I downloaded this book because it was (a) free (don't judge me!) and (b) I had heard good things about the author. With hindsight, I was a bit too quick to download it because the trope of the heroine offering herself to the rakish hero to save her village is not the kind of story I like. It jars in the current 'Me Too' climate, but mainly it has been done too many times before. Although, to be fair, the story was originally published twenty-five years ago.
However, the characters are likeable, the story was well-written and the hero-in-peril plot kept me reading. The 'demon' Earl wasn't really bad (surprise!) and the heroine, a Methodist minster's daughter struggling with her religious beliefs, made a refreshing change. The romantic suspense plot revolved around the Earl's coal mine, now leased to an ex-friend, which has become dangerous. As the Earl can't persuade his friend to make the mine safer, he decides to begin quarrying slate on his estate and lure the workers away. Obviously this doesn't end well! I particularly liked that the story is set in Wales and there is mention of Penrhyn Castle, which is just down the road from me.
I wavered between giving this story three or four stars; with hindsight three seems a little mean of me, but I do prefer the romances I read to have some humour in them. However, if you are a particular fan of historical romances, you might consider this a four star read.
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