3.5 starsRenold Harden's stepfather gambled and lost the plantation that's been in the family for over 100 years to a cheatin' card sharp, and then shot himself. Renold has vowed revenge against the gambler, who has gifted the plantation to his daughter Angelica as a bride gift. Renold's plan involves compromising Angelica (with witnesses!), so that she'll be forced to marry him and he'll save the plantation for his mother and stepsister. Simple right? Uh, no, this is romance after all. Renold is attracted to the beauteous Angelica (natch), and she seems to find him much more attractive than the childhood friend her father's engaged her to. I won't spoil, but events transpire to toss our pair off the riverboat and land Angelica firmly in Renold's clutches, including a wedding ceremony she doesn't even remember. Yes there's more, but I'm three reviews behind and I have other things to do today. Angelica is somewhat at Renold's mercy, and he keeps her somewhat of a prisoner in his New Orleans mansion, although I suspect she could have left if she'd had money and somewhere to go - Blake's heroines are usually smart enough not to go wandering into the cold dark night on a whim. I wouldn't quite call it *forced seduction*, the first love scene doesn't happen until around page 200 or so, and it was consensual. Still, the prisoner trope might not appeal to all readers, YMMV. All in all, this was just the right book for a very chilly November afternoon. Blake's romances are always a nice treat, a good story and realistic character behavior and historical details - just enough to make you feel you are there, but without clubbing the reader over the head with mind numbing details. 3.5/5 stars.
