Tempting Eden Book

This story happened May 1814 going forward.

Major Stuart Hartford was proper, priest-like and
"abstained from baser urges." Eden was awkward,
ugly, plain and prickly and actively disliked men
(according to H).

When her beautiful Mom married for a 2nd time to
Ivor, a baron, her daughters were 12 & 8 and her
son 10. Son later died @Waterloo. Sickly mother
endured several miscarriages, & became "a poppi
eater."

Evil step-father groomed Eden for sexual advances
by accidently bumping into her when she was 17
and kissing her @18. This led to sexual activity. He
threatened to rape her younger sister if Eden failed
to comply w/ his desires. He beat Eden with whips
and sketched her in the nude. He used alcohol to
make her more cooperative with his demands.

Eden later described to hero, her being Ivor's willing
"sex slave." I disliked that her sex activity was thought
sexy when Ivor was a pedophile. It was disgusting that
the servants overlooked this horrendous behavior. Later
the hero threatened the former servant blackmailer of
h. So this story had 2 baddies.

IMO the author could tell a story but needed to refine
her rationales for character behavior, actions and
reactions.