New Mexico Territory – 1890

Much to her dismay, fourteen-year-old Isabella Montgomery is promised in marriage to Juan Garcia, a man old enough to be her father. Isabella’s father hopes to exalt his own position in life and has no thought for his daughter’s wishes. He sends her to a convent so that she can mature and learn the duties of a woman. When Isabella’s father dies two years later, Isabella stays at the convent until she is eighteen years of age, all the while praying that Juan Garcia will not come for her.

Rafael McKenzie has heard of the beautiful woman living at the convent. He sees Isabella and is captured by her beauty. Although he generally has no respect for beautiful woman, finding them grasping and selfish, Rafael will inherit the huge Diamond Ranch and, according to his father’s will, must marry within a year of his inheritance. Even knowing that Isabella is promised to another man, Rafael decides to kidnap her, take her to his ranch and marry her. Isabella refuses Rafael’s offer of marriage. Rafael’s distant cousin, Lucia, is not happy to meet Isabella and have her take the position of Rafael’s wife, which she covets. Isabella is tired of men deciding everything in her life -- she would like a choice in her future. Will Rafael change her mind?

The masterful alpha hero capturing a beautiful woman is always an intriguing storyline. Hopeful that this book would fulfill my romantic imaginings of this disparate couple and that they would find each other in lust and love, I was disappointed to find it difficult to get interested in the characters with the stiffness of the writing and the slow pacing of the story as Rafael determines Isabella’s fate. There is little romantic tension, but the book picks up a little speed when the evil Juan Garcia gets involved in coming after his fiancée and Rafael has to defend Isabella. Typically, secondary character, Lucia, is undermining the attraction growing between Isabella and Rafael and causing trouble.

Although I cannot recommend this book, readers who enjoy stories of virginal brides taken by handsome captors may want to read this tale.

Marilyn Heyman