Clearly, Gabriella Anderson knows how to write a page-turning story. Unfortunately, however, the story that she chooses to tell here features one of the most obnoxious of romance novel stereotypes: The hero who immediately jumps to all the wrong conclusions about the heroine (or as LLB named him in an ATBF segment early this year, the Big Ass Hero).

It’s been a while since I’ve been subjected to this old saw, a circumstance for which I am profoundly grateful. And, perhaps for the very reason that I haven’t had to deal with this cliché for quite some time, I found myself taking a step back pondering a very basic question: Just what does it say about the self-esteem of a guy who falls in love with a woman he firmly believes is a gold digger, a liar, and a thief? And, even more disturbing, what kind of woman would love a man she know loathes her? It’s downright icky, don’t you think?

Colin Savernake is the illegitimate son of a nobleman who has forged a career for himself as a private investigator. As the story begins, he is stunned to learn that Lord Stanhope, an older nobleman he barely knew, bequeathed him a small farm property if Colin will first investigate a series of thefts plaguing his friend, the eccentric Sir Hobblesby. In a letter to Colin, the recently deceased nobleman hopes that helping the good-hearted baronet will show Colin that not every member of the aristocracy is as unworthy of love as his father. Lord Stanhope’s former butler and housekeeper will assist Colin in his task.

Sir Hobblesby is, indeed, a charming man — one even Colin can like. Unfortunately, Colin doesn’t have quite the same good will toward Anthea Fortesque, Sir Hobblesby’s fiancé. The impoverished daughter of an earl, Anthea and her widowed mother and sisters are living in desperate poverty that only her marriage to the kindly and wealthy older man will relieve. Anthea likes Sir Hobblesby and is resigned, if not quite happy about her fate.

Crack investigator Colin, however, doesn’t spend too long puzzling over the case and wastes no time before accusing Anthea is a pretty vile manner. Even more charmingly, with no knowledge of her circumstances or her life, he rails at her in an equally vile manner for “selling” herself to an old man.

Frankly, the only satisfaction I can find in this kind of 80’s I-hate-you-I-want-you sort of dynamic is when the hero redeems himself with some pretty extensive groveling. Colin does grovel, but not nearly enough for me. Anthea is a more likable character, but she never quite goes beyond the two dimensional one of plucky young woman who will do whatever it takes to save her family. As for the secondary characters, Anthea’s family is Central Casting perfect and, with one exception, Sir Hobblesby’s children are predictably selfish, nasty, and hostile towards their father’s fiancé.

Without the heroine-hating hero, Yours Always would rate as an average read. But, unfortunately, Colin’s immaturity and judgmental behavior, along with the fact that nothing here is unexpected or memorable bring the book down to that of a slightly below average read. Gabriella Anderson is a writer with potential, but I’ll hope that next time out she’ll abandon the decidedly retro mean hero stereotype and dig a bit deeper for all her characterizations. Regretfully, the bottom line for this one is that I can’t recommend it.