"In the aftermath of Culloden Moor"

Although she never got over the heartbreak of being jilted by her only love when she was younger, Janet Leslie decided to find another kind of love by marrying a man who already had three daughters, little girls who desperately needed a loving mother. Janet didn't realize what a horrible mistake she had made until it was too late and her new husband turned into an abusive monster. Now he is dead, leaving her to care for their young son and the girls. Janet is determined to protect the children and her son's inheritance from her late husband's family, who are trying to take them away from her and accuse her of his murder. When she realizes she needs help, she reluctantly turns to the only person who might be able to provide it, the man who once turned his back on her, the man who is now the Marquis of Braemoor.

Neil Forbes has risen from being a lonely outcast child to becoming Marquis of Braemoor due to the death of the previous Marquis and the disappearance of Rory, his heir. He never expected to inherit, and was not raised knowing how to interact with servants and tenants. He is doing the best he can to help them succeed. When he hears the rumors that Janet murdered her husband he decides to go to her and offer her his assistance. He doubts she will want to see him after the way he left her so many years ago, but he has to at least try.

When Janet asks for his help he takes charge of her family and estates, earning Janet's resentment as well as her distrust. But he does what he must do to protect her, even if it makes her hate him even more. He can't tell her why he left her, or why he still can't become involved with her, but he can do what he has to do to ensure her future.

THE HEART QUEEN is the sequel to Ms. Potter's THE BLACK KNAVE, the story of Neil's cousin Rory. With Rory gone Neil struggled with responsibilities that he never thought would be his. He was a lonely and vulnerable man and his efforts to live up to the man he thought he should be were endearing. It was refreshing to see a hero who knew that he didn't have all the answers, didn't know how to deal with people and doubted his own abilities, yet he forged ahead and did what he thought needed to be done to help others. Janet's feelings toward him were understandable, although I thought she was being rather unrealistic in her demands that she be free of any male interference and authority. I became impatient with her distrust of Neil, as I did with his keeping his reasons for leaving her secret for too long. The plot contained many twists and turns that kept me interested and turning the pages. I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the next installment.

Reviewed by Janice Bennett
Posted April 18, 2002

Summary

2002 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Nominee