Reviewed by Stacy Ahlgren
Publisher: Avon
4 stars

London society knows the Byrons are “mad, bad, and dangerous” and every bit as fascinating as their poetic non-relation. Join the fun as New York Times bestselling author Tracy Anne Warren presents the first tale of this tempestuous family—famous for scandal and legendary at love . . .
Orphaned beauty Meg Amberley never planned to pose as Lord Cade Byron’s fiancée. Caught in a snowstorm, she takes refuge at his estate. Stranded together, Meg soon finds herself falling under Cade’s spell. When the roads clear, she intends to leave, but fate intervenes.
Haunted by his past, Cade Byron has buried himself in the country. Then Meg—with her lush curves—invades his house and his life. With her reputation compromised, he proposes a pretend engagement and a London season where she can find a husband.
But as their charade deepens, Cade can’t let her go . . . vowing to tempt her with a kiss that just may lead to forever.

Having been seriously injured when he is captured and left for dead by the French, Cade Byron prefers to wallow in his bitterness, alone in the English countryside, rather than take comfort from his loving yet concerned family.  One blustery winter evening, Cade’s solitary existence is interrupted when a young woman traveling with her maid to Scotland is caught in a raging snowstorm and they come to Cade’s estate, seeking shelter.  Cade, not happy with these turn of events, tries to turn them out but the young woman will not be deterred, and he grudgingly allows them to stay the night.

Only the storm is so severe that one night turns into several, and Cade learns that Miss Margaret Amberley, or Meg as she is known, lost her father a short while ago and is on her way to go live with her great-aunt in Scotland.  Despite his fervent wish to be left alone, he cannot help but find her youthful beauty and freshness very attractive, a feeling which leaves him feeling rather disturbed, as it hasn’t been that long since he tragically lost someone he cared for a great deal.  His guilt serves to make him even more impatient to be rid of his unwanted guests, but fate, and the weather, seem to be plotting against him.

Meg, for the most part, is rather amused by Lord Cade’s cranky behavior, and also drawn to his rumpled good looks, though she knows she shouldn’t dwell on this man for whom she will be in the company of for just a brief time, yet she’s determined to make the most of her current circumstances.  She discovers that her and Cade share a love of reading, and of chess, and the two spend their evenings bantering back and forth, more often than not with Meg getting the best of Cade at every turn.  When she tries to discuss matters of a more personal nature, however, Cade shuts himself off from her inquiries, preferring to keep his business to himself rather than talk about what’s troubling him.  Yet while Cade manages to keep his secrets to himself, he cannot ignore his fascination for this lovely young woman who challenges him at every turn.  She is opening up wounds he wishes to let heal in private.

Finally the day comes when the weather has calmed and the roads are clear enough for Meg to be on her way.  Surely, this what they both want, isn’t it?  But their plans to go their separate ways without anyone being the wiser are dashed when Cade’s sly and nosy neighbor comes for a visit and sees Meg.  Cade must now come up with a plausible excuse for her presence, one that will not embroil her in a terrible scandal…

This was my first book by Tracy Anne Warren, and I enjoyed it very much.  I found Cade’s pain, both physical and emotional, to be horrific yet completely believable in context to his military career, and he’s suffered immeasurably for the treason of another.  When he meets Meg, he has no idea that this intelligent, spirited, beautiful young woman has what it takes to bring him back to life again.  Yet that is exactly what she does.  The longer she is with Cade, the more she sees past his cold demeanor and realizes how greatly he’s suffered.  Now she must convince this amazing man that he does deserve to love again, and she hopes he realizes it before it’s too late.

Right from the beginning I cared for these characters, especially Cade, who hides himself away from his loved ones, not wanting anyone to know the extent of what he’s been through.  I thought Meg was a breath of fresh air for him because she wouldn’t let him always get his way and tried in her own subtle manner to ease his pain.  She refused to let him run from her.  The only thing that could keep her from him was her belief that he didn’t love her.  Well, we all know how that will end up, thankfully.  Kudos to Ms. Warren for writing this lovely story, and I cannot wait to read more by her.