"A seductive tale"

In 1816 Yorkshire, the Earl of Braven, better known as Brave, risks his life and rescues Rachel Ashton from drowning in the nearby river. He takes her to his home Wyck's End so they both can dry off and warm up from their debacle. Rachel informs her savior that her abusive stepfather Sir Henry Westhaver plans to sell Rachel to the highest bidder by marrying her to fifty something, obese lecher Viscount Charlton.

Brave decides a marriage of convenience will save both he and Rachel. He would be removed from the dreaded available bachelor list and thus enable him to hide his broken heart received from a previous relationship. She would be free of her odious stepfather and his even more despicable groom. However, his concept goes awry as Rachel and Brave fall in love, but is he really brave enough to take the plunge into a loving relationship?

Though the story line of this Regency romance follows sub-genre lines, the humorous exchanges between the lead protagonists make the tale quite entertaining. The story line is fun as Brave and Rachel banter on anything while struggling with an attraction and a love that he never expected. Kathryn Smith provides the audience with A SEDUCTIVE OFFER of reading pleasure.

Harriet

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted December 16, 2001

Summary

In order to free both herself and her mother from her cruel stepfather, Rachel Ashton accepts Lord Braven's proposal of marriage. While she risks much by becoming his wife, Rachel never imagined that it would be her heart and not her safety in the greatest peril.