“Legendary adventurer Ashton Burke has roamed the globe for
ten years trying to forget the spirited woman he left behind in England. His devil-may-care pursuits are interrupted,
though, when he reluctantly agrees to retrieve his brother’s kidnapped fiancé from
a sultan’s harem. Too late, he discovers
his quarry is none other than Clarinda Cardew, the very same girl who made off
with his jaded heart.
“The last thing Clarinda wants is to be trapped in a palace
of sensual delights with the man whose irresistible kisses still haunt her
sleepless nights. She quickly realizes
that allowing Ashton to rescue her may put her yearning heart in even greater
peril. In a journey both tantalizing and
treacherous, Ashton and Clarinda resume the impetuous steps of their dangerous
dance only to discover the most seductive pleasure of all may be love itself.”
This was a new one for me since I’ve already read a majority
of this author’s other works. One of the
best parts of her works is the worlds she creates. She really draws you in with vivid imagery
and experiences which enthrall all of your senses. I hadn’t yet read a book of this genre set in
such a far-flung corner of the British Empire, so I wasn’t sure what to
expect. For me, part of the charm is
usually losing myself in the elegance and beauty of England/Great Britain
because I’m such an Anglophile. Despite
my reservations, I was sucked into the lush and exotic world of Clarinda’s
kidnappers. The palace and its luxuries
with its foreign ways and manners and food captivated me. All of the secondary characters were
interesting and unique, each with his/her own big personality. The uniqueness of the setting made this book
fun and special, allowing it to stand out in a genre of relative sameness when
set during this time period. It provided
an exciting backdrop for the development of a unique love story.
Clarinda was a strong, brave female lead. I thought she behaved admirably well given
her lot in life (and her kidnapping…and having to adjust to life in the
harem). Her struggles felt believable
and her backstory seemed to provide enough support that her strong personality
was in-character. Her friendship with
Poppy was entertaining and provided a bit of levity in a situation where the
female lead could have given in to far too much despair and hopelessness so as
to make this a much less “fun” read. I
particularly liked Poppy as well – she had a sweet disposition and an innocence
which I found endearing.
Ash(ton) was everything you’d expect from a swashbuckling,
exploring, Indiana Jones-esque male lead.
We encounter him just as he’s about to be put to death for a perceived
slight against a very powerful man, only to have his life saved at the very
last instant. When the reason for the
timely rescue becomes apparent, Ash isn’t so sure he’d rather not have perished
by the firing squad. He’s sent on a
mission to save the last woman on earth who’d probably rather he’d died than
rescue her. His struggle to come to
terms with both his past and present were amusing and realistic. Ash, while dashing and adventurous, had a bit
more to him than a “flat” traditional male lead in this genre. He came with his own issues and
complexes. What I found particularly
interesting was the change in relationship between Ash and his brother,
Max. The backstory and Ash’s childhood
speaks volumes to his character and seems to have helped shape him in a believable
way. I will, however, say that I would
have liked to have read a touch more from his point of view. He’s such a bold, exciting character that I
couldn’t help but want more! I think Clarinda’s
perspective ended up swallowing most of the story.
Ash and Clarinda have loved each other for most of their
lives. They grew up on neighboring
estates; Ash, a duke’s second (disappointment of a) son, and Clarinda, the
daughter of a wealthy, self-made man.
What began as a childhood rivalry eventually blossomed into a passionate
young romance. Ash, determined to make
his way in the world – determined to make something of himself so he’d be
worthy of Clarinda rather than just an impoverished second son – decides to
join the navy. Horrified that he’d think
of leaving her, Clarinda chases after him.
What begins with tears and hurt ends in a passionate embrace the two
would remember for the rest of their lives.
The years pass and Clarinda sees neither hide nor hair of Ash (except
for the tabloids detailing his heroic adventures). Convinced he’s abandoned her, she finally
decides to accept the marriage proposal of Max, Ash’s older brother – wealthy,
stable, staid, intelligent, and ever-practical.
She’s on her way to meet Max for their wedding when she and Poppy are
abducted by pirates and sold in a slave market into the harem of an obscenely
wealthy, handsome young sultan. While
there, Clarinda is groomed and trained in all the ways of the sultan’s
harem. After months, she and Poppy begin
to despair of ever being rescued and returned home…that is, until a dashing
ghost from Clarinda’s past makes a surprise appearance.
What follows is a tantalizing romance of opposing wills. Both Ash and Clarinda are nursing old wounds,
but still find themselves drawn toward one another by a powerful force that
seems to transcend time and distance.
Will Ash be able to save Clarinda from the sultan’s harem and deliver
her back to his brother? For that
matter, how can he stand by and allow his brother to marry the one and only
woman he’d ever truly loved?
I found the plot entertaining and very fun and different
from others in this genre/time period.
It was refreshing! I enjoyed reading
this and it was a relatively quick read.
I’ve already begun reading the second in this series and it’s shaping up
to be another lively read!
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