For years, Daphne Wentworth, Countess of Carrington, has loved her powerful, enigmatic husband, despite the fact that they married under less than ideal circumstances. But no more. Finally at her breaking point, Daphne intends to create a scandal so big, her austere husband will have no choice but to divorce her. Except everything goes awry when he surprises her with the last thing she expected. … expected.
Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, has returned to London for one reason–to seduce his wife. After a near-death experience, he is in need of an heir and means to make his marriage a real one. To his shock, though, his wicked, beautiful countess wants the exact opposite, and he must now do everything possible to entice his countess to stay forever.
Each book in the Rebellious Desires series is STANDALONE:
* Duchess by Day, Mistress by Night
* The Earl in My Bed
more
Blackmail
For six years Daphne has lived neglected in a loveless marriage. Finally she decides to take matters into her own hands and get a divorce. Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, returns to England to make his marriage a real one. He finally sees his wife as the woman she really is. He never wants to lose his Duchess. Once again blackmail and murder threaten their happiness. Passionate and a little erotic.
Maybe 3.5 stars
Daphne Collins and Sylvester Wentworth, The Earl of Carrington met when he saved her and her dog from a near drowning, he takes her back to his home and they talk, he is enchanted with her and she with him. Once she is home she asks her father about him and learns that he is an earl. Her father Viscount Blagrove then does the unthinkable, he blackmails Sylvester into marrying her.
For six years Sylvester has ignored his wife and she is unhappy, she learned on her wedding night that he was blackmailed into marrying her, but has no idea what her father held over him or why he believes she was party to the blackmail – but after six long, lonely years, she is done. She knows she cannot divorce him, so she plans to force him to divorce her. She then imagines she will travel and maybe one day re-marry. She has been faithful to her vows, despite being left alone and at the mercy of the ton’s rakes and gossipmongers. Viscount Redgrave has been pursuing her for the past year and tries in earnest to have her become his lover. But Daphne will not break her vows, she tells Redgrave that she plans to make Sylvester divorce her and Redgrave warns her that he will not be able to marry a divorcee – she doesn’t care – she needs to be free. She loved Sylvester when they married and still does, but she can no longer live with his distain and barely leashed anger.
Sylvester is back in England after spending time in Jamaica where his is actively trying to free slaves and enforce the crowns law regarding slavery – he is passionate about this cause and has made enemies – enemies that have tried on more than one occasion to kill him. After barely surviving the last attack, he decides to go home, make peace with Daphne and get himself an heir. So when he learns from his man of business that Daphne has a lover, he is enraged. He confronts her and doesn’t believe her when she insists she has been faithful. Then she informs him that she wants a divorce – he refuses and makes a counter offer – give him 8 weeks to woo her and if at the end of that time she is still unhappy, he will petition for a divorce (a promise he has no intention of keeping).
She reluctantly agrees, but refuses to allow him in her bed. He agrees and plans to seduce her into staying with him. But when old threats, secrets, doubts and mistrust come calling, can these two come together and find their HEA?
I thought the writing was great and I liked both Sylvester (great name!) and Daphne, but I had a really hard time wrapping my head around Daphne wanting a divorce – because she is unhappy in her cold marriage? Because she is lonely? Because she wants to be free? None of these reasons made sense to me – as a divorcee she would be shunned. So being shunned and becoming a social pariah is better than having a loveless marriage where your husband ignores you but gives you a huge allowance and pretty much doesn’t care what you do with your time? There were also some inconsistencies in the plot that baffled me and I am still not sure if the threats to Sylvester were all done by the same person. Overall, I thought the previous book was much better, but I am not sorry I read this book and would recommend it. It is the second book in the series and while Georgiana and Rhys make an appearance in this book, it could easily be read as a stand alone title.
Emotional seesaw. Kept me reading!
Thought it was a little far-fetched how the earl changed his feelings so easily after 6 years of resentment and anger at his wife.
A little over the top dramatic.
Different plot of the heroine’s father blackmailing the Earl into marrying his daughter. The Earl is rather detached in his personal life. In Parliament he fights to abolish slavery. The marriage begins as one of convenience and of course progresses. Daphne, after 6 years of an indifferent marriage plots to have the Earll divorce her
I have never been disappointed by this author’s Regency books. The stories are told in great detail and captures your interest from the start. Highly recommend.
Publisher’s Description:
For years, Daphne Wentworth, Countess Carrington has loved her powerful, enigmatic husband, despite the fact that they married under less than ideal circumstances. But no more. Finally at her breaking point, Daphne intends to create a scandal so big, her austere husband will have no choice but to divorce her. Except everything goes awry when he surprises her with the last thing she expected.
Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, has returned to London for one reason—to seduce his wife. After a near-death experience, he is in need of an heir and means to make his marriage a real one. To his shock, though, his wicked, beautiful countess wants the exact opposite, and he must now do everything possible to entice his countess to stay forever.
My Thoughts:
I enjoyed this newest edition to the Rebellious Desires series.
There is no need to read these books in order because each one is a complete standalone title.
Daphne fell head over heels for her Earl as a young and impressionable girl.
When her father discovered her infatuation he promptly blackmailed Sylvester into marrying her.
Daphne had no knowledge of her father’s perfidy but Sylvester thinks her implicit in the scheme.
With no knowledge of her father’s machinations Daphne doesn’t understand why her husband leaves her for six long years.
Now he is back and wishes her to provide him with an heir.
How will their mutual misunderstanding end.
Will the two of them find love or will their pasts and the secrets involved be the end to a possible love everlasting.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a hot sensual rating of 4.75 of 5.0 flames.
The intimacy doesn’t occur right away but is instead held off until nearly the end of this book.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley to read and review.
This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
I enjoyed this engaging historical romance. Sylvester and Daphne’s story is complicated and full of drama, secrets, a bit of danger, and a lot of emotional turmoil. Their history together begins in such a fairytale fashion (He rescues her and her dog from drowning), that you would expect smooth sailing ahead. However, this is not the case as blackmail, anger, and misunderstandings send this couple down a much less rosy path. Just when Daphne has given up hope on their relationship and decides to take drastic action, Sylvester decides that he wants their relationship to last and become something more. Can these two ever get on the same page? Can they let go of the pain of the past? Can they get the fairytale HEA that their initial meeting foreshadowed? Read this entertaining book to find out. I am posting a completely honest, voluntary review after reading this book.
Daphne and Sylvester have been married for six years and yet they barely talk, rarely see each other and have never touched. The circumstances of their marriage are not the type to bring about warmth and affection. When Sylvester almost dies he decides it is time to fulfill his familial obligation and sire an heir. Unfortunately for him, Daphne has other plans that have nothing whatsoever to do with sharing her husband’s bed.
I understood Sylvester’s reasoning for remaining aloof and icy towards his countess but it tended to make me want to smack him upside the head sometimes. When Daphne comes up with her scheme, I felt a bit confused. She had the perfect partner to assist her in her endeavor right in front of her. That string in the storyline just didn’t add up to me.
However, I did enjoy watching Daphne come alive and Sylvester’s reactions to her. My heart hurt for the pain and loneliness she had carried for so many years. The groveling on the hero’s part was pretty decent although I would’ve loved to have had even more of it vocalized instead of shared through his inner musings.
Altogether a pleasant read. I suspect you will actually love it if you like this trope and don’t mind the hero being a bit of an a-hole.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My romantic heart just pounds as I turn the last page of this wonderful story. Every time I read a new book by Stacy Reid I am reminded of why I love her writing. She engages me from the first page and keeps me awake late into the night anxious to see what happens, but at the same time wanting the story to go on forever. Her well drawn characters of Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington and his soon to be Countess Daphne, are all that you can image. Meeting under fateful circumstances and getting married soon thereafter because of nefarious dealings by her father, it seemed the match was doomed. You see, her father had blackmailed Sylvester into marrying Daphne, yet she really had no idea of everything that transpired. She was almost in love with Sylvester at their first encounter. By his description (did I mention Stacy has a gift for the well drawn character?) what maiden would not be? She was only 17 and still a romantic at heart it seemed. But their marriage was anything but happy until he returned from almost getting killed and determined he really needed an heir. Not wanting to give much away, the tightly held emotions of both characters kept me on edge with Daphne only wanting her husband to care for her but she had almost had enough of his indifference. I love this trope of the wounded hero in spirit really due to a lot of misunderstandings but with a possible second chance at happiness. Can the two come together and live as a real husband and wife? Do not miss this intriguing story that will only have you holding your breath before the next installment of the Rebellious Desires series comes out. I hope Stacy has already written the third story and will publish soon! I cannot wait.
The Earl in My Bed by Stacy Reid is book Two in the Rebellious Desires Series. This is the story of Daphne Wentworth, Countess Carrington and Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington.
I have read the previous book (and loved it!) but feel this can easily be a standalone book if you choose to do so.
Daphne and Sylvester are married they didn’t live as man and wife. Daphne was young and went along with her father’s wishes. Not knowing what all her father had done to ensure the marriage but soon learned afterwards. Sylvester may have married Daphne but he made sure to keep his distance from her. Now years later Daphne isn’t the young girl with dreams… she just wants out of this non existence marriage. But now Sylvester has a change of heart about his marriage after coming close to dying. But now his wife has turned away and he has to convince her to give their marriage a chance.
I Love Ms. Reid’s books so this was a joy to read. Couldn’t put it down!
The Earl in My Bed by Stacy Reid
Rebellious Desires #2
For six years Daphne and Sylvester have been married to one another but have never really been a true husband and wife with all that entails. Their marriage is a sham with no intimacy, not much conversation and little interaction at all…the marriage could easily be annulled if either party should want to. Daphne acquired the status and position her father desired for her, she married a man she admired until she actually found out what being married to him would entail. Her father’s blackmail of Sylvester to get him to the altar definitely backfired putting the kibosh on the husband wanting anything to do with his wife…until…his wife was willing to do almost anything necessary to be free of her marriage.
This is, to me, a highly unbelievable story. True, Daphne was naïve when she married and Sylvester was unbending and chilly to the extreme but still, I can’t see how six years would impact the two of them as it did or that Daphne had grown up or matured much in the six years if she really believed scandal and divorce would be preferable to her husband’s offer to make the marriage more than the empty situation it had previously been. Women in that time did not have rights so Daphne’s defiance and desires seemed a bit unreal…more than a bit, actually. I kept thinking, “Really?” That said, the writing was well done, the story provided some history of the slave trade and abolition movement, there were some secrets unearthed about family and others that were…perhaps…surprising and Daphne and Sylvester did eventually manage to come to terms with one another and have a shot at a happy ending.
I read the first book in the series and am glad I read this one and look forward to reading the third book to see what will happen next. It is not essential to read book one before book two. I was surprised that the couple in this story is not one of the characters I enjoyed reading about in book one.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
AWESOME READ! The Earl In My Bed by Stacy Reid is book 2 in the Rebellious Desires series and what a book it is! I found this story to be original and intense. Stacy has an amazing way of writing, that you feel what the characters must be feeling. The Earl In My Bed held me captive from the first page to the last and the well drawn characters easily come to life and captures the era in which the story is set. I cannot wait for more of this series, although this book can be read as a standalone. Her descriptions are so vivid and clear you can picture it all in your mind. Can you tell I loved this book? This journey starts with blackmail and continues with a rescue, deceit, misunderstandings, death, kindness, loneliness, hurt, attempted suicide, anger, revenge, slavery, orphans, desertion, a need for an heir, scandal, kidnapping, pride, forgiveness, boldness, adventurous, subduction, betrayal, but can it end with love? You will just have to read this book to find out and I highly recommend it. Travel back in time to 1815 England with Miss Daphne Elizabeth Collins and Sylvester Augustus Wentworth, Earl of Carrington on a journey like no other.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
Daphne Wentworth fell in love with Mr Carrington when he rescued her & Gulliver from a river when she was seventeen. She is overjoyed to find herself married to him soon afterwards but her eyes are opened when he rejects her on their wedding night. Now six years later Countess Carrington has finally reached her breaking point, Daphne intends to create a scandal so big, her austere husband will have no choice but to divorce her. Sylvester Wentworth, Earl of Carrington, has returned to London for one reason to seduce his wife. After a near-death experience, he is in need of an heir and means to make his marriage a real one. To his shock, though, his wicked, beautiful countess wants the exact opposite, and he must now do everything possible to entice his countess to stay forever.
I love the author’s books they are just so very good & this is up there with the best of them. Misunderstandings, hidden feelings, blackmail, kidnapping & of course romance all blend together to make this an engrossing read that I read in under a day. The story flowed so well & the characters are very well developed. This is the second book in the series but could be very well read by itself although we do ‘catch up’ with Georgiana & Rhys, I hope Julian has his story & even Henry could be redeemed!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read
Lord Sylvester Carrington was blackmailed into marriage, So there was no way it could ever be a happy union.
Daphne had no idea of the lengths her father went to secure her the man she wanted. By the time she found out it was far too late.
Years later the strain of living with constant tension is getting too much for both of them. Something has got to give.
An emotional story full of turmoil and tension. Our characters have let their pride rule for far too long. Is there anyway out without a huge scandal?.
You will need the tissues out for some of this, but there are also some laughs to lighten things up.
A very enjoyable story.