"Strong writing and nice twists make this not your typical romance."

Although their life is simple and the work hard, Phoebe Churchill and her young niece are content with the serenity of their quiet country life. But all is shattered once James Lindford, Viscount Farley, and his "natural-born" children take up residence at a neighboring estate. Phoebe would like to ignore them, but that proves impossible once the full scale of the viscount's problems come to light. He's a notorious rake, whose fiancée abandoned him when he took custody of his illegitimate children.

Phoebe is torn between accepting his plea for help and following her instincts to keep her distance. It's clear why so many women have succumbed to his charms. He doesn't hide his attraction to Phoebe, and tells her how different she is from the other women he's known. Her desire for him grows, but can she ever have a place in his life? Especially now that his ex-fiancée is back.

Lust, illegitimacy, duty and scandal are but a few of the driving forces motivating the characters in this latest book by Ms. Becnel. The hero stays true to his rakish character right up until the end. A man who, until he understands the difference between lust and love, does the right things but for the wrong reasons. Strong writing and nice twists to the story add dimension and heighten reader interest. Not your typical romance and definitely not your typical hero.

Reviewed by Margaret Ohmes
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted October 28, 2003