This debut novel was amazing, I loved, it. It is a meaty novel, quite long, because it takes the time to really handle the historical part really well.most of the action is set in the American town of Salem, in the regency period. I was expecting something light and more formulaic, but this really knocked it out of the park for me.

Isaac McCallister is the devout second son of Asa Macallister, Widowed as a young man, he was a sailor who added to his fathers wealth by sailing a merchant trading vessel, his ship was captured by the Turks, and the Turkish Bey imprisoned and enslaved him and his crew. Subject to many years of horrific treatment, Isaac endured and survived in spite of his torture. Discovered by a French Diplomat he spent an extended recuperation in Paris to help him recover in body and mind.

When he returns to Salem, he has to take the reins of the family business back from his sister’s husband Frances, and his stepbrother’s family, who were exiled to Boxtree Cottage by Isaac’s father, in response to his second wife’s infidelity, fear that he will turn them out.

Eleanor Hampton is the oldest daughter of Dev and Fanny Hampton, Dev was a good painter, who gambled away his wife’s dowry, and then died, so, Fanny and her daughters Eleanor and Amelia, scratch a living at Box tree Cottage. Fanny is unreasonably negative towards the macCallister family, and has been to court to try and get an inheritance from the family for her family.

The two main characters were interesting, well rounded and compelling characters too.

Eleanor approaches Issac to try and ensure they are not turned out of the house, and tries to broker a bargain with him, and he, instantly fascinated by her at their first meeting, impulsively proposes marriage instead. The book is about how they adjust to being married to each other, and how they come to know each other, set against the background on the international relations between America, Britain and France, and enlivened by a plot full of intrigue and nefarious goings on which threaten both Eleanor and her family, and Isaac.

A marriage of convenience is one of my favourite tropes, and this one was handled beautifully- from their first fumbling attempts to understand each other, Eleanors discomfort with her position in Salem society, due to her previous poverty, their developing joy in their life together, the slow confiding in each other of their secrets and their pasts, as well as the way they fall in love with each other. When they were finally happy, they also feared that it would be taken away from them. When Isaac is accused of murder, Eleanor has to dig deep to find the information to release him from custody, and finally truly see her family and life clearly. It was a gloriously bittersweet story.

My only complaint was the Arc formatting was incredibly annoying, in that so many words were run together with no spacing, this was infuriating.

Very highly recommended if you love a dramatic, angsty and grown up romance.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book and all opinions are my own.

This was a beautiful story rich in detail and wonderfully written with characters you couldn't help but love. Isaac spent years captive in a harsh environment suffering untold horrors beyond imagining to come home again and try and regain some semblance of the life he one had. He was barley home a day when his step brothers daughter propositions him in the most interesting of ways. She is delightful and stubborn, head strong and he can't seem to take his eyes off the enchanting woman. This is a story of love and healing, with a little intrigue and suspense, I could honestly not put it down!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book, it was so much better than I was expecting it to be, I was expecting a nice light read but I didn’t expect to be hooked as much as I was. I loved the romance, Isaac is an amazing man and I completely adored him, just a great read.

How I love this story! Issac is such a scarred man, as he has survived hell. Eleanor comes into his life anf he is smitten. Much goes on in this book. The characters are so interesting. You will find yourself aching for their pain, and cheering their joy. I want more of this author.