"She swore never to marry"
Years ago, Althea Selwyn's mother gave birth to a son, whom
got ripped out of her arms moments after the birth by her
husband who believed that she betrayed him. He leaves
without a backword glance, but a few minutes later her
mother gives birth to a second child:Althea. Determined not
to let her husband know about Althea she takes off to the
West Indies and raises her there. Now Althea is 23 and needs to go to London to find out who
has been stealing from her uncle's company. She meets Drake
who needs repairs for his ship and convinces him to let her
go with him to London. Drake is in the West Indies getting ready for his ship to
head for London in five weeks. He has never met a woman
quite like Thea before. She is totally unlike any of the
ladies of quality he has met, and he cannot stop thinking
about her. He just knows these next five weeks will be
trouble, but he feels this is the only way to keep an eye
on her due to some "misfortunate incidents". Thea has vowed to never marry anyone like her father, but
Drake has other plans and they include Thea as his wife. I am not a huge fan of historicals but books like Lucy
Monroe's TOUCH ME, just may change that. It starts off in
the West Indies (which makes for a nice change of
location), and takes us to the town of London. Althea wants
to meet her family but doesn't want to meet her father. She
saw her mother die wishing she could see her son and never
forgave her father for doing what he did. Although she is
very attracted to Drake she doesn't want to marry him or
anyone in fear that they would turn cruel like her father.
Drake is sure that someone like Althea would be with
someone like him, due to the circumstances of his birth. I have a new favorite historical author and she is Lucy
Monroe. I am anxious to read her next installment of the
Selwyn clan. Barb Hicks
Reviewed by Barb Hicks
Posted August 25, 2005
SummaryMiss Althea Selwyn, born in England and raised in the West
Indies, is quite unlike any lady of Pierson Drake's
acquaintance. Outspoken and opinionated, she can curse like
a sailor and add up a column of figures in her head. Drake
realizes immediately that there is more to her than meets
the eye, and he is pleased to have the opportunity to
unravel the mystery when she cleverly maneuvers him into
taking her back to London on his ship.
Drake is shocked to find himself completely enthralled by
Thea's combination of passion and innocence, intelligence
and loyalty—and a stubborn recklessness that could put
her in harm's way. For Thea is determined to discover who
has been embezzling money from the shipping venture she
manages with her uncle—and someone is willing to do
whatever it takes to ensure she never reaches London alive.
Luckily Drake is no ordinary pampered English gentleman. He
was raised under a cloud of scandal, and he's had to scheme
and fight to attain his present position of wealth and
power. Now it will take every asset at his command to keep
Thea out of trouble—and in his arms where she belongs.
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