Left with no references after being sacked by her lecherous employer, Danielle Dulac is out of options. So, when Anthony Markham, enigmatic Duke of Blackmoor, offers to hire her as governess to his four-year-old son, despite a niggling little voice telling her to run, she accepts.A notorious rake, the Duke is surly, sarcastic, embittered, and hostile. And the most sensuous man Danielle has ever … has ever met. The attraction between them is instantaneous, combustible…and forbidden. Governesses do not fall in love with Dukes.
She soon discovers that the Master of Blackmoor is haunted by a dark and tragic past filled with lies, betrayal and death. Unfortunately, the past is not over. Evil stalks Blackmoor Hall. The danger is escalating and all the clues point to the Duke himself.
As the passion between Anthony and Danielle rages out of control, so does the peril they face. Will they uncover the evil in time? Or will it destroy them both?
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This is a delightfully suspenseful, eerie book, with moors, ruins, dark steeds, thunderous hooves…. Even the title! It’s been many years since I’ve read any gothic-style books, and it will never be my favorite genre, but this book is unputdownable. It has one of the most thrilling conclusions I’ve read, and that is saying quite a lot. Consider not reading this late at night, but definitely read it!
What a wonderful book, a combination of Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Oliver and a soupçon of 50 Shades. There was romance, intrigue, murder and mystery all combined in a Regency romance that draws you in from the beginning and keeps you beguiled until the very end. While I did have an aha moment about Nicholas it did nothing to spoil my enjoyment.
WOW. What a story. You will experience ever emotion you can think of from laughing, crying, sad, mad and happy. This book will keep you on edge of your seat trying to figure out what will happen next. What a great book. I will say it was not what I expected but well worth reading. Enjoy
Master of Blackmoor by Julie Shelton, is a delicious mix of gothic romance, mystery and some light bdsm.
After her father’s death, Danielle Dulac is left penniless and in dire need of a position suitable for a young lady. She agrees to hire on as a governess far from her home in London on at an estate on the Yorkshire moors. Before she can arrive safely at her destination, her coach loses a wheel and lands in a ditch stranding Danielle and her drivers in the middle of nowhere during a blizzard.
Forced to seek shelter at the infamous Blackmoor Hall, Danielle meets Anthony Markham, Due of Blackmoor. Anthony is a hard man after the trickery and tragedy that surrounded his first marriage. He is cold, sarcastic and not looking for any sort of relationship that is not simply sex with no strings attached. But there is something about Danielle that has him intrigued and breaking his own rules.
When the governess position falls through, Danielle is rescued once again by the Duke who is now offering the position of governess for his own young son, Geoffrey. Against her better judgement, Danielle agrees and finds herself surrounded by the mystery that surrounds the dark and brooding Blackmoor Hall and its inhabitants.
Passions are ignited, mysteries unfold, tragedies are brought to light and danger continues to surround the Hall. Can Danielle and Anthony find a way to escape the peril and create a life together even though they come from opposite worlds? One click to find out!
I adored Julie Shelton’s Master of Blackmore Hall. Even though she is young and innocent, Danielle is a fantastic heroine. She is loving to her young charge and brings life back to Blackmoor Hall little by little as she works her way into the hearts of the staff as well as their Master. She is also intelligent and witty and willing to stand up for what she knows is right . . . something that was not common or easy to do for a woman during this time . . . but exactly what Anthony Markham needs in a woman.
Circumstances have turned Anthony bitter, yet Danielle begins changing him in ways that bring him back to life. His struggles between his want for Danielle and his need to keep her safe feel very real. The side cast of characters, mainly the staff of Blackmoor Hall also add much to the story . . .my favorite being Fanshawe, the butler.
Julie Shelton did a great job keeping the plot moving forward. It was an intriguing mystery very reminiscent of a great gothic romance with all the trappings, including a love affair spanning class boundaries and a murderer on the loose. However, the story does not feel trite or overdone. There is also the fun addition of some light bdsm play such as bondage that add a delightful twist to this book.
The Master of Blackmoor is a page turner that will keep you reading late into the night! Grab your glass of wine and take a trip back in time to enjoy this romantic suspense. 5 stars!
Danielle DuLac is desperate. With her father recently deceased and her position as a teacher no longer viable after her father’s recent death, she accepted a position as governess to a pompous Lord whose only goal was seduction. She left his employ, as did many others, but he refused to provide her with a reference or character. In desperation she accepts a position with Lady Esterly and is on her way there when a blizzard causes a coach mishap and she and the coach driver seek refuge at Blackmoor Hall, rumored to be an evil place. Anthony Markham, Duke of Blackmoor, is a tortured soul. Having killed and his wife and brother when he learned of their affair, Anthony spends his days wishing for his own death and neglecting his four-year old son Geoffrey. His dark visage, courtesy of his part gypsy heritage, fuels the rumors of his vileness although Danielle sees beyond that to his tortured psyche. As fate would have it, Danielle ends up as governess to young Geoffrey who has been abused through the sin of neglect. She soons sets things at Blackmoor Hall back to rights and even makes several friends among the surly servants – her stauchest allies being young Bertha and Fanshawe the ascerbic butler. Love eventually enters the picture for Danielle and Anthony and a happy ending ensues but not before the perils and pitfalls of a murder mystery assert themselves.
This story was quite refreshing in that there was an actual storyline involved; and a good one too! Thankfully most of the erotica was confined to the latter portions of the book however it was most jarring to this reader to find old world characters referring to parts of the human anatomy in today’s vernacular. Those passages were totally unnecessary in carrying the story forward. As for the erotica part of the story it seemed interminable. Yes we know the lovers were passionate but a tutorial was unnecessary in this type of historical romance. A page or two of it would have sufficed but this felt more like a tutorial or a passage from Penthouse magazine. I will admit to it being well-written though. Throughout these passages I felt like our lovers were more in today’s comtemporary world than back in the late 1700s or early 1800s.
All in all, a well done book and one that will keep the reader’s interest. If you’re not into the erotica, you can certainly skip over those passages and still have an enjoyable read. And if erotica is your cup of tea then you’ll find this book a true delight! Note: I was provided with a copy of this book by the author.
The Master of Blackmoor by Julie Shelton
Gothic Romance at its best!
And, to make sure it hit the mark I looked to see what a gothic romance should include then ticked the boxes against this story:
*mystery tinged with horror (yes)
*dark background (yes)
*supernatural (yes)
*young governess or new bride (yes)
*large gloomy mansion (yes)
*peculiar servants (yes)
*precious child(ren) (yes)
*presided over by darkly handsome and man with mysterious past (yes)
Danielle Dulac is on her way to take a job as governess when the carriage she is riding in loses a wheel. She and the driver and mailman on the coach make their way to Blackmoor for the night where she encounters Anthony Markham, Duke of Blackmoor. Her job as governess was not to be…at least not where she planned to go originally…so a governess to Anthony’s son Geoffrey fortuitously is provided at Blackmoor.
With a backstory that was traumatic for all and a future to be explored by some this is a great read with murder, suspense, a diabolical bad guy and romance. I enjoyed reading the descriptions almost as much as the story itself because it took me back to visits to antique stores with my mother, looking through her books on various similar subjects and visits to museums & estate homes that were oh so much fun.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars