This was my first by
the queen of the modern historical romance novel, Kathleen Woodiwiss, and I
highly recommend it. A wonderful Georgian romance.
Set in mid 18th
century London, the Caribbean and the Colony of Virginia, this is the story of
the strong willed Shanna Trahern, the only daughter of a successful British
merchant who has retired with his wealth to his Caribbean island, Los Cammellos.
There he is both governor and owner of a thriving plantation and trade
business. His much-loved wife has died by the time the story begins and he
wants grandchildren from Shanna and he wants them now!
Her father gives Shanna,
who has rejected all her suitors, one year to find a suitable husband or he's
picking one for her, preferably one with a title. She has no interest in
complying and spends that year in London enjoying herself. Nearing the end of
the year, she decides that in order to avoid her father's picking a man for
her, she'll take a husband from among those in Newgate Prison facing the
gallows. Her goal is to be an instant widow with a good name.
She finds Ruark
Beauchamp, a convicted murderer, and marries him. When she first sees him, he
is dirty, bearded and unkempt, living in the prison's squalor. At the wedding,
after her man has cleaned up Ruark, she discovers a handsome, intelligent and
virile man who is a bit, well… overwhelming. His price for giving her his name
is one night with her after they are wed--a marriage in truth, however brief.
He manages to claim a bit of it just before her scheme is discovered. With
hatred and anger in his voice, as they drag him away, he vows to hold her to
their bargain if God grants him mercy from the hangman's noose.
Unbeknownst to
Shanna, that mercy will be granted to him.
This romance is worth your money. At 666 pages of well-told, detailed, historically accurate, page turning romance, it's a keeper! The characters are brilliantly developed and the settings well described. The hero's love for his woman never varied (which I loved). He is a man I'd give up decades for. Kathleen Woodiwiss, who unfortunately is no longer with us, could write!
This romance is worth your money. At 666 pages of well-told, detailed, historically accurate, page turning romance, it's a keeper! The characters are brilliantly developed and the settings well described. The hero's love for his woman never varied (which I loved). He is a man I'd give up decades for. Kathleen Woodiwiss, who unfortunately is no longer with us, could write!
This is on my Top 20
list!
Thank you Regan, for another book to put on my list, this sounds really awesome and your review has me intrigued. I'm looking this one up.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you plan to read this one. It's available on Kindle now, too.
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