AN OLDER WOMAN To survive in the cutthroat world of Victorian high finance, wealthy widow Miranda Auburn hid her femininity behind a facade of cold calculation. Her only womanly emotions were reserved for her daughter, whose fondest wish was to marry a peer.... A YOUNGER MAN Brandon Caruthers had hoped to put the lost cause of the Confederacy behind him when he traveled to London to become Baron Rushcroft. But the only way to salvage his impoverished estate is to marry an heiress.... A BUSINESS PROPOSAL The transaction Miranda proposed seemed to suit all involved— a huge loan in exchange for making her daughter a baroness— until Brand found himself craving the mother instead. Even if it caused a private civil war, he vowed to take the right woman to his bed.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Brandon Caruthers has just spent years fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War, only to return to find his home and horse farm in Kentucky ruined and burned out by the Yankees. He fails to save his heritage there, but finds out that he has inherited a barony in England. Hoping to put the past behind him and make a fresh start, he travels to London. Unfortunately, he discovers his luck hasn't improved. If there is to be any possibility of saving his newly acquired estate, he will have to marry an heiress with a large dowry.

Miranda Auburn was married, at a very young age, to a much older man in order to save her family from destitution. When her husband dies, she takes over his vast business empire. In addition, she finds herself raising her daughter alone. When she realizes that her daughter is on the verge of making the mistake of becoming involved with a man who is after her money, she decides to take matters into her own hands.

She makes Brandon an offer he can't refuse. Marry her daughter, and get the money he needs to save and make his estate prosperous.

But then there's the problem of Miranda being attracted to Brandon herself. And Brandon, likewise, is attracted to Miranda. They are close in age, although Miranda is 6 years older than he. They both fight the attraction and try to uphold the agreement they made. They never thought that 18 year old Lori, Miranda's daughter, would see that they were meant to be together and play matchmaker.

And, in the midst of all of this, somebody is determined to ruin and destroy both of them.

I enjoyed reading this book. It was a fun light read, with enough intrigue to add a little adventure to the story. Henke did a great job of making the story humorous and serious in its situations.

Sue Cloud