The Viscount’s Veiled Lady

Now this is truly wonderful, I have been waiting with bated breath for Arthur’s story since briefly meeting him in the previous book. I fell in love with his brother Lance the minute I set eyes on him, but I was fascinated with Arthur, I wanted to know him and know why he disappeared and the results of it. He was so different to Lance and I can happily say that this was well worth the wait, Ms Fletcher has pulled out all the stops with this beauty. It is such a loving story all about two people who after both suffering their own personal heartaches find themselves a bit lost in the world, Frances and Arthur are in need of love that can only come from another who understand them and loves them for who they are.

When Arthur Amberton returns after his mysterious disappearance Frances is sent with a message to him from her sister; Lydia – who just happened to be secretly engaged to Arthur that is until he disappeared, now he is back Lydia is determined to be Lady of the manor, she thinks that if she can get him alone for just ten minutes he will fall helplessly in love with her and take her off to Amberton Castle, only problem with that plan is one she is currently in mourning and can not leave the house and two Arthur knows the real Lydia he knows what a manipulator and gold digger she is and wants noting to do with her. Which is where Frances comes in, she can be the messenger.

Frances only goes along with her sister’s slightly mad plan because Lydia being a selfish, spiteful, spoilt little madam, practically blackmail’s Frances into doing her dirty work. Frances would rather not meddle in their affairs she is far happier making her jet jewellery but with her sisters spiteful threat she dons her veil and off she goes across beautiful Whitby to find a man who no longer wishes to be apart of civilization again and try to persuade him to give her sister the second she Frances knows Lydia doesn’t deserve. Only as with all great romances stories all doesn’t exactly go to plan and what should have a been a simple message delivery turns into a twisted ankle, dinner with the two broodingly beautiful Amberton brother’s at Amberton Castles and one sinful lordly pig farmer scandalously peeling off her stockings…ouh, la la! Followed with lots of pent-up lust, frustration, overwhelming emotions and picnics on the beach accompanied with some seriously delicious cakes.

But it’s not all plain sailing (the expression wasn’t intentional, but quite fitting) and cake eating, our two have got serious issues to over come before either of them can even think about moving on and taking that huge step with one another. And this is where the story really comes into it’s own, and where Ms Fletcher excels with her gift for portraying most subtle of human emotion in ways that grabs the reader’s heart. For me it’s is their connection, the fact that they are both fractured and how between the two of them they learn to move forward and to be at peace. The story really focuses on their psychological emotion, their pain, their vulnerability and their eventual hope for the future, which I found utterly heart-warming to read.

Frances is such an amazing lady, I felt a real connection with her, she resonated with me in ways that doesn’t often happen, I understood her. She is a real understated heroine, she is selfless, imaginative, creative, brave and she has an inner strength and intelligence about her that I found utterly captivating. She is has lived her life after her terrible accident under the illusion that she is now destined to be alone, that she isn’t worth anything and worse she truly thinks herself as a burden because of misunderstandings she has always feared to be an embarrassment to her family which is one of the reasons why she covers her scar with the veil and why she finds so much happiness and peace from making her jewellery.

Arthur is so different to how we last saw him, he is a large, brooding, self-conscious, vulnerable, tender, sensual, ruggedly handsome and he has quite the foul mouth. Plus since his return he has cast off the ‘proper’ gentleman etiquette and has thrown himself into his farm….there really is nothing funnier and, may I say sexier than a gorgeous man running around after piglet’s I found he also has a real darkness about him, he appears locked in to his self loathing thoughts and it is only the pure, kind, caring and loving heart of Frances that really makes him see past the darkness and into the light.

This is an enchanting story about second chances, about over coming great inner conflict to find your happily ever after. The romance between Frances and Author sizzles right from the off – well its’ not surprising seeing as when she first sees him again, while he was not wearing a great deal and left little to the imagination. There is a spark between them that ignites into some more the longer they are around one and other, and when they kiss….my, oh my! The air fizzles with lust and romance, it is well worth the wait, I can tell you. Their relationship develops in a very natural way and it is that what readers can relate to and will fall in love with – after all who hasn’t shared a cake at a picnic with a loved one?

Utterly captivating! An exquisite, beautifully written story of heart-felt love that will leave the reader with enchanted and yet again proves what an exceptional writer Ms Fletcher is and worth her weight in gold!

Jenni Fletcher does not disappoint with the third installment of her Whitby Weddings series! The heroine, Frances, discovers that her feelings for her sister’s ex-fiance are more than that of friendship. Now, with a brooding hero, a manipulative sister, and a scar that embodies all kinds of insecurities, Frances must step into the person she was meant to be and take what she wants.

Highly recommended! (It can be read as a standalone.)