Forced to betray the only man she ever loved… agree…
Lord Oliver Childs didn’t become a hired assassin just to see Belle sell herself to yet another man.
He’ll protect her with his life, just as he’s always done.
But something is different about this time.
He’s always been dangerous, and with Belle, he’s worse.
But enemies past and present make it impossible for them to be together.
Will these two ever find their happily ever after?
And what happens when it’s revealed that Oliver is not the man she always thought him to be?
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The conversations between these two characters are delightful and hurtful. Both are trying to protect their hearts, without giving of themselves. When Oliver and Belle try to make a concerted effort to truly know one another. Oliver finds himself withdrawing away from Belle. Belle knew at one time, but that was before her mother died and her father sold her into slavery. Belle finally understands as they attempt to know each other that Oliver doesn’t know what love is. What Oliver doesn’t understand and Belle realizes that Oliver needs to be unconditionally loved. Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8.
Yes! In usual Deborah Wilson fashion we get a wonderful HEA! But it is really the journey getting there that is the best. A slow burn romance with much emotion going both ways, back and forth, love – anger, love – anger; does he love me? Does he hate me? Does she really love me? Does she really hate me? This behavior really keeps the action going so much so that sometimes you want to shout YES, HE LOVES YOU! YES, SHE REALLY DOES LOVE YOU! Wake up! But we the reader have the advantage hearing the feelings of both sides while it’s happening. I probably would feel just as much insecurity as both characters did at the time. I highly recommend reading this, but if you do, you’ll need to buckle up ‘cause you’re in for a bumpy ride.
I’ve been reading this series since Book 1 and every time I think it can’t get any better, then Deborah Wilson proves me wrong. Belle and Oliver’s story shouted to be told and it was worth the wait. While you can read this book as standalone, I do suggest reading the previous books to get the full effect of this one. The only bad thing about finishing this book is waiting for the next one.
Wounded Souls
I don’t know why this story puts me in the mind of Beauty and the Beast but it does. When I think of Oliver I think of him as the Beast has been twisted and tortured all of his life. The monster in his mind in the monster who controls him are two different characters. Belle is his sunshine or more like his freedom.
Bell herself is like this Charmed character on the surface but yet she is tortured, brutalized, and controlled.
Everything for them will have to come full circle the path will not be easy goodness Thing Worth Fighting For Ever is.
In the story you’ll find that Bell has a tattoo and once you find out what that means it may mean something in your life to. Because when I found out what it meant it had been a saying I’ve gotten from my aunt when I was younger and it’s something I totally believe in.
Each book has gotten better with its telling but this book read for me a lot differently. It was still a very great read and I enjoyed understand me Oliver and Belle so much better.
Again I recommend this series to anybody who likes strong male leads who are not perfect and the smart, sassy, devoted women who love them to get these books and enjoy themselves.
Two Damaged Souls.
Oliver and Belle have appeared as secondary characters in previous books but now their story is told and they finally get their HEA. How both of them have endured what they have and be relatively upright individuals is remarkable. It is Oliver who proves the biggest stumbling block to any relationship between the two of them but in his defence he does have the most psychological damage, which has to be worked through during the course of the story. Can be read as a standalone.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Having become familiar with both Lady Bella and Oliver, Marquess of Venmont from previous books in this series, it was good to finally read their story. Their relationship was birthed in brutality, which continued to dog them during the ensuing years and even after Gregory’s death. Oliver is keeping secrets, but then Bella is too. Although generally well written, I did find the plot dark and somewhat disturbing and wasn’t able to fully identify with the characters. Although some of the past is unraveled in this book, there would appear that Gregory’s legacy still lives on.
Wilson’s Valiant love series is one of my absolute favorites! Men who have been absolutely ruined and are completely unloveable because of what life has dealt them are redeemed by the love of a good woman. In this story, we not only have a Marquess who was badly abused by his own father and ignored by his mother and only finds pleasure out on his land living like a savage, we have the beautiful Belle who was sold to the old Duke Von Duro as a sex slave when she was twelve years old. She has used the wiles the Duke insisted she develops to get secrets for him for years. Then he had her beaten and thrown on Oliver’s land where he finds her and carries her back to his home to nurse her himself.
Now we get their tale five years later and one year after the old Duke is dead. Both are in the new Duke’s circle. Oliver had made a contract with the old Duke to own her body until she was 32. He has never told Belle why he is so adamantly her protector while he does his job as an assassin for the old regime and now the new. But Wilson has us caught up in their constant hateful fighting as they cast aside their lustful longings, all while tending the Duke’s business and their own charitable works. Lots of exciting plot twists and turns, especially when Oliver plans a four-week outing for a dozen of Belle’s rescued boys to teach them survival skills on his land!