Gigi Rowland is a very wealthy young lady and accustomed to getting all she desires. But after meeting the handsome Camden Saybrook, she's confronted with a first -- he is engaged to another and his sense of honor makes him unwilling to break the betrothal. Gigi is convinced she's a much superior catch to the milquetoast young woman who's her rival and takes things into her own hands, setting out to win Camden in whatever way necessary.

Gigi's trick works and she soon finds herself engaged to the man she cannot live without. Unfortunately, Camden becomes aware of her scheming the day before they are to be wed. He hopes Gigi will divulge the truth to him before the wedding takes place, but when no confession is given, Camden leaves his new wife and travels, not to just another town, but to another continent. Gigi follows him to America, but all her attempts to win him back fail and she returns to London.

Ten long years pass and Gigi wants to marry again. She writes to her husband and asks for a divorce. Instead of granting her request, Camden has a few demands of his own that completely take her by surprise. Gigi will do whatever it takes to win her freedom, but the memories of the love they once had and his disgust of her treachery still haunt her. Will being together again bring back any of the old feelings they once shared and somehow save their marriage, or must they let the past be forgotten and find happiness elsewhere?

The first chapter begins in 1893, the second slips back to 1883, then alternates back and forth between 1893 and 1883 until the 17th chapter is reached, which many readers may find disruptive to the flow of the story. Although the characters are adequately developed and the dialogue well- done, the relationship between the hero and heroine is almost entirely made up of deceit, anger and hatred. Even after they are reunited in London, where the heroine must work to satisfy the hero's demands before he grants a divorce, their intimacies are encounters that are almost too painful to read. When a new understanding is finally reached between them as to what they've really had and lost, neither is capable of saying what really needs to be said. Not until the last few pages does the author give the reader a taste of happily-ever-after, and for some readers, it may be too abrupt a change too late in the story to ring true.

Book Summary

Love has designs of its own

To all of London society, Lord and Lady Tremaine had the ideal arrangement: a marriage based on civility, courteousness, freedom-and living on separate continents.

But once upon a time, things were quite different for the Tremaines...When Gigi Rowland first laid eyes on Camden Saybrook, Lord Tremaine, the attraction was immediate and overwhelming: she simply had to have him. But what began in a spark of passion ended in betrayal the morning after their wedding-and Gigi wants to be free to marry again. Now Camden has returned from America with an outrageous demand- an heir-in exchange for Gigi’s freedom.

Gigi’s decision will have consequences she never imagined, as secrets are exposed, desire is rekindled-and one of London’s most admired couples must either fall in love all over again...or let each other go forever.