It was ok and after I was halfway throughout I wondered what compelled me to purchase it. It read more like a historical fiction harlequin romance more than anything. Story was easy to figure out so no big surprise there. I have read other books by this author that I have loved so I guess that is why I bought. Was a quick read but since you could pretty much figure out the story right from the beginning it seemed very dragged out to me. ( )

Not great ( )

RT: The recent civil war leaves Marcus Oxenden, Viscount Marlbrooke, anxious to secure his new holdings at Winteringham Priory. Marriage to the daughter of the rebellious Puritan who formerly owned the property seems a plausible way to avoid problems with inheritance claims.

The marriage is easily arranged, although Katherine at first refuses. Marcus finds her very attractive, making a commitment to holy matrimony and faithfulness.

On his way home, he rescues an injured rider—the young woman has lost her memory in an accident and is called Viola, after a Shakespearean heroine. Marcus is attracted and falls in love, as does Viola, but he knows he can't back out of the marriage to Katherine. Then Viola recovers her memory, and her true identity shifts the difficulties of memory loss to Marcus. She is the bride he met, kissed to seal the marriage bargain and then couldn't remember.

O'Brien gives the Oxenden and Harley families a long history of problematic connection. There's a haunted mansion, interesting secondary characters, a sharply drawn plot with not too much Puritan lore, an appealing touch of history and a fine romance. SENSUAL