378 pages
English language
Published June 2, 2011 by HQN.
"Ash Turner has waited a lifetime to seek revenge on the man who ruined his family--and now the time for justice has arrived. At Parford Manor, he intends to take his place as the rightful heir to the dukedom and settle an old score with the current duke once and for all. But instead he finds himself drawn to a tempting beauty who has the power to undo all his dreams of vengeance.... Lady Margaret knows she should despise the man who's stolen her fortune and her father's legacy--the man she's been ordered to spy on in the guise of a nurse. Yet the more she learns about the new duke, the less she can resist his smoldering appeal. Soon Margaret and Ash find themselves torn between old loyalties--and the tantalizing promise of passion...."--P. [4] of cover.
Book starts with a bit of irony, as the reader knows who Ash Turner is, how Dalrymple helped cause his misery, and how he is duke presumptive, and who Margaret really is.
I enjoyed how Ash helps Margaret believe in herself, how they both realize their worth, and their import.
I'd read this again. It gives me the warm fuzzies.
4.5
This was so great. The hero Ash was a wonderful mix of super duper confident but secretly vulnerable, all without ever being a douche and Margaret is delightful. Angry, vulnerable, grieving, and fierce.
I loved that one of the big touchstones of their relationship was him respecting her boundaries and valuing her as a person. Also, Margaret's arc being about coming into her own and escaping the awful relationships she'd allowed to define her was great. I cheered when she puts on the Parford signet ring like FUCK EVERYONE ELSE I'LL BE THE DUKE OF PARFORD!
