Search - The Reluctant Suitor

For as long as she can remember, Lady Adriana Sutton has adored Colton Wyndham, to whom she has been betrothed since childhood. But Colton was too proud to submit to a future not of his own choosing, and he fled his ancestral home for a life of adventure as a British army officer.

Years later, the girl Colton spurned has blossomed into an uncommon beauty desired by every eligible bachelor in the land -- except the man she desires, the decorated hero who has finally returned home. As arrogant and seductive as ever, Colton agrees to court Lady Adriana for ninety days to prove that love cannot be forced, after which time he will be free. But this stunning, spirited woman is far different from the young chit he left behind. And a heroic heart, once tightly closed, is now susceptible to Adriana's charm and sensuality -- even as dark secrets and a rival's treachery threaten to steal her from Colton's arms forever.

Prodigal son Colton Wyndham returns to his home in England after fighting in the Napoleonic wars. His father, with whom he had a contentious relationship, has recently died, and Colton is the new Marquess of Randwulf. He enjoys flashing his "dark, shining orbs" at his beauteous neighbor, Lady Adriana Sutton, while in the throes of "manly imagination," "manly awareness" and "manly cravings." Upon discovering that his late father signed a betrothal agreement linking him to Adriana, Colton is torn between rebelling against his father's dictates and succumbing to his desire for Adriana. Adriana, still wounded by Colton's vehement declaration years ago that he would not wed her, fears that Colton will break her heart again and is determined not to fall prey to his charm. The mating dance starts slowly, but the introduction of a poisoning expert; a baby switching; and Colton's lowborn first wife, thought to be dead, keeps the plot lively.

Torture - I prefer the writing styles of Christina Dodd & Stephanie Laurens. Ms. Woodiwiss uses five words for every one, as if blocking a script, leaving nothing to the imagination of the reader. I feel quite condescended to. Wonderful story, but a shame it's written this way. This one should be speed-read if at all.

i liked it, nice read

great read. Kathleen Woodiwiss does it again.

I kept trying to get interested in this book, but just couldn't. The Point of View kept jumping from character to character, so I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, let alone who was thinking what. The first part of the book draaaaagged, in such a way that after a good 100 pages, the characters hadn't moved. It was immensely frustrating to follow and I eventually gave up.