Cecily Donaldson leads a pitiful existence for life. Her father and brother were killed and her fortune was gone. Mercifully, her aunt and uncle allowed her to live in their home for 12 years; she was both ignored and worked like a Trojan. She had written to her uncle (her actual next of kin) many times, but he had never responded. Or, so she thought! Things were definitely not what they seemed.

Cecily was living with Lady Anabel and Sir Edward; she was betrothed to Sir Fergus, in an arranged marriage which she did not want (after all, he was old and mean) but she had no say in the matter. Sir Fergus was determined to wed Cecily and Lady Anabel and Sir Edward insisted that the match was settled in stone. Then, Sir Artan Murray, a (young) friend of her Uncle Angus, arrived to take her back to Glascreag, her uncle’s estate, because he was very sick and possibly dying. The three who ruled Cecily’s life adamantly refused; he invited himself to stay for the wedding; after all, he was extended family. He was constantly attacked by soldiers of Sir Fergus, but he managed to outfight them each time.

He used Cecily’s attraction to him to lure her to a place where he kidnapped her and started to return to Glascreag. The journey was treacherous, to say the least. The attacks on the couple and their growing interest in each other, is the nucleus of the story.

There are not enough accolades for this book by Ms. Howell. This book should be a must-read for all historical romance lovers.

Overall rating:
Sensuality rating: Explicit

Reviewer: Brenda Talley
January 23, 2007