4.5 starsOh, how to begin describing what this book is about? Set mainly on the north Devon coast during the 1790s, the main focus of the story is Lord Thomas Eden, the Fifth Earl and Thirteenth Baron of Eden Point and Marianne Locke, fisherman's daughter. Marianne manages to catch Lord Thomas on a bad day and he orders a public flogging, which she barely survives. Marianne's recovery is slow, and she's eventually sent to live with her sister Jane in London (Jane isn't exactly thrilled to have a much more beautiful sister living with her). Circumstances bring Marianne back into Thomas' life and let's just say he's hot to have her, and his mindset just doesn't grasp the word NO. The chase is on, and Lord Thomas will go to any lengths to have her, and he's ably assisted by Marianne's double-dealing sister Jane."As the world was full of predators, now the King of Predators had arrived among them, a man schooled from birth in the art of selfishness and brutality." And if and when Lord Thomas catches Marianne, you don't think it will all be smooth sailing, do you? Not on your life, just fasten your seatbelts because it's going to be a wild and bumpy ride. I can't even begin to describe the things that happen to both of our pair, and Harris is not an author to pull punches, she definitely will take you to the dark side of life and Thomas is definitely one of those characters you love to hate. Or did I hate him? I loved the way she brought in lesser known bits of history (oh, Dr. Graham and his Celestial bed ;)). This is the first book I've read from this author, and there are more in my immediate future, starting with book two in this seven book series. Highly recommended.
