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Awaking from a laudanum induced sleep to find oneself bound to a table in a room with a strange man is enough to frighten any woman out of her wits. Especially when the stranger she is locked up with professes his own madness at every turn. But something about the odd Lord Sheene touches Grace Paget in a way her late husband never truly did, and she soon realizes they are both victims in a diabolical plot against the lonely young Lord. Matthew Sheene refuses to play into his greedy Uncle's latest nefarious scheme, starring the beautiful but surely devious woman that has been delivered to him for his `use'. The winsome Grace must surely be an actress of the highest caliber, as he finds himself almost believing her story of being kidnapped off the street and ordered by her abductors to play the part of his strumpet. But if Grace fails to seduce the reluctant Lord Sheene, her captors will punish her with torture and death. And her time is running out... Australian author Anna Campbell blew me away with her first novel, Claiming the Courtesan. With a no-holds-barred approach to romance and story-telling, she quickly made a name for herself as a writer who delivers a story as she sees it, no catering to what she thinks the public wants, no apologies. Guess what? It worked. She continues in that same vein with her newest release, Untouched, bringing her fans a story that is just as unforgettable and heart-rending as her previous book. Heart-rending is something else that Ms. Campbell does very well. This author knows how to run every emotion the reader has through the wringer. I defy anyone to say they finished one of her novels with dry eyes. That said, she also knows just how to kiss and make it better with happy endings that are all the more meaningful because of the trials her hero and heroine have suffered along the road to true love and happiness. Matthew is something quite unexpected - a man who has been a victim most of his life, but nevertheless rises to the lofty position of stalwart hero when the situation calls for it. He is noble, intelligent, and caring, despite the maltreatment he has endured for the last decade at the hands of his uncle and his uncle's henchmen. Although resigned to his own unfortunate situation, everything within him demands he take action when Grace's life is threatened. There could be no woman more perfect for Matthew than Grace Paget. With valor and honor equal to his and a situation no less tragic, she becomes a bright spot in his bleak existence, offering warmth and friendship when he had no expectations of ever enjoying such gifts. When that friendship soon blossoms into passion and love, Matthew is spurred into becoming the man he really is. But as much as her love and compassion aid in healing him, his love proves just as therapeutic to our tragic heroine as hers is for him. At the end, Campbell reveals some twists that make for a riveting conclusion to a breathtaking historical romance. Untouchable is a truly compelling story that fans will enjoy reading and rediscovering for years to come. Anna Campbell has done more than written a story - she's created something sure to become a cherished memory for all of her readers.
Reviewed by Jennifer |
Untouched
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