Homigod, she's writing the rest of the series! Squee!

ETA: Honestly, I have no idea why I love this book so much. Anne and Ruan get married because he rapes her in her sleep (having been injured, she is sleeping in his room, high on laudanum; he thinks she is a professional hired for him by his friend. She thinks she is having a sexy dream but he thinks she is responding positively. He doesn't know it's rape, but it's rape). I cannot explain why or how, but this story hits all my happy buttons. ( )

Anne Sinclair is in love with another man who is about to offer for her when she is ruined by Lord Ruan Bettancourt, the Duke of Cynssyr. It was a mistake due to her having taken laudanum for a sprained ankle and him showing up to find her in his bed, mistaking her for a 'gift'. They must marry, for once to save his reputation as he basically forced her; because she's poor, no one seems to care about her future. Things don't look good for their marriage, but Anne is intelligent and Ruan needs her help to find a group of men who are kidnapping and abusing young women.
I like Ms. Jewel's writing. She writes steamy romances with interesting characters. Anne is sensible, determined not to fall in thrall to her new husband who is arrogant and earned the title of 'Lord Ruin'. I had some trouble with Ruan. There's an attempt to explain why his character is so bad as a result of the Napoleonic wars, but it didn't really work. It aggravated me that he was supposed to be in love with Anne and wooing her, but still hanging with several of his former mistresses. I really didn't like the scene where Anne pretty much caves to him even though he's asking his former mistress to take him back. It seems he still has quite a way to go to rehabilitate his character. I'm willing to give him a chance and hope he'll do better in the next two books. ( )

Sybil has been telling me for years to read this book. She was right, it was good.

The heroine started to annoy me toward the end with all her whining and wishy-washy behavior. But overall I thought this was a wonderfully written historical romance. ( )

This was a slow start...but the story and the mystery really reels you in there is graphic sex scenes but they are well woven into the story ( )

A fairly good steamy historical. Good character development for the hero and heroine that were stuck in a difficult situation. ( )