Tracy’s review of Because of You by Cathy Maxwell
Is a reckless rogue worthy of the love of an innocent enchantress?
Pretty Samantha Northrup knows it is her duty to marry—but the chaste English vicar’s daughter secretly desires to be swept off her feet by a man whose kisses leave her breathless. And when a seductive stranger arrives at her door one stormy night, Samantha’s neat and orderly life is turned upside down—especially when she finds herself in a most compromising position . . . and is forced to marry a man she barely knows!
Samantha is unaware that her mystery bridegroom is Yale Carderock, the dashing, disinherited rakehell son of a duke, banished by his father years before. Now Lord Yale has returned—wealthier but only somewhat reformed—and he is bewitched by his lovely new bride’s awakening sensuality and innocent fire. But can this marriage of convenience be something more . . . and can a confirmed cad and society outcast truly change his ways enough to merit the lady’s tender love?
Samantha Northrup is a vicar’s daughter who’s on her own. Her father died and she’s been alone for a year now. She has become a healer and when a strange man becomes ill with the influenza the townspeople want him out of the inn. They are planning on just taking him to the mail coach and letting him go but Samantha won’t let them. She ends up taking him back to the vicarage and bringing him back to health. Unfortunately the man known as Marvin Browne is still under the weather and thinks he’s dreaming when he shows up in Samantha’s kitchen stark naked and in front of the ladies of the village.
The village quickly forces Samantha to marry the man named Marvin and though she’s completely against it she realizes that not only does the village want her out of the vicarage they don’t want her in town any longer. Marvin and Samantha get married and spend their wedding night in each others arms. The next day Marvin is trying to explain to Samantha how he has to sail off when the Duke of Ayleborough strolls in and identifies Marvin as his brother Yale who has been thought dead for years.
Samantha is horrified that Marvin/Yale has lied to her so heinously. As they are on their way back to London she refuses him her bed but she can’t help but still have feelings for the man.
Yale has no plans to stay in London – or even England. He’s made a fortune as a shipping magnate and his life is in Ceylon. He just wants to get Samantha settled and then set sail. Unfortunately life has many ways of changing plans and this holds true for Yale as well.
Because of You is a re-release and it’s a good one. I very much enjoyed the whole premise of the story as well as the execution.
Once I started reading this book I almost couldn’t put it down. Samantha’s personality seemed to go from strong to meek and mild over and over. It did get a little frustrating but when Sam was fierce she was SO great to read about.
Yale was a little harder to figure out. He seemed that he wanted nothing more than to get on his ship and sail away but it seemed that any little thing stopped him. Of course his mixed feelings for Sam was the biggest complication. He wasn’t sure what to do with her…or without her.
I really enjoyed reading the romance between these two very different people. I loved their arguments and their bantering as well as their very spicy, sensuality. It was a good story and I think I might like to read more from this author in the future.
Rating: 4 out of 5
You can read more from Tracy at Tracy’s Place
This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.
I didn’t know this was being re-released!
I got my copy with the old cover. I remember it was a really sweet story : D
Yay! I can’t wait to reread this one.