Comes the Dawn [Paperback]

India has returned home after a year after witnessing the horrors that accompanied the battle of Waterloo where she waited for the handsome and charming, reckless adventurer the 12th Earl of Thornwood, Devlyn Carlisle. Waiting patiently as one after another wounded soldier came back she lived in hope until she was told that someone witnessed Devlyn being cut down on the battlefield with a bayonet through his chest - a wound that no one could survive.

She had lost much more than her love, but after a year of mourning it was her grandmama that would insist she put away her mourning and attend a ball, after all she was the Delamere heiress and had a duty to marry and carry on the Delamere line. She would hide her pain and smile as if her heart were whole and not left on the battlefield of Waterloo. At the ball she looked across the floor and saw the face of the man all thought was dead - his face but a stranger who looked back.

Set in the aftermath of Waterloo, Lord Thornwood is on a mission to thwart the efforts of a band of sympathizers that are working to free Napoleon. Spies, intrigue and murder as desperate people search for Napoleon's diamonds to fund another war.

The story is bittersweet, but oh so lovely of India loving the very handsome Devlyn, Earl of Thornwood who had no memory of the love they briefly shared, or did he? Was the last mission he must undertake more dangerous than the battlefield. Would the loss, be more painful to him, to risk losing the love of the only woman that ever meant anything to him for the sake of his country? It is a story most poignant and sweet. India would not give up without a fight and found herself constantly in trouble as she sets out to solve the mystery of Lord Thornwood.

India and Devlyn are a great couple and the addition of so many new and familiar secondary characters make this a wonderful fast-paced adventure. The three children that are Devlyn's wards are simply sweet and their dialogs add some levity to this adventure and mystery. One of the children, Alexis, should definitely have her own story. And what can be said of the Duchess of Cranford other than we really need to see her story (hint, hint Ms. Skye). Wonderful story, characters you can become involved with and want to hear more from! I really hated to see it end!

But all in all this is definetly a worthwile book to read and also quite enjoyable.

I am amazed by the way she weaves romance together with adventure so successfully, that I didn't feel the urge to skip pages. In fact, the plot is refreshingly exciting, and I know it's ironic to say it, but hey, this is one romantic story! What I mean to say is, there are so many romance books out there, and some plots are overly stale. I just love the way Ms Skye brings us thru the story, falling in love with the characters, and actually trying to understand and gasp at what love is about. She deserves 5 Stars, NO LESS!!!