Series: Not A Series, but several ‘associated’ books
Publication Date: 12/1/19
Number of Pages: 288
Add danger and mystery to a wonderful romance and you have…the perfect book! The writing, as always, is superb and the characters are complex and robust. The mystery is exceptional, there are a number of twists and turns that will keep you rapidly moving from page to page and there is a beautiful epilogue. What more could you want?
Lady Eleanor Murray is half-way through her seventh unsuccessful season. She was expecting to become betrothed to Lord Hugh Ledsey, but, out of the blue, he announced his betrothal to the lovely and sweet Lady Alice. Eleanor was raised with a cold and unfeeling father who forced his wife and children to NEVER, ever show any emotion. Thus, Eleanor had become known as the Ice Queen. Inside, she was anything but ice, but she couldn’t allow those feelings to show.
Eleanor’s mother, the Countess of Westix, finally tells her that their finances are in dire straits and this will be her last season. If she doesn’t marry, they will be destitute. Her father is dead and her brother is missing, so the only way for them to save themselves is for Eleanor to marry well. How is she to do that when nobody even asks her to dance or for an introduction. Everybody avoids the Ice Queen. Her mother has a plan – and it is a jaw-dropping one. She’s made arrangements for Eleanor to take lessons from Lottie, who is a courtesan. The lessons are to be in flirting and bringing warmth into her interactions with others.
Charles Pemberton, the newly minted Duke of Somersville, feels he has failed everyone in his life. He failed his father because he never lived up to his father’s expectations and he never found the Coeur de Feu (Heart of Fire). He worshiped his father – revered him – yet he failed him and has never earned his approval. Now, he is gone and all Charles can do is to finally buckle down and find the Coeur de Feu for him. He’s also failed his friend Charlotte (Lottie). When he returned to London from abroad, he discovered that his childhood friend had been compromised and had to turn to being a courtesan in order to provide for herself. She, a vicar’s daughter – how he had failed her.
Charles and Eleanor’s fathers were enemies – and thus Charles and Eleanor hated each other’s family. Yet, when Lottie asked Charles to assist her with the lessons for Eleanor, he agreed – after all, she had journals that he needed in order to find the Coeur de Feu. He just had to figure out how to get them from her. (Venal isn’t he?)
Due to a miscalculation – and royally sticking his foot in it – Eleanor discovers who Charles is and wants nothing to do with him. After that, it is a very careful dance to safeguard their hearts and yet each get what they want – and neither of them wants love.
It is a delightful read and I highly recommend it. I can only think of a couple of things that would have made it a better read for me. The first thing is – we didn’t actually get to see the villain get his punishment. We know he was apprehended – but – he was a peer, so – did he get a trial in the House of Lords? Did they strip his title and try him as a commoner? Was he hanged? Was he transported? I hate it when things are left hanging. The other thing I was left to wonder about was how the villain came to know all the things he did about the Duke’s house? Those were things that nobody outside the family would know.
Anyway – bottom line – it is a wonderful read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Series: Not A Series, but several ‘associated’ books
Publication Date: 12/1/19
Number of Pages: 288
Add danger and mystery to a wonderful romance and you have…the perfect book! The writing, as always, is superb and the characters are complex and robust. The mystery is exceptional, there are a number of twists and turns that will keep you rapidly moving from page to page and there is a beautiful epilogue. What more could you want?
Lady Eleanor Murray is half-way through her seventh unsuccessful season. She was expecting to become betrothed to Lord Hugh Ledsey, but, out of the blue, he announced his betrothal to the lovely and sweet Lady Alice. Eleanor was raised with a cold and unfeeling father who forced his wife and children to NEVER, ever show any emotion. Thus, Eleanor had become known as the Ice Queen. Inside, she was anything but ice, but she couldn’t allow those feelings to show.
Eleanor’s mother, the Countess of Westix, finally tells her that their finances are in dire straits and this will be her last season. If she doesn’t marry, they will be destitute. Her father is dead and her brother is missing, so the only way for them to save themselves is for Eleanor to marry well. How is she to do that when nobody even asks her to dance or for an introduction. Everybody avoids the Ice Queen. Her mother has a plan – and it is a jaw-dropping one. She’s made arrangements for Eleanor to take lessons from Lottie, who is a courtesan. The lessons are to be in flirting and bringing warmth into her interactions with others.
Charles Pemberton, the newly minted Duke of Somersville, feels he has failed everyone in his life. He failed his father because he never lived up to his father’s expectations and he never found the Coeur de Feu (Heart of Fire). He worshiped his father – revered him – yet he failed him and has never earned his approval. Now, he is gone and all Charles can do is to finally buckle down and find the Coeur de Feu for him. He’s also failed his friend Charlotte (Lottie). When he returned to London from abroad, he discovered that his childhood friend had been compromised and had to turn to being a courtesan in order to provide for herself. She, a vicar’s daughter – how he had failed her.
Charles and Eleanor’s fathers were enemies – and thus Charles and Eleanor hated each other’s family. Yet, when Lottie asked Charles to assist her with the lessons for Eleanor, he agreed – after all, she had journals that he needed in order to find the Coeur de Feu. He just had to figure out how to get them from her. (Venal isn’t he?)
Due to a miscalculation – and royally sticking his foot in it – Eleanor discovers who Charles is and wants nothing to do with him. After that, it is a very careful dance to safeguard their hearts and yet each get what they want – and neither of them wants love.
It is a delightful read and I highly recommend it. I can only think of a couple of things that would have made it a better read for me. The first thing is – we didn’t actually get to see the villain get his punishment. We know he was apprehended – but – he was a peer, so – did he get a trial in the House of Lords? Did they strip his title and try him as a commoner? Was he hanged? Was he transported? I hate it when things are left hanging. The other thing I was left to wonder about was how the villain came to know all the things he did about the Duke’s house? Those were things that nobody outside the family would know.
Anyway – bottom line – it is a wonderful read and I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.