friend. What will he be - friend or foe? And maybe her life will not turn out as planned, but take some dramatic turns instead! The second story "Lord Carew's Bride" is about Samantha Newman, who was dreadfully disappointed by a rogue she thought herself madly in love with. After his shabby treatment of her, she swears never to fall in love again and never to marry. Although there are a lot of suitors in the years ahead, she never agrees to marry anyone. But somehow she becomes restless and when she meets the crippled Hartley Wade, who seems to be a landscape gardener on a neighbouring estate, she finds a soulmate she can talk to and share her thoughts and ideas with. He does not make any advances towards her, so she can feel completely safe with him and enjoy every minute they spend together. Will he be able to protect her even when dreadful shadows of her past start vexing her again? Both stories have an interesting plot with lots of dark secrets and many twists and turns. Nothing is what it seems to be, and nobody should be taken at face value! Like all books by Mary Balogh absolutely recommendable, entertaining and full of suspense.