Part of a new trilogy, this was a decent historical romance. I liked both characters. Lord Stephan Nash is your typical gambling rake who will never get married, Miss Xanthia is a more mature (on the shelf as they say) heroine who runs her families shipping company. Both have troubled backgrounds and strong feelings as well as sensual natures. They are thrown together in intrique and grow to deeply love each other. Of course Xanthia inadvertly betrays Nash’s love and the two of them are left heartsick. Never fear though this is a romance and happy endings abound.
I like Carlyle’s writing. She can add a touch of differences that kept the book from blending in with the slew of historicals out there. The emotional depth is great and worth reading.
Grade: B
Cover: Your typical headless heroine in a blue dress….