James Brandon cannot wait to marry his father’s ward, the beautiful Eliza. Having been in love with her ever since they were both children, James cannot wait to spend the rest of his life with Eliza by his side. However, little does James know that his father has other plans for the woman he loves. James’ father has decided to marry Eliza off to his eldest son, a dissolute rake who spends all of his time and fortune drinking and womanizing. Although James tries to get his father to change his mind, his pleas fall on deaf ears. Unwilling to spend the rest of his life seeing the woman he loves on the arm of his brother, who doesn’t deserve her, James decides to leave England behind and joins the army. Traveling to the East Indies with his regiment, James hopes to be able to forget Eliza and his father’s betrayal, but forgetting one’s first and only love is anything but easy.
James soon finds himself returning to England where, much to his shock and dismay, he finds that his brother’s marriage to Eliza has broken down. James is determined to find her and reclaim his one true love, but unfortunately, Eliza isn’t anywhere to be found. However, James has never been one to give up easily and when his investigations lead him to a debtors’ prison, he is shocked to his very core when he finds the beautiful Eliza now a shell of her former self. Although he’s heartbroken that he wasn’t able to help her during her hour of need, James is determined to make up for lost time, so he rescues her from the prison and vows to look after her and her beautiful illegitimate daughter. When Eliza dies, James is determined to protect Eliza’s daughter and to ensure that she doesn’t make the same mistakes as her mother. However, James hadn’t accounted for the charming ways of debauched rakes with seduction on their mind…
With his ward’s reputation to protect, James is not about to let the rogue who had cruelly toyed with her innocence to get away with his nefarious plans – especially when he finds out that this man has not only compromised his charge’s, but has also tried to seduce Marianne Dashwood, the woman he’s been growing increasingly fond of…
Sublimely entertaining and highly addictive, this companion novel to Sense and Sensibility is just as enthralling as the original! Engrossing, romantic and exquisitely written, Colonel Brandon’s Diary is another triumph for the supremely talented Amanda Grange!