MOOD INDIGO

by Parris Afton Bonds ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 1, 1984

That old pulp-titillation gimmick--a high-born lady in working-girl disguise, indentured to a sexy master--is the premise in this flaccid period romance from the author of Lavender Blue (1983). Lady Jane Lennox is simply furious because her father won't allow her to marry the man she adores--Capt. Terrence MacKenzie, who has shipped to the Colonies circa 1770. So Lady Jane finds a way to sari to America on her own--via a boatload of indentured servants, under the name ""Meg O'Reilly."" Soon, then, Jane finds herself slaving away in the kitchen of Ethan Gordon, a Virginian Quaker with ""defiantly-angled"" cheekbones. (He has ""bought"" Jane--whom he happens to have recognized from a London dinner party.) Meanwhile, Terrence is nowhere to be found: he's busy being a loyalist spy, adopting the code-name ""Ahmad"" as he infiltrates the Sons of Liberty in order to sabotage the Revolution. And, worst of all, while not being able to escape to join Terrence, Jane is having trouble hiding her increasing hots for master Ethan--whose own passions are betrayed by ""the sudden latent flare of his pupils."" Then, when Ethan must travel to Williamsburg, he brings lane out of the scullery--just in time for her to run into Papa, who's arrived from England to take Jane back home. So: what can Jane do now? Well, the only possible way for her to stay in America is. . . marriage to Ethan! In no time, then, lane is becoming the reigning queen of Williamsburg, a hit with both ToNes and patriots--while secretly working with a Tory spy, determined to locate Terrence and to discover the identity of the patriot-leader known only as ""the Leper."" (Thee knows who that is, doesn't thee!) She doesn't, however, succumb right away to those lustful urges she shares with Ethan: their bedding takes quite a while. And finally, of course, Jane comes around to the Patriotic Cause, helps to prevent the assassination of Gen. Washington (by Terrence), and is rescued from gunfire and public humiliation by. . . the Leper. Like Bonds' others: dumb and breathy.

Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1984

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 1984

Categories: FICTION