Readers who pick up this Virginia Henley who are simply looking for a bawdy read may be disappointed. This is an artfully crafted, beautifully written revenge romance that offers the complexity of all human relationships: political, espousal, and familial. On second thought, maybe they won't be disappointed as Virginia's books never fail to titillate and this one certainly achieves that--at the very least.


From Library Journal
Another in this romance author's best-selling tradition, full of the obligatory scandals, violent earls, and headstrong beauties.Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Henley is the New York Times best-selling paperback author of Seduced (1994) and Desired (1995). In her hardcover debut, Henley's characters journey between Wales, Ireland, and England. Sean O'Toole, earl of Kildare, is consumed by his quest for revenge. Sean spent five years on a prison ship after being framed for the murder of his brother. He trained his body and mind for retribution, and when he escaped, made plans to use his enemy's daughter as the instrument of his revenge. In those years, young Emerald has matured and leads Sean on a merry chase as he tries to capture her body and heart for himself. But Sean refuses to let emotions weaken his plans, and his obsession endangers Emerald as his strategy nears checkmate. An adventurous historical romance recommended for fans of Henley. Melanie Duncan


From Kirkus Reviews
In historical romances, where sex ranges from a premarital chaste kiss to a velvetized version of down-and-dirty, British veteran Henley weighs in at the erotic end. For her first hardcover, she titillates with sex talk, incorporates common parlance for intercourse, and calls some sex organs by their less-exalted names. Henley's devilish hero, Sean O'Toole, the Earl of Kildare, has an ax to grind, it seems. Framed for the murder of his brother, Sean is sentenced to ten years' hard labor aboard a convict ship. His poor mother, meanwhile, has died of grief. Escaping after five years, with hardened muscles and considerable resolve, Sean vows to destroy not only Montague, his brother's murderer, but Montague's free-spirited daughter Emerald, who first enchanted Sean when he saw her swimming on the back of a dolphin. So he kidnaps Emerald, who's married to a man she doesn't love, her wild Irish spirit having been beaten down into tepid Englishness by her cruel father and her terrible governess, Irma Bludget. (Emerald's Irish mother was beaten and left for dead by Montague; she's now gone back to Ireland and opened a brothel.) Sean carries Emerald off to his reclaimed estate, Greystones, with the intention of impregnating her and sending her back to her husband and father with his bastard in her belly. But, naturally, the two fall in love. While they have great sex on his extremely clean white sheets (the prison ship gave him a taste for fresh linen and double-starched shirts), Sean heals his wounded heart, Emerald finds sexual and spiritual heaven with her Irish Prince, the villains are trounced, and Emerald's mother gives up the brothel and is reunited with her daughter. A few sordid moments, but should satisfy romance readers who like their stories sensuous. (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
Bent on revenge after five years on a prison ship, Sean O'Toole, Earl of Kildare, kidnapped his enemy's daughter. Her name was Emerald, an innocent beauty he had known long ago, who had stirred his senses like no other woman. But now he planned to seduce her, abandon her...and bring disgrace to the Montagues. First he would restore the fire to her eyes, make her hunger for his steely embrace -- then use her in an act of vengeance. But Sean didn't expect to find himself caught in the sudden heat of his own desires, bewitched by the magnificent beauty he'd planned to betray...



From the Publisher

Bent on revenge after five years on a prison ship, Sean O'Toole, Earl of Kildare, kidnapped his enemy's daughter. Her name was Emerald, an innocent beauty he had known long ago, who had stirred his senses like no other woman. But now he planned to seduce her, abandon her...and bring disgrace to the Montagues. First he would restore the fire to her eyes, make her hunger for his steely embrace -- then use her in an act of vengeance. But Sean didn't expect to find himself caught in the sudden heat of his own desires, bewitched by the magnificent beauty he'd planned to betray...
Virginia Henley.


From the Inside Flap
Bent on revenge after five years on a prison ship, Sean O'Toole, Earl of Kildare, kidnapped his enemy's daughter.  Her name was Emerald, an innocent beauty he had known long ago, who had stirred his senses like no other woman.  But now he planned to seduce her, abandon her...and bring disgrace to the Montagues.  First he would restore the fire to her eyes, make her hunger for his steely embrace -- then use her in an act of vengeance.  But Sean didn't expect to find himself caught in the sudden heat of his own desires, bewitched by the magnificent beauty he'd planned to betray...


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
At last Sean came to retrieve Emerald from her dancing partner and indicated that he was ready to leave. When they reached the ballroom doors, she turned to survey the crowded floor. Then very deliberatly she removed the velvet mask and tossed it in the air. A group of men standing nearby eagerly scrambled for it.

With a grim look on his dark face and a firm hand at the small of her back, Sean pushed her through the doorway. His brow lowered and his jaw clenched as he retrieved her cloak and wrapped it firmly about her naked shoulders and half-exposed breasts. "What the hell was that all about?" he demanded as they emerged from the palatial house on Piccadilly. "You were acting like a little whore," he ground out.

"But, Sean, darling, that's exactly what I am," she said sweetly, "your whore. And you have made sure all London knows what I am."

"Get in the carriage." His tone warned her just how furious he was.

Emerald ignored the warning. "Would you like me on my hands and knees, my lord, so I can service you here in the carriage?"

He gripped her shoulders and shook her till her teeth rattled. "Stop it this instant. You are driving me to violence."

"I am aware of your violent nature, my lord. Perhaps I can match it! Come on, I'm licking my lips over you," she taunted.

He forced her down on the seat and crushed her mouth with his, mastering her. Only Emerald wouldn't be mastered, not without giving as good as she got. She bit down on his lip and raked the side of his face with her nails.

He flung away from her. "Little bitch!" he cursed.

As she had promised, she licked her lips over him and tasted his blood.

They entered the Mayfair house in silence. Emerald ran up two flights to their spacious bedchamber. She dismissed the maid who has waited up for her. Her anger at him did not cool, rather it grew hotter by the minute. She had thought the diamonds, a gift of love; now she knew he wanted to flaunt her and the diamonds in the face of the English. Though the hour was late she decided the evening was not quite over; the fireworks hadn't yet started.

Sean lingered in the salon, trying to cool his temper with a snifter of French brandy. By the time he finished it, he felt in full control. He slowly mounted the stairs, and when he entered the bedchamber he was almost ready to forgive her.

She deliberately turned her back upon him.

He felt his control slip a notch.

She had removed the ostrich-feathered wig, but still wore her gown and her diamonds. Completely ignoring him, she unfastened the crimson velvet and stepped out of it. Naked, save for lace stockings and diamonds, she sat down at the dressing table and picked up her hairbrush.

Emerald knew his dark eyes were riveted upon her. She bent her head forward, allowing her hair to almost touch the carpet, she brushed it vigorously, then tossed it back so that it fell in a smoky cloud about her shoulders. With hairbrush still in hand she padded over to the bed with feline grace to retrieve her night rail from beneath the pillow. It was a flame-colored diaphanous garment designed to give a man pleasure. She made no effort to put it on, but took it back to the dressing table with her and draped it across the stool. Then she made a display of admiring herself in the mirror. She tossed her curls and drew the brush through them one more time, then very deliberately she brushed the black curls between her legs.

"What the hell game is this you are playing?" he growled.

She dropped the hairbrush and with hands on naked hips walked provocatively toward him. "A harlot's game. Isn't that what you want? I was just admiring the diamonds one last time before I give them back."

"The diamonds are yours," he ground out.

"Oh, I don't think so. They are your property, just as I am. We are both for display purposes only."

"Stop this game now," he said with quiet authority. He knew if he didn't hang on to the last of his control, he would throw her to the floor and mount her. Lust now mingled with his anger, and lust was rapidly gaining the upper hand.

"When you gave me the diamonds last night in bed, I didn't realize the significance. I had no idea I was paying for them with sexual favors. Perhaps last night was only the down payment?" She knew she was deliberately goading him, as did Sean. She wanted to exercise her woman's power over him, to see if she could shatter his control into a million shards.

He reached out with powerful hands and jerked her against him. "If you want fireworks, I'll start with skyrockets."

She fought him like a spitting cat, enjoying every blazing moment. They were a perfect match, each driving the other to madness. In the end they both surrendered. Sean gave in because he was physically stronger and didn't want to hurt her. Emerald yielded because she didn't want to maul his pride. In the end it was his tenderness that melted her anger toward him. His loving affection for her was boundless and showed her just how much she meant to him.

Much later, as she lay cradled in his arms, they both whispered love words. "My honey love, I did want to show you off, but I swear it was your Irish beauty I wanted to flaunt in the face of so many raddled Englishwomen. You never have to wear the necklace in public again, but you must keep it. You have no money of your own and it will give you some financial security."

"My darling, you are all the security I'll ever need."

He pressed her to his heart. "Promise me you'll keep it?"

"I promise," she whispered. "Let's not accept any more social invitations. I heard enough gossip tonight to last me a lifetime. I don't give a damn that the Duke of Devonshire has impregnated his wife, Georgiana, and his mistress, Elizabeth Foster, at the same time. I want to go home."

"Only a few days longer, sweetheart. I have merchant ships docked here in London. I must speak with my captains before we leave. Tonight I'll show you London's pleasure gardens. Just the two of us. Have you ever been to Vauxhall or Ranelagh?"

"Of course not. I never did anything sinful or worldly."

"Until I stole you," he whispered.

She laughed seductively. "Now I sin on a regular basis." She slid a silken knee between his rock hard thighs. "You taught me to be wild and wicked and to never say no!"

ANNOTATION

After five years on a prison ship, Sean O'Tool makes his escape in order to exact revenge on the Englishman who killed his brother and framed Sean for the crime. Sean's plan is to kidnap the Englishman's daughter, but his plan goes awry when he discovers a timid, fearful woman in the place where once had stood a free spirit. 352 pp. National ads. Online promo. 50,000 print.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

After five long years on a prison ship, Sean O'Toole, Earl of Kildare, makes his escape in order to exact his plan of revenge upon the Englishman who killed his brother and framed Sean for the crime. While imprisoned, Sean honed his body to rock-hard perfection, steeled his will against all sentiment, and filled his mind with thoughts of retribution against the man he had hated for years. But at night his dreams were filled with memories of his enemy's daughter - the half-Irish, half-English Emerald, whose fiery beauty had beguiled him when they met, and whose bold and fearless spirit he had never forgotten. His memories of Emerald are not enough to prevent Sean from going through with his plan to use her as a pawn in his quest for vengeance. His scheme: to kidnap Emerald and bring her to his home, where he will keep her long enough to sully her reputation and bring disgrace upon her family. Sean is shocked when, instead of the defiant temptress he once knew, the memory of whom kept him alive for five long years, he finds his quarry is now a timid, fearful woman afraid of her own shadow. Has she too become a victim of her father's corruption? Determined to go through with his plans, he steals Emerald away to his family's estate, where he slowly gains her trust - only to betray her with his lies. Locked in prisons of their own making, Emerald and Sean must find a way to break free of their bonds, or risk losing themselves - and each other - forever.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

From the moment smoke-haired Emerald FitzGerald Montague first gazes into the pewter eyes of Sean FitzGerald O'Toole, she wants him. He is the dreamed-of dark prince who will spirit her away from the Wales of her venal father, William, to the Ireland of her beautiful, debased mother, Amber. Sean wants Emerald, too, but there's a wee problem: Amber is trysting with Sean's older brother, Joseph, and when William learns of the affair, it's the end of the precarious money-making alliance between the Montagues and the FitzGerald O'Toole clan. Issues of honor and vengeance, confounded by 18th-century Anglo-Irish politics, motivate the men's every action here. When Joseph dies at William's order, Sean's desire for vengeance consumes him. Like the Count of Monte Cristo, he steels himself in body and mind, believing he can do anything to destroy William, even use Emerald, whose love he has not forgotten-but in Henley's universe, love may conquer all. Making her hardcover debut, Henley (Enticed) excoriates the British and celebrates the Irish, especially in bed. The sadism of the former and the tender genius of the latter are drawn in loving detail, down to shrieking climaxes. Some characters are inconsistent, notably Emerald's brother, as suits the tale, and all the women are saintly bawds; but the pace is brisk and the passions are huge. Author tour. (Feb.)

Library Journal

Another in this romance author's best-selling tradition, full of the obligatory scandals, violent earls, and headstrong beauties.

Kirkus Reviews

In historical romances, where sex ranges from a premarital chaste kiss to a velvetized version of down-and-dirty, British veteran Henley weighs in at the erotic end. For her first hardcover, she titillates with sex talk, incorporates common parlance for intercourse, and calls some sex organs by their less-exalted names.

Henley's devilish hero, Sean O'Toole, the Earl of Kildare, has an ax to grind, it seems. Framed for the murder of his brother, Sean is sentenced to ten years' hard labor aboard a convict ship. His poor mother, meanwhile, has died of grief. Escaping after five years, with hardened muscles and considerable resolve, Sean vows to destroy not only Montague, his brother's murderer, but Montague's free-spirited daughter Emerald, who first enchanted Sean when he saw her swimming on the back of a dolphin. So he kidnaps Emerald, who's married to a man she doesn't love, her wild Irish spirit having been beaten down into tepid Englishness by her cruel father and her terrible governess, Irma Bludget. (Emerald's Irish mother was beaten and left for dead by Montague; she's now gone back to Ireland and opened a brothel.) Sean carries Emerald off to his reclaimed estate, Greystones, with the intention of impregnating her and sending her back to her husband and father with his bastard in her belly. But, naturally, the two fall in love. While they have great sex on his extremely clean white sheets (the prison ship gave him a taste for fresh linen and double-starched shirts), Sean heals his wounded heart, Emerald finds sexual and spiritual heaven with her Irish Prince, the villains are trounced, and Emerald's mother gives up the brothel and is reunited with her daughter.

A few sordid moments, but should satisfy romance readers who like their stories sensuous.