Brenda Hiatt, The Runaway Heiress

The Runaway Heiress By Brenda Hiatt

In 1816 England, Dina Moore meets her fianc Diggory Tallow so that they can elope to Gretna Green. In four days Dina turns twenty-five and fears the loss of her trust fund as her late father's will stipulated that if she remained unmarried by that birthday her brother Silas will mange her money. Silas has wasted a fortune gambling. Diggory tells Dina that they will not elope so she travels to Gretna Green alone.

Grant "Thor" Turpin learns that his sister Violet eloped with a fortune hunter Gregory. In Gretna Green Dina meets Violet and Gregory; she realizes the man is a fortune hunter. The next morning Violet breaks off with Gregory when a screaming Thor arrives. Gregory flees and Violet explains all. Thor tells Dina he owes her so she says marry her. Dina explains her reasons; Thor agrees as he feels honor calls for it. They marry although they know nothing about one another. Soon they begin to fall in love while their siblings directly or indirectly cause problems.

Dina is a terrific and unique heroine for the era as she works out with weights and a boxing bag though the audience will wonder why she waited so long to escape from Silas. Thor is her perfect partner though neither realize it when they first meet; that makes for a fine tale as they discover one another. Silas displays no honor as he mistreated his sister who he was supposed to protect and Violet's judge of men seems too naive for an obviously intelligent person. Still the lead couple make for a fabulous regency as they bring freshness to the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner