"Engaging Regency romance"

In 1810 Vauxhall Gardens, Conte Prola passionately kisses Amara Claeg. Her parents will force Amara to marry her to the Italian count though she hates his kiss. She flees only to run into the devil, Brock Bedegrayne, who has come home after two years overseas.

Though Amara's mother detests the Bedegraynes blaming them for the death of her son, Brock makes it clear to Amara that he desires her and is courting her. Brock asks her to forgive him for his part in the incident two years ago in which her brother died and informs her he is no longer running away so she will have to deal with him.

Amara dreams of her previous suitor Lord Cornley who died in a fire six years ago. Her father selected him though her preference would have been Brock. As far as her dad was concerned Cornley could do anything he wanted and he sexually assaulted her until Brock yanked the SOB off of Amara. A fire killed the man.

This is an engaging Regency romance due to the strong attraction between the two lead protagonists and the fun interactions between his family members. The heroine's reactions to her almost betrothed vs. her belief that she must marry as her father insists turns tedious and a subplot involving her cousin as an odious rival never comes to fruition. Still fans will appreciate this suspenseful second chance tale especially a final fiery twist as Brock struggles to overcome the odds knowing her family rejects him and she has reasons too.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted April 25, 2004

Summary

Brock Bedagrayne, the eldest son of the Bedagrayne siblings has secretly longed for Amara Claeg, the daughter of a baron, for what seems like an eternity. When he learns that Amara's parents have arranged for her to wed the wealthy, ruthless Lord Cornley, he is outraged but knows he cannot prevent the nuptials. One night changes Brock's life forever when he and Cornley engage in a druken brawl at a gaming hall, and Cornley is fatally wounded, forcing Brock to flee England. Several years have passed, and Amara is still haunted by memories of a night that shattered her world. Now her father has presented her with the man who is to be her new betrothed, and though she harbors no love for him, she must accept or she will be disowned. Then Brock returns, determined to claim her and she is drawn to a deep desire she cannot ignore---to a man who has vowed to win her heart no matter the cost. Yet surrendering to her forbidden dream is more perilous than she could have imagined for the past has returned with a vengeance, and it will take all the power of a man in love to save her. . .