Product Description

New York Times bestselling author Samantha James has captured the hearts of readers everywhere with her dramatic love stories of fiery passion, intense emotion, and unforgettable sensuality. Now, Samantha has created a spellbinding romance between two people whose passion defies all logic--yet cannot be denied.

The Vicar's Daughter

Forced to leave her home in the vicarage, proud and resolute Olivia Sherwood has hired on at Ravenwood Hall, where preparation for the new earl's arrival is underway. At first glance, Olivia stands transfixed by the dashing gallant with eyes dark and gleaming in the moonlight. Though his origins are shadowed in secrets, and Olivia knows better than to trust a man she's never met, she is intoxicated by him.The Dark Earl

Crossing the threshold of his new home, Dominic St. Bride, the Earl of Ravenwood, sees suspicion in the faces of everyone surrounding him--for his staff knows of his illegitimate birth and dubious background. Yet, the radiant face of a beautiful servant intrigues him. Although the familiar wariness flares in her eyes, Dominic senses a smoldering desire there as well, and he determines to claim her. But can his passionate soul win the unlikely devotion of a defiant maid--thereby redeeming him with her unconditional love?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133109 in Books
• Published on: 1998-12-01
• Released on: 1998-12-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Mass Market Paperback
• 384 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780380786091
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Amazon.com Review
Gypsy curses and forbidden passion fill the air in Samantha James's tale of Olivia Sherwood--impoverished daughter of the local vicar, and her employer, Dominic St. Bride--the Earl of Ravenwood, bastard son of the old earl and his beautiful gypsy lover. St. Bride has lived on the fringes of respectability all his life and has grown accustomed to being greeted with hostility and suspicion, but his shadowy past fascinates and lures the innocent Olivia much against her will. Forced from her home after a rogue gypsy murders her father and causes her sister tragically to lose her eyesight, Olivia endeavors desperately just to provide a home for her sister and enough food on the table. When Dominic offers Olivia much-needed additional wages to act as his secretary, she finds herself sharing very close quarters with the man whose innate decency helps her forget the circumstances of her father's death and whose smoldering sensuality threatens to make Olivia forget herself. And Dominic, who has spent his life on the outside looking in, finds himself tempted to believe in the kind of love he thought nonexistent. He has Olivia to thank for this, with her impassioned defense of him to the citizens of Stonebridge and her fiery response to his caresses. Bestselling author Samantha James inspires empathy and intense emotion for these two souls desperately searching for something in which to believe. --Alison Trinkle

From Publishers Weekly
James's newest is a nicely written, unabashedly old-fashioned Regency with strong dollops of sensuality, achieving a higher standard than her previous book (Every Wish Fulfilled). Olivia Sherwood, an impoverished vicar's daughter, is forced to go into service at Ravenwood Hall after her father's death makes her the sole source of support for her blind sister, Emily. The dark and dangerous Gypsy Earl, Dominic St. Bride, who has recently arrived to claim his birthright and ingratiate himself with the people of Stonebridge village, falls in lust (which swiftly becomes love) at first sight with the beautiful, russet-haired Olivia. St. Bride, a tormented Heathcliff-like character, is every dedicated genre reader's dream hero, and, although outwardly prim and proper, Olivia is nonetheless a feisty, winning heroine. Nasty anti-Gypsy prejudice threatens both St. Bride and Olivia, but she comes through to save the day (and their lives) in a satisfying climax. A secondary romance between blind Emily and the Gypsy horse trader, Andre, is also well drawn and complements the main story line.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review
"No one can write a book quite like Samantha James." -- -- Catherine Anderson

Customer Reviews

A Truly Romantic Story
This is one of my favorite romance novels to date. This was the first Samantha James book that I have read and it will not be my last! Olivia and Dominic were well developed as indivduals and together they had fantastic chemistry. I dislike weak female heroines and really dislike overbearing male heros. Olivia had a quite strenght and it showed in her ability to live a hopeful life after suffering so much sorrow. Dominic being 1/2 gypsy and treated so cruelly by his father and society desperately wanted love even though he didn't know it until he met Olivia. Minor intrigues added to the story as well as Olivias sister Emily's romance with Andre didn't distract from the main story.
The love scenes between Dominic and Olivia had just the right amount of romance and sensuality. Sizzle without being crude.

This book is a keeper for my library.
Sensuality rating 4 out of 5

One Moonlit Night
Outstanding.

I have read only 2 of Samantha James books and I found the first one by mistake. Since then, I have gone and purchased 3 more. It was only three that I could find. Outstanding writer. She kept me reading well into the night. To me, that is a good book, when you can't put it down.

Love Really Can Overcome Anything
Okay, I'm going to become sappy, so anyone who can't stand that - scroll past my review now! :) I thought this book was incredible. No other words can express it. I finished reading this book this morning on my train ride to work. Dominic was an amazing character. He had an unhappy childhood, he was the unwanted bastard of a selfish English earl who was only legitimitized because the earl had no other heir. Dominic was half Gypsy, half English and was not accepted by either. Too Gypsy for the English, too English for the Gypsies. Olivia was sweet, devoted, even-tempered and kind. Her mother had long since died, her father had been murdered by a gypsy and her sister was blind, therefore Olivia was the sole provider for the two of them. She was hesitant to trust in Dominic, he was half Gypsy afterall. Dominic's charms soon won her over. Her sister's story of blindness and overcoming her own trepidation where Gypsies are concerned made a great side story. Dominic was by far my favorite character in the book though. Emotionally, he had suffered greatly in his life and yet he was not jaded or bitter and did not seek to condemn all people for his ill treatment. Although no one treated him kindly, he never sunk to their level. He had true class and he just strenghtened my opinion of love overcoming hate. Strength of the heart overcoming ignorance of the mind. It was amazing how all the characters eventually gave up their groundless hatred against a whole race of people because of these 2 characters. Proving that prejudice is only skin deep - no one is born hating and you must just open your mind and heart in order to see that.

A wonderful book and I recommend it to anyone who wants to believe in love and fate and the inherent goodness in others. Enjoy!