Overall a good book. I really liked the setting. I haven't read very many Harlequin Historicals that take place in the Georgian period, fewer still that are also in Colonial America. It was a very nice change of pace. Having spent a good part of my life in Virginia, I enjoyed recognizing locations, events, and historical figures. Though I found the early part of the book a bit slow, the pace and intensity increased as the story went on, and came to a very exciting conclusion.

Cassandra is on the way back to Virginia from England, where she had had a very unhappy marriage. Her husband had been a cruel man who delighted in humiliating her whenever possible. Her goal is to take her daughter and live on her family's plantation. She didn't expect an encounter at sea with the notorious pirate Captain Rose. She was even more shocked to discover that he is the fiancé that she had loved - until he was killed at sea. What has caused the drastic change in him?

I liked Cassandra and Richard. Cassandra's life in recent years hasn't been a happy one, especially when her husband trashed her reputation. After his death, she is determined to bring her plantation back to life, no matter what she has to do. I admired her strength and determination and ached for her frustration at having to play along with the society games to succeed. Her hurt at Richard's deception is understandable, though I was a little frustrated by her refusal to see why he is so driven. I liked Richard. His anger at the way he was treated is believable, as is his thirst for revenge. Though he first gives the impression of being a hardened pirate, his actions show his true nature. The loyalty and respect showed to him by his crew was a good indicator of who he is, as was his determination to clear their names as well as his own.

The development of their relationship was interesting. Richard had never lost his love for her but never expected to see her again. Even now, he believes that there is no way for them to be together, even if he can clear his name. But he does demand her help. Cassandra also never forgot her love for Richard, but her feelings of hurt and betrayal over his deception are hard to ignore. Though he explains his reasons, she is rigid in her refusal to accept that revenge is more important. They did not part ways on the best of terms.

The action starts to pick up as Richard continues to seek the evidence he needs. Meanwhile, Cassandra is back in Virginia, being courted by the very man who Richard is trying to destroy. As Richard's actions begin to bear fruit, the bad guy's desperation intensifies, trapping Cassandra in the middle. Cassandra receives a shock when Richard's crew bring him to her for healing when he's injured. That time together is intense, as their love grows, but so does their danger. Richard's attempt to do the right thing lands him right back in trouble, with an even greater incentive to get the proof he needs. At the same time, the bad guy increases the pressure on Cassandra so he can get what he wants. The final confrontation was terrific, with some vital information coming from an unexpected source. I was glued to the pages until it was all over and I could see how it was going to turn out.

The epilogue was very intriguing. There's a good scene of Richard and Cassandra as we see that they have made a good start at revitalizing Belle View. Most interesting is the scene with two of the secondary characters. I hope that there will be a book involving these two as it has the potential to be fantastic. ( )