The Cameron sisters were raised in the Ohio Valley by their father; a trading post owner turned to heavy drinking and mean disposition after the girls' mother was killed along with their baby brother during an Indian raid. The three girls survived the raid by clinging together in hiding and since that day have vowed to protect each other. While cleaning the store after their father's death the girls find a secret drawer with 800 British pounds.

They decide that one of the girls will go to London and marry a member of the ton with a title and money and then help the other two sisters marry well; after all they are the granddaughters of an Earl. Charlotte, the oldest sister decides that Miranda the middle, most beautiful, sister should go since she will have the best chance. Miranda wants them all to go to London but there is not enough money. The girls use part of the money to hire a guide to help launch Miranda into society. Lady Overstreet is more than willing to help, since she is impoverished and will do just about anything to return to London and society.

When the ship enters a port in order to take on supplies, Lady Overstreet decrees that Miranda should practice some of the lessons she has been teaching her with the local aristocrats. From the deck of his ship, the Captain of the Warrior spots Miranda. When Miranda turns and sees Alex Haddon coming toward her, she sees the first and only man she has ever loved.

Captain Alex Haddon is the renegade son of a disgraced British general. His father married Alex's Shawnee mother and then took his son and returned to England. There he met a French woman and gave up everything including his son to go to France to live with her. Alex was then sent back to live with his mother's people as an Indian in the Ohio Valley. As fate would have it, he meets 15 year old Miranda and the two fall in love. They perform a Shawnee wedding ceremony but there is no one who witnesses it. Alex goes to Miranda's father to ask for her hand in marriage so that Miranda can have a white man's ceremony. He has Alex tied to a tree and horsewhipped. There is nothing Miranda or her sisters can do to prevent the beating, but when their father goes to the tavern to quench his thirst the girls free Alex and take him to the river for his people to find. After his recovery Alex ask Miranda to leave with him. She begs Alex to live as a white man so that they can be together, she doesn't want to leave her sister, and Alex refuses.

Now ten years later the two lovers see each other for the first time and they both know the feelings are still there and just as strong. Yet again Miranda feels she cannot let her sisters down; they have suffered so much from her earlier indiscretion. They have lived as outcasts with no men ever trying to court them and Charlotte's betrothed jilting her all because of her relationship with Alex. Now Miranda has the means to help them but in order to do this she must again give up her one true love.

Ms. Maxwell has written a true love story. This book starts off with the main conflict and never slows down. I don't like to read a book where you have to read four or five chapter before you realize who the main characters are and what the story is about. She catches your interest from word one. She has also put enough humor to keep the book from being a complete tear jerker, especially in the scene when Miranda lets Alex know how strong her arm is from chopping wood. Alex's dry wit will make you chuckle.

This is the first book in Cathy Maxwell's new trilogy. The second book The Price of Betrayal (Charlotte's story) will be out in 2006 and I can't wait. It will feature the Duke of Colster; Charlotte is just the person to give him his comeuppance.

Book Summary

The granddaughter of an earl, Miranda Cameron has had an unconventional upbringing. However, for the sake of her sisters, she must charm the ton, and make a spectacular match. Miranda believes she is prepared for the task ahead -- until she is confronted by Alex Haddon, the renegade son of a British general.

Alex has tempted fate to raise himself from a man scorned by society to one with vast wealth and influence. There had been a time when Miranda meant everything to him. His love for her had almost cost him his life. Now, all he sees is a woman willing to sell herself to the highest bidder -- provided the bidder isn't him.

What man can resist such a challenge?

Miranda enchants London's powerful noblemen, even as she keeps her past a secret. Alex is not immune to her intoxicating sensuality. Scandal, and far worse, is what she must risk for another chance with the man she still loves... no matter the price.

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