LOVE, REVENGE, PASSIONS RUNNING HIGH…
Nine years ago, when Richard Allen’s greedy, ambitious father, the Earl of Manford, betrothed him to Julia Miller, the daughter of London’s wealthiest merchant, he was distraught. The pair can’t stand each other and Richard takes to the sea, determined to live his own life.
In the Caribbean, he joins a band of pirates and adopts the persona of a Frenchman named Jean-Paul. But when he returns to England on an errand for his captain, he finds himself completely smitten with a married woman, Georgina Mallory. She is indifferent to him, yet he persists in seeking her affections.
But when he attempts to woo her at a ball, the last thing he expects is to come face to face with Julia Miller, to whom he is still engaged.
But when Julia tries to wreak her revenge, not all goes quite according to plan…
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I received a copy of this book from Random House UK – Transworld Publishing via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
My Thoughts…
It’s a few years since I’ve read a book by this author who is a favourite of mine for this genre. This story is part of the Mallory Family series. Familiar characters feature, but they are not a big part of this story. Privateer John-Paul (Richard Allen) and businesswoman Julia are the main characters destined for marriage from her birth.
This archaic contract is the crux of this story and the main point of contention between Richard and Julia. When they meet as adults, their antagonism, falls into a simmering passion and the fun begins. The story is about forgiveness, love, and revenge. The chemistry between Julia and Richard makes this a page-turner. Their conversation makes this novel so entertaining, and their strength of character draws the reader’s empathy, for their situation.
The story explores abuse, lack of choice, social class and the position of women in society in a sensitive way, with a love story that makes it memorable.
