Product Description

Lady Maura O'Donnell swore to her father on his deathbed that she'd recover the Circle of Light, an enchanted Celtic relic that had brought the family prosperity—until it was stolen a century earlier by a notorious pirate. Now the pirate's descendant, the Duke of Gleneden, holds this rare treasure, and Maura would give anything to get it back . . .

Alec McBride knows when he's been had. Lady Maura tricked him into marriage with the expertise of a born seductress, and now she'll pay for her treachery. He'll ravish her, tempt her, tame her—until she sorely wishes she'd never heard of the Duke of Gleneden. Caught up in their game of revenge, Alec and Maura never notice what is happening in their hearts—until it's too late.

Their marriage may have been a farce, but there is nothing truer than their desire . . .

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #319671 in Books
• Published on: 2009-03-01
• Released on: 2009-02-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780060899400
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

About the Author

It was Samantha James's love of reading as a child that steered her toward a writing career. Among her favorites in those days were the Trixie Belden and Cherry Ames series of books. She still loves a blend of mystery and romance, and of course a happily-ever-after ending. The award-winning, bestselling author of sixteen romances and one novella, her books have ranged from medieval to Regency and the American West.

Customer Reviews

Unlikeable Heroine
Does Samantha James have something against the male McBrides? First Aidan had to deal with an annoying character in Fionna and now Alec is stuck with Maura. I just don't get.

For two hundred years, Maura O'Donnell's family has been cursed to lose good land and die mysteriously all because the Circle of Light was stolen by a pirate. On her father's death bed, he beseeched her to find the artifact and return it home. Of course, it now resides with the pirate's ancestor Alec McBride, who just have happens to be visiting his father's old friend in Ireland.

On with the deception....

Maura flirts, drugs and cons this man into marriage. Alec is understandably upset and distrustful of his new bride. I love how Maura is indignant when Alec is less than cheerful about the whole occasion. I mean really?

I didn't like Maura and as the story went on I liked her even less. She justified her treatment of Alec as payback for an ancestor (who by the way Alec didn't know anything about) actions. I also didn't like the author "dumbing down" Alec so Maura can continue her charade. Only when she denied him sex did he finally start questioning her.

After reading, "The Secret Passion of Simon Blackwell" I could wait to read stories about this family and they were such a disappointment. I can honestly say I won't buy her books anymore...it's the library or nothing.

It's a UFO. . it's a flying pizza..no, it's a Circle of Light
A little suspension of belief is requisite in romance novels, but a Circle of Light that floats above the ground and brings good luck? And, it sends out an aura to tell where it is?

Like the Circle of Light, the plot is full of holes, too. It is dependent upon coincidence, and taste-free, odorless potions, and lack of communication, and a well located where there is no need for one. Also, there is a hero who is seduced, drugged, forced into marriage, lied to, stolen from, --and yet he wants to continue the marriage because she is just so darned good looking.

I looked forward to the release of this book. It has already been carted off to the used book shop.

Annoying
Sorry but it started off on a sour note for me. Maura seemed like such a manipulating, selfish, liar. She set out to punish someone for the deeds of someone else, drugged him, trapped him and then slapped him ? after he was forced into marrying her for this relic that was supposed to bring her family prosperity. She didn't seem guilty at all for what she did to Alec and everyone was treating him like HE was the bad guy?? Most people would find some other way to become prosperous instead of doing these sort of deceitful things. I just found the whole story silly.