Struggling to support her family after her husband’s death, Caroline Harding attracts the attention of the ruthless Captain Francis Grafton who offers her a devil’s bargain to pay back her debts to him. Outwitting her enigmatic employer and unwillingly gaining his approval significantly changes her life for the better, but can she win his loyalty and his heart when he appears to care for nothing … nothing but profit?
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Not the usual historical romance of debutantes and the ton. This is set away from society in what my mind pictured to be a grubby, early industrial town. Caroline is the most practical of her family, which is in a most precarious of situations after the death of her father. She has no dreams of romance, but concentrates on survival.
Capt. Grafton lets the world think he’s a ruthless, hard-hearted businessman, but it is his sense of honor and fairness which has caused the estrangement from his noble family.
The storytelling drew me in from the start.
Wonderful book! Great characters and story!
This story was good but I would have liked a bit more character development and more story to explain more of the characters history. The love making parts seemed short and rough but somehow were still very stimulating.
Good read.
I enjoy Kate Pearce’s work. With this book, I was not sure of what I expected when I started it, but, I can say I did not anticipate being completely enthralled. I read historical romance on occasion, and if there were more like this one, I might read them more frequently.
Captain Grafton was a character that should have been unlikable. Arrogant, self serving, and selfish on the surface. From the very beginning of the book, you would catch a glimpse of his kinder, gentler side.
Caroline’s strong will and inner strength was apparent from the very beginning of the book. Times when you thought she was going to break, she stiffened her spine and moved forward.
The chemistry between the two was obvious and you definitely sensed the difference between her relationship with the Captain and her relationship with Mr. Ford.
An interesting, entertaining book that holds your attention from the first to the last page. There is romance, action, and suspense. There is also, so much opportunity for future books that I will be looking forward to wherever this author chooses to take us next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed the Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
It takes a real master at word crafting to take an unlovable “hero” and have him grow and give love. Kate did this in this book. I can’t say it’s my favorite of her stories because of the male lead, Captain Francis Grafton. Some readers would give up on this book. It’s kinda like seeing a train wreck but I trusted the author to find something redeemable about this self centered, Midas of a bully. She kept giving us peeks under his armor in the story to see his loyal and honorable heart. I was moved by the strength and determination of the heroine, Caroline, widow Harding. What she went through to feed and house her stupid mother and wonderful sisters is truly amazing in this difficult time period in history. The story takes place in the slums of London during the industrial revolution, a very dark time. Kate crafted a story that crackles with chemistry between the Captain and Mrs. Harding. He employs her to keep his books and forces her into his bed with a debt she cannot pay. Oh I hated him at that point and Caroline did too. It is a story of using of each other, she for her family’s survival and he for sensual pleasure & business gain. In the spitfire verbal sparring they force each other to look inside and see what they want in life. Amazing author!
Thank you Kate for the ARC of this book for my honest review. As always awesome and insightful story.