Scarlet Angel

I have read all her books and this is one of the top 3(others are the Bride's Bodyguard and Whisper His Name). This has more than just a scan reading. It also has a unusual plot dealing with the French Revolution and the war with England. Yes, I know the revolution/war has been done before but not this way. I realize the hero is alpha male but the French girl he kidnaps really turns the table. She is from Normandy in France and even the servants(his) call it the second Norman Conquest-she just querked her finger and Dunraeden(his estate)went down in defeat.When I read for pleasure I don't get bent out of shape and ask if something was logical. I REALLY liked this book and it is a keeper for me

This was another fabulous historical set in the early 1800's during the conflict between France and England and the Napoleonic struggles. It is the story of two individuals whose paths would cross as both fought for survival, not knowing that the outcome would forever control their destinies.As a young child of eight years, Gabrielle de Brienne, was the granddaughter of a high placed French diplomat. An inadvertently innocent song she sang to gain her release from the prison where Cam Colburne, Duke of Dyson, and his family was being held was the impetus that caused mob hysteria for more blood letting as executions abounded during those tumultuous times and Cam lost the only family he had ever cared about. He vowed to hunt down both her and her grandfather and make both pay for his loss.Eleven years later having grown up on the run, Gabrielle's sword fighting skills were more comparable to a seasoned fighter than those of a lady of the manor. Her grandfather had at last assumed a position of imminence and Cam, finally saw his opportunity to make them pay. He would abduct the hoyden, hold her in his Cornwall castle and manipulate her grandfather into betraying France for her release. As outside forces threatened to expose Cam's activities he would be forced to wed Gabrielle in a marriage of convenience but the more he came to observe her the more he would want than just the 'sham' of a marriage. Cam and Gabrielle would each fight unwanted attractions and their individual childhood terrors. The more Gabrielle learned of Cam from his devoted servants the more she fought her feelings for her abductor unable to fathom the reason for his hatred of her. Cam, with a beautiful mistress in the wings, tried to remain aloof and distant from his hoyden duchess but more and more Gabrielle invaded his every waking moment. The love story is beautiful, passionate, and the action fast-paced and exciting. You are drawn into the period with numerous mentions of actual events and notable persons from that historical era. Thornton writes stunning visual imagery and wonderful sensual romance in this superb read for an out of print and hard to find novel! One can always hope that as more and more of Thornton's novels get reissued this will be on the list!

Well developed antagonists lead us through a fast paced story full of suspense and action, enhanced by repeated changes of setting between France and England. Wild, carefree, hoyden Gabrielle and dark, handsome and secretive Cam stem from two countries at war and were never supposed to meet under normal circumstances. Who would have thought that they share some common nightmarish memories. They both will have to overcome their sad past and face their inner demons before they can fall in love and overcome their challenging fates. Enjoy!