Once Abrielle was a proud, exceptional lady coveted for her bearing, her breeding, her wit, and her beauty. But when her stepfather is denied his rightful title and the wealth that accompanies it, Abrielle finds herself suddenly disgraced. Only one would still have her, the oafish and grotesque Desmond de Marlé. Yet no one else can rescue her once-proud family's honor, so she is left with no choice but to accept the cruel and hateful de Marlé's offer of marriage . . . even as she yearns for another lover.
Dashing, handsome, tall, and kind, Raven Seabern is quite unlike any man Abrielle has ever encountered. From the very first moment their eyes meet, he intrigues and mesmerizes her—and dancing in his arms at a royal banquet leaves her weak with the desire to surrender. But their love can never be, for Abrielle is betrothed to a monster. And the well-being of everyone she cares for demands that she honor her promise.
Still, the fire lit that night will not be doused. Raven knows he has found the true one and must never let her go—though secrets, deceptions, dishonor, and unimaginable peril will surely be their fate if they follow the dictates of their hearts.
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"A historian romance novel about Abrielle and Raven. Abrielle's family has fallen on hard times financially and they believed that the King was going to honor her step-father and deceased father during a ceremony wherein Abrielle's step-father would receive money and property, but this didn't happen. It was at that ceremony that Raven Seabern fell in love with Abrielle. Later, Desmond de Marle proposes to Abrielle. Abrielle finds him vile and untrustworthy, but feels she must marry him to save her family from poverty as Desmond inherited all of his deceased brother's property who just happened to have been previously betrothed to Abrielle prior to his suspicious death. During the wedding celebration, Gabrielle is taken aback by Raven's presence. Fortunately, he was also present when Abrielle is running from the drunken Desmond on their wedding night when he intends her harm. Raven seems to always be there, watching her, protecting her. When she finally is forced to marry Raven by her step-father, she isn't happy because she doesn't trust Raven and believes that he is only after her dowry. Little does Abrielle know that, when Raven discussed the marriage with Abrielle's step-father, Raven told him not to transfer Abrielle's possessions into his name. Abrielle's step-father is truly honored by Raven but Raven asks him not to tell Abrielle because he wants Abrielle to come to trust him on her own with no influence. A true love story with the traditional happy ending."
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Mary (4 out of 5 stars)