Dawn

This is a "small" regency romance which deals with darker themes than a typical regency. The hero and heroine have serious issues to overcome in order for love to triumph. Madeleine, a beautiful young woman (an orphaned pauper) with a scandalous past comes to England to try to make a new life living with her maternal relatives. But she fits in much better with her paternal relatives, including the dark sexy rake of a cousin Janus. Janus knows something of Madeleine's past and is extremely cynical. He is your typical rake, does not believe in love, etc. When a tragedy thrusts them together, it is just a matter of time before they fall hard for each other. Janus has his own troubled past and is unable to trust in the growing love he feels for Madeleine. When Madeleine's past intrudes on them, their love is threatened by their own insecurities.