A century ago, the McDonough clan took charge of the
mystical Celtic "Circle of Light." Its power blessed the
McDonoughs with peace and prosperity until the pirate known
as the Black Scotsman stole it for his own. From that
moment on, the clan suffered sorrow and poverty.
Lady Maura O'Donnell promised her dying father she would
find the ancient relic and bring prosperity back to their
lands. Her plan is quite simple. When it's announced that
Alec McBride, Duke of Gleneden, nicknamed the Black
Scotsman, is visiting Ireland, Maura plans to trap him into
marrying her. What she does not expect is the instantaneous
sexual attraction, which makes her plan to keep him at
arm's length until she finds the circle difficult.
Alec McBride calls himself stupid and foolish for falling
for the oldest trick in the book of being caught in bed and
compromising a virgin. In order to prevent scandal, he weds
the calculating vixen, but she will pay. Maura does not act
like a fortune hunter, but wanders through his massive
home. Her behavior puzzles Alec. He attempts to seduce the
truth from her, but instead falls for the skittish young
woman.
It is impossible to put Ms. James' latest tale down. From
the first chapter, the emotional turmoil caused by the
Celtic relic legend captures readers' imagination. Watching
Maura struggle to find the circle, while guarding her heart
against the wicked but appealing Scotsman, is classic. The
writing is superb and the storytelling excellent. This
story belongs right on the keeper shelf.
Lady Maura O'Donnell swore to her father on his deathbed
that she'd recover the Circle of Light, an enchanted
Celtic relic that had brought the family prosperity—until
it was stolen a century earlier by a notorious pirate. Now
the pirate's descendant, the Duke of Gleneden, holds this
rare treasure, and Maura would give anything to get it
back . . .
Alec McBride knows when he's been had.
Lady Maura tricked him into marriage with the expertise of
a born seductress, and now she'll pay for her treachery.
He'll ravish her, tempt her, tame her—until she sorely
wishes she'd never heard of the Duke of Gleneden. Caught
up in their game of revenge, Alec and Maura never notice
what is happening in their hearts—until it's too late.
Their marriage may have been a farce, but there
is nothing truer than their desire . . .
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