His Captive Lady

His Captive Lady (The Devil Riders)

★★★★☆

Harry Morant's tough, strong exterior hides a badly scarred heart. The natural son of an earl, high-born ladies have only one use for him - in the bedchamber. Now, after eight years at war, Harry's breeding racehorses and planning a practical, unemotional marriage. But when he buys a new estate, Harry's careful plans are threatened by an unexpected passion for - of all things - an earl's daughter.

Lady Helen Freymore is not interested. A lifetime of lies has brought Nell to the brink of ruin. Trapped by poverty and scandal, she trusts no man; she has her own, secret quest of the heart. Harry's pursuit of her, however, is relentless. Forced into a marriage she never sought, she soon finds herself powerfully drawn to this masterful but gentle soldier. But as Christmas draws near, Nell's secret past threatens to shatter their newfound happiness...

ヒロインの過去もヒーローの苦悩も、ロマンス小説に珍しくない設定でしたが、そこに新鮮味を感じさせる上手さがある作家さんです。
とにかくヒロインに対し献身的で、彼女の過去を含めたすべてを受け入れる度量がある、思いやりにあふれたヒーローが良かったです！　
ヒーローの友人のロマンスも並行して少しだけ描かれていますが、こちらもなかなかロマンティックです。　
ところどころに光るユーモアのセンスもGracieならではだなと思います。まだ4作目(＋翻訳書一冊）ですが、お気に入り作家のひとりです。