I have to say I can quite understand why the book is one of Kristie's favorite and why it has received great reviews. Can I say: Finally, a good/original plot for a historical romance?!?!
For once, the hero and the heroine are BOTH NOT PART of the aristocracy :) This came as a good surprise and a nice change of pace... can I say I was getting tired of dukes, viscounts, marquess, etc.? As for th heroine, altho she was innocent, she wasn't a young naive girl whose goal in life was to find a wealthy, handsome husband... ahh, an original plot! :)
So the heroine is Sara Fielding who comes from a village near London. She's a writer (yes, she works!), who is published, and has had great success with her novel Mathilda, which is about a girl falling into protistution. anyway, Sara is doing some research for her new novel about gambling which leads her to gambling clubs and some bad parts of London. One night, she sees a man being attacked by two others and so, she takes out her pistol and shoots one of the attackers and saves the life of Derek Craven, owner of the most frequent and popular gaming club.
Eventually, she gets permission to do her research from Derek's club and gets to know Derek and his past better. Unfortunately for her, Derek doesn't trust women but little by little, Sara wins Derek's affection... however, there's one of Derek's ex-mistress looming behind and only waiting to destroy any happiness that can exist between Derek and Sara.
So, I really liked the book. Derek is a very nice hero... you know, the way we all like it: alpha, reformed rake, a bit tortured, doesn't believe in his worth, etc :) and Sara is an extremely interesting heroine. I also find the plot quite refreshing and I like the fact that there is no misunderstanding between Derek and Sara once they get married. You know, Derek is not able to say "I love you" to Sara, not yet; however, he loves her and she knows it... no misunderstanding, no doubting, just love and patience and understanding which is quite different. Another pleasant surprise, at least for me, is that I read Devil in Winter first and so you do have some connection. Derek's club is mentioned in DiW and the fact that it burnt down and that he didn't re-build it, we also see Ivo Jenner... so nice connections :)
