A Dream of Redemption

4.5 stars

Lady Helen Hawkestone has decided to stop looking for a husband and let fate lead her to her perfect mate. She is the younger sister of Marisa, the Duchess of Lyttleton and Sebastian, the Marquess of Coldhurst and she has seen her brother and sister as well as their friends find their soulmates and will settle for nothing less for herself.

Fate thrusts the most unlikely candidate at her, Clarence Homeward aka Clarey, her sister’s personal secretary. Clarey was instrumental in rescuing Marisa from Victoria and in turn Marisa rescued him and his younger brother Simon from Angelo. Clarey has worked hard in the five years since to make sure he and Simon never ended up back on the streets and nothing and no one will deter him from his path, not even the absolutely gorgeous angel that he has been half in love with for five years. But fate clearly has other ideas.

When Helen offers to help with a newly acquired orphanage, so her sister can go on a surprise anniversary trip, Clarey is opposed, but Helen persists and Marisa gives in to her. Helen has long admired Clarey and most definitely appreciates his good looks, but besides spending time with him, she really wants to help.

Nothing could have prepared her for the harsh reality of the orphanage or her desire to help these children, against Clarey’s advice, she stays and learns that some children are missing – she tells Clarey they must be found. He goes to look and she finagles a way to follow him. He is livid when she shows up and when the fired orphanage master Glover spots them, he kisses her to throw him off their trail. As they return to the home, they are attacked and Clarey is injured. Helen feels awful and cares for him. They both feel the pull of attraction, but Clarey knows what he could lose if he pursues it but Helen wants to explore it. He asks her to go home and reluctantly she agrees, but this is not over between them.

When Clarey returns to work, Helen is waiting, he tries to keep her at arm’s length, but she is sure they could have a future. But Clarey has a dark past that Helen has no knowledge of, he tries to tell her, but she says she doesn’t care. He begins to think that maybe she does love him enough, but when a walk in the park has him encountering a person from his past, he knows that he will never be accepted. Helen is not going to let him walk away, she insists on taking him home after he is re-injured and they move beyond kisses, she tells him that he has to fight for her.

When he is warned off and tries to distance himself, she has doubts, but she still isn’t ready to give him up. She goes to his home and he tells her most of his past, she is shocked, but she still wants him, they make love and reality returns when her brother bursts in.

Helen stands up to Sebastian and will find a way to be with Clarey. But before she can get to him, Glover reappears and Helen is in danger. Clarey goes to the only man who can help him get her back, Sebastian. They find Helen and Glover reveals all of Clarey’s shame to her. Clarey is sure she will turn from him, but to his surprise, she tells Glover she doesn’t care and punches him, enabling a clear shot to kill him. Helen is saved, but that is not the end of their story, they still have to gain her families blessing and based on Sebastian’s reaction, that dream seems impossible.

This was a very emotional read, with a lot of darkness, triggers and angst – but I loved it. It was a beautiful story of acceptance, self-forgiveness, familial love and learning to not let your past define you. It did not have many light moments, but there is action and steamy love scenes, there are villains that get what they deserve and a very sweet epilogue that left me a little teary eyed.

If you have been following this series, you MUST read this book, if you are new to the series, it could be read as a stand alone, but it would be best to start at the beginning of the series and work your way to this book!!

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*

I like the ending

I have enjoyed this series and looked forward to this book. I was not disappointed. Helen and Clary are lovable characters that we met in earlier stories. It takes place a few years after the last one. Helen learns about the unfairness in her world and wants to make a difference. Together with Clary, they help orphans as their love grows. Clary’s secret past is an obstacle for him, and then all the danger around makes them choose what is most important to them. I highly recommend this story and the series.

I received a copy of this through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.

This is a lovely historical romance about two people from two very different backgrounds brought together by fate and other people. Lady Helen is the sister of an Earl and sister in law of a Duke. Clary is the personal secretary to Lady Helen’s sister, a duchess.
One might think it’s going to be a simple romantic trope about wanting someone unattainable, from another class in a time and place when people would have found such choices unacceptable, and that is part of this tale, but only part.
Clary has a dark past which he has risen above, with the help of others. Even with his rise into a respectable position in society,he still harbors fear that his past could become public knowledge and harm those about whom he cares. He is forced to work closely with Lady Helen on a project that has risks, and he feels he must protect her, not only from the inherent dangers of their work, but also from his desire for her.
Lady Helen is not the usual vapid, self absorbed debutante. She cares little for social events, gossip, and balls, but does care deeply for her family, and for Clary.
As the plot becomes filled with action and intrigue, can the two protect each other not only from the dangers around them but from what they face should they succumb to their feelings for each other?
This is a great story, and it is a definite page turner. The plot was fast paced, it resonates with present times, and the heat between the two main characters captivating. The additional characters were well written, especially Marissa and Simon, and the HEA well done.
I highly recommend this book to romance readers who like some excitement with their romance.
I read this as an arc on Netgalley which affected my review in no way at all.

Second chances at life rarely come. Especially when you were abandoned as a child on the streets with your little brother and are taken in by an awful person. Forced to live a life beyond description, Clary Homeward and his brother Simon, were saved by Lady Marisa. Clary becomes Lady Marisa’s secretary and helps with her endeavors to save orphans and children on the street. When Marisa’s sister, Helen wants to become involved in the orphanages, she is thrown together with Clary and it is his worst fear. You see, he had seen Helen a few years back when he was first rescued by Marisa and he had a memory of her as an Angel. That image does not go away as they spend time together but he knows he is not good enough for her. Helen has really been sheltered her whole life and is shocked to see the fate of children from the streets and wholeheartedly becomes involved. With a villain who is stealing children for nefarious reasons and a struggle to save them, this story will uncover some of the darker places during this time period. But there is so much light to be found and with the strong characters that come to life, hope is possible. This was a story of the very bases of emotion and love and that there is sometimes a lot to be said for perseverance and realizing that life can be good with wonderful support and believing in yourself! This is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone story

Bookish and independent Lady Helen Hawkestone is expected to marry well. But, having grown up with warring parents, the institution holds little appeal. The trick, she realizes, is to marry for love a task that’s easier said than done. Clary Homeward is an enigma a heart-stopping, body-stirring, forget-her-social-upbringing enigma. A single offence against a noblewoman such as Lady Helen would ruin a man like Clary. Her sister, Marisa, Duchess of Lyttleton rescued him from hellish poverty and employs him with her charity work. Try as he might to push her away, Helen tempts him to want things he could never have. But when girls from the orphanage start disappearing, destined for a grim fate Clary knows all too well, Helen insists on helping.
Another page turning, engrossing read which once again I was loathe to put down & read until 2am to finish it. Quite dark in places, the descriptions of the orphanage & Clary’s teenage years were particularly harrowing, I commend the author for delving into the seamier side of nineteenth century life. The characters are very well portrayed, Clary & Helen were both strong characters. She had her eyes opened as to how others had to live & he was consumed by guilt. Their road to their HEA wasn’t smooth but they did fight to get there. I’m a fan of the author’s books & this didn’t disappoint, it is the eighth in the series but could be read as a standalone book but why would you when the series goes from strength to strength

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read