My Lady's Prisoner

I was very surprised by this book. Since Harlequin Historical slashed the length of their books, their stories really suffer. It's hard to develop strong characters and exciting plotlines with the really mini-book length. Shame on Harlequin since they are charging big book prices, too!However, I must say Cree gave a very gentle, old fashion style romantic suspense. Lady Julia Carrington's husband worked as a spy for the Brits. When he was killed three years before, she was told it had nothing to do with his work, but was a simple robbery. She never truly accepted the verdict, because they only thing they took was a special ring she had given him. Therefore, she is upset when a former comrade of her husband's sends word the ring has finally turned up on the hand of Nicholas Chandler, Viscount Thayne. She is so disturbed she arranges to play cards with him trying to win information. Only, she finds him in a lousy mood, so she falls to play B - kidnaps him. Her abduction is foiled when men paid to act as Highwaymen tried to steal the ring. Julia pulls a pistol and Thayne jumps before her to save her from being shot.She takes him home and nurses him, but soon wishes Thayne gone because she feels an attraction to him. To cover for her tending Thayne, she is sent to London, but there she is determined to press the issue of the ring. Someone is resolute in getting the ring back. Julia is pushed in the path of carriages; Thayne is knocked out when trying to find out information about the ring. Thayne is asking questions about Julia's husband's murder and someone wants it stopped.Julia's neighbour Lord George is determined to put the cat in the pigeons by starting enough gossip about Thayne and Julia to force an engagement. But is this merely wanting to win a wager or was he somehow involved with Carrington's murder? Could it be his older brother behind the man's death? As the riddle of who wants the ring and why gets deeper and deeper, you are pulled along wondering how the "mysterious Mary" from Thayne's past got hold of a ring belonging to a dead man and gave it to Thayne as a gift before her own death.Enough riddles to keep you off balance and wondering. Thayne is delightful Alpha male, Julia's is charming - so is Wellington the Cat and Betty the Goat.This writer so great promise and I will be looking for more books from her.