Castles - Julie Garwood (Pocket - July 1993)

Series: Crown's Spies (Book 4)
 
England, 1819. Orphaned and besieged Princess Alesandra knew that only hasty marriage to an Englishman could protect her from the turmoil in her own land. To the amusement of her makeshift guardian, Sir Colin Hallbrook, younger brother of the Marquess of Caineswood, the bold raven-haired beauty instantly captivated London society. But when Alesandra was nearly abducted by her unscrupulous countrymen, the fighting instincts that won Colin a knighthood for valor were rekindled.
 
Deceiving himself that he wanted only to protect her, Colin swept her into a union meant to be a marriage in name alone... yet Alesandra's tender first kiss and hesitant caress ignited a wildfire in his soul. As the lovely princess dashed headlong into unforeseen dangers, Colin would follow, knowing he must claim her as his own forever. Now he would risk life itself before he would lose this sweet, tempestuous angel...
 
This is my first reread of this book in many years, and I still love it. It had a few issues, such as using the word "sexy," which didn't come into use until the 1890s. All of that aside, it was a fun book with likable characters and Garwood's trademark humor.
 
Alesandra was orphaned at the age of 12 and spent the next several years being raised by the nuns at a convent. Her high spirits and unique perspective made her life with the nuns very interesting. Alesandra's conversation with the mother superior when told she would stay with her guardian was a good preview of what would come. Matters become complicated when she arrives at the Duke's house to find that his family and his oldest son's are ill. She is sent to stay with the Duke's younger son, Colin.
 
Colin spends his days working to make his shipping business a success. He has a five-year plan that doesn't include marriage. That hasn't stopped his parents from pushing him to get married. When Alesandra shows up at his house, Colin is sure it is another setup by his father. He's unhappy that the need to protect her is real and that he is stuck with her. He's not entirely out of the woods, though, because she needs to be married quickly, and he is at the top of the list of recommended suitors.
 
The sparks between Colin and Alesandra are evident from the start. Each tries to ignore the attraction. But when Colin becomes ill, Alesandra nurses him back to health, and the attraction grows. When she is nearly abducted, the need for marriage becomes urgent. The Duke calls a meeting at his house, which includes the entire family, and they attempt to decide on an appropriate husband for her. One of the book's best parts is this scene, as Colin consistently finds something wrong with each suggestion while resisting the suggestion for him to step up. Everyone around Colin can see the truth that he refuses to admit - he cares for her. I laughed out loud at the outcome. I loved watching Colin continue to fall under Alesandra's spell after they married and got to know each other. They finally admitted their feelings for each other in a sweet and humorous way.
 
The book is filled with how Alesandra gets around some of Colin's stubbornness. She is frequently in cahoots with Colin's butler, Flannaghan, who is starstruck around "their princess." From her financial dealings through her "Uncle Albert" to colluding with Colin's doctor about his leg injury to her deception about the shares in his company, Alesandra finds a way to help without fighting him over it.
 
There is also a bit of intrigue as Alesandra worries about a missing friend. Her refusal to accept the consensus keeps her pushing for more information. I figured out the answer early in the book, but that didn't diminish my enjoyment. The final confrontation was intense. 

 
 
 

The Gift - Julie Garwood (Pocket - Jan 1991)

Series: Crown's Spies (Book 3)
 
England, 1816. A child bride, Lady Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband, Lord Nathanial Clayton, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided her and Nathan's families... and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now stood before her was perplexing, arrogant and powerfully handsome... a warrior-gentleman whose gentle touch aroused her to the wildest, deepest pleasures of love...
 
Nathan had never bared his soul to any woman, but he was soon beguiled and exasperated by Sara's sweet, defiant ways. Aboard his ship, The Seahawk, she was brave, imperious and determined to win his heart completely... yet upon their return to England, her love would be sorely tested as a most desperate conspiracy sundered them from one another. Now as their future trembled in the balance, they would discover the true destiny of their passion... for all time!
 
It has been thirty years since I last read this book, but it was just as much fun as I remembered. The story opens with a unique twist - King George III facilitates a marriage between two feuding families to end the conflict. The prize is a fortune in cash and a piece of disputed land when the marriage is consummated, and an heir is born. The groom is Nathan, Marquess of St. James, and the bride is Lady Sara Winchester. The twist - Nathan is fourteen and Sara is four. Obviously, consummation will have to wait.
 
Fourteen years later, Nathan is ready to bite the bullet and claim his bride. He's not enthusiastic about it but needs the cash to help establish the shipping company he and his friend Colin formed. There's a fun scene between him and Colin as they discuss Nathan's plan to retrieve his bride. Meanwhile, Sara is impatiently waiting for Nathan to come for her. Her life with her family has been miserable, and now she needs help to rescue her aunt. Letters to Nathan have gone unanswered, so she takes matters into her own hands.
 
Sara is something of a ditz. She is typical of the young ladies of the period - overprotected, undereducated, and utterly naïve about the real world. The opening scene of her planned rescue shows her oblivious to the danger around her. I laughed out loud as I watched her actions, completely understanding Nathan's disbelief as he followed her. This is just the beginning. I liked Nathan's protectiveness as he followed her, rescued her, and got her aboard his ship. The shipboard scenes with Sara were frequently hilarious as she tried to win over the crew, whom she called her staff, with often disastrous results.
 
Watching this pair's relationship develop had me laughing out loud throughout the book. Nathan, a man of his time, is arrogant, certain of his place in the world, and convinced that he knows best. He has no intention of falling in love, as women are not to be trusted. Sara, on the other hand, is bluntly honest in expressing her thoughts and feelings. She tells Nathan she is everything he could possibly want in a wife. She lets him know when she is angry or disappointed in him. She also tells him that she loves him and gets frustrated when he doesn't reciprocate. I enjoyed watching Sara wriggle her way into his heart with him all the way. His 'aha' moment was great, and I loved watching him try to fix his mistakes. His method of doing so was a fantastic ending to the book.
 
There is also tension because of the underhanded actions of Sara's father and uncle. Nathan's protectiveness toward Sara was needed to counteract their actions. Things became complicated when a lie ran up against Nathan's distrust of women, which caused him to make a stupid mistake. Sara's love for Nathan never faltered, though she questioned her belief about his feelings for her. There's a terrific scene where her Nathan-instilled confidence enabled her to come out on top of a confrontation with her uncle. I laughed out loud at the men's reactions. The resolution of that problem was excellent.