Melly has not had an easy life. Her father committed suicide after losing everything gambling. Her last living relative dies leaving her alone and penniless. Through it all, she remains sweet and caring. The author endears you to this character from the very beginning through her fight to survive on her own.

Drake has also faced adversity. After the death of his wife and child, he joins the military. He actively seeks his own death only to be returned home wounded. He first meets Melly on his way home. She is collecting herbs on his property. He orders her to leave and not return. Before she can gather her basket and leave, he dumps her cuttings and confiscates her basket.

At first, Drake came across as cruel and arrogant. He was so enraged that I questioned his sanity. In the beginning, I felt that the character was behaving in a way that just did not make sense. But as I read, I came to understand why he acted this way.

Drake's Lair is a passionate, well written story, with a fully developed plot. The characters are believable in their roles, and their interactions will have you experiencing their emotions right along with them. The author's description of the clothes and the setting will bring to life this era in history. I truly enjoyed this book. As a powerful, emotionally charged novel, I recommend it highly.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Anita
January 19, 2006