The Reluctant Duchess.

Seeking escape from the abusive Highlander who plans to marry her, Scottish heiress Rowena Kinnaird finds refuge in the surprising marriage proposal of Brice, Duke of Nottingham. Despite not knowing Rowena very well, the handsome and unusually devout Brice patiently woos her in response to his unmistakable prompting from God. As their relationship develops, each is challenged by fears from without. Can Rowena overcome her battered self-image and fears that her rejected suitor will come after them? And how can Brice, who has been guarding the invaluable Fire Eyes diamonds for his friends, keep his new bride safe as he flushes out the schemers who would kill for the rare jewels? In this sequel to The Lost Heiress, White (Culper Ring Series) takes her readers to a Scottish Highlands where weighty topics such as recovering one’s identity after rape, and the ways such an event can define a marriage, are handled delicately and deftly. The spiritual themes are integral to the characters and plot developments, making this a well-rounded, intriguing, and satisfying story. [em]Agent: Karen Ball, Steve Laube Agency. (Apr.) [/em]