Rating: 
Summary: Powerful, sensual, original - WHAT A DISCOVERY!!
Review: To Have and To Hold is my first novel to read by Patricia Gaffney and it will certainly not be my last. This was such a fantastic book in so many ways! Not only is the storyline highly unusually for romance writing, it is also very engrossing. Both leads are written with a great amount of depth and progress beyond all standards of typical romance character growth. This is a novel that you will make time to keep reading because its intriguing narrative just gets better with each page.Sebastian Verlaine, a viscount and soon to be an earl, has recently inherited a country estate near the village of Wyckerly. As part of his new duties, he decides to adjudicate some of the local cases - only out of curiosity - not out of any sense of obligation. He is a jaded and disillusioned hero, bored with life and sinking further into depravity. He comes complete with many of the "neglected childhood" haunts typical of many dark romance heroes. But most of the similarities end there. This is a story of his redemption. Rachel Wade is a country gentleman's daughter who has spent ten years in prison for the murder of her husband. Prison life has left her defeated and she seems to be just a shell of a woman. No one has stood by her during her imprisonment and she has no one to turn to once she is released. Repeatedly denied employment and robbed of her "start up" funds, she has no place to go. She is brought before a court of sorts (English nineteenth style) in the village of Wyckerly for vagrancy. It seems she is headed for a lifetime at a workhouse since she cannot provide for herself. Then a local viscount, sitting on the bench at her hearing, decides he will save her. He announces he will give her the position of his housekeeper. This is also a story of Rachel's rebirth. Sebastian doesn't believe there is much good left in him. If any of his deeds come close to respectable, he immediately denies it. Although he finds himself defending and helping Rachel, he knows the real reasons for his seemingly altruistic actions. He is bored with the world and she can offer him a diversion. He wants to dominate her, defeat her, and attempt to break apart her protective shell. He sees it purely as a source of entertainment. And, of course, she may be hired as his housekeeper but he intends for her to be his mistress. For the first portion of the book, he truly is as miserable as he envisions himself. Even at his worse, Sebastian is a delectable hero. He does everything he plans with Rachel and in doing so, unknowingly aids her recovery. He also begins to sense some kindness in himself - but that can't be. He is past saving. So he attempts to show himself to be even more depraved. But it's not working. Rachel responds to his kindness and is gaining some self-confidence in her new position as his housekeeper. Oh, imagine this - Sebastian may have to admit to himself that he is actually doing something for someone else for the right reasons. Rachel and Sebastian develop an endearing friendship. The development of their relationship is at times heartbreaking and at other times so uplifting! They are a very unusual romance pairing and their story totally captivates you as the reader. There are definitely some serious sensual scenes that rate high - about a 4.5 to 5.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). This couple's sensual scenes are, for once, very intricate to the overall story line and are very well written. I highly recommend To Have and To Hold. You have to put up with some alpha male behavior but you also see that behavior evolve. Rachel is a precious heroine that you may expect to be weak but you will be surprised. She is a true lady as she begins to enjoy life again. This is such a precious story. It is a definite keeper for my read again shelf. I know I will enjoy reading this book again and again and probably again.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting plot, Engrossing Hero and Heroine
Review: Well after reading so many "dark" comments about this book I truly expected it to be so overbearingly DARK that I almost didn't purchase it. Well I must say that I'm glad that I did. The plot is one that is incredible. The Hero is such a unlikeable person from the start of this, his reasons for helping the heroine out are purely selfish. It was nice to picture the evolution of this Heroine though she had become invisible even to herself that to see her transformation, was one of the better parts of this book as well as the transformation of the Hero. I don't wish to say to much about the storyline the other reviews on Amazon does justice to the plot but I must say this definately a Keeper. Happy Reading
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