This is the first book in a series of 3. All 3 books have received very high ratings from Amazon readers. Here is the series:
Sweet Release- The story of Alec and Cassie
Carnal Gift- The story of Cassie's brother, Jamie, and Brighid
Ride the Fire- The story of Nicholas, son of Alec and Cassie/ nephew and best friend to Jamie, and Elspeth
Read them in order. The characters remain significant from one story to the next.
Sweet Release:
Alec Kenleigh is a wealthy and prominent shipbuilder for the English navy. As the heir to the Kenleigh business and fortune, he commands the family finances. When his younger brother, Philip, becomes out of a control- drinking and womanizing- Alec threatens to cut his brother off. Soon after, Alec's coach is attacked. Alec is beaten unconscious.
Cassie Blackwell has an unusual life for a woman. Her father has left her in charge of the family's Virginia plantation. Although she doesn't love the idea of slavery, she has no choice but to purchase slaves in order to keep the plantation running. When the slave trader arrives, she purchases two men: a large and powerful black slave, and a very sick white convict named Cole Braden. She purchases the white man only out of compassion. He likely will die.
When the Cole becomes well enough to awake, Cassie is surprised by his well- educated manner of speaking. However, when the convicted "ravisher of women" claims to be a wealthy shipbuilder from England, she is sure he is lying. She offers to give Cole a chance to write to relatives who can identify him, if he will promise to work hard and not try to escape while they await his proof of innocence. To her surprise, he keeps his end of he bargain.
Over the following months, Cole proves himself to be harmless. He spends time teaching and playing with Cassie's little brother, Jamie. He also shows himself to be an excellent trainer and breeder of horses. Cassie assigns him the position of groomer, along with the usual duties of a field hand. Although he exercises the horses by taking them on long rides each day, he never tries to use the riding hours as a means to escape. Cassie is beginning to believe that Cole's story may be true. Jamie is relishing Cole's attention and the stories he tells of pirates. Cole, Cassie and Jamie are becoming very attached to one another.
Cassie's neighbor, Geoffrey, has been infatuated with her since childhood. The spoiled heir to his father's estate, he has decided she will marry him. If she does not love the idea, she will learn to. Geoffrey despises the way Cassie and her convict look at one another. He will get rid of the convict by either framing him for rape, or by outright murder.
Alec has one person whom he can rely upon to identify him. His brother- in- law, Matthew, is his only hope. Weeks have passed since he sent Matthew a letter asking him to come and prove Alec's identity. Alec doesn't realize that his brother, Philip, has intercepted and burned the letter. Geoffrey's family has caused Alec to go to trial on charges that will cause him to hang. Time is running out. Cassie is desperate to free him. Alec uses his last precious days to rewrite his will, making sure that once Matthew sees that the will was written by Alec's own hand, Cassie and her family will want for nothing.
This was an excellent story. Full of fun humor, exciting drama, steamy love scenes, and true bonding. The hero was compassionate to everyone around him, giving comfort and attention to others even when his own circumstances were hard. (Pay special attention to how he helps a slave woman give birth. You will see a connection with how his son helps a woman in the third book of the series, "Ride the Fire.")
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Top reviews from other countries
Sue
Love the series, can't wait for the next book in 2013
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2012leseratte
eine spannende und ereignisreiche Liebesgeschichte
Reviewed in Germany on October 23, 2011