TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE ~~ Alexandra Benedict
Avon
ISBN: 978-0-06-117047-8
August 2008
Historical Romance

England ~~ 1825

Evelyn Waye is desperate. So desperate, in fact, that she would rather throw herself into the sea than marry a sadistic prince, who, Evelyn happens to know, killed his first wife -- her sister. She nearly succeeds in her goal, until a handsome stranger rescues her from the brink and takes her back to his secluded cottage. Evelyn fears the prince finding her, and thus keeps her identity a secret from Adam Westmore. But there's something about Adam that makes Evelyn trust him; perhaps it's that she can tell he too is running from something, and now her unlikely savior has turned into her dashing champion. With time, though, Evelyn knows she will be found. Can she trust Adam with her secret?

More than five years ago, Adam Westmore lost his bride to the sea as they traveled back to England so he could tend to his older brother, whose debauchery knew know bounds. Their ship was struck by a terrible storm, and Adam never saw Teresa again, but he goes to the cliffs every night in the hope of catching a glimpse of her. This time, though, Adam is besieged by a woman of flesh and blood, who would have dived head first into the raging ocean if Adam hadn't caught her in time. Who is this mysterious woman who seems to fear his very presence? Whatever her motives, Adam feels an immediate need to protect her, and as he finds himself being drawn closer and closer to Evie, guilt over Teresa still plagues him. Still, Adam feels a contentment with Evie that he hasn't felt in years.

Their quiet happiness isn't to last long, though, as both Adam's and Evelyn's real lives come crashing in on them. Can these two star-crossed lovers find a way back to each other?

The tale of two lost souls who manage to find happiness with each other, TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE is full of intrigue, angst, and romance. Despite its tendency to be overly dramatic, Alexandra Benedict's latest still entertains. There are times when the characters' actions and thoughts are too theatrical, such as Evelyn constantly referring to her fiancé as him, no matter the circumstances. As for Adam, he blames Teresa's death on his brother Damian, which creates a few melodramatic scenes throughout the book. Still, Adam and Evelyn deserve happiness, and they have a sweet chemistry together that is apparent from their first meeting. The villain of the piece is one heartless bastard, and readers will be rooting for him to meet his end.

TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE is a nice blend of historical romance and suspense, and fans of Alexandra Benedict will surely enjoy her latest offering.

Courtney Michelle