FOREVER YOURS

Author: Janmarie Anello ISBN: 1420100009 4/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: ZEBRA
Time Period: Regency

A LADY WITH A SECRET Living a quiet country life alone raising her young daughter, Sophie Treneham closely guards a scandalous past. When a dark and dangerously handsome stranger appears, claiming her as his bride, she is outraged—and desperate. But convincing Jagger Remington that they’ve both been duped proves easier than resisting a temptation that could shatter her safe world… A MAN OF HONOR A man living solely to avenge his past, Jagger is also a gentleman of his word. There is a debt he must repay and will do so with honor, but his intention to simply wed, bed, and forget Sophie crumble under his growing desire to uncover all her secrets—and share his own. Soon treacherous circumstances forge an alliance that becomes irresistibly seductive. But will it strengthen fragile bonds of trust…or become the undoing of them both?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Janmarie Anello has done a fine job in putting together her first offering, FOREVER YOURS. The story of two complete strangers who are blackmailed into a marriage that neither one wants, the secrets they hide and the obstacles they face as they try to make their unwelcome marriage work, should have been just your normal, run-of-the-mill historical romance fare. But Anello throws enough obstacles, twists and outside characters into the mix that you simply can't help but keep reading this fast-paced, event filled story.

However, I will admit there were times I just wanted to throttle Sophia. Oh, she's feisty, independent and pigheaded enough, but too much so, at times. The fact that she can't see what she's found in Jagger until two-thirds of the way through the book, made her character seem somewhat spoiled and a bit shallow to me, especially considering all of the hardship she and her daughter had already been through. I also would have liked to have seen Jagger fall a little less quickly into love with Sophia, as would have been more in line with his character's personality.

Janmarie Anello definitely has what it takes to write a good, historical romance. When you read FOREVER YOURS, its evident that her knowledge of the times and her ability to write good dialogue are on prominent display throughout, as is her ability to toss a wrench or two into the plot as the storyline progresses. This is one author that's definitely worth watching, and one I look forward to reading again in the future.

Nancy Davis