Shadow of Splendor

It was bad enough traveling for the last seven weeks across the Atlantic in 1744 on her way to be married to a stranger, but now waiting for three hours on the Boston dock with no one there to greet her, Lady Rosanne Mallory, between being scared to death, alone in a foreign country, was now becoming quite furious. Finally, a deep melodious voice called her name and when her eyes met the man, handsome and more than she had ever expected in a groom, she was so relieved. Only it wouldn't last long, for the man who had come to meet her was not her intended but the nephew of her betrothed. Upon meeting her intended, she was less than pleased, not so much that he was so old, but just a feeling of revulsion that he would look at her so lustily. Brant Layton, the nephew, didn't know why he should care for the young woman - after all, he had his betrothed waiting for him in Albany, but he felt sorry for the young innocent who would soon belong to the lecherous and vile man he knew his uncle to be. After an aborted attempt to seduce Roseanne before the marriage and then witnessing the uncles perverted debauchery, she overheard plans to lock her up before she could run away before the wedding. With the help of the uncles abused prostitute, Roseanne escaped and found her way to Brant, the only person she knew who had shown her any kindness. After seeing the bruises his uncle had inflicted upon Roseanne, Brant decided to help her get away from him, only wondering who would save him from himself and the passionate longings the sight of Roseanne was stirring in him.This was a true adventure as the author carries you along on the early colonial wilderness trail and passionate encounters both Brant and Roseanne encounter along the way to freedom. The excitement and tension of both the flight and the sexual yearnings the author will take you on are just non-stop from start to finish. Brant, tries his best to remain aloof and honor bound to keep to his commitment to his betrothed, a woman he can no longer dredge up from memory, as his thoughts, so carnal in nature are so focused on the very innocent and beautiful Roseanne. The pages will fly as they travel to a new land and then try to carve a life out of the dangerous wilderness of colonial America and you will positively squirm as the two succumb to the inevitable sensual conclusion fighting to remain together as danger and treacherous enemies abound to snatch their happiness from them. This was a super good read, with plenty of excitement and historical background for the romance genre reader and if you have the opportunity to find this out of print novel - do by all means pick it up.