When a lady discovers that even the most unworthy deserve a second chance at love.Miss Estelle Darcy is running from her past. Everyone believes she drowned in a shipwreck off the French coast, and many times she wished she had. The smugglers who rescued her are not the sort of men one crosses. Still, London is a vast city with plenty of unsuitable places where a lady might hide.Lord Trevane’s … hide.
Lord Trevane’s pledge to find Miss Darcy has him in a quandary. The only woman ever to haunt his dreams is dead. The only woman Vane ever loved perished eight years ago on The Torrens. Moreover, how does one look for a ghost? And why would he want to when he’s convinced the lady abandoned him and eloped with her lover? Besides, he has his own problems. Renowned for being the most dangerous lord of the ton, ladies are scheming to bed him. Jealous men are plotting to drive a blade through his cold heart. And he has plans to wreak vengeance on the scoundrel responsible for ruining his sister.
But when Fate intervenes and throws them together again, Estelle and Vane must address the mistakes of the past. Neither can risk acknowledging the love they once shared. Damaged by their experiences, both believe it’s too late for second chances. So, how will they fare when the wolves come knocking? How will they fare when passion burns and their need for each other proves too tempting to resist?
Features:
Regency historical romance with elements of mystery and suspense
Contains some descriptive sex scenes
more
A WONDERFUL ENDING TO THIS SERIES! I am always sad when a series ends, but Ms. Clee brought her story of the Ladies of London to a heart-warming conclusion. Each couple lives and loves in a different way. Miss Darcy, the most daring of them all, has had to live through unspeakable hardships, but she perseveres. Ross’ life was bleak without the love of his life. This is the story of how they navigate the problems of coming together again after 8 years of loss.
Adele Clee has a gift for capturing the reader at the beginning of a story and not letting go until the end. This is my favorite trope of the damaged hero and heroine who strive to find their happy ever after together. From the first page, when the hero Ross Sandford the Marquess of Trevane, goes to one of the roughest parts of London so he can get into a fight I was hooked. Vane has been so unhappy and on a road of destruction for years after he lost the one woman he loved, Estelle Darcy. Gone eight years, everyone thought she had drowned on a ship but current sightings had confirmed possibly otherwise. As fate would have it, on that pivotal night when Vane was looking to get into a brawl in order to push his memories aside, Estelle appeared. Disbelief, anger, rage and so many other emotions assaulted Vane and he wanted answers as to why she had left him. The author brought these characters to life in a way I fell in love with them both and could feel their emotions. This story had a little of it all. Suspense, mystery, tragedy and of course such a strong love and devotion, it seized my heart. I should not have been surprised at how much I loved this story because that has been the case of everything I have read by Adele Clee. Although this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. But why would you do that? The entire series is fantastic and it will only make you want to read more by this talented author. Definitely on my to be read again shelf!!!
While this story starts in the grubby St. Giles of London, it is not at all dark and gloomy. It is helpful to have read The Scandalous Lady Sandford (Book 3), but sufficient background information is woven into this story without being repetitive. There is also a nicely incorporated cameo appearance by Lord Farleigh and his Rose of Book 2. Estelle has found refuge with the loving apothecary couple, yet she still fears being hunted down by French smugglers of her past. Trevane still feels betrayed by her flight 8 years earlier. They have to come to terms with their past which they do manage without those endless and repetitive “thoughts” found in other stories. I greatly enjoyed reading this.
I received an ARC and voluntarily read and reviewed it.
Ms Clee has done it yet again. Her characters just suck you into the story so that you literally can’t put it down. I love Vane and Estelle. Their story is one of lost love found but can misguided choices made long ago be forgiven? You will have to read the book to find out. If you haven’t started this series yet, I highly recommend that you do.
Everyone believes Estelle Darcy drowned in a shipwreck off the coast of France eight years ago, but really she’s been running from her past all this time. She was rescued by smugglers, but now she knows to much about their operations and leaving hasn’t been so easy. Fortunately, she’s found plenty of places to hide, both from her enemies and from those she loves.
Ross Sandford, the Marquess of Trevane, promised his brother-in-law he’d search for the man’s missing sister. But Ross knows that the woman he loved must be dead. He has no idea how to begin searching for a ghost, especially when the woman left him to elope with another. Ross has been broken ever since and developed quite the reputation as one of the most dangerous lords in London. Ladies throw themselves at him and jealous men plot his demise while Vane himself plans revenge on the man who orchestrated his sister’s ruin.
When Vane and Estelle are thrown together again, a reckoning of the past is in order. Neither is prepared to open up about their feelings or risk their hearts again. They’re different people now, so surely a second chance is out of the question. When danger continues to hound them, the passion they both still feel may not be enough to ensure their future together.
I was so happy to have Ross’ story at last and he turned out to be just a lovely a character as I thought he’d be. At times, however, I was extremely frustrated with Estelle and her treatment of Ross. Her reasons for leaving and staying away seems a bit feeble to me and it took her too long to be honest with Ross, but she did redeem herself eventually. I enjoyed the mystery aspects in this one immensely, even if they did lead to me being rather frustrated by Estelle’s naivete. The narration was enjoyable, if a little dramatic in this case, but that mostly well-suited the story. This was a lovely second chance story and a great ending to a series I have thoroughly enjoyed.
I am so sad to read the last book in this series – Ms. Clee had me hooked on the first book & kept me there through Book 4. I have really looked forward to Estelle Darcy/Lord Trevane’s story – it was worth the wait & was fantastic! I do not summarize books in my reviews as it has been done by several others doing their reviews, but I will say that you will not be disappointed in this book or the series. Ms. Clee’s stories are always full of wonderful main & secondary characters that you fall in love with & find yourself living their story right along with them. Her plots are a little different than the “norm” in historical romance which makes them really fun & she always writes a HEA to the end. This story had loss of love, evil villains, loyal/loving friends, endearing sibling love & throw in some twists & turns.
I Highly Recommend Book 4 In The ‘Lost Ladies of London’ Series by this awesome author. Adele’s books are well-written with exciting plot lines and twists you never see coming. Adele is one of my favorite authors and I highly recommend all her stand-alone books & series, including her new series ‘Avenging Lords’.
This is Vane and Estelle’s story and what a story it is!
She is the lost sister of Fabian, the pirate from book 3 and she really believes that her history of the past 8 years makes her unworthy to be part of her original society level and status, so she keeps away from the man who has always loved her as well as from her brother.
Vane has been tricked into finding her so does all he can to do this.
In this story you will meet up with an evil, conniving temptress, some of the characters from the last book and some very endearing new characters too.
I loved the way this tale was like a web of exciting or delightful scenes passing easily, one to the other and making it into a very readable and enjoyable book.
Adele Clee and Liisa Ivary have shown once again how great teamwork can entertain a reader and make one feel as if they are participating in a story and so I am very happy to recommend it.
I requested and received a free copy of the audiobook and this is my voluntary and unbiased review.