Ian Witherspoon and Derek Knightly are lovers. They have survived the Peninsular War together and now Derek just wants to focus on the present, on living their life together. Ian has a different dream though. Engaged as a young man, it is time he finally marries Sophia Middleton. He knows it is his duty and in his heart of hearts, he longs for a female presence in their life, someone to give them children and to comfort them when the dreams of the war get too tough. However, Derek sees Sophie as an intruder and he fears that Ian's marriage will spell the end of their love.

Sophia, known as Sophie to those close to her, needs to marry Ian. She knows if she does not, her life will continue to be one of terror and misery. Ian represents escape and she will do anything to have the marriage go through. She does not even care that Ian loves Derek, that they are lovers. All she wants is peace.

The marriage goes through with Ian's dreams resting on healing Sophie, and with Derek trying to find a way to control his anger. He can't help wishing Sophie did not appeal to him so much. Love is hard to resist and even the most painful of memories and hurts can be healed by love. Will Sophie, Ian, and Derek find their happily-ever-after?

Samantha Kane knows how to stun readers with oh so sensual love scenes and with characters who are always a cut above the rest. Derek is a bit of a rebel, he is plenty angry but I loved so many of the sweet gestures he made for Sophie's sake. He did not want to give into her, believing her to be an interloper into his life with Ian, but yet, Derek is essentially a good man at heart. He is hard to resist in fact. It can sometimes be overwhelming to have three main characters in a story but Samantha Kane gives these characters the chance to develop both within their relationships but also as individuals. Sophie's transition is perhaps most stark and easily seen but both Derek and Ian go through subtle and forceful character development. Samantha Kane's books feature fully developed love stories that go against the grain a bit. Derek and Ian are full fledged lovers, make no mistake. The details are explicit and quite lovely frankly but m/m love scenes are not for all readers.

All in all, At Love's Command is just wonderful! Heart wrenching, sexy, sensual, and playful, this book stands heads and tails above the rest!

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Sarah W.
January 21, 2008