Miss Jessica Archer flees Brighton. Now she must stop acting like a cake and solve a riddle:How does she escape the murderer who stalks her if the only safe place she can hide is the London townhouse of the lord who once stole her heart-and gave her up? And must she do it-(she shivers)-as his maid?And what is Viscount Rockingham’s dilemma?Confound it! To save Jess from harm, Charles Reed … Sandys-Hough-said Lord R- must promise to conceal her identity as a renowned chef! Plus he must keep his hands and his heart to himself. Yes, long ago, Charlie loved her quite madly. But Jess was the cook’s daughter¿and society demanded he abandon her. Fie on them! For each day afterward, he drank a bland brew of duty and disappointment. Now, with this fine chance to sweeten their lives with love, each faces a decision:She, to abandon her successful business? Forgive him? Admit she still loves him? Retire to the country as his mistress and-(oh, my!)-cook for him?He, to defy the ton and marry the only woman whose very smile feeds his soul?Dear me!Will they starve? Or feast from this day forward?
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This series is such a delight to read. A butler, a governess and now a maid find love with someone above their station, because following your heart is what really matters. Jessica Archer is in hiding after witnessing a murder in Brighton. She finds herself in the home of the man she’s loved for many years. Viscount Rockingham knows something is wrong, if only he can convince her to tell him. Under his protection she feels safe and Rockingham is determined to convince her to marry him, until he decides to give her a choice. Once again DeLand gives us a hero any woman in her right mind would be crazy to refuse what he offers, himself.
Author Cerise DeLand has successfully weaved her magic with words once again in His Naughty Maid, the third book in the Delightful Doings in Dudley Crescent series. Charles, Viscount Rockingham is shocked to see a face from his past after his younger sister Lydia persuades him to hire a new servant. Jessica “Jess” Archer had little choice but to seek her childhood friend’s help after witnessing the assault of the tavern owner. Fearing for her life, Jess leaves her dream job and home in the country setting of Brighton behind for the busy streets of London. After confiding in the one man who stole her heart years ago, Jess has decided to do the right thing and have the attacker pay for not only assaulting the tavern owner but for his murder. Will Jess finally have the love of the only man who captured her young heart or will social distances continue to keep Charles and Jess apart? This is a mesmerizing read with hints of danger and filled with romance! Never one to disappoint, DeLand continues keep me excited with her awesome work! I am looking forward to seeing what is in store next!
At No. 6, Viscount Rockingham humours his pregnant sister Liddie by taking on an extra housemaid. One he does not need. But no sooner does said woman stand before him when he rejoices at sight of the lovely creature who once made all his days sweet.
Jessica Archer needs a position and a place to make a new life. In hiding. She’s not a housemaid but a renowned chef pâtissière, up from Brighton and escaping a man who would kill her for the crime she saw him commit one morning on the beach.
Rock & Jessica grew up together he a future Viscount & her daughter of the family’s cook. They parted when Rock joined the army & left to fight Napoleon, they were each others first love & a love that didn’t die. A lovely read of second chances, throw into the mix a spiteful stepmother & a murderer hoping to find Jess & I was engrossed in this story. It was well written with a pace that flowed extremely well, strong characters with plenty of depth. This is the third book in the series & is easily read on its own but if like me you love series then the Dudley Crescent residents all deserve a read
A superb Regency romance!
Jessica Archer is in a pickle. A renowned pâtissière in Brighton, she flees to London when her life is in danger. She knows people who will help her. But to become a maid of all work for her love, Charlie, will be sheer torture! If you like the book description, you will love this book. Jessica and Charlie, Viscount Rockingham, had been childhood friends, they grew up, they fell in love. They were far from social equals, Jessica was the cook’s daughter, and that was not the sole reason why they hadn’t seen each other in seven years. She needs his help. But oh, the attraction has not dimmed! What to do!
Because of the title, I had feared there would be a lot of sex and little story. I’m so happy to say that I was so very wrong! HIS NAUGHTY MAID is enchanting! The attraction between Charlie and Jessica is palpable, their chemistry leaps off the page, it’s so wonderfully done, all subtlety and wit. He’s adorably persistent, but he puts his money where his mouth is, you feel the love in the dialogues! The writing is dynamic, lively, and eloquent; the descriptions vibrant; the dialogues very clever. Cerise DeLand’s research is impeccable, the class differences beautifully addressed, and I loved all the “below stairs” stuff, and the marvellous period details. It feels so very authentic; everything!
Although it’s a novella and third in a series, I didn’t feel anything was missing. The resolution to Jessica’s predicament was convenient and swift, but it was logical and I had no problem with it because the romance is absolutely wonderful! Jessica and Charlie are very appealing characters, the tone is playful, sweet, and so lovely, and the banter is utterly delightful. Even the intimate scenes are a joy to behold! HIS NAUGHTY MAID is a most scrumptious morsel, indeed!
An intoxicating adventure that brings two people back together after years apart. A maid? He truly did not need another maid but his sister had begged and how could he deny her? But when he saw who it was, he was instantly taken back to his youth and a person he had never forgotten. Jess, the cook’s daughter in his household growing up and now she was a beautiful woman. Jess could not take her eyes off him. “He was as beautiful as when he’d been sixteen. And Twenty. And ten. But now he was devastating. Hercules, Apollo, any god of fame-not in ice, as she’d carved him for banquets-but in sinew and blood.”
Charles, Lord Rockingham did hire Jess but he wanted to know what had happened. She was a noted Patissiere chef, yet here she was, and all the memories of their youth returned. Jess thought he went off to war and forgot her after all the promises they had made.
A story of a past love never forgotten, a mysterious villian on the loose who wants to harm Jess for what she saw and a class divide that needs to be broken, but will they let it?
Cerise DeLand always pulls me into her stories right from the start with her engaging characters who steal my heart and make me turn the pages as fast as I can, but also never wanting the story to end! I will be patiently waiting to see what she writes next! I highly recommend this book and all in this series!
Like the previous installment, this one too was a fast read, there I can’t speak of insta-lust as Jessica and Charlie have known each other since they were children. They have always loved another even when rank and status separated them. Yet they were torn apart because of their differences.
Years later they rekindle by necessities as Jess needs shelter to hide herself from the one person who seeks to harm her.
It was a lovely read showing the hardship of the commoners working in the house of the peers, their own social ladder and the way it worked when living downstairs.
Sure, it is a fantasy, but some impossible dreams are not wrong sometimes.
Both main characters lost a lot because of their socially disparities, once reunited they walk on very thin ice, as he is master and she is servant.
And Jess can’t envision anything until she has regained her pride and is able to stand her ground without hurting anyone.
A short but entertaining quick read.
4.5 stars
I love Dudley Crescent. This is a very romantic story. There is a light mystery and loads of romance. As with all Dudley Crescent, there is disparate between servant and peer. Will they be able to overcome this disparity? Of course, they will, who are we kidding, it is a romance. But how it comes about is the wonderful part of these stories. Charlie wants to right a wrong he did in his youth and does it with such passion that makes you swoon. I love Jess and Charlie’s interactions and playfulness. I could go on and on about the romance aspect but let’s just say, if you have not read this series, you need to give them a try.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.