Devil's Embrace, by Catherine Coulter

I started this book scared of what I was going to read. Why? Two reasons: 1) This is a book published for the first time in the 80's and 2) It's written by Catherine Coulter, who, God bless her, is one of the few authors who dares to be un-PC.
And I think that I found a true gem, a book that bends a lot of romance novels rules and throws that despicable notion, Political Correctness, to the wind.
It also has a major "ick" factor (or maybe a couple), but Catherine manages to write smoothly around it.
It's the Georgian period (Thank God, no Regency! and people actually powder their hair and use wigs) and Cassandra Brougham, a vivacious eighteen year old lady, is finally reunited with her long lost love, an officer named Edward. Edward is very nice, good looking, and a true gentleman, and as he sees Cassie coming out from the sea like a nymph, quickly looses his heart to her and agrees to marry her as soon as possible, forgoing the Season Cassie was about to have in London.
So, first original fact: the previous fiancee is not a toad. And, he can elicit a passionate answer from our heroine.
The soon to be marriage threatens the careful laid plans of Anthony Welles, earl of Clare, and half italian. He is a 34 year old gentleman who in his youth was in love with Cassie's mother. Since he was younger than she, the lady never paid him much attention, but after her death, he planned to marry her daughter. Soon enough we learn that after meeting Cassie, he started to love her for herself, and her mother became nothing more than a distant memory. Being a gentleman, Anthony planned on wooing her during her Season.
Now the adventurous part of the plot starts. The day before her wedding, Anthony kidnaps Cassie and takes her to his ship, The Cassandra, to sail to his villa in Genoa. Even though he has to force her the first night (again comes the infamous cream, the signature of Coulter's forced seductions), the passionate nature of his intended bride and his own skills as a latin lover, soon makes the nights pleasurable for both of them. Cassie is not happy with him, and intends to return to Edward as soon as she can.
The age difference is there, and you can feel it, but somehow you don't care about it. It's in the patience that Anthony exhibits while dealing with Cassandra's youth and exploits. And you really feel that he cares for her and is giving her the opportunity to come to know him and love him. You actually believe that, if not for Cassie's abrupt marriage, he would have tried to win her in a more traditional way.
Besides the age gap, other un-PC (and un-romance novel) actions are: 1) Anthony thrashes Cassie with a belt for staying on deck during a spanish attack, 2) the villains of the book kidnap Cassie, and she actually is gang raped before Anthony saves her 3) Cassie escapes from the italian villa where she lives with Anthony and manages to meet her boyfriend in New York, where she has sex with him.
All is well, in the end, and for me was a joy to read a book that bends so many of romance unwritten laws. With this book, you actually were surprised by some of the characters actions!