Lawrence Sutherland, Royal Navy Captain and the Viscount of Glenrith, has just struck a devil’s bargain. To save his family from financial ruin, he needs the help of his closest childhood friend, Violette. They must work together so he can gain the hand of her wealthy but spoiled heiress cousin and make a mutually beneficial marriage—a sound business arrangement for them both. In return for her … her help, Lawrence offers Violette the one thing she covets most—freedom. With his help, she can leave England and her cruel family behind.
But there is a vital flaw in this near-perfect plan. Violette Pélet de Castelmarou is secretly in love with Lawrence and has hidden it for years. Yet now she finds herself feeding him lines and coaching him through sticky social situations in order to win over her cousin. But when emotions get involved, hearts become inextricably entangled.
When the time comes, will Lawrence be able to say goodbye to Violette or will he compromise her virtue and make her his forever?
If he cannot have her for his wife, then he’ll make her his mistress…
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Unpredictable and a real page turner
As cildren, Lawrence and Violette were best friends. But at age fourteen, Lawrence ran away to sea, and shortly after Violette returned to France. The story begins fourteen laters as Lawrence returns to Cumberland and discovers that Violette had returned the previous year. The villain in this story is Lawrence’s father, an Earl, who has run the estate into bankruptcy. Lawrence must marry an heiress or his younger sister, Elizabeth, is going to be sold in marriage to the highest bidder. The heart wrenching plot develops as Violette is enlisted to help Lawrence court an heiress, despite her love.
I totally loved the strength of the two women — mistress/sister.
Was far more porno then a good story. I did not finish it. Just deleted it.
A very well written tale of intertwined friendships, trust, love and passion. Fascinating descriptions of war at sea and treachery on land. Vivid atmosphere of the era. The author masters use of metaphors. This is a multifaceted story that unravels into peace of mind, body and soul. A must read.
It was too formulaic. It didn’t develop the characters well and everything happened too easily for the characters.
As I read this book, I felt that it was probably a labor of love for the writer. The reason i say that is the great amount of words used for the simplest of actions and descriptions. But for that, I would have given the book five stars The caliber of writing of this book was very good and is, as a matter of fact, the one thing that drew me to finish it.
Great book. It’s nice to see a real friendship that develop into something more. And sexy, too. woo wee
Im sorry but I found the story slow and the characters boring.
I like a good regency, this missed the mark a little. I loved the friendship between the H and h. I did not like how thick headed the H was in choosing his words. He kept breaking Violette’s heart. I just wanted to smack him.
This author was new to me but as the book was gif I dived in.
It took me a hot minute to get involved and I put it down several times before finally plowing through.
The storyline was was like most we have 2 life long friends who admittedly belong together but life and personal circumstances have torn them apart.
I must admit like most here I had a hard time with the characters. Though I usually like strong female heroine this one seems more like a doormat. I even tried visualizing a Cinderella-type scenario but really could not like her much.
As for our hero again I usually can find good in a hero who is rough around the edges but this one just really irritated me.
Overall I can’t say I would read this one again but I do appreciate the writes effort and am sorry I could not get into it and love it.
What a ride. Man this story really makes you work for your ending. The ups and downs. The disappointing events, the happy events and everything in between. All culminates into their perfect ending.
I felt it was a slow read until the last few chapters. The plot dragged for most of the read.
Fast reading because there was so much sex that I could just skip through many pages.
Money Isn’t Everything
Adult Regency Era Romance
This book plot made me angry, but at The same time it is well written and planned out.
Violette, basically a orphan at the mercy of relatives, and Lawrence, the son of a viscount, were childhood friends and spent a lot of time together. Lawrence doesn’t get along with his father, a Viscount, so he joins the navy and becomes a ship captain eventually.
Meanwhile, his father is blowing all the money and assets of his inherited estate. When Lawrence gets back from the war, he finds the estate bankrupt, and his father not caring what he is doing.
His only way out, he assumes, is to marry a lady with a huge dowry. Violette has no dowry, but She wants to get away and go to America. Her relatives are cruel to her because she is French.
Lawrence immediately seeks Violette out when he returns from the Navy. He is in love with her, but keeps insisting he must marry for money, and reluctantly begins courting her wealthy cousin.
Lawrence wants to marry the cousin and retain Violette for his mistress because he loves only her. NO WAY DUDE!
Great book but somewhat angsty! From history, these arrangements were fairly common among the noble class.
Loved. It
Sorry not my kind of book
throughly enjoyed the storyline.
This was my first read from this author and I really enjoyed Violette and Lawrence
as well as their story. Complicated though a little predictable, i found myself not
wanting to put it down.
I loved this book. It kept my interest as I didn’t want to put it down.