Meh. These books are all the same. Completely full of cliches and not even very good romances. Too bad I started with the 4th book in the series & felt compelled to read the rest. >. ( )

This is Lucian Tremayne, Earl of Wycliff's story. This book starts off with a glimpse of the future. So you have a small taste of what might happen toward the end of the book. I read this story back when it was first published and this story which is so much a part of this series is probably one of the reasons I dislike the big misunderstanding story line. This story is based on one misunderstanding after the other. However, Ms. Jordan is a wonderful writer and does provided a richly populated story as well as some searing love scenes and a touch of humor. We get to see some people from the earlier books, Raven, Dare, Lord Wolverton. There is mention of Damien and his wife as well as Nicholas Sabine and his wife.

There were times that I wanted to shake both Lucian and Brynn. Brynn is obsessed with the curse placed on her family by a gypsy. She is so obsessed that she does every thing in her power to make life miserable for Lucian and then gets upset because he doesn't show her more kindness and caring. There are times that she really isn't a likable person at all. She does come around a little but not much until the last few chapters of the book. I am not sure that Lucian would have come around to loving anyone else but it is painful to read about all the struggles that they go through.

Lucian thinks he has everything figured out. He wants a son and in order to get one he must marry. So while is out looking for traitors he finds Brynn and decides to marry her. He bribes her with money, settling the family's debt and making sure Theo goes to school. There are times that Lucian wonders where everything went wrong. He doesn't want all the contention that has developed between Brynn and himself. He would really prefer that they were at least friends, until he realizes that he has fallen in love with Brynn. He sets out to woo her and show her that he really does care. This is the point that I really fell for Lucian. He is such a caring and loving husband. He wants a family and happiness for both of them. He really does try to make up for the way their marriage started.

There is an underlying mystery to this story that isn't resolved at the end of the book. I am hoping that in one of the last two books that mystery is solved. I would really like to know who Lord Caliban is and see him get his just rewards for all the death and destruction that he has caused. Like Lucian I really want to see justice served in this case. If for no other reason than Grayson is allowed to come home.

If you like historical romances you are probably going to love this story and this series. It is well written and it a fairly fast read. ( )