I did not read the first book in this series (The Bride Says No), but I do believe it was recapped well enough at the beginning of this story to allow me to catch-up.

Lady Tara Davidson is beautiful and headstrong; scandal is now attached to her name after she fled from London and her betrothed to return home to the love of her estate’s horse master. But he has already married someone else, Tara’s father is in debt, and before she knows it she has been effectively “sold” into marriage to a beast of a man to save her father’s hide. While the circumstances to bring about the marriage contract are harsh, it quickly becomes evident to the reader that Breccan Campbell is very in love with Tara and has been from first sight. He knew he could never win her on his own, thus took this route to have her be his wife.

What follows is a story that is very much in line of a Beauty and the Beast trope. Tara is determined to come into this forced marriage on her own terms: she agrees to give Breccan two children in exchange for a home in London. Breccan agrees to these terms, but his goal is to win her heart. As the two spend more time with each other, trust grows between them along with respect, and it all accumulates to love. A character that is described by many around her as a spoiled brat matures; both husband and wife come to understand that wealth and beauty can be measured in something other than coin and outer appearance. I was enchanted with this hero and heroine.

And honestly -- if what I have said has not convinced you to read this book, then do it for Breccan’s band of dogs. The four of them are filled with warmth and humorous personalities to push this book even more into the realms of a delight.