To Love a Dark Lord

If ever there was a man who needed a good woman it is James Killoran, the hero of To Love a Dark Lord. He is so jaded and world weary that it will take a special, innocent and determined heroine to veer him from his self destructive course. Emma is up to the challenge. Rarely do lovers have the combustible energy of these two characters. James saves Emma from a certain hanging when she is discovered standing over the body of her dead relative. James vouches for her innocence, not because he believes her story or that he is smitten by her beauty. No, it just amuses him to do so. He really has no other ambition in life than to lead a hedonistic life. He again comes to Emma's rescue from an amorous employer and realizes that she is the perfect pawn to bring about the downfall of his nemesis. Emma is destitute so she accepts his help knowing that she holds no special place in Killoran's life other than bait to be dangled before an enemy. Things are not always what they seem, however. Emma has a true longing for Killoran, who has deep dark secrets and he just cannot forgive himself for his past mistakes. Emma is no door mat. She is quite brave and able to defend herself verbally and physically time and again. Killoran is your wonderful Stuart hero. His intensity comes across every page and his self sacrificing nature is buried under mountains of guilt, anger and ennui. It is impossible not to be in love with him and disillusioned with him at times. Still his charm is ever present and his killer wit and looks are in no short supply. This is the best historical Stuart has ever written. The plot never gets in the way of the romance and the secondary characters are well drawn and thoroughly enjoyable.

Anne Stuart is one of my favourite authors, I admit that - but for a very good reason. She is simply one of the best writers around in either Contemporary or Historical romances. In To Love a Dark Lord, as usual, she delivers - this time one of her best Historicals ever! She is the queen of creating bad boys with blackhearts and souls. This time the scoundrel is James Killoran, who has a heart and soul so black he himself knows there is only one reason to lives, and that is revenge. He once loved a redheaded woman, only to have her destroyed. James could not save the woman he loved, so his only reason for living is vengeance, but he is no where closer to achieving that aim. The road to revenge can be a bloody dull, long and boring reason to live, since he cannot find the right weapon to extract it, so he uses people to relieve the tedium of his ennui. Mostly, he's just drunk and in a fowl mood with his self-loathing.The book opens with Emma Lagolet escaping a ravishing. Between her graceless attempts at saving herself, and the drunken James tarnished knight in shining armour rescue, Emma escapes. He deposits her where she can find a possession as help, only to discover she must again fight off the advances of her employer's amorous son. James at first thinks it a hallucination as Emma flops over his wooden fence. But the Irish Lord, again, goes to great pains to save Emma - just for the entertainment. Then James is struck that Emma is the perfect instrument to complete his long awaited vengeance. Emma who now loves James will go to any length to win James' love. James, too, is falling for Emma, but he will let nothing stand in his way from his revenge.It is so funny, with strong characters, proving once again, Stuart is the tops in her field. One of the Best! Why this is not in reprint is ONE BIG MYSTERY!

This book is my absolute favorite Romance Novel. I have not found any Romance before or since that I have liked better. This book should have been available in hardcover as well as paperback. I really can't say why I singled this book out of all the others that I have read but my fantasy is that one day they will make this book into a movie. I don't understand why this book is no longer in print. I fell in love with all the characters in the book. I cannot express enough how much I love this book.

This book will grab you right from the start and not let go until the very last page. A true 'keeper'!!! The hero is so bad, he is wonderful!