Firmly on the shelf at age 32, Lady Eleanor Durbane is flabbergasted when her father presents plans for eligible men to attend a house party. What's even more astounding is that her father has issued an invitation to Braham Ryland. Ten years ago, Eleanor caught Braham (her then fiancΓ©) drunk and in bed with her younger sister. After tossing him out on his ear, Eleanor turned away other suitors, preferring a quiet life. At Braham's appearance in her home, old feelings revisit Eleanor; from the pain of his betrayal to the giddiness and excitement she feels when she sees him.
The eldest of the Ryland brothers, Braham most resembled his father, especially his love for the bottle. It took his father's accidental death for Braham to take stock of his disgustingly notorious deeds. Acknowledging the fact that he's an alcoholic, Braham struggles every day not to take a drink. As he slowly recovers, he seeks to make amends and seek forgiveness for past behavior. The one woman he has yet to confront is Eleanor. At her father's invitation, Braham jumps at the chance to see her.
Eleanor and Braham's confrontation leaves them with mixed emotions. Eleanor can't trust him, but she still loves him. Braham battles his desire to turn to the bottle when life gets hard. Together, they explore their evolving feelings to see if they can have a second chance.
Ms. Smith tackles the reality of alcoholism in this absorbing love story. Readers will feel Eleanor's pain of family betrayal and Braham's pain as the bottle constantly beckons him. Ms. Smith's fans expect powerful stories from her and she does not disappoint with this tale.
Brahm Ryland is a man used
to getting everything he desires ...
Another London season has just wound down and Brahm Ryland,
Viscount Creed, is thankful for it. Since a horrible
mistake ruined his betrothal to the beautiful Lady Eleanor
Durbane, his life as a scandalous bachelor has grown
tedious; every day without Eleanor seems longer than the
last. But then a break in the monotony appears: an
invitation to a shooting party at the home of Lord
Burrough, Eleanor's father, and he knows his chance to make
amends has come at last.
Yet Brahm soon finds that Eleanor will need more than a
simple apology to atone for his betrayal -- and after so
many years of hurt it will take time and care to make her
learn to trust again. When all her sisters warn her against
him, she knows she would be a fool to give their passion
another chance. But what Eleanor doesn't know is that
London's boldest viscount will do anything -- anything --
it takes for a second chance at his one true love ...
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