From Publishers Weekly
The opening line of Garwood's ( Saving Grace ) latest novel, "The vultures were gathering in the vestibule," aptly sets the tone for the machinations to follow. These "vultures" (of 1868 vintage) are the greedy relatives of Lady Esther Stapleton awaiting the death of their wealthy kin. Worst of the lot is Esther's son, Malcolm, a devious and demented gentleman who is unaware that his vigil is useless: his mother has already transferred her wealth from England to a Boston bank in the name of her favorite granddaughter, Taylor. To shield Taylor from Malcolm's wrath, Esther arranges for the girl to marry Lucas Ross, a Montana rancher itching to end his visit to England. The couple readily agree to the plan: Lucas needs the money to bring his younger brother to America, and Taylor knows Lucas's protection is the only way she can safeguard her tiny orphaned nieces from Malcolm, whose sexual appetite runs to the very young. The marriage is to be annulled as soon as they reach the States, but love has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans. Garwood pads her story with pages of intricate detail (bathing, shopping, decor, traveling, etc.) that ultimately slow the pace to a crawl. Readers can enjoy this book for the humor, the sweetness and the sensuality. Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Library Journal
Compelled to action by the death of her adored grandmother, unconventional Lady Taylor Stapleton agrees to marry Lucas Ross, a man she has never met, and accompany him to America temporarily, all in an effort to save her two young nieces from their greedy and lecherous uncle. But all does not go as planned, and when the girls are kidnapped, Taylor and Lucas are forced to continue their matrimonial charade. Despite the thread of child abuse, sexual and otherwise, woven throughout the story, Garwood's latest offering (following Saving Grace, Pocket Bks., 1993) is light and funny, featuring lively dialog, swift-moving action, and a wonderfully outspoken heroine. Garwood readers might also enjoy books by Amanda Quick and Judith McNaught.Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From AudioFile
A chatty romance, set in London and Montana and many places inbetween, sweeps the reader along with lively dialogue and a panoply ofcharacters. After Taylor Stapleton's cousin steals her fiancé,Taylor's grandmother chooses her a husband--a drop-dead gorgeousrancher from America. This seemingly peculiar choice turns out verynicely, and he even has a handsome pal for Taylor's dear friend. Thereare lost nieces to collect, an evil uncle to confront, and the WildWest to charm. Deborah Hall is a terrific mimic; from the adorablenieces to the cowboy curmudgeons--she has the facility to spring them,in three dimensions, from the page. Escapism at its best.B.H.B. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine


From Booklist
Lady Taylor weathers the scandal of having her fianc{‚}e elope with her cousin Jane and, at her grandmother's urging, marries Lucas Ross, a mountain man from Montana Territory who happens to be the ex-fianc{‚}e's half-brother. Lucas plans to be a husband in name only, but he falls in love with his new wife. Taylor plans to obtain guardianship of her late sister's twin daughters to prevent her pedophiliac Uncle Malcolm from harming the girls, but upon arriving in Boston, Taylor discovers the twins' nanny has died and the girls are in danger of being sold into prostitution. Lucas arranges for an old friend, Hunter, to help him rescue the twins, and Taylor adds Hunter to her family along with an unwed pregnant woman and an orphaned boy. While Lucas tracks down an enemy from his past, Taylor flees to his home in Montana with her uncle in pursuit. Lucas and Taylor reunite to face their troubles and their future together, and Taylor realizes she has found her very own Prince Charming in buckskin. Garwood provides memorable characters and a fast-moving plot guaranteed to keep the pages turning, and her fans will enjoy Taylor and Lucas' unorthodox courtship. Melanie Duncan


From Kirkus Reviews
Garwood's second foray into hardcover (after Saving Grace, 1993) is politically correct but gripping escapism of the tallest order. Na‹ve, prim, and repressed, Englishwoman Taylor Baker is the princess every romance reader longs to be--except that her prince, William Merritt, elopes with her mean-spirited cousin Jane. Life is further complicated by Uncle Malcolm, who has set his sights on Taylor's inheritance as well as her flesh. The only way that Taylor can evade those male-favoring inheritance laws is by making a deal with an American, Merritt's bastard brother no less, Civil War veteran and Montana rancher Lucas Ross. It's the 19th century's forerunner to the green-card marriage: Taylor pays him to marry her, which allows her to take custody of her orphaned nieces and keep her assets intact. He agrees to stay on his side of the bed and quietly divorce her on the other side of the Atlantic. But he's handsome, lovingly possessive, and, she discovers, a perfect embodiment of her romanticized notion of a mountain man. Taylor is a spunky heroine with a well-developed sense of justice, but the details of her transformation from lady of the manor to frontier homesteader are missing, as is the full figure of Lucas, who conducts vengeance killings away from the main action. Villainous Uncle Malcolm is barely sketched and quickly dispensed with at the end. Why can't Taylor fight it out with Malcolm and really show off her new competence? And how can someone as competent as Taylor (and as rich) put up with Lucas's possessiveness? How can he give up his freedom, and his passion for vengeance, so easily? How can she close her eyes to his killings? By boldly undercutting the assumptions of the genre, Garwood has revealed its unfeasible core. A good read that would be an even better movie--and another surefire bestseller for Garwood. (Literary Guild alternate selection) -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Review
Rendezvous The power of Garwood's storytelling will enthrall and enchant you.


Book Description
Bestselling author Julie Garwood's classic love story is filled with "the humor, the sweetness, and the sensuality" (Publishers Weekly) that have made her "a trusted brand name in romantic fiction" (People). Only her beloved grandmother, Lady Esther, knew how devastated Taylor Stapleton had been when her fiancé eloped with Taylor's cousin. Now dear Esther -- one of London's richest and most formidable matriarchs -- lies dying. But first she was going to help Taylor pull off the scam of the season. To escape becoming a ward of her unscrupulous uncle, Taylor would wed Lucas Ross, a rugged American rancher. Lady Esther's money would enable Ross to return home to Montana. Taylor had her own urgent reason to go to America...a precious legacy she hadn't revealed to Ross, for they had agreed to part ways once they reached Boston. But as her handsome new husband spoke of life in Montana, Taylor began planning a new future. To Taylor, the wide-open spaces of Montana sounded like paradise....


From the Publisher, Simon & Schuster
Only her beloved grandmother, Lady Esther, knew how devastated Taylor Stapleton has been when her fiance eloped with Taylor's cousin, Jane. Now that good lady—one of London's richest most formidable matriarchs—lay dying. But first she was going to help Taylor pull of the scam of the season.

To escape becoming a ward of her unscrupolous uncle, Taylor would we Lucas Ross, a rugged American rancher. Lady Esther's money would enable Ross to bring his youngest half-brother home to Montana. Taylor had her own urgent reason to go to America...a precious legacy she hadn't revealed to Ross, for the had agreed to go their separate ways onece they reached Boston. But as her handsome new husband spoke of like in Montana, Taylor began planning a new future. To Taylor, the wide-open spaces of Montana sounded like paradise...


About the Author
Julie Garwood is the author of fifteen splendid New York Times bestsellers, including Ransom, Come the Spring, and her #1 bestselling Clayborne Brides trilogy. There are more than thirty million copies of her books in print.

ANNOTATION

A family matriarch schemes to avenge the wrongdoing against her granddaughterby the young women's former fiance--a plot which, unfortunately, backfires. 2cassettes.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

To escape becoming a ward of her unscrupulous uncle, Taylor Stapleton will wed Lucas Ross, a rugged American rancher. Taylor also has a secret...a precious legacy she hasn't revealed to Ross. However, as she begins to fall for her handsome new husband, Taylor dares to surrender her heart to an uncertain future.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

The opening line of Garwood's ( Saving Grace ) latest novel, ``The vultures were gathering in the vestibule,'' aptly sets the tone for the machinations to follow. These ``vultures'' (of 1868 vintage) are the greedy relatives of Lady Esther Stapleton awaiting the death of their wealthy kin. Worst of the lot is Esther's son, Malcolm, a devious and demented gentleman who is unaware that his vigil is useless: his mother has already transferred her wealth from England to a Boston bank in the name of her favorite granddaughter, Taylor. To shield Taylor from Malcolm's wrath, Esther arranges for the girl to marry Lucas Ross, a Montana rancher itching to end his visit to England. The couple readily agree to the plan: Lucas needs the money to bring his younger brother to America, and Taylor knows Lucas's protection is the only way she can safeguard her tiny orphaned nieces from Malcolm, whose sexual appetite runs to the very young. The marriage is to be annulled as soon as they reach the States, but love has a way of upsetting the best-laid plans. Garwood pads her story with pages of intricate detail (bathing, shopping, decor, traveling, etc.) that ultimately slow the pace to a crawl. Readers can enjoy this book for the humor, the sweetness and the sensuality. (June)

Library Journal

Compelled to action by the death of her adored grandmother, unconventional Lady Taylor Stapleton agrees to marry Lucas Ross, a man she has never met, and accompany him to America temporarily, all in an effort to save her two young nieces from their greedy and lecherous uncle. But all does not go as planned, and when the girls are kidnapped, Taylor and Lucas are forced to continue their matrimonial charade. Despite the thread of child abuse, sexual and otherwise, woven throughout the story, Garwood's latest offering (following Saving Grace, Pocket Bks., 1993) is light and funny, featuring lively dialog, swift-moving action, and a wonderfully outspoken heroine. Garwood readers might also enjoy books by Amanda Quick and Judith McNaught.

BookList - Melanie Duncan

Lady Taylor weathers the scandal of having her fiance elope with her cousin Jane and, at her grandmother's urging, marries Lucas Ross, a mountain man from Montana Territory who happens to be the ex-fiance's half-brother. Lucas plans to be a husband in name only, but he falls in love with his new wife. Taylor plans to obtain guardianship of her late sister's twin daughters to prevent her pedophiliac Uncle Malcolm from harming the girls, but upon arriving in Boston, Taylor discovers the twins' nanny has died and the girls are in danger of being sold into prostitution. Lucas arranges for an old friend, Hunter, to help him rescue the twins, and Taylor adds Hunter to her family along with an unwed pregnant woman and an orphaned boy. While Lucas tracks down an enemy from his past, Taylor flees to his home in Montana with her uncle in pursuit. Lucas and Taylor reunite to face their troubles and their future together, and Taylor realizes she has found her very own Prince Charming in buckskin. Garwood provides memorable characters and a fast-moving plot guaranteed to keep the pages turning, and her fans will enjoy Taylor and Lucas' unorthodox courtship.

AudioFile