An expert in antiquities, Lady Alessandra della Giamatti arrives in Bath to excavate newly discovered Roman ruins, only to find herself caught in the web of a blackmailer threatening to expose her scandalous past. The one man who can help her is Lord James “Black Jack” Pierson, a fellow member of the exhibition team and a sinfully handsome rogue whose tempting presence ignites a different kind of danger. Jack and Alessandra have clashed in the past, so he is surprised when she gives in to the spark of passion between them. This does not ease the mistrust between them. They must find a way to overcome this difficulty or else Alessandra’s secret past as well as the passion that cannot be denied may overwhelm them and possibly destroy any future they may have.

Gosh, I love a true gentleman Jack – not just the one in the familiar bottle with the black label, but one that embodies the qualities of strength, honor, ethics, and intelligence. Cara Elliott’s hero is one of those men and is one of the heroes about whom we love to read. Jack has distinguished himself in the war against Napoleon and even though he is the youngest son of the Duke of Ledyard, he has a sense of his own worth and is happy in his skin and with his life. He is well-schooled in the classics, in languages, and in the arts—painting and architectural antiquities in particular. And because of that he is one of a rare breed of men who appreciate intelligent women. Not that Lord James doesn’t love his drink and his female companions, members of the world’s oldest profession though they may be. However, he is as attracted to Alessandra’s quick intelligence and her fine mind as much as he is to her creamy complexion and delectable curves.

Alessandra is a member of a group known as the Circle of Sin or, among themselves, the Sinners. These women are independent thinkers and live active and independent lives. Yet they are beautiful and sharp-witted, meeting life on their own terms. As the widow of a wealthy Italian aristocrat, Alessandra and her daughter Isabella are welcome in English social circles and because of her expertise in ancient artifacts, she is included in a number of important archeological projects. This novel is a part of a series of stories highlighting the members of the Circle of Sin. Elliott has demonstrated a fine wit and writing style, incorporating fun and interesting dialogue as well as blending the Italian and English languages as well as incorporating extensive knowledge about the two cultures as they existed at that time in history. There is a layer of suspense and even had me biting my nails at one point. There is some unexpected action that spices up the story.

I liked this novel a lot. It was not a complicated story line but it held my interest. It reflected Elliott’s fine grasp of the writing task and her ability to populate her story with interesting characters. She also included sufficient characters that will carry over into her continuing series providing a good seque to future novels. This is a very good opening novel and I am glad I had an opportunity to read it and review it.

I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5.

You can read more from Judith at Dr J’s Book Place

This book is available from Forever. You can buy it here.