After receiving a severe beating from her step-brothers, Lady Charis slips out of their country estate and flees for her life. Her step-brothers will stop at nothing to obtain her vast fortune. Charis hides in a horse stall at an inn, utterly exhausted and needing to rest her painfully bruised body. A stranger discovers her and comes to her rescue. Frightened to reveal her true identity, Charis tells half- truths and accepts his help.

Sir Gideon Trevithick, dubbed the Hero of Rangapindhi, accepts the accolades and hides the physical and mental damage done by his captors in India. The unwarranted hero worship threatens what remains of his sanity. He departs, desperate to obtain isolation and sanctuary at his Cornwall estate. His journey is interrupted when he finds an abused woman in the stables. Her tale has many missing parts, but Gideon abhors bullies who attack women. He offers to share his sanctuary with her.

Charis sees the torment that engulfs Gideon and she wants to comfort him. The barriers Gideon has built are high and his scars run deep. He rebukes Charis at every turn, but she is determined to break through the walls surrounding Gideon. Charis has fallen in love with Gideon and refuses to give up on him.

Ms. Campbell understands the workings and emotions of the soul and beautifully captures it with her writings. She draws readers into the characters' intense level of emotional despair and into their gradual ascent into healing, hope and love.

Book Summary

He pledged his honor to keep her safe . . .

Returning home to Cornwall after an unspeakable tragedy, Sir Gideon Trevithick comes upon a defiant beauty in danger and vows to protect her whatever the cost. He's dismayed to discover that she's none other than Lady Charis Weston, England's wealthiest heiress — and that the only way to save her from the violent stepbrothers determined to steal her fortune is to wed her himself! Now Gideon must hide the dark secrets of his life from the bride he desires more with every heartbeat.

She promised to show him how to love—and desire—again . . .

Charis has heard all about Gideon, the dangerously handsome hero with the mysterious past. She's grateful for his help but utterly unwilling to endure a marriage of convenience — especially to a man whose touch leaves her breathless. Desperate to drive him mad with passion, she would do anything to make Gideon lose control — and fall captive to irresistible, undeniable sin.

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