April 22, 2002
Ranging from the battlefields of Spain to the peaceful surrounds of London, this atmospheric narrative takes the reader back to the Regency era and the dusty campaign of the Peninsular wars with its colorful descriptions and charismatic characters. The third in a trilogy featuring the Sinclair brothers, Wilson's newest (after Anne's Perfect Husband) chronicles the exploits of Captain Sebastian Sinclair, the youngest and most reckless of the brothers. When Sebastian encounters Doña Pilar, a spirited Spanish beauty, she's on the run from her controlling and abusive guardian, Julian Delgado. Sebastian immediately comes to Pilar's aid when Julian catches up with her, but he is badly scarred in the ensuing scuffle. Vowing revenge against Julian, Sebastian kidnaps Pilar at the end of the war and marries her in order to bring her to England. But once ensconced in England with Pilar and his family, Sebastian comes to realize that revenge isn't the only thing he desires. Before Sebastian and Pilar can revel in their newfound love, however, they must battle Julian, who is determined to get Pilar back. The novel's breakneck pacing and high drama at times overshadows the romantic story line, but a satisfying and sensual denouement more than compensates for these lapses.