The Gybford
Affair: The Heiress and The Fortune Hunter. Jen Black. Orchard Hill Books. April
2016. 267 pp. ASIN#: B01E48GFXE.
Frances or Lady Rathmere is a
widowed heiress spending some quiet time enjoying the warm, fragrant weather
when a horseman comes tearing across her pathway and on the barking of her dog
Gyp is thrown into the nearby River Derwent.
After rescuing him, Frances is appalled at the way he berates her for
allowing the dog to run wild. She
quickly disavows his accusation and declares he is at fault for riding over
private land, an uncomfortable fact he simply chooses to ignore he heard. All in all, their meeting doesn’t bode well
for any future relationship.
Jack, 4th Marquess of
Streatham has turned hard of heart in grief over losing his beloved Elizabeth
and being thrown off his horse and hitting his head on a stone hasn’t helped
his mood much. Frances is quick to
rebuke his cold comments and they part with no desire to see each other
again. But such separation is not meant
to be as they meet at a social gathering where he attempts to apologize. But their laid-aside animosity is cast aside
as a puzzle threatens to mar the pristine reputation Frances holds in the
area. Someone is publishing letters in
the local newspaper that hint at her improper and immoral behavior. At the same time a newly appearing soldier,
Holbrook, appears and Frances catches him trying to force himself on a young
woman and later much more harmful behavior.
The remainder of the story concerns
increasing letters to the editor hinting at Frances and Jack’s relationship, a
duel, an attempted kidnapping and more adventurous events. While the plot’s complexity will unravel, the
beauty of this novel concerns the gradual transformation of Frances and Jack as
both carry wounds from the past that are more of an obstacle to their growing
closeness and misunderstandings.
Jen Black has crafted another winner
that is fast-paced, intriguing and humorous in many scenes. While some of the characters are
stereotypical in nature, the main characters have very human qualities that are
shaped by the past but not irrevocably stuck in them. Feisty, enigmatic, devious, independent and
sweet characters unite to shape a very nice read! Nicely done, Jen Black!
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