by Andrea Kane
First published 1997
Aurora Huntley cannot leave her family estate. Privateers hunt her brother the Earl of Pembourne, convinced he owns the black diamond that has cursed both their families for generations. Trapped at home, Aurora faces an arranged marriage to a man she cannot bear. She hatches a desperate plan. For two hundred pounds, she hires a handsome stranger to publicly compromise her, making her unmarriageable. The stranger agrees to the scheme, but when Aurora kisses him, everything changes. He reveals his identity as Julian Bencroft, the new Duke of Morland. Their families have feuded over the black diamond for generations, making them natural enemies. Yet Aurora and Julian find themselves drawn together by desire and a shared goal to claim the treasure that has divided their bloodlines. As they work to secure the diamond, they must survive the dangerous forces pursuing it while discovering whether their growing love can overcome centuries of family hatred.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, adventure, 19th-century
Vibes: atmospheric, emotional, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, forced-proximity
Setting: Family Estate, Pembourne
Period: 19th Century
Hardcover · Turtleback Books