LOVE AND BETRAYAL…A cool master of sensuality, Rafael Whitbourne, the Duke of Candover, earned his rakish reputation in the silken boudoirs of London’s highborn ladies, never giving away his hand or his heart. Then a vital mission for his government takes Rafe to Paris to work with the Countess Madga Janos, “the most beautiful spy in Europe.” He is appalled to discover that the smoky eyed … the smoky eyed temptress is no Hungarian countess, but the deceitful doxie who betrayed him a dozen years earlier—the only woman he ever loved, and the only one he’s ever despised.
Margot Ashton wants nothing more than to walk away from her turbulent past and the mesmerizing man who ruined her life. But patriotism binds them together in a shadowland of intrigue where a diabolical plot may plunge a continent back into war—and a whirlwind of passion sweeps Margot and Rafe into a shattering passion that cannot be denied.
** Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Certificate of Excellence
PRAISE FOR PETALS IN THE STORM:
“Mary Jo Putney is a consummate storyteller whose deep understanding of human emotions shines through in all her work. Petals in the Storm is simply another of her miraculous romances—the kind that stir the heart and mind. Storytelling at its best.”
—Melinda Helfer, Romantic Times Magazine
“Petals in the Storm is a stunning tour-de-force; a moving testament to the resilience of the human spirit and its ability to emerge from the fires of hell stronger and wiser than before. The protagonists are riveting characters with a tempestuous relationship played out against a mesmerizing backdrop of intrigue. Congratulations to Mary Jo Putney for another winner.”
—Harriet Klausner, Affaire de Coeur
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USAToday bestselling author, Mary Jo Putney was born in Upstate New York with a reading addiction, a condition for which there is no known cure. Her entire romance writing career is an accidental byproduct of buying a computer for other purposes.
Her novels are known for psychological depth and intensity and include historical and contemporary romance, fantasy, and young adult fantasy. Winner of numerous writing awards, including two RITAs and two Romantic Times Career Achievement awards, she has six times had books listed among the Library Journal’s top five romances of the year, and three times had books among the top ten romances of Booklist, the magazine of the American Library Association.
Her favorite reading is great stories, but in a pinch she’ll settle for the backs of cereal boxes. She’s delighted that e-publishing can now make available books that have been out of print.
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Awesome Read! Enjoying this writer’s work and anxious to read more.
4 and 1/2 stars
As usual, it is MJP has provided a clearly grounded and well-researched historical context; intrigue plots are always well-placed during and after the Napoleonic Wars, and this work is no exception.
This iteration of the second chance romance trope is neatly done, and the H and h here are as finely wrought as the historical context. The full truth of their history and separation come slowly and provide excellent drama and tension between the two. Margot is a compelling protagonist and I enjoyed that she was resourceful and quite capable of taking of herself. She used propensity of the males around her, who continually underestimate and presume they know best the ‘true’ nature of women, to establish a career in espionage that lasted over a dozen years, which is no mean feat. It was refreshing how Margot was the savvy professional and Rafe, her ducal H, often had to play catch-up. Still, both characters were given opportunities to show their mettle to the reader and show that they are evenly matched and deserving of each other as well as their HEA.
There is an abbreviated secondary romance between two supporting characters, Helene and Karl, which was sweet and I only wish it had been given a little more time on the page to develop. The few scenes between the two made me want to know both more fully. Still, there was a lot of plot to contend with in regards to the post-war intrigue plot, so it’s understandable why that did not happen.
Siobhan Waring is a new to me narrator. Her performance was strong and she did MJP’s story proud. I see she narrates the rest of the series, so I anticipate I will enjoy listening to the previous and subsequent books as much as I did this one.
Recommended to fans of MJP and readers/listeners who enjoy a well-plotted historical romance with a dash of intrigue and strong main characters.
*I won a giveaway code for a free copy from the author via Audiobook Boom.* As usual, it is MJP has provided a clearly grounded and well-researched historical context; intrigue plots are always well-placed during and after the Napoleonic Wars, and this work is no exception.
This iteration of the second chance romance trope is neatly done, and the H and h here are as finely wrought as the historical context. The full truth of their history and separation come slowly and provide excellent drama and tension between the two. Margot is a compelling protagonist and I enjoyed that she was resourceful and quite capable of taking of herself. She used the propensity of the males around her, who continually underestimate and presume they know best the ‘true’ nature of women, to establish a career in espionage that lasted over a dozen years, which is no mean feat. It was refreshing how Margot was the savvy professional and Rafe, her ducal H, often had to play catch-up. Still, both characters were given opportunities to show their mettle to the reader and show that they are evenly matched and deserving of each other as well as their HEA.
There is an abbreviated secondary romance between two supporting characters, Helene and Karl, which was sweet and I only wish it had been given a little more time on the page to develop. The few scenes between the two made me want to know both more fully. Still, there was a lot of plot to contend with in regards to the post-war intrigue thread, so it’s understandable why that did not happen.
Siobhan Waring is a new to me narrator. Her performance was strong and she did MJP’s story proud. I see she narrates the rest of the series, so I anticipate I will enjoy listening to the previous and subsequent books as much as I did this one.
Recommended to fans of MJP and readers/listeners who enjoy a well-plotted historical romance with a dash of intrigue and strong main characters.
*I won a giveaway code for a free copy from the author via Audiobook Boom.*