He vowed to wed, bed, and abandon her. But love got in the way...

She was the reigning belle for the fourth season in a row, but Lady Regina Wharton, the Duke of Blackthorne's daughter, was determined to avoid the perils of marriage. She had already seen enough to distrust all men. Then, Clay Bannister, the dashing Earl of Carlisle, dared to steal a kiss and stir new and exciting desires.

Scarred by tragedy, Carlisle intrigued her with his mysterious past and his dark, dangerous charm. She never suspected she was about to marry her father's most vengeful enemy or that her greatest defense would be the passions he could not resist.

Joan Johnston sweeps you back to regency era England and Scotland with a love story that will take your breath away. Here is romance at its best as Johnston brings back unforgettable characters from her Captive Hearts series' best sellers - Captive, After the Kiss, and The Bodyguard - in a spellbinding novel of seduction and betrayal.

Praise for the book:

"A guaranteed good read." (Heather Graham, The New York Times best-selling author)

"Johnston warms your heart and tickles your fancy." (New York Daily News)

"Joan Johnston continually gives us everything we want...fabulous details and atmosphere, memorable characters, a story that you wish would never end, and lots of tension and sensuality." (Romantic Times)