BOOK REVIEW- THE HANDMAIDEN'S NECKLACE

 
Five years ago, Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, believed he was betrayed by the woman he loved and the pain haunts him still. When Rafe discovers that he was cruelly tricked and that Danielle Duval was never unfaithful, he's desperate to win her back. But Dani is already on a steamer bound for America to marry another man. Impulsively, Rafe follows her and, trapping her in a compromising situation, quickly makes her his wife. 
Promising her that with time he can prove his love and win her trust, Rafe presents her with a stunning necklace rumored to hold great power. As much as Dani wants to believe it can right the wrongs of the past, she fears there is one truth it cannot conceal, a truth that could cost her this second chance with Rafe, the only man she has ever loved….  AMAZON   4.5 STARS

I really liked this book; great characters and a good story.  Emotional, with some twists and turns.  
A story of two people so passionately in love and then had 5 years brutally stolen from them by a selfish person.  Each hating each other, not willing to move an inch to trust each other until the startling truth of Dani's innocence comes out.   But then they are struggling to open their hearts to each other again.  But that doesn't stop Rafe from forcing the marriage.  The fight is on and so is the seduction.
There are several other mysteries going on that add to the story instead of bringing confusion.  I liked Caro (Caroline) who was Dani's maid/best friend.  She was such a loyal, loving, helpful woman.  And when she has a possibly ill-fated romance developing, I just wanted to see it work out for them. Rafe had several close male friends who are a part of this story and help him several different times in the book.  They even stop hating on Dani once they learn the truth of what happened years ago and their wives began to welcome Dani without prejudice.  In fact they became worthy friends too.  Oh and how could I forget Dani's aunt, Flora?  The Dowager Countess of Wycombe.  That woman had a spine of steel and she was solidly on her niece Dani's side.  
There is a attack on both Dani and Rafe that ratchets up towards the end of the book.  Is someone trying to kill Rafe or Dani or both?  And why?  There is a mystery as well that ends with quite the twist.  
I really liked the Legend of the Necklace and it added some extra "magic" to the story.