Sarah MacKenzie has always known that she is the bastard child of Lachlan, Duke of Ross (from Highland Rogue). That's why it comes as quite a shock when Lachlan tells her that Neville Smithson, the local sheriff, was in fact her father. Betrayed and brokenhearted, Sarah sets off to Edinburgh, in the hopes that her efforts to open an orphanage will ease her pain. Feisty Sarah has other problems as well, for she had promised to wed Henry Elliot, that is, before he was jailed for gambling debts. Lady Emily Elliot, Henry's mother, simply can not abide losing Sarah or rather the substantial dowry the Elliots need so desperately. So, when Lady Emily's handsome second son, Michael, returns home after years with the East India Company, Lady Emily charges him with wooing and winning the stubborn but most attractive Sarah. Michael finds himself not only drawn to her, but aiding in her plans for the orphanage. Some authors use small children as devices to fill gaps in weak plots, but Lamb's young secondary characters are entertaining, endearing and comic. Nominated for two Romantic Times awards, Lamb is an author whose star is said to be on the rise. In fact, her star has already risen and continues to shine brightly. Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. Review