The most charming Wilde cousin, Lady Skye has secretly
loved the enigmatic Earl of Hawkhurst since girlhood, long before the tragedy
that left him scarred both physically and emotionally. When Skye learns that
the celebrated hero has returned to England from his self-imposed exile to make
a cold marriage of convenience, she brazenly plants herself on his castle
doorstep, determined to convince Hawk that she alone is his true mate and
destiny.
An elite member of the Guardians of the Sword, Hawk has
vowed never again to risk the pain of loving -- but that's before he deals with
the most enchanting, annoyingly persistent seductress he's ever encountered.
One night of blazing passion leaves him impossibly torn. Will Hawk choose duty
over love, or will he open his heart and let Skye's healing light penetrate his
darkness?
Good book. The Wilde family finds their love lives
mirroring those of legendary lovers. Skye's cousins Ashton and Jack followed
the stories of Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet. Skye firmly believes that her
story is that of Beauty and the Beast.
Skye fell for Hawk when she was thirteen but put those
dreams aside because he was already married. She followed his life after the
tragic loss of his wife and child as he fled England to serve his country with
the Guardians of the Sword. His return to England and plan for a marriage of
convenience goes against her belief that she is his destined bride. Skye
devises a plan to show him the truth.
Since Hawk's return, he has shut himself up in his ruined
home, haunted by the memories of his lost family and his failure to save them. His
planned marriage to his mentor's niece meshes with his vow never to risk the
pain of loving and losing again. He doesn't expect the persistent and
enchanting Skye, who shows up on his doorstep in a storm with a challenging
mystery for him to solve.
I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationship
between Skye and Hawk. Skye starts her mission knowing that it will be a
challenge. She times her arrival to coincide with a storm, counting on Hawk's
honor not to toss her back out in the storm. Hawk flatly refuses her plea for
his help finding her uncle's long-lost love, but Skye doesn't lose heart. In an
amusing scene, she counters all of his objections, wangles an overnight stay,
and refuses to accept his decision. Matters become more complicated when a
vicious nightmare leads to a night of passion. Skye offers to stay and help
Hawk renovate his home while they wait to see if there are
"consequences" to their night together.
I liked watching Skye's patience as she teases and torments
Hawk out of his brooding ways. Hawk fights hard to resist her effect on him,
but it is a losing battle. Skye's light slowly breaks through the darkness that
haunts him. The back-and-forth banter between them is fun as Hawk's initial
frustration gives way first to unwilling amusement and later to outright
laughter. When Hawk finally agrees to find her uncle's long-lost love, Skye
insists on going along. The attraction between them continues to grow, and Skye
begins to hope that her dream will come true.
Meanwhile, Hawk is caught in a dilemma. He accepts that
he loves Skye and wants a future with her, but he made a commitment elsewhere. To
fulfill his promise to take over the leadership of the Guardians, he must marry
the other woman. I ached for Skye as she set him free rather than make him
choose between her and his honor. I also hurt for Hawk, who, now that he had
opened himself up to love, faces a loveless marriage. I hoped for a reprieve
and cheered as Hawk discovered an alternative that freed him from his obligation.
I felt his terror as he arrived home to see his nightmares come to life. The intensity
of the ending kept me glued to the pages as Hawk faced those fears and overcame
them. I loved the ending and seeing Beauty win her Beast. The epilogue was good
and a nice lead-in to the next story.
I liked the secondary story of the search for Uncle Cornelius's
lost love. The background of his story was heartbreaking. I loved how Skye stumbled
on information that Rachel wasn't really dead and wanted to find out the truth.
Her belief that Hawk was the best person to help her proved to be true. I liked
following their investigation and kept my fingers crossed for their success.
The results of their search were heartwarming, and I loved the reunion. Some
circumstances affect the future of the reunited couple, and I liked seeing how
each played out.
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