This novel is sure to be a huge hit: its combination of suspense and passion keeps the pages flipping by at a fast enough rate to keep you cool on a Texas summer day. And did I mention the love scenes? Do not lend this one to your mother, but recommend it to your best friend, and sit back and watch her blush rise. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien

Product Description

Michele Jaffe captured the ageless desire of the human heart in her "exquisitely dramatic" (Publishers Weekly, starred review) and historically enthralling debut novel The Stargazer. Hailed by Amanda Quick as "fast, clever, exciting," Jaffe's tour de force of sensual intrigue mesmerized critics and readers alike. Now Michele Jaffe steps into the shadows of Renaissance England for a sublime adventure of daring duplicity and irresistible passion.

Sophie Champion is caught in a most awkward circumstance when she meets the imperiously dashing Crispin Foscari, known as the Earl of Scandal. After all, the smart, strikingly beautiful young lady happens to be disguised as a man. And she happens to be standing over a corpse. Having come to seek the truth behind the suspicious death of her godfather, she finds herself instead caught in a tangled web of clues and deceit designed to implicate her in the murder. Only the Earl of Scandal himself can unravel the web -- and he has a mysterious agenda of his own. As suddenly as their paths crossed, so now are Crispin and Sophie locked in a seductive battle of wits and wills, mutual distrust, and magnetic attraction. Spiriting Sophie away to his home, Crispin presents her with a tantalizing proposition: they agree to pen their deepest desires, lock their notations away, and whoever discovers the true identity of the murderer first is granted his -- or her -- secret wish....

But neither imagined that the bold gamble would sweep them into London's darkest corners...or ensnare them in a clandestine ring of blackmailers. No longer trusting the promises of friends or the benevolence of strangers, Sophie and Crispin struggle to unmask a growing passion -- and stay alive -- as they venture into a realm where love is a secret killer...waiting to strike again.

Michele Jaffe, who crafted "a racing read...a great first novel" (Jane Feather) in The Stargazer, now takes her storytelling powers to new heights; crackling with sexual tension and sparked with intrigue and surprise, The Water Nymph establishes Michele Jaffe as a gloriously imaginative explorer of the timeless mysteries in the game of seduction.

Sophie, the heroine, is a smart strong woman that goes to investigate what she suspects is the murder of her godfather. Unknown to her, she is being framed for numerous murders, her investigation leads her to become entangled with a master spy, Crispin Foscari, and her life is in danger. The book is a fun mystery with secondary characters that make you wonder if there is a sequel to follow.

Be warned, the love scenes are steamy!


A Very Good Romance   May 14, 2002
 1 out of 3 found this review helpful

As I have said before mysteries drive me nuts. I can't seem to wait to find out who did it. Ms Jaffe is very clever in that she dosen't wait until the very end to reveal the villian. So you can't flip to the end and find out what is going on. I liked this book mush better than the first in the series. I would recommend the book to those who like a good mystery and even those who are looking to a good romance


The Water Nymph review   January 4, 2002
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I loved this book. I read all 418 pages in 2 days. Sophie and Crispin made and attracting couple. All the romance with a murder mystery added. This is one book that I will read again and enjoy just as much as I did the first time.


The water Nymph   October 17, 2001
 2 out of 4 found this review helpful

Very different ! and i was pleased with that fact. it definitely isn't the usual romance but that's why i liked it .. even though the plot was unbelievable, it was fun. the characters were very interesting and a lot of great and funny banter between them. i usually read romances in the realm of catherine coulter, jude deveraux .. each of these author's style is very different .. and now Jaffe is def. on my list .. ...
the only other thing i wished it had was more of a relationshipo between the couple.. they hardly talked of stuff other than the murder ..
great reading.