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She was a damsel in distress, rescued by a brash golden-haired stranger she knew only as David. Frances Atherton, a country parson's daughter, had a lot to learn about London's wicked city ways. But nothing, not even David's sinful charms, could sway her from her mission—to trap the Blue Specter, the infamous smuggler for whose crimes her own father was imprisoned.
The Blue Specter was none other than Edward Kennan, England's most famous actor, so Frances became an actress, the better to stalk her dangerous prey. It was a shocking profession for a lady...but more shocking still was the discovery that David—Lord Landry—was the most renowned and scandalous playwright of the day...the one man who could truly help the parson's daughter—if she would only let him have his way!
The Blue Specter was none other than Edward Kennan, England's most famous actor, so Frances became an actress, the better to stalk her dangerous prey. It was a shocking profession for a lady...but more shocking still was the discovery that David—Lord Landry—was the most renowned and scandalous playwright of the day...the one man who could truly help the parson's daughter—if she would only let him have his way!
First published March 15, 1980
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About the author
Sharon Curtis
12 books25 followersThe husband and wife writing team Tom and Sharon Curtis also write under the pen name Laura London.
Married more than forty years, Tom and Sharon published ten historical and contemporary romance novels from 1976 to 1986, many of which have come to be regarded as classics in the genre.
The daughter of a petroleum geologist father and historian and magazine editor mother, Sharon was raised overseas and lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Canary Islands, Turkey and Iran, and attended high school in London. As an adult, she worked in bookstore management.
Tom attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and has worked for a public television station as a writer and on-air reporter. He is currently employed as a semi truck driver for a chemical company and plays guitar with a Celtic band that includes a son on bodhran and a daughter on fiddle. Together they have played eighteen years of annual performances at the largest Irish musical festival in the world.
Married more than forty years, Tom and Sharon published ten historical and contemporary romance novels from 1976 to 1986, many of which have come to be regarded as classics in the genre.
The daughter of a petroleum geologist father and historian and magazine editor mother, Sharon was raised overseas and lived in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, the Canary Islands, Turkey and Iran, and attended high school in London. As an adult, she worked in bookstore management.
Tom attended the University of Wisconsin in Madison and has worked for a public television station as a writer and on-air reporter. He is currently employed as a semi truck driver for a chemical company and plays guitar with a Celtic band that includes a son on bodhran and a daughter on fiddle. Together they have played eighteen years of annual performances at the largest Irish musical festival in the world.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 21, 2023
I have never read The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis aka Laura London. Though I understand the vintage HR was favored by many readers. And, if I am not mistaken, most of their romances were written in the 1970s and 1980s. Of the three books I have read so far, I prefer their Hs. In the case of Lord David Landry, he started out as a horndog.
horndog (n.)
from horn (n.) in the sexual sense (see horny) + dog (n.).
Naive Miss Frances Atherton, had traveled to London to save her Reverend Papa, innocently imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. Prior to this, Frances was "Assistant Mother to eight younger siblings, confidant and soul mate to her Papa and aide-de-camp to her unworldly, domestically inclined Mama." All of this had kept her very busy and, in many ways, innocent of the ways of the world. In other words: men.
You will have to read the story to find out how David goes from horndog to a horndog in love for the first time. Frances gets herself in trouble more than once and David keeps returning to help her.
3.5 stars
horndog (n.)
from horn (n.) in the sexual sense (see horny) + dog (n.).
Naive Miss Frances Atherton, had traveled to London to save her Reverend Papa, innocently imprisoned for crimes he did not commit. Prior to this, Frances was "Assistant Mother to eight younger siblings, confidant and soul mate to her Papa and aide-de-camp to her unworldly, domestically inclined Mama." All of this had kept her very busy and, in many ways, innocent of the ways of the world. In other words: men.
You will have to read the story to find out how David goes from horndog to a horndog in love for the first time. Frances gets herself in trouble more than once and David keeps returning to help her.
3.5 stars
February 11, 2020
3.5 stars. Frances and David's love story. It was a charming story. The rake versus the vicar's daughter and bonus was a wild hot air balloon ride.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 22, 2015
Love this author. Actually, it's an author team. Sharon and Tom Curtis.
Love all their books, historicals and contemporaries, but I prefer their historicals, in most cases.
Love all their books, historicals and contemporaries, but I prefer their historicals, in most cases.
May 13, 2014
Mini review: I highly enjoyed this story from fantastic tag-team Laura London. The characters are so interesting, honest to a fault, and dance a string of subtle deceits in an entertaining plot.
May 9, 2014
A well-written novel with a Regency feel, if a little more sensuous than Georgette Heyer or Jane Austen.
In fact, the plot did remind me of several Heyer novels (e.g. Arabella) where the naïve heroine captures the interest of the older, more worldly, rakish hero, who then has the task of rescuing her from the predicament(s) she finds herself in.
I was a little disturbed by the fact that the hero keeps trying to seduce the poor girl, but it is still a charming, light-hearted read.
In fact, the plot did remind me of several Heyer novels (e.g. Arabella) where the naïve heroine captures the interest of the older, more worldly, rakish hero, who then has the task of rescuing her from the predicament(s) she finds herself in.
I was a little disturbed by the fact that the hero keeps trying to seduce the poor girl, but it is still a charming, light-hearted read.
September 9, 2013
Average trashy romance, with hijinks and likable but not lovable characters.
Had to read it, since London's The Windflower is my favourite trashy romance ever of all time, but it isn't near the same class.
Had to read it, since London's The Windflower is my favourite trashy romance ever of all time, but it isn't near the same class.
March 2, 2024
A delightful take on a Regency, "Love's a Stage" is from the husband and wife team Sharon and Tom Curtis and, like all their works, has a captivating heroine, great banter between the hero and heroine, and a deep sense of romantic and sexual tension. In this novel, Frances Atherton, the strong-minded but naive daughter of a minister, has come to London from the coast to find evidence to clear her father's name (he has falsely been accused of participating in a smuggling ring). This takes her into a variety of situations, from the theatre to a hot air balloon, and all seem to have one thing in common: Lord Landry, playwright and rake. The Curtises obviously owe a huge debt to Georgette Heyer, particularly with their secondary characters, such as Frances's rambunctious, eccentric family. It is a debt they repay with relish, and the reader has fun while they do so.
August 27, 2025
Clean romance.
Frances is a pastors daughter, gone to London to uncover a their and smuggler. Lord David Landry is a playwright who is caught up in her charm and adventure.
Very traditional - shes a naive virgin, he rescues her repeatedly from a variety of misadventures that she has got herself into.... shes a bit of an idiot, but still has some charm and determination. He's suave and sweet and funny. He's also a womanizing rake who has another lover for at least part of the story, and is constantly at least teasing Frances about wanting to sleep with her- literally from the first page they meet eachother. This is stuff we just accepted in the 80s, but which might give modern readers pause or concern
I liked both characters, but found story a bit dated for ideals. Story still had good banter, relationship development, and HEA.
Frances is a pastors daughter, gone to London to uncover a their and smuggler. Lord David Landry is a playwright who is caught up in her charm and adventure.
Very traditional - shes a naive virgin, he rescues her repeatedly from a variety of misadventures that she has got herself into.... shes a bit of an idiot, but still has some charm and determination. He's suave and sweet and funny. He's also a womanizing rake who has another lover for at least part of the story, and is constantly at least teasing Frances about wanting to sleep with her- literally from the first page they meet eachother. This is stuff we just accepted in the 80s, but which might give modern readers pause or concern
I liked both characters, but found story a bit dated for ideals. Story still had good banter, relationship development, and HEA.
January 29, 2018
I've always loved this book. My grandma gave it to me in my early teens, and it was my very first Regency. Nostalgic-prejudice-reviewing FTW! : )
December 9, 2024
4.5 stars. London manages to be silly without being too ridiculous so that I’m taken out of it. Very charming.
March 2, 2017
Not up to their usual standard.
May 7, 2012
This story was just OK for me. I liked it but would not read it again.
Frances Atherton, a vicar's daughter, sets out for London to free her father who has been wrongly imprisoned as a result of having stolen goods discovered hidden in his church. Frances thinks she knows who is responsible and sets out to prove it.
In the mean time, she accidentally meets Lord David Landry who just happens to be London's preeminate playwrite at the time. He conveniently knows where her aunt has moved to and helps her get there safely. Her aunt lives in the same building as one of his cousins, coincidentally.
Anyway, through many adventures, everything falls into place by the end of the book, of course. David has fallen in love with Frances and she admits to the same feelings toward the end of the book. The romance here is much more subtle and discreet than I prefer. There is very little passion. But it was still a good story.
Frances Atherton, a vicar's daughter, sets out for London to free her father who has been wrongly imprisoned as a result of having stolen goods discovered hidden in his church. Frances thinks she knows who is responsible and sets out to prove it.
In the mean time, she accidentally meets Lord David Landry who just happens to be London's preeminate playwrite at the time. He conveniently knows where her aunt has moved to and helps her get there safely. Her aunt lives in the same building as one of his cousins, coincidentally.
Anyway, through many adventures, everything falls into place by the end of the book, of course. David has fallen in love with Frances and she admits to the same feelings toward the end of the book. The romance here is much more subtle and discreet than I prefer. There is very little passion. But it was still a good story.
February 28, 2021
If you haven’t read Laura London, you are missing a sexy, gently humorous evolving relationship read. Highly recommend The Windflower if you like historical novels with sexy pirates.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews