Rebel Baron

Setting - American and England 1865-67 --- Brandon Caruthers had fought for the Confederacy and the loss was painful but coming home to the devastation and ruin of his horse farm River Trails was far worse. Only with the help of his friend `Sin', who had managed to hide his prize stallion did Brand have any chance of rebuilding his fortunes. Ultimately losing his farm to the corrupt bankers and carpetbaggers, Brand was just about beaten until he found he'd inherited a barony in England. After using what funds he had for passage and to bring his prize horses to England, he found that along with the title, he'd inherited an entailed and run down estate without funds for upkeep. After being turned down by most of the banks for a loan, Brand had been summoned to the offices of the last bank on his list, run by the very wealthy widow, Miranda Auburn. Miranda had noticed the `Rebel Baron' and had him thoroughly investigated to see if he were the right candidate for a proposition she had in mind. The proposition was marriage - not to her, but to her daughter Lorilee whose interest in a wastrel was one her mother wanted to nip in the bud! Not happy with being manipulated but rather desperate for the loan, Brand agreed to meet the daughter, and would marry ONLY if the daughter agreed. While wooing the daughter, Brand became only too aware of the Miranda as a woman and not the `tough as nails' businesswoman. During the courtship it became apparent that someone was trying to kill Miranda and as Brand saved her life several times he became her very own hero. More and more Miranda, became aware of Brand as a very virile man who she'd begun to admire and that wouldn't do at all for this independent, no nonsense business woman. Not only has the author filled this with a plethora of well-drawn secondary characters, but she's given us a rare twist with a heroine older than the hero. Brand was a strong and admirable lead character, and when handed a beautiful young heiress on a platter, that could have been the answer to his prayers, he truly didn't want to take advantage especially when he realized it was the mother that had captured his heart. Miranda was a wonderfully strong heroine who couldn't afford to let her femininity show as she attempted to control a business dominated by males. It would take her daughter and the maid Tilda's badgering before she could let herself feel, let alone trust the handsome American. I totally enjoyed the very nasty and crude, ex-fiance of Brand's who was also a perfect foil for some very `catty' and amusing put-downs, and Lorilees' plotting when she realized where the Rebel Baron's true interest lay were wonderful as she attempted to play matchmaker. Bottom Line - This was another enormously entertaining offer from Henke's American Lord series that is sure to please! --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

This novel lacks the erotic love scenes and some of the sexual tension of Shirl Henke's other novels, but it's still a good read. Also recommend "Yankee Lord."

I can not tell you how much I enjoyed this book, the two other reviewers have gone over the story line so I won't go into that. I found Brandon and Miranda to have a chemistry connection that I haven't read in books in a while. I like the age difference with the older woman - younger man theme. There's the ex-girlfriend who really is someone you love to hate. The secondary storyline between St. John and Tilda was a nice touch. I'm looking forward to reading the next story in this series..A Texas Viscount that comes out in October, 2004. I I'm hoping that she does a book on Lorelee..who mature so much in the book.

The story is outlined by ms Klausner(above) who does wonderful reviews. This is a civil war -post civil war era book without any significant inclusion of the war itself. Brand was a Reb with a wonderful home who fought and was imprisoned by the yankees. The book makes the excellent point that he is older than his 30 birth years because of this horrendous experience. And this is so true that it makes the romance between him and the 36 yr old mother of the debutante that he is supposed to marry plausible. Our deb, lorilee, starts out as a fluffy and immature, almost to the point of annoyance, but it is good to see her as she matures rapidly thankfully. Our Rebel Baron is incredible. A hunk of the first order who has lost everything in America to find himself titled and penniless also in england. But he is rich in his friendship with his horse trainor. Miranda, our mother who wants to find a husband for her daughter, is a complex character........admirable in her business acumen and annoying in her "oldness". The dialogue between her and Brand is truly enjoyable. It is fun watching them have fun. When Lori decides to hook them up, it is too cute. Reba his ex-fiancee who abandoned him for a better match is nasty but the role fits into the story well. Brand has too much integrity to marry for money and seeing him find a way to work out his problems differently is great. The book falls short for me by ending too soon. Brand is trying to set up his "thoroughbred stables" throughout the book and that aspect is left high and dry at the end. We're sure he's successful but would like to hear about it. Midnight Reiver is such a beautiful horse that a few ending paragraphs wouldn't be remiss. All in all good job, shirl. You do have a wonderful talent and I really enjoy your books. Will watch for lorilee's story.

With the Confederacy defeated, Brandon Caruthers returns to his Kentucky home River Trails to see it in ruin and the back taxes on his property makes it even more difficult for him to regain all he lost when his side went down to defeat. His former fiancé dumped him while he fought and married into a pro-Union banking family. To add insult to injury, the former Reba Cunningham now Wilcox pays the back taxes on Brandon's estate to punish her ex.In 1867, Brandon leaves his American troubles behind to go to London as a Baron seeking a wealthy heiress to finance his efforts to regain control of River Trails. He cuts a deal with widow Miranda Auburn in which he will marry her daughter Lorilee in exchange for her loaning him the capital he needs to buy back his family property. Everything is perfect except for one problem; he has fallen love with the older Auburn female.Though some of the intrigue subplots seem unnecessary and Reba is drawn too nasty to matter, readers will appreciate this historical romance between an older wealthy woman and a younger needing cash male. The story line is fast-paced, but at its best when the triangle interacts even with Lorilee knowing she and Brand will not suit. A kidnapping and the outrageous behavior of Reba takes away from a powerful post American Civil War love story.Harriet Klausner