From
Starred Review Colonel Bartholomew βTollyβ James has come home from India a broken man. Physically crippled by the notorious Thugees, Tolly also bears the guilt of being the sole survivor of the massacre that took the lives of those under his command. By turns rude and sullen, Tolly has alienated himself from proper society. Theresa Weller sees something in Tolly that others fail to perceive. Yes, he's insufferable, yet somehow she's attracted to him. Powerful men with interests in Indian trade begin to slander Tolly, labeling him a coward who deserted his men, and calling the Thugees a fabrication Tolly used to protect his reputation. With her carefully drawn characters and plot chock-full of political intrigue, greed, and scandal, Enoch has put a nifty Regency spin on the Beauty and the Beast story. This exciting tale of a hero wronged in his own land, only to find salvation through the true love and steadfast faith of his soulmate will appeal to fans of Candace Camp and Virginia Henley. --Shelley Mosley
Product Description
The Rules:
A lady should always make polite conversation . . .
Theresa Weller understands the rules of decorum, and is appalled when Colonel Bartholomew James disrupts a perfectly civilized dinner. This rude, insensitive man is the complete opposite of everything a gentleman should beβbut with one searing kiss, Tess can think of no one else.
A lady should never lose her temper . . .
Aggravated beyond bearing by a man who speaks his mind, Tess wishes there was a guide to men like Bartholomew. Surely, with such an assortment of handsome, polite suitors to choose from, Tess should not ache for him.
And a lady should never pursue a gentleman.
She invites him on carriage rides and dares him to dance, and almost makes him want to return to Society. Bartholomew knows Tess wants to be seen as a proper miss, but deep down, he knows she is precisely the sort to spark his desire . . . A most improper lady.