Breathless

by Laura Lee Guhrke

Book Overview

Award-winning author Laura Lee Guhrke steps back to a timeof Southern propriety -- and passion -- in this thrilling page-turner laced with heated sensuality. A lawyer is reunited with an unforgettable... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0671023683
• ISBN13: 9780671023683
• Release Date: July 1999
• Publisher: Pocket Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Tart and sweet as lemonade

I typically shy away from historicals set in someone's romanticized idea of the South. There are too many clumsy attempts to write Southern dialect, and too many Scarlett O'Hara caricaitures whose shrewishness is labeled as "fiery temperament." But I'm glad I trusted this author enough to read her take on Southern-style romance. Guhrke's sweet-tart tale takes place in Shivaree, Georgia at the beginning of the 20th century, when a lady might overcome the social stigma of having a job, but not the disgrace of being divorced by her husband. Shivaree's church-going folk and Ladies Temperance Society live uncomfortably with the fact that the town owes its healthy economy to a den of sin called the Shivaree Social Club. Well-to-do men from Atlanta pay an entire dollar for an hour in the company of loose women. They also drink and gamble, which is fortunate for ladies who want to gossip about the club; in 1905, no proper woman discusses sex, much less sex-for-money. The thoroughly delightful heroine of Breathless is a one-time debutante, shunned by her family and society since her husband divorced her. Lily rebels against the town's hypocrisy by playing scandalous modern piano music with the windows open, and displaying a copy of Michelangelo's David - buck naked! - in her front parlor. Once a year, on the anniversary of her humiliating divorce hearing, she files a legal complaint against the Shivaree Social Club. Her former husband spent many nights of their marriage cavorting with the club's "painted ladies," and closing the club is the only revenge left to Lily. For five years, her efforts have been in vain. But when the town judge acquires a young bride and curtails his own use of the club, he shocks everyone by agreeing to close it down. More surprised than anyone is the club's owner, a U.S. senator. The lawyer he sends to Shivaree to fight the injunction is the senator's political protegee, a luscious hunk named Daniel Morgan. Daniel has a friendly relationship with the judge and doesn't expect to spend more than a day on the Shivaree Social Club case. But he doesn't expect the tenacity of his opponent: Lily Morgan, whose reputation he destroyed when he represented her husband in the divorce. Lily no sooner hears that her husband's ruthless lawyer is in town than she marches into the local diner, slaps his face, and leaves without a word - treating Daniel to a view of her shapely hips in one of the new, tight, modern dresses. War is declared between the two, and both sides have too much at stake to show any mercy. Daniel needs to get the club reopened or risk losing his client's political backing when he runs for the Senate. Lily hopes that by closing the club, she can lose her image as an immoral hussy. When the town's leading ladies not only refuse to join Lily's cause, but deliver a cruel public humiliation, Daniel is forced to witness the ugly consequences to Lily of the trial that made her an outcast. He begins to question his ass

"Breathless" is everything a romance should be

There should be another RWA RITA award in the future for Ms. Guhrke's newest romance "Breathless." The opening of this wonderful story grabs your attention and never falters throughout the entire book. The hero and heroine are real and multi-dimensional. The secondary characters as alive as your next door neighbor. "Breathless" delivers everything a reader looks for in a romance: style, grace, wonderful detail and a lively story. The romance is played out with warmth, humor and sensitivity. Bravo, Ms. Guhrke, I'll be looking forward to your next masterpiece.

Great Americana Romance

In 1905 Shivaree, Georgia, Lily Morgan is the town's most talked about woman. Everybody in town talks about her bitter divorce five years earlier and the fact that she had an affair. When Daniel Walker, her ex-husband's lawyer comes back to town tounges start wagging again.Daniel truly believed that he did the right thing by scandalizing Lily's name during her divorce from his best friend. He truly thought she had an affair. Now back in Shivaree he's having second thoughts. Lily and Daniel clash like lightening, but that doesn't stop the feelings they find they have for eachother. When a local prostitute is murdered, Lily and Daniel work together to clear the suspect's name. In the meantime, Daniel finds that he was wrong about Lily and they also find love. The only problem is Daniel is planning on a career as a politician and that does not include a divorcee' as a wife.This was my first book by Laura Lee Guhrke and I truly enjoyed it. I hope to read more from her in the future.

Wonderful Americana Romance

In 1905 Shivaree, Georgia, Lily Morgan is the town's most talked about woman. Everybody in town talks about her bitter divorce five years earlier and the fact that she had an affair. When Daniel Walker, her ex-husband's lawyer comes back to town tounges start wagging again.Daniel truly believed that he did the right thing by scandalizing Lily's name during her divorce from his best friend. He truly thought she had an affair. Now back in Shivaree he's having second thoughts. Lily and Daniel clash like lightening, but that doesn't stop the feelings they find they have for eachother. When a local prostitute is murdered, Lily and Daniel work together to clear the suspect's name. In the meantime, Daniel finds that he was wrong about Lily and they also find love. The only problem is Daniel is planning on a career as a politician and that does not include a divorcee' as a wife.This was my first book by Laura Lee Guhrke and I truly enjoyed it. I hope to read more from her in the future.

A fun read

In 1905 Georgia, attorney Daniel Walker will do anything legal to win a case for his clients. His latest victory gained an acquittal for his client, the son of a powerful person in the state. As a by-product, the prosecutor, an irate Hugh Masterson, vows vengeance on Daniel.State powerbroker Calvin Stoddard offers to support Daniel on a run for a state senate seat if he successfully handles a legal case. Daniel agrees and immediately heads to his hometown of Shivaree where a court order has shut down the notorious but popular Shivaree Social Club due to the actions of resident Lily Morgan. Daniel represented Lily,s ex-spouse in a divorce case five-years ago that painted her as a tainted lady. They are on opposite sides of the prostitute house issue until a murder occurs. To everyone's surprise, he agrees to represent the prime suspect while she agrees to be his "legal clerk. As they work in close proximity they fall in love, but his ambitions make a permanent relationship doubtful.Fans of historical novels will be left BREATHLESS by Laura Lee Guhrke's superb tale. The story line blends a clever who-done-it inside an Americana romance that brings the first decade of the twentieth century rural south to life. The lead protagonists are an intriguing duo who fight to end their growing love for one another before it enflames them. The support cast augments the plot by pushing it forward and adding authenticity. Readers who enjoy an entertaining Americana romance with a murder mystery to spice it up will take immense pleasure from Ms. Guhrke's delightful novel.Harriet Klausner