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With this Kiss
Beauty and the beast--they were the scandal of the ton ....
All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London's most infamous club. But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called "The Beast." She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him catch the arsonist who had ruined his life.
An act of heroism had left Morgan burned, scarred for life. But Julia's bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed. And now this glorious stranger was his bride. But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace--three months to know a stranger's mind, to touch a stranger's soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before. Into his lonely heart . . . With This Kiss .
All eyes feasted on the beautiful flame-haired gambler in London's most infamous club. But Julia Prentisse was interested only in the rake-turned-recluse whom they now called "The Beast." She lured him out of the crowded club to a deserted warehouse, where she made her scandalous If he married her and protected her from her uncle, she would help him catch the arsonist who had ruined his life.
An act of heroism had left Morgan burned, scarred for life. But Julia's bold gaze lit other fires he had long suppressed. And now this glorious stranger was his bride. But when he tried to claim his husbandly rights, she demanded three months grace--three months to know a stranger's mind, to touch a stranger's soul, to go where no woman had ever gone before. Into his lonely heart . . . With This Kiss .
368 pages, Paperback
First published July 13, 1999
About the author
Victoria Lynne
8 books42 followersVictoria Lynne also writes as V.L. Burgess
Meet VICTORIA. She lives in a small Vermont town in a house that was built before Lincoln was president. Victoria, her husband, and children have decided it probably isn't haunted (though the dog might argue differently).
Victoria's work has been published by Simon and Schuster, Dell, Avon, Berkley, Move Books, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She's received two RITA Award nominations and has consistently earned the Romantic Times' coveted "Top Pick" award.
She writes smart, scrumptious historical romance novels under the pen name VICTORIA LYNNE. When she's writing fast-paced contemporary novels, she uses the name VICTORIA BURGESS.
Because online reviews are SO important to today’s authors, if you like what you've read, let the world know! Shout it out in a review and you'll make her day. You'll also earn lots of good karma. ♥
For more information please visit her website, www.AuthorVictoriaBurgess.com.
Meet VICTORIA. She lives in a small Vermont town in a house that was built before Lincoln was president. Victoria, her husband, and children have decided it probably isn't haunted (though the dog might argue differently).
Victoria's work has been published by Simon and Schuster, Dell, Avon, Berkley, Move Books, and Cosmopolitan Magazine. She's received two RITA Award nominations and has consistently earned the Romantic Times' coveted "Top Pick" award.
She writes smart, scrumptious historical romance novels under the pen name VICTORIA LYNNE. When she's writing fast-paced contemporary novels, she uses the name VICTORIA BURGESS.
Because online reviews are SO important to today’s authors, if you like what you've read, let the world know! Shout it out in a review and you'll make her day. You'll also earn lots of good karma. ♥
For more information please visit her website, www.AuthorVictoriaBurgess.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 175 reviews
September 6, 2015
The beast. Morgan St. James, Viscount Barlowe. He was horribly injured in a fire, and is scarred inside and out, and rarely graces society with his company.
The beauty. Julia Prentisse isn't too happy with the suitors her uncle has chosen for her (he's saving the best for his daughters), so she cooks up an outrageous scheme to find a man of her choosing. And the man she's decided on is Morgan.
The woman — whoever she was — was Christmas come early. He smiled as his gaze moved over her body once again. And wrapped in such a lovely package. Peppermint pink. Delicious.
Julia has the looks to catch Morgan's fancy, with the added plus of the inside track on how to capture that nasty arsonist who caused Morgan's injury. Problem is, once the deed is done, Morgan wants to exercise his marital rights, but Julia woud rather take a few months to get acquainted...
“But know this,” he said softly. “You’ve made your bed, princess. And I intend to sleep in it.”
I really enjoyed this one. Yes, it's a bit of fluff, but fun fluff at that. Morgan was a battered hero, but not with the overkill that's so common in today's regency. Julia is perky and independent, but not OTT either. I loved the banter between the two, and I appreciate that Lynne takes the time to let her characters talk things over and get to know each other before they hop in the sack. This was a quick easy read, with a nice romance and a mystery to boot. One of the better finds on the Kindle freebie sales and one that has been saved to the keeper folder.
The beauty. Julia Prentisse isn't too happy with the suitors her uncle has chosen for her (he's saving the best for his daughters), so she cooks up an outrageous scheme to find a man of her choosing. And the man she's decided on is Morgan.
The woman — whoever she was — was Christmas come early. He smiled as his gaze moved over her body once again. And wrapped in such a lovely package. Peppermint pink. Delicious.
Julia has the looks to catch Morgan's fancy, with the added plus of the inside track on how to capture that nasty arsonist who caused Morgan's injury. Problem is, once the deed is done, Morgan wants to exercise his marital rights, but Julia woud rather take a few months to get acquainted...
“But know this,” he said softly. “You’ve made your bed, princess. And I intend to sleep in it.”
I really enjoyed this one. Yes, it's a bit of fluff, but fun fluff at that. Morgan was a battered hero, but not with the overkill that's so common in today's regency. Julia is perky and independent, but not OTT either. I loved the banter between the two, and I appreciate that Lynne takes the time to let her characters talk things over and get to know each other before they hop in the sack. This was a quick easy read, with a nice romance and a mystery to boot. One of the better finds on the Kindle freebie sales and one that has been saved to the keeper folder.
July 4, 2015
The Beauty and the Beast theme has always been one of my favourites in historical romance. I've always found it unfortunate that, while it's been done countless of times by lots of writers out there, I can only count a select number of stories that really did the theme justice. Most B&B books I've read--and believe me, there've been many--usually had a compelling premise but fell grossly short in the execution.
With This Kiss, thankfully, turned out to be one of the rare gems in the genre.
The characters were likeable, and their romance natural and convincing. Julia surprised me a couple of times in the story with her straight forwardness, abruptly saying things that normal heroines would usually keep to themselves or put off to be discussed later. Others may interpret her as being too bossy and tactless, but I found her absolutely refreshing. And I don't really have a problem with her being very beautiful; I actually have a preference for stunningly beautiful heroines. This is fiction, after all. Where else would we search for perfection?
I had a hard time warming up to Morgan, though. He was just too detached and and cool most of the time. From my point of view, the reason why their relationship took off in the first place was mostly due to Julia's efforts. I kept on waiting for that moment when I would witness true passion from him--a sudden, intense snap in his control--but I never really got it. Even when he's supposed to be passionate, he seemed oddly mechanical. Despite that, I learned to like him by the end. I appreciated how he managed to keep his angst within limits--never letting his inner demons to dominate him--unlike Bentley in Liz Carlyle's The Devil You Know.
Overall, I liked the book. The plot was interesting, and the plot devices--especially the red herrings!--were artfully placed. I thought I knew who the killer was in the end, but ended up getting it wrong. Haha. I was pleasantly surprised to discover who it was.
The only complaint that I have would be the lack of smoothness and continuity in Ms. Victoria Lynne's writing; the scenes seemed to jump too much, making the pacing a tad bit too fast for my taste. I would have liked it if there had been more filler chapters in order for the characters to grow more. But aside from that minor flaw, I think this book deserves a 5 star rating. I definitely recommend this!
With This Kiss, thankfully, turned out to be one of the rare gems in the genre.
The characters were likeable, and their romance natural and convincing. Julia surprised me a couple of times in the story with her straight forwardness, abruptly saying things that normal heroines would usually keep to themselves or put off to be discussed later. Others may interpret her as being too bossy and tactless, but I found her absolutely refreshing. And I don't really have a problem with her being very beautiful; I actually have a preference for stunningly beautiful heroines. This is fiction, after all. Where else would we search for perfection?
I had a hard time warming up to Morgan, though. He was just too detached and and cool most of the time. From my point of view, the reason why their relationship took off in the first place was mostly due to Julia's efforts. I kept on waiting for that moment when I would witness true passion from him--a sudden, intense snap in his control--but I never really got it. Even when he's supposed to be passionate, he seemed oddly mechanical. Despite that, I learned to like him by the end. I appreciated how he managed to keep his angst within limits--never letting his inner demons to dominate him--unlike Bentley in Liz Carlyle's The Devil You Know.
Overall, I liked the book. The plot was interesting, and the plot devices--especially the red herrings!--were artfully placed. I thought I knew who the killer was in the end, but ended up getting it wrong. Haha. I was pleasantly surprised to discover who it was.
The only complaint that I have would be the lack of smoothness and continuity in Ms. Victoria Lynne's writing; the scenes seemed to jump too much, making the pacing a tad bit too fast for my taste. I would have liked it if there had been more filler chapters in order for the characters to grow more. But aside from that minor flaw, I think this book deserves a 5 star rating. I definitely recommend this!
January 3, 2016
Honorable and sensitive Beast, strong and self-confident Beauty, their marriage of convenience, plus a mystery as the characters trying to track down an arsonist who almost destroyed hero's life in the past. Well, what's not to like? And for the most parts it was an enjoyable story. There was none of these ridiculous misunderstandings that commonly used to propel a story. The protagonists were actually talking to each other expressing their self-doubts and gradually falling in love. But... As much as I liked the hero, the heroine was a hard bone to swallow at the beginning. She was stubborn, outspoken and spoiled in the sense that things had to be done her way - she wasn't really willing to compromise. My rating would be lower if she stayed this way throughout. Fortunately, her graduate softening made her much more likable.
The plot moved along nicely with lurking danger of the mysterious arsonist constantly present. Don't expect an Agatha Christie level mystery here though. The author does not provide enough clues or even secondary character development on potential arsonists to allow the reader to suspect who the true perpetrator might be until the climax plays out.
There were some suspend believe moments and historical inaccuracies that didn't prevent me from enjoying the story but, nerveless, made it less than perfect read for me.
The plot moved along nicely with lurking danger of the mysterious arsonist constantly present. Don't expect an Agatha Christie level mystery here though. The author does not provide enough clues or even secondary character development on potential arsonists to allow the reader to suspect who the true perpetrator might be until the climax plays out.
There were some suspend believe moments and historical inaccuracies that didn't prevent me from enjoying the story but, nerveless, made it less than perfect read for me.
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February 25, 2012
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
I’ve never heard of Victoria Lynne before I got With this Kiss. Boy, I’m glad that I’ve read this book which made me an instant fan of hers. With this Kiss was an intense book with a touch of murder/psycho mystery going on in it. The writing was amazing, loved it. I’m a new VL fan for sure!
Morgan has suffered his share of loss and tragedies in life. But, even 2 yrs ago his life wasn’t what it is now. He was a charming rake, had a devil may care attitude, did what all lords did and loved his life. He was full of life. Then he got engaged to one of his lovers; it was a sensible match and he was happy to settle down. One night, when he was returning to his townhouse, things changed for him forever. Someone lit his servants’ quarter on fire. Morgan tried to catch the man but in the dark, he couldn’t. Then he tried to save his servants. The quarter was already packed full because his and his fiancée’s servants all were there for the upcoming marriage. It was some scene, trust me because VL captured the chaos so well, I felt myself biting my nails and cringing, knowing what was coming. Some servants tried jumping from the roof, some got out but the ones living in the topmost section of the house couldn’t. Morgan tried his best but alas! He survived somehow but ended up with severe burn injuries all over his body. We don’t get to read about his ordeal in this order but as flashbacks time and again. Honestly, I couldn’t held off my tears thinking the pain he went through and how the guilt of not being able to help his servants tore at him. He was insane with pain, as far as I understood, he didn’t have any one close to take of him unless his surviving servants. He had a very few friends who dropped by to look in on him even if he couldn’t really offer his companionship. His fiancée, the b*tch took off with his best friend, who also had eyes on her before Morgan became engaged to her. Then somehow, very stubbornly, Morgan clung onto his life. He recovered slowly and became a recluse. It was total turnabout and I believe it was a tough life Morgan was living. Today, after a long time, he is out with some of his old buddies for a visit to his club. Well, though Morgan’s body is scarred, his face remains perfectly beautiful; an irony no doubt. Women still find him attractive (or maybe his title and money, as a cynical Morgan thinks). He doesn’t really have trouble finding willing bed partners, yet those experiences leave him nothing but empty. While talking with his friends and dodging some of their clumsy, drunken remarks, Morgan spies on this beautiful woman who was gambling. She has the most beautiful body and vivid red hair and she’s giving every man heading her way a thorough cut direct. Morgan is utterly charmed, attracted and amused by her little antics. She’s winning and loving every moment of it. Then she looks at him and gives him a subtle nod, which to Morgan was an indication of her interest, an interest he knew will lead to something more pleasurable later on. He goes to her, they talk in a balcony. Morgan sees this elderly man who comes looking for her and thinks it’s her husband. This woman, Julia, wants to talk to him in private. Morgan is still amused and promises to follow her to the destination of her choosing.
Julia is in a fix. The scandal of her sea faring father’s smuggling ruined every chance of her getting married suitably. She doesn’t even have an inheritance to talk about. Julia didn’t really have a coming out in that sense since her mother fell ill and died soon after one ball. Her father took the wrong way of earning money, got caught up into it and paid for it too. After her father’s demise sometimes ago, Julia was forced to live with her cranky uncle and his insipid yet snotty family. Her uncle, aunt and cousins took every chance of reminding her that she didn’t belong with the good society, that she’s nothing but a charity case. Her uncle just wants to be rid of her (as according to them Julia’s presence is ruining the chance for his daughters, though both of them are in advanced age already) by marrying her off to just about anyone who’d have her. But Julia is smart and she is also determined to have her way. Her gambling and a few other ventures with the help of her father’s old man of affairs, Julia already made some money. She’s just waiting to find the man she could marry. And she’s always found Morgan breathtaking. She knew about the charming rogue, though Morgan doesn’t remember her from their onetime brief meeting in that one coming out ball she had. It’s been a while and a lot has happened, yet Julia is determined to have this man as her husband. Today her plan’s going good... almost. Morgan is still breathtaking, the scars visible through his neck clothe notwithstanding. But he has changed a lot, which is reasonable no doubt. Julia asks him to meet her in her father’s old warehouse, where many of her inherited things were tagged and ready to put on sale. What Julia had no clue of was what was going through Morgan’s head, nothing at all.
When they meet, after blabbering for a while she comes out with the truth and was equally shocked to learn Morgan had an assignation in mind. But she is not put off by this, neither by Morgan’s cold and sarcastic attitude. Then she comes forth with her proposal, in return she would help him find Lazarus. Lazarus is apparently the arsonist who set fires in three lords’ households 2 yrs ago, which included Morgan’s house. Many people died. In one of the fire, a man’s body was found which made the authorities think that Lazarus also died. When no more fire incident followed, it was kind of confirmed. Julia got a few creepy letters from the man who called her Flame and his love. She didn’t know whom to turn to then. But now, Julia is the secret writer of a popular gossip column and a grown woman. She knows she can help Morgan if he’d help her back. She’s been receiving letters from Lazarus recently and it confirms that the psycho didn’t die. Now, it’s Morgan’s turn to be shocked, both by her proposal and the letter she showed him. After a little thinking, Morgan thought it might be for the best. Julia is so beautiful and he thought no woman would ever marry him other than his title and money, why not marry the one he desires. Morgan buys out the things that were put to sale, asks her uncle for her hand and soon they’re married in a very cold little ceremony. After the marriage, Julia is a little apprehensive about her new life. Morgan wasn’t helping her, still being detached and cynical to the core. Julia was trying to understand this enigmatic man, about whom she’d dreamed about after meeting him that longtime ago ball. She actually saw Morgan kissing some other woman in the moonlight and the sight of that haunted her because she wanted to feel that kind of passion, from no one else but Morgan. I should’ve been pissed, really but somehow, Julia’s reminisce was so full of longing for a man she thought she’d never have, it made me sad. But she adored the life Morgan seemed to exude. And now she mourns the loss of that man, even though her dream sort of came true.
On the wedding night, Morgan is tensed. It’s reasonable because he’s still not at all ok with his scars and somehow this misunderstanding was there in him that Julia would find him repulsive. So he drinks heavily to accomplish the deed that wasn’t even a task for him in the past. Morgan, from Julia’s outspoken style, thought she isn’t a virgin. But of course Julia was and she was a little scared of what to come. The apprehension stemming from her insecurities was interpreted by Morgan as repulsion. Julia was hoping that she’d have some times to get to know her new husband before taking things to the next level. Morgan wasn’t happy with this but he agrees, albeit unwillingly, because he thought Julia was thinking of her duty to bore him an heir. Surely she wouldn’t want him for himself! Oh how utterly frustrating and a bit more than depressing it was!
Julia and Morgan’s relationship goes through a tug and pull sort of thing. Morgan was blowing hot and cold to Julia and both kind of misunderstood each-other’s intensions. I couldn’t blame any of them because every time a narration or chapter of Morgan’s painful suffering came, with the betrayal of his fiancée and best friend, I just couldn’t. I understood his dilemma, his insecurities. It was frustrating and yet I sympathized. Julia really wanted to get close to this man she knew is racked by guilt and bad dreams but she was helpless because Morgan wouldn’t let her in. They wouldn’t sleep in the same room because of Julia’s 3 months timeframe. In the meantime, Julia helped out with the investigation. Morgan helped her along, not because he only wanted to know find who Lazarus was but also the fact that he was becoming fascinated by his new bride. She is a whirlwind; stubborn, knows her mind well yet utterly innocent of the ways of the world. In one of their forays, they met a young service maid, who used to work in one of the burnt properties but left her job soon after. A little persuasion from Julia brought out some important truths from her. It was confirmed that Lazarus didn’t die after all. But this was fun too. Julia dressed as a maid and Morgan a chimney sweep. I laughed much reading Morgan’s reaction towards the dressing part. Oh he was a snob but somehow it was a part of him which was portrayed rather well by VL. Julia thought that too, the man just exudes power and people can’t help but obey him. They contacted Scotland Yard and informed them about the latest development. Julia also took Morgan to meet her father’s former bosun, Henry and his wife Annie. The elderly couple was never blessed with children so they cared for Julia as their own. They run a dockside inn called Tom’s Head. Morgan gets a good idea of how Julia helped these two when she visited them (also to escape her horrendous uncle’s family), by helping out with the food and drinks etc. People knew her here and she charmed them. Morgan can’t help but feel a sense of possessiveness that he never felt before. Julia was his, as simple as that.
In the meantime, we get to see the POVs of Lazarus himself. It was a creepy read, for the lack of better word because I kept thinking I need to know who this creepy dude is. It was very apparent that the man was psychologically very disturbed, probably a schizophrenic. Until the last chapter, I just couldn’t put a guess on who it might be, which was simply great. The man was actually around a lot throughout the book. Even Julia thought how could she have missed the signs? I did a few guessing too, just as Morgan did. Anyway, VL did a great job of giving us a view of the disturbing insight of Lazarus’s mind, who it seems had some childhood trauma that led him to this path.
More letters are sent to Julia and more arson cases surface. Every time a fire alarm would go out, Morgan couldn’t help living the nightmare he faced all over again. Dreams didn’t stop coming either. My trouble was, I really wanted him to take a little step and confide in Julia, which didn’t really happen a long time in the story. They would kiss and so on but Morgan would back out. It was plain to see as time passed by and the more Julia got to know about him, the more she was falling for him. Morgan was good and responsible, took care of the servants in his house. They were more than loyal to him. Julia felt it all. Now, if only he’d let her in! When she tried, he’d say something cutting or cynical and dodge out of it. Morgan proved to be a master of cold sarcasm. But Julia wasn’t at all repulsed by his scars because her thoughts told us that she finds Morgan as attractive as he was before. After sometimes, Julia sort of resigned to the fact that she might have to live her life this way. It pained her to no end but she just didn’t know how to cajole the man out of his shell. Other than that, they worked well as a team to capture Lazarus. Their cutting remarks to each-other would frustrate me but as their relationship improved, I begin to enjoy those. Morgan called Julia ‘princess’. It wasn’t an endearment at first but rather a mocking sentiment. I loved it when the same endearment transformed into something reverent and beautiful as the story progressed.
Their relationship began to improve when Morgan started feeling comfortable around Julia. Working with her helped. Then getting to know about her life helped too. He knew that he’d married a thoughtful young woman, even though he wouldn’t say much. They would go to the balls and parties, mostly to attract Lazarus, who they knew kept a close watch on them. But Morgan now liked attending those tedious balls because of Juila’s spontaneous presence. I have to mention one beautiful scene; one day, Julia talked about her dream lover (I mentioned it earlier) as she was talking about her coming out ball and how she dreamed of him that weekend to Morgan. Not knowing he’s the said man, the poor guy was jealous. When Morgan didn’t recognize her from their brief introduction, it was a painful realization for Julia. Then, it didn’t help that they’d keep seeing his former fiancée and friend in this ball or that. Julia sees the woman and more vulnerabilities crash in. She doesn’t find herself as beautiful or socially poised as that woman. In one scene, the woman, who’s a snotty b*tch, thinks that she and Morgan can have an affair (that was my assumption from her words) but Morgan politely refuses her. Julia meets Henry and Annie again to talk about the old warehouse which she thought should go to them rightfully. While coming back, they kiss again on the dockside, not caring who saw them. They attend more balls and as they converse and dance together, their feeling for each-other solidifies. In between, Julia once or twice tried to tell Morgan that she doesn’t really care for that 3 months deal anymore but Morgan would go cold whenever she mentioned it. But after one night’s ball, Julia is simply determined to break her husband’s aloofness. He wasn’t really that aloof anymore but something was needed to be done. And she wins this time as Morgan couldn’t hold back. He just didn’t want to see her hurt.
One of their attempts of luring Lazarus out goes all wrong. When one of the inspectors of SY asked Julia to use her latest column to make a response of Lazarus’s recent letter, Julia was only happy to do it. But somehow Lazarus felt it and took revenge by setting Tom’s Head on fire. Hanry and Annie die in that. Julia is devastated but Morgan proves to be a rock to her. They come back home, only to find her odious uncle and his family gloating over one of her cousin’s recent engagement to an elderly earl. But what they didn’t know it was Julia who encouraged the earl when he talked about his interest. Even though Morgan asked her not to, Julia decides that she’d warn them about Lazarus and her relation to this case. Hearing her confession Julia’s uncle, aunt and cousins try to demean her in front of Morgan. But Morgan wouldn’t hear any of it and tackles it really well with his cold words. The final confrontation comes in the ball that was given in honor of Julia’s cousin’s engagement. It was really good, nail biting but equally sad. I absolutely hated what Lazarus did but it was a rather disturbing to have a detailed idea of his degradation and the reason behind it. I’m not trying to defend him or anything but I kinda cried reading that.
But the epilogue made me forget all that and when I cried this time, I was just too happy for them. It was soooo beautiful! As characters, I simply loved Morgan and Julia. Morgan, for hanging on to life no matter what, for fighting which earned my respect and Julia, because she was smart and level headed. So there was no way I was giving this book anything less than a 5 star. I’m looking forward to reading more VL books in the future.
I’ve never heard of Victoria Lynne before I got With this Kiss. Boy, I’m glad that I’ve read this book which made me an instant fan of hers. With this Kiss was an intense book with a touch of murder/psycho mystery going on in it. The writing was amazing, loved it. I’m a new VL fan for sure!
Morgan has suffered his share of loss and tragedies in life. But, even 2 yrs ago his life wasn’t what it is now. He was a charming rake, had a devil may care attitude, did what all lords did and loved his life. He was full of life. Then he got engaged to one of his lovers; it was a sensible match and he was happy to settle down. One night, when he was returning to his townhouse, things changed for him forever. Someone lit his servants’ quarter on fire. Morgan tried to catch the man but in the dark, he couldn’t. Then he tried to save his servants. The quarter was already packed full because his and his fiancée’s servants all were there for the upcoming marriage. It was some scene, trust me because VL captured the chaos so well, I felt myself biting my nails and cringing, knowing what was coming. Some servants tried jumping from the roof, some got out but the ones living in the topmost section of the house couldn’t. Morgan tried his best but alas! He survived somehow but ended up with severe burn injuries all over his body. We don’t get to read about his ordeal in this order but as flashbacks time and again. Honestly, I couldn’t held off my tears thinking the pain he went through and how the guilt of not being able to help his servants tore at him. He was insane with pain, as far as I understood, he didn’t have any one close to take of him unless his surviving servants. He had a very few friends who dropped by to look in on him even if he couldn’t really offer his companionship. His fiancée, the b*tch took off with his best friend, who also had eyes on her before Morgan became engaged to her. Then somehow, very stubbornly, Morgan clung onto his life. He recovered slowly and became a recluse. It was total turnabout and I believe it was a tough life Morgan was living. Today, after a long time, he is out with some of his old buddies for a visit to his club. Well, though Morgan’s body is scarred, his face remains perfectly beautiful; an irony no doubt. Women still find him attractive (or maybe his title and money, as a cynical Morgan thinks). He doesn’t really have trouble finding willing bed partners, yet those experiences leave him nothing but empty. While talking with his friends and dodging some of their clumsy, drunken remarks, Morgan spies on this beautiful woman who was gambling. She has the most beautiful body and vivid red hair and she’s giving every man heading her way a thorough cut direct. Morgan is utterly charmed, attracted and amused by her little antics. She’s winning and loving every moment of it. Then she looks at him and gives him a subtle nod, which to Morgan was an indication of her interest, an interest he knew will lead to something more pleasurable later on. He goes to her, they talk in a balcony. Morgan sees this elderly man who comes looking for her and thinks it’s her husband. This woman, Julia, wants to talk to him in private. Morgan is still amused and promises to follow her to the destination of her choosing.
Julia is in a fix. The scandal of her sea faring father’s smuggling ruined every chance of her getting married suitably. She doesn’t even have an inheritance to talk about. Julia didn’t really have a coming out in that sense since her mother fell ill and died soon after one ball. Her father took the wrong way of earning money, got caught up into it and paid for it too. After her father’s demise sometimes ago, Julia was forced to live with her cranky uncle and his insipid yet snotty family. Her uncle, aunt and cousins took every chance of reminding her that she didn’t belong with the good society, that she’s nothing but a charity case. Her uncle just wants to be rid of her (as according to them Julia’s presence is ruining the chance for his daughters, though both of them are in advanced age already) by marrying her off to just about anyone who’d have her. But Julia is smart and she is also determined to have her way. Her gambling and a few other ventures with the help of her father’s old man of affairs, Julia already made some money. She’s just waiting to find the man she could marry. And she’s always found Morgan breathtaking. She knew about the charming rogue, though Morgan doesn’t remember her from their onetime brief meeting in that one coming out ball she had. It’s been a while and a lot has happened, yet Julia is determined to have this man as her husband. Today her plan’s going good... almost. Morgan is still breathtaking, the scars visible through his neck clothe notwithstanding. But he has changed a lot, which is reasonable no doubt. Julia asks him to meet her in her father’s old warehouse, where many of her inherited things were tagged and ready to put on sale. What Julia had no clue of was what was going through Morgan’s head, nothing at all.
When they meet, after blabbering for a while she comes out with the truth and was equally shocked to learn Morgan had an assignation in mind. But she is not put off by this, neither by Morgan’s cold and sarcastic attitude. Then she comes forth with her proposal, in return she would help him find Lazarus. Lazarus is apparently the arsonist who set fires in three lords’ households 2 yrs ago, which included Morgan’s house. Many people died. In one of the fire, a man’s body was found which made the authorities think that Lazarus also died. When no more fire incident followed, it was kind of confirmed. Julia got a few creepy letters from the man who called her Flame and his love. She didn’t know whom to turn to then. But now, Julia is the secret writer of a popular gossip column and a grown woman. She knows she can help Morgan if he’d help her back. She’s been receiving letters from Lazarus recently and it confirms that the psycho didn’t die. Now, it’s Morgan’s turn to be shocked, both by her proposal and the letter she showed him. After a little thinking, Morgan thought it might be for the best. Julia is so beautiful and he thought no woman would ever marry him other than his title and money, why not marry the one he desires. Morgan buys out the things that were put to sale, asks her uncle for her hand and soon they’re married in a very cold little ceremony. After the marriage, Julia is a little apprehensive about her new life. Morgan wasn’t helping her, still being detached and cynical to the core. Julia was trying to understand this enigmatic man, about whom she’d dreamed about after meeting him that longtime ago ball. She actually saw Morgan kissing some other woman in the moonlight and the sight of that haunted her because she wanted to feel that kind of passion, from no one else but Morgan. I should’ve been pissed, really but somehow, Julia’s reminisce was so full of longing for a man she thought she’d never have, it made me sad. But she adored the life Morgan seemed to exude. And now she mourns the loss of that man, even though her dream sort of came true.
On the wedding night, Morgan is tensed. It’s reasonable because he’s still not at all ok with his scars and somehow this misunderstanding was there in him that Julia would find him repulsive. So he drinks heavily to accomplish the deed that wasn’t even a task for him in the past. Morgan, from Julia’s outspoken style, thought she isn’t a virgin. But of course Julia was and she was a little scared of what to come. The apprehension stemming from her insecurities was interpreted by Morgan as repulsion. Julia was hoping that she’d have some times to get to know her new husband before taking things to the next level. Morgan wasn’t happy with this but he agrees, albeit unwillingly, because he thought Julia was thinking of her duty to bore him an heir. Surely she wouldn’t want him for himself! Oh how utterly frustrating and a bit more than depressing it was!
Julia and Morgan’s relationship goes through a tug and pull sort of thing. Morgan was blowing hot and cold to Julia and both kind of misunderstood each-other’s intensions. I couldn’t blame any of them because every time a narration or chapter of Morgan’s painful suffering came, with the betrayal of his fiancée and best friend, I just couldn’t. I understood his dilemma, his insecurities. It was frustrating and yet I sympathized. Julia really wanted to get close to this man she knew is racked by guilt and bad dreams but she was helpless because Morgan wouldn’t let her in. They wouldn’t sleep in the same room because of Julia’s 3 months timeframe. In the meantime, Julia helped out with the investigation. Morgan helped her along, not because he only wanted to know find who Lazarus was but also the fact that he was becoming fascinated by his new bride. She is a whirlwind; stubborn, knows her mind well yet utterly innocent of the ways of the world. In one of their forays, they met a young service maid, who used to work in one of the burnt properties but left her job soon after. A little persuasion from Julia brought out some important truths from her. It was confirmed that Lazarus didn’t die after all. But this was fun too. Julia dressed as a maid and Morgan a chimney sweep. I laughed much reading Morgan’s reaction towards the dressing part. Oh he was a snob but somehow it was a part of him which was portrayed rather well by VL. Julia thought that too, the man just exudes power and people can’t help but obey him. They contacted Scotland Yard and informed them about the latest development. Julia also took Morgan to meet her father’s former bosun, Henry and his wife Annie. The elderly couple was never blessed with children so they cared for Julia as their own. They run a dockside inn called Tom’s Head. Morgan gets a good idea of how Julia helped these two when she visited them (also to escape her horrendous uncle’s family), by helping out with the food and drinks etc. People knew her here and she charmed them. Morgan can’t help but feel a sense of possessiveness that he never felt before. Julia was his, as simple as that.
In the meantime, we get to see the POVs of Lazarus himself. It was a creepy read, for the lack of better word because I kept thinking I need to know who this creepy dude is. It was very apparent that the man was psychologically very disturbed, probably a schizophrenic. Until the last chapter, I just couldn’t put a guess on who it might be, which was simply great. The man was actually around a lot throughout the book. Even Julia thought how could she have missed the signs? I did a few guessing too, just as Morgan did. Anyway, VL did a great job of giving us a view of the disturbing insight of Lazarus’s mind, who it seems had some childhood trauma that led him to this path.
More letters are sent to Julia and more arson cases surface. Every time a fire alarm would go out, Morgan couldn’t help living the nightmare he faced all over again. Dreams didn’t stop coming either. My trouble was, I really wanted him to take a little step and confide in Julia, which didn’t really happen a long time in the story. They would kiss and so on but Morgan would back out. It was plain to see as time passed by and the more Julia got to know about him, the more she was falling for him. Morgan was good and responsible, took care of the servants in his house. They were more than loyal to him. Julia felt it all. Now, if only he’d let her in! When she tried, he’d say something cutting or cynical and dodge out of it. Morgan proved to be a master of cold sarcasm. But Julia wasn’t at all repulsed by his scars because her thoughts told us that she finds Morgan as attractive as he was before. After sometimes, Julia sort of resigned to the fact that she might have to live her life this way. It pained her to no end but she just didn’t know how to cajole the man out of his shell. Other than that, they worked well as a team to capture Lazarus. Their cutting remarks to each-other would frustrate me but as their relationship improved, I begin to enjoy those. Morgan called Julia ‘princess’. It wasn’t an endearment at first but rather a mocking sentiment. I loved it when the same endearment transformed into something reverent and beautiful as the story progressed.
Their relationship began to improve when Morgan started feeling comfortable around Julia. Working with her helped. Then getting to know about her life helped too. He knew that he’d married a thoughtful young woman, even though he wouldn’t say much. They would go to the balls and parties, mostly to attract Lazarus, who they knew kept a close watch on them. But Morgan now liked attending those tedious balls because of Juila’s spontaneous presence. I have to mention one beautiful scene; one day, Julia talked about her dream lover (I mentioned it earlier) as she was talking about her coming out ball and how she dreamed of him that weekend to Morgan. Not knowing he’s the said man, the poor guy was jealous. When Morgan didn’t recognize her from their brief introduction, it was a painful realization for Julia. Then, it didn’t help that they’d keep seeing his former fiancée and friend in this ball or that. Julia sees the woman and more vulnerabilities crash in. She doesn’t find herself as beautiful or socially poised as that woman. In one scene, the woman, who’s a snotty b*tch, thinks that she and Morgan can have an affair (that was my assumption from her words) but Morgan politely refuses her. Julia meets Henry and Annie again to talk about the old warehouse which she thought should go to them rightfully. While coming back, they kiss again on the dockside, not caring who saw them. They attend more balls and as they converse and dance together, their feeling for each-other solidifies. In between, Julia once or twice tried to tell Morgan that she doesn’t really care for that 3 months deal anymore but Morgan would go cold whenever she mentioned it. But after one night’s ball, Julia is simply determined to break her husband’s aloofness. He wasn’t really that aloof anymore but something was needed to be done. And she wins this time as Morgan couldn’t hold back. He just didn’t want to see her hurt.
One of their attempts of luring Lazarus out goes all wrong. When one of the inspectors of SY asked Julia to use her latest column to make a response of Lazarus’s recent letter, Julia was only happy to do it. But somehow Lazarus felt it and took revenge by setting Tom’s Head on fire. Hanry and Annie die in that. Julia is devastated but Morgan proves to be a rock to her. They come back home, only to find her odious uncle and his family gloating over one of her cousin’s recent engagement to an elderly earl. But what they didn’t know it was Julia who encouraged the earl when he talked about his interest. Even though Morgan asked her not to, Julia decides that she’d warn them about Lazarus and her relation to this case. Hearing her confession Julia’s uncle, aunt and cousins try to demean her in front of Morgan. But Morgan wouldn’t hear any of it and tackles it really well with his cold words. The final confrontation comes in the ball that was given in honor of Julia’s cousin’s engagement. It was really good, nail biting but equally sad. I absolutely hated what Lazarus did but it was a rather disturbing to have a detailed idea of his degradation and the reason behind it. I’m not trying to defend him or anything but I kinda cried reading that.
But the epilogue made me forget all that and when I cried this time, I was just too happy for them. It was soooo beautiful! As characters, I simply loved Morgan and Julia. Morgan, for hanging on to life no matter what, for fighting which earned my respect and Julia, because she was smart and level headed. So there was no way I was giving this book anything less than a 5 star. I’m looking forward to reading more VL books in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2015
This review can also be found on my blog.
Morgan St. James thought he had it all. A title, wealth, a beautiful fiancee, and a wedding to plan. One night changed everything. Two years later, Morgan is still haunted by the memories of the fire that left him badly scarred and claimed the life of a child he had tried to save, and his former fiancee left him for his best friend. For two years he has lived like a recluse behind the walls of his estate. His circumstances have made him cynical and introspective. Then Julia stumbles into his life and turns him inside out.
Julia Prentiss needs to find herself a husband before her uncle chooses a suitor for her, however her family name is linked to scandal. She has her sights on Morgan, but will some important information she possesses be enough to convince him to take her offer?
“What a vulgar question.”
He lifted his shoulders in an indifferent shrug. “Yours is a vulgar proposition. Besides, you’re forgetting what a man wants most when he takes a wife.”
“Love?”
He nearly choked on a mouthful of tea. “You neglected to mention a sense of humor while regaling me with your considerable attributes.”
I fell in love with this story as soon as those words were spoken. I don’t often read historical romances, but when I do I sure know how to pick them. The dialogue was very clever, very witty, mature and humorous. Morgan and Julia played off of each other so well, I often thought I was in the same room watching them have one of many verbal sparrings.
“You seem to regard this marriage of ours as nothing but a mildly diverting hindrance to what might otherwise be occupying your time.”
“That depends on my mood. On other occasions it seems a contrivance, pathetic, spurious, laughable, ill-conceived, brash, and completely inane. I fluctuate.”
“Thank you so much for that edifying bit of information.”
Morgan is cynical and a bit of a grump at times, but he has that underlying sensibility or sensitivity that lets you catch glimpses of his vulnerability. It’s not lost on him that people call him The Beast. He has learned to live with his scarred flesh, but at the same time he uses it as a shield to save himself from disappointment. But Julia doesn’t act or react towards him like he expects her to. I loved both the vulnerable and the cynical sides of him because it usually led to some interesting, if not, really funny observations, conversations and situations. Though he is “the man of the house”, he seems to get steam-rolled by Julia time and time again. Instead of trying to put her in her place, he finds himself amused by her antics and indulges her every whim. Technically, he’s the perfect man – caring, compassionate, passionate, protective, and he has a great sense of humor.
Julia was a wonderful heroine. She doesn’t conform to society’s rules. She’s young, but she’s her own woman and knows her own mind. She’s also not afraid to speak it. She’s outspoken, opinionated, driven, stubborn, and inquisitive. She’s also a romantic at heart. Unlike most women of her time who don’t necessarily marry for love, Julia doesn’t want a loveless marriage, but breaking down her husband’s defenses may be altogether impossible.
What I loved about them as a couple was that they were complete opposites in every way, but they both wanted the same thing. The author did a wonderful job of making each character entirely loveable and relatable. I quickly became invested in them; I cheered for them, I felt sad for them whenever they seemed to misunderstand each other, and when they finally sealed their relationship, I swooned with them. If you’re not usually a fan of historicals, I would still highly recommend this one, just for the intelligent and humorous dialogue and the suspense. This is definitely a book I will revisit and cherish.
March 13, 2012
Reviewed By~Rachel
Review Copy Provided From~Book Tour
I'm obsessed with fairy tales and all things historical romance, so this book was a fantastic fit for me to review. I devoured it, yes devoured, in one sitting and was ready to come back for more once my hand clicked to the last page.
Morgan St. James is known to many as the beast. Once a rake, he now lives in solitude in his beautiful estate away from curious onlookers and those who spout gossip about his reputation and character. Once handsome, he now carries the burden of a scarred body. Maimed in an arsonaist's fire, he isn't ugly by any means. Something that as you read you don't know until about half way through. The scars are on his neck. It is more his reputation as a bitter man that keeps the gossips whispering, that and the tragedy that befell his home so many years previously. Alone, bitter, and without hope, he worries he will die without producing an heir, for who could ever love a beast such as he?
Enter in fiery Julia Pretense, who makes an offer that he can't refuse. Marry her so she can escape her Uncles' overbearing presence and she'll help him find the person responsible for the arson that stole everything from him.
Together they search throughout the ton to find the man responsible. The same man that has been sending Julia love letters for the past few months. As the action unfolds the tension between the two main characters builds in a very satisfying way.
I found myself drawn in to Morgan's plight more than Julia's, I felt sorry for him. That so many people would believe him to be a monster based on something that wasn't his fault to begin with is very believable. People only believe what they want to believe and because he lived such a charmed life it would make sense that those out to destroy him would be happy of his failures. It is very true of that era and the author does a good job conveying this.
All in all I would give the book the rating Lovely Rose. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
Review Copy Provided From~Book Tour
I'm obsessed with fairy tales and all things historical romance, so this book was a fantastic fit for me to review. I devoured it, yes devoured, in one sitting and was ready to come back for more once my hand clicked to the last page.
Morgan St. James is known to many as the beast. Once a rake, he now lives in solitude in his beautiful estate away from curious onlookers and those who spout gossip about his reputation and character. Once handsome, he now carries the burden of a scarred body. Maimed in an arsonaist's fire, he isn't ugly by any means. Something that as you read you don't know until about half way through. The scars are on his neck. It is more his reputation as a bitter man that keeps the gossips whispering, that and the tragedy that befell his home so many years previously. Alone, bitter, and without hope, he worries he will die without producing an heir, for who could ever love a beast such as he?
Enter in fiery Julia Pretense, who makes an offer that he can't refuse. Marry her so she can escape her Uncles' overbearing presence and she'll help him find the person responsible for the arson that stole everything from him.
Together they search throughout the ton to find the man responsible. The same man that has been sending Julia love letters for the past few months. As the action unfolds the tension between the two main characters builds in a very satisfying way.
I found myself drawn in to Morgan's plight more than Julia's, I felt sorry for him. That so many people would believe him to be a monster based on something that wasn't his fault to begin with is very believable. People only believe what they want to believe and because he lived such a charmed life it would make sense that those out to destroy him would be happy of his failures. It is very true of that era and the author does a good job conveying this.
All in all I would give the book the rating Lovely Rose. I look forward to reading more from this talented author.
December 27, 2015
I don't know how to feel about this book. On the one hand, the atmosphere was great - the overwhelming heat, the paintings, the disgusting conditions of the Thames, the descriptions - all combined to give you a very Gothic feeling. On the other hand, I didn't care for the heroine and I found the whole investigation to find the arsonist completely ridiculous. If the guy hadn't decided to go crazy at the end, they never would have found him out.
What was my issue with Julia? I found her brash and inflexible. Morgan, the hero, accepts her incredibly crazy proposal of marriage, telling her he wants an heir and she's shocked when the guy shows up in her bedroom on her wedding night! She has an occupation that's clearly not fit for a Viscountess and never wondered if he would object to it. She talks, talks and talks but does nothing. She supposedly cares for the plight of those less fortunate but when she gets the money and power to do something, she sits on her ass and complains about being bored. She's portrayed as a take charge sort of woman that goes after what she wants but she always puts her pride first when dealing with Morgan. And for a supposedly smart woman, how couldn't she have foreseen the danger of trying to bait an arsonist?
The relationship between Morgan and Julia was so at odds that I don't know how they supposedly felt in love. I didn't feel any connection or even chemistry between them.
Overall, not a bad book but very uneven for my taste.
What was my issue with Julia? I found her brash and inflexible. Morgan, the hero, accepts her incredibly crazy proposal of marriage, telling her he wants an heir and she's shocked when the guy shows up in her bedroom on her wedding night! She has an occupation that's clearly not fit for a Viscountess and never wondered if he would object to it. She talks, talks and talks but does nothing. She supposedly cares for the plight of those less fortunate but when she gets the money and power to do something, she sits on her ass and complains about being bored. She's portrayed as a take charge sort of woman that goes after what she wants but she always puts her pride first when dealing with Morgan. And for a supposedly smart woman, how couldn't she have foreseen the danger of trying to bait an arsonist?
The relationship between Morgan and Julia was so at odds that I don't know how they supposedly felt in love. I didn't feel any connection or even chemistry between them.
Overall, not a bad book but very uneven for my taste.
September 19, 2017
This book is so... tiresome. I'm at nearly 75% now and there is absolutely zero emotional growth between the characters. The hero is male equivalent of the "ice-queen" trope, but it goes on too long. An ice-cold hero who gradually warms up to the heroine is romantic. A mocking, aloof hero clinging too much to control while the heroine has to put ALL the work into the relationship? Not romantic in the least. Now think of that going on for pages and pages and pages until you reach 75% of the book, and the characters are STILL emotionally right where they began.
It's as appealing as watching a moth battering itself against a lamp.
The heroine lacked depth as well. The author says she has interests apart from the hero, such as writing the gossip/social justice column and social work but they are underdeveloped. So it felt like she spent the entire novel wheedling the hero about ~feelings~
The hero is a "provider" in the strictest sense of the word. He protects the heroine from dangers and gives physical comforts. He is in lust with the heroine for the entire book only sprouts ~feelings~ once the ending is near. That may appeal to some readers, but if you want a hero to develop at least some emotional growth during the book (and not, miraculously, in the last 10%) it's better to look somewhere else.
Throw a deranged arsonist into the mix and it's just a mess. I'm going to finish it because I'm so close but god, this makes me want to throw my tab against the wall.
It's as appealing as watching a moth battering itself against a lamp.
The heroine lacked depth as well. The author says she has interests apart from the hero, such as writing the gossip/social justice column and social work but they are underdeveloped. So it felt like she spent the entire novel wheedling the hero about ~feelings~
The hero is a "provider" in the strictest sense of the word. He protects the heroine from dangers and gives physical comforts. He is in lust with the heroine for the entire book only sprouts ~feelings~ once the ending is near. That may appeal to some readers, but if you want a hero to develop at least some emotional growth during the book (and not, miraculously, in the last 10%) it's better to look somewhere else.
Throw a deranged arsonist into the mix and it's just a mess. I'm going to finish it because I'm so close but god, this makes me want to throw my tab against the wall.
July 29, 2018
2 1/2 stars rounded to 3. This book had its moments, but the plot itself I found lacking and inconsistent in places. The H is a scarred and brooding member of the British aristocracy and the h is the daughter of a disgraced and deceased seafarer. The h proposes to the H to get away from the numerous 'unsuitable' matches her uncle has chosen for her and the H accepts because he thinks that through her he will get to the man who's responsible for his scars. Not much angst here, and the romance was almost eclipsed by all the sleuthing done by the h and the H. A few chapters even had me thinking I was reading something similar to The Alienist (the TNT limited series set in 19th century US). This would have probably worked better for me had I not tried to read it as a love story. And so I can only rate it 3 stars.
April 3, 2012
No wonder Punya loves this book. It's brilliant!!! Thanks Punya for recommended this wonderful story. I truly enjoyed it!
November 16, 2015
I thought the chemistry between Morgan and Julia really interesting and Morgan so very acutly funny in an very aristocratic way. I loved that.
The first half of the book is significantly better than the second half for me. I had the feeling that the tension and chemistry did not hold up so well, which was quite disappointing for me. But I really liked how Morgan and Julia were set up as characters and their interactions.
The first half of the book is significantly better than the second half for me. I had the feeling that the tension and chemistry did not hold up so well, which was quite disappointing for me. But I really liked how Morgan and Julia were set up as characters and their interactions.
January 23, 2012
At first glance this seems like the typical 'beauty and the beast' type story. Man is handsome and rich. Man loses beauty in a fire that leaves him scarred. Man falls for beautiful woman but is afraid that she can't see past his physical scars. But honestly, this book was so much more than that!
Morgan St. James, Viscount, has it all. Good looks, money, and a beautiful fiance. But that all comes tumbling down around him when a twisted arsonist sets fire to the servant's quarters at his mansion. In the terrifying blaze that ensues, Morgan saves several lives, at the cost of his beauty. When a flaming beam falls onto him, his hands and neck are badly burned, leaving ugly, red, raw scars. Although he pulls through his ordeal, he becomes a recluse, closeting himself away from the ton and their stares and whispers. When he finally decides to venture out one night, he meets Julia Prentisse, a woman in a desperate situation who has a very surprising proposition for him. To save her from marriage to one of the odious men her uncle has chosen for her, Julia asks Morgan to marry her. In exchange, she will help him find the arsonist who burned down his home and several others. The arsonist, a man named Lazarus, is obsessed with Julia. Julia is convinced she can lead Morgan to the dangerous arsonist and help her stop the criminal once and for all. As the two are enveloped in danger and intrigue, passions flare and they will soon discover the true depths of their feelings for one another.
For me this book was much more than a beauty and the beast story. The layers are complex and the writing is beautiful. The way that Ms. Lynne describes fire is both breathtaking and terrifying. she allows us to dive into the twisted mind of the arsonist, which is frightening in its own way. The mystery surrounding the fires kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, the book would take another turn and leave me second guessing my own instincts. In the end, the revelation of the arsonist is a little disappointing, but still surprising nonetheless.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The heroine, while headstrong, was likable. The hero, while arrogant,evoked sympathy in me. As a couple, they had me cheering for them to the very last page.
Morgan St. James, Viscount, has it all. Good looks, money, and a beautiful fiance. But that all comes tumbling down around him when a twisted arsonist sets fire to the servant's quarters at his mansion. In the terrifying blaze that ensues, Morgan saves several lives, at the cost of his beauty. When a flaming beam falls onto him, his hands and neck are badly burned, leaving ugly, red, raw scars. Although he pulls through his ordeal, he becomes a recluse, closeting himself away from the ton and their stares and whispers. When he finally decides to venture out one night, he meets Julia Prentisse, a woman in a desperate situation who has a very surprising proposition for him. To save her from marriage to one of the odious men her uncle has chosen for her, Julia asks Morgan to marry her. In exchange, she will help him find the arsonist who burned down his home and several others. The arsonist, a man named Lazarus, is obsessed with Julia. Julia is convinced she can lead Morgan to the dangerous arsonist and help her stop the criminal once and for all. As the two are enveloped in danger and intrigue, passions flare and they will soon discover the true depths of their feelings for one another.
For me this book was much more than a beauty and the beast story. The layers are complex and the writing is beautiful. The way that Ms. Lynne describes fire is both breathtaking and terrifying. she allows us to dive into the twisted mind of the arsonist, which is frightening in its own way. The mystery surrounding the fires kept me guessing, and just when I thought I had it all figured out, the book would take another turn and leave me second guessing my own instincts. In the end, the revelation of the arsonist is a little disappointing, but still surprising nonetheless.
Overall I really enjoyed this book. The heroine, while headstrong, was likable. The hero, while arrogant,evoked sympathy in me. As a couple, they had me cheering for them to the very last page.
February 15, 2012
As a big fan of historical romances who's read many of them, after awhile they tend to all follow a familiar formula. So when a book shakes things up a bit it should be complimented. Thus is the case with Victoria Lynne's With This Kiss. As the hero and heroine struggle to admit their true feelings there's a serial arsonist on the loose who's left the hero scarred and has a deadly obsession with the heroine and sets fires in her honor.
The romance between Julia and Morgan was full of angst and evolved one painfully bittersweet step at a time. Morgan is self-conscious of his scars and Julia doesn't think she has anything to offer after the scandal her father caused. Neither has had an ideal upbringing, but whereas Julia remains optimistic Morgan questions everyone's motives. One of them has to take the first step and luckily as the story progresses Julia takes that leap. It's a very emotional moment and one I longed to see. Julia was a strong heroine with many admirable qualities. She stood her ground with her husband, was always honest with him, and fought for her principles. She was almost too perfect, ALMOST. Morgan was the typical shallow cad before the fire that left him with numerous scars. He's changed now and not confident in his sex appeal which made him rather cranky and sarcastic. At times I wanted to smack him for his bad behavior, but I was still drawn to him and and was rooting for him to accept the love Julia was offering him.
The mystery of Lazarus, the serial arsonist, was a well-kept secret with many believable red herrings along the way. The glimpses we get inside his head throughout the story are unsettling and make him a formidable villain. He's truly mad and his thought process makes his actions, and the book's storyline, very unpredictable. This had me on the edge of my seat and drew me in wholeheartedly as I tried to discern whodunit.
This was an enjoyably entertaining story with likable characters and a truly scary villain. There were many extremely memorable secondary characters as well that propelled the story along at a nice pace. This was my first time reading one of Ms. Lynne's books, but considering my great enjoyment of it, it won't be my last.
The romance between Julia and Morgan was full of angst and evolved one painfully bittersweet step at a time. Morgan is self-conscious of his scars and Julia doesn't think she has anything to offer after the scandal her father caused. Neither has had an ideal upbringing, but whereas Julia remains optimistic Morgan questions everyone's motives. One of them has to take the first step and luckily as the story progresses Julia takes that leap. It's a very emotional moment and one I longed to see. Julia was a strong heroine with many admirable qualities. She stood her ground with her husband, was always honest with him, and fought for her principles. She was almost too perfect, ALMOST. Morgan was the typical shallow cad before the fire that left him with numerous scars. He's changed now and not confident in his sex appeal which made him rather cranky and sarcastic. At times I wanted to smack him for his bad behavior, but I was still drawn to him and and was rooting for him to accept the love Julia was offering him.
The mystery of Lazarus, the serial arsonist, was a well-kept secret with many believable red herrings along the way. The glimpses we get inside his head throughout the story are unsettling and make him a formidable villain. He's truly mad and his thought process makes his actions, and the book's storyline, very unpredictable. This had me on the edge of my seat and drew me in wholeheartedly as I tried to discern whodunit.
This was an enjoyably entertaining story with likable characters and a truly scary villain. There were many extremely memorable secondary characters as well that propelled the story along at a nice pace. This was my first time reading one of Ms. Lynne's books, but considering my great enjoyment of it, it won't be my last.
February 6, 2012
I opened this book and didn't stop reading till the very last page. Victoria Lynne reels you in with beautiful imagery, mystery, ever building sexual tension, and heart warming compassion.
The first few pages introduces our hero, Morgan St. James, battling a fire on his estate before his own wedding. Sadly this fire leaves him with many scars, inside and out. It also is the direct result of not getting married, as planned.
A few years later enters Julia Prentisse, a beautiful woman who commands attention. She has a proposition for Morgan that will hopefully help her escape her uncles plans of an arranged marriage and capture a man stalking her. The plan is simple; get married.
It seems that there was a mistake two years ago in the identity of an arsonist who was assumed to die at his own hand. Come to find out, he is very much alive and sending Julia letters veiled with threats. Knowing Morgan would personally want to find the man who set fire to his estate, Julia uses this as an incentive. This and the promise of an heir.
Even if these two married as a means to an end, Julia refuses that there can't be some form of love and kindness. Morgan is sure that he is The Beast people have labeled him and refuses to believe otherwise.
Can this couple find love? Will they be able to stop the arsonist before he strikes again?
With This Kiss was beautifully written with amazingly descriptive scenery. I felt for the characters right away as they embarked on this journey. The time old tell of Beauty and the Beast comes to life once again in such an unexpected way that makes this 188 page story a must read. The history of the novel didn't get in the way as it often does in historical romances, but it added to the lush settings. It was also refreshing that there wasn't a CSI getting in the way and instead there was noblemen and slums of London.
February 1, 2012
It really does sound like the generic romance but it was a wonderful story. Morgan really is rather temperamental which comes off much like the Beast and Julia is hard pressed to keep her temper herself when pressed. In a time when husbands held every right to dictate what their wives could and could not do, Julia presses boundaries and is willing to defy Morgan's wishes especially if it will spark and emotion in her husband.
The banter between Julia and Morgan is wonderful as is the circling they do of one another. At every turn we realize that because they leave their thoughts mostly unspoken the other misconstrues the others intentions and for Morgan it comes down to being The Beast the rumors about town led him to believe. From the beginning you have a great sense that Morgan sees himself as ghastly because of his scars and whenever he believes Julia doesn't want him he equates it to his scars rather than to his own bad behavior.
The growth of the two character is an enjoyable one even in the face of tragedy and intrigue.
I'm glad I grabbed it up when Amazon was offering the free Kindle format.
The banter between Julia and Morgan is wonderful as is the circling they do of one another. At every turn we realize that because they leave their thoughts mostly unspoken the other misconstrues the others intentions and for Morgan it comes down to being The Beast the rumors about town led him to believe. From the beginning you have a great sense that Morgan sees himself as ghastly because of his scars and whenever he believes Julia doesn't want him he equates it to his scars rather than to his own bad behavior.
The growth of the two character is an enjoyable one even in the face of tragedy and intrigue.
I'm glad I grabbed it up when Amazon was offering the free Kindle format.
September 20, 2012
Loved. Loved. Loved this book.
I absolutely adored With this Kiss by Victoria Lynne. It was full of passion, mystery, excitement, and adventure.
I thought Victoria Lynne developed a very clever plot with great characters to support her story. While reading, you become enveloped with the obvious research she did to write such an amazing tale. Everything about this novel was perfect.
I can't wait to read more work from Victoria Lynne. She is an extremely talented writer. You can tell she put a lot into this novel. No detail was overlooked.
Thanks for a fantastic read!!!
I absolutely adored With this Kiss by Victoria Lynne. It was full of passion, mystery, excitement, and adventure.
I thought Victoria Lynne developed a very clever plot with great characters to support her story. While reading, you become enveloped with the obvious research she did to write such an amazing tale. Everything about this novel was perfect.
I can't wait to read more work from Victoria Lynne. She is an extremely talented writer. You can tell she put a lot into this novel. No detail was overlooked.
Thanks for a fantastic read!!!
September 3, 2016
Morgan St. James, Viscount Barlowe, was once a rake, but a heroic deed left him burned and scarred. Now he's pretty much a recluse. On one of his rare appearances in public he spies a flame-haired beauty and meets with her. Julia Prentisse thinks she is the key in discovering the identity of the arson who set the fire in Morgan's servants' quarters. If Morgan will marry her and get her away from her uncle, she will help him find the arsonist and also provide him with his heir.
This was somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. It had a good plot and good characters and even a decent mystery. (I guessed the whodunit fairly early, I think). But there were a few times I felt it lagged slightly. Still, I think it would appeal to Historical Romance lovers who want something a little different but not too drastically different.
This was somewhere between 3 and 4 stars for me. It had a good plot and good characters and even a decent mystery. (I guessed the whodunit fairly early, I think). But there were a few times I felt it lagged slightly. Still, I think it would appeal to Historical Romance lovers who want something a little different but not too drastically different.
February 22, 2015
This was a really great read! I have an affinity for 'beauty and the beast' stories and this one didn't disappoint. The take on the the fairy tale was fairly fresh, and Lynne's writing was above average, especially for the genre. I'll definitely be seeking out other books by her. A very solid 4 stars!
March 21, 2014
La la, this story left me breathless....
February 28, 2013
Julia Prentisse and Lord Morgan St. James have something in common. When an arsonist burns the servant quarters at Morgan's residence, Morgan is injured and heavily scarred by burn wounds. What no one knows is that Julia had received letters to "Flame" (a reference to her red auburn hair) from Lazarus, the arsonist. Julia writes in secret a column for a newspaper about reform and the arsonist feels that she is in sync with him. When a body is found in the third arsonist's fire, they believe him to be dead.
Three years later and Julia is surprised to find another Lazarus letter in her work mail. She comes up with a scheme which will her her take the lead in all areas of her life. Julia catches Morgan's eye at a gathering and invites him to meet her at the address on a card she gives him.
Morgan, of course, believes that she only wants to sleep with "The Beast" as some have called him. But when she explains that her father died with scandal on his shoulders and her aunt and uncle don't have her best interests at heart as well as the fact that many people in Society don't wish to associate with him anymore, marriage would be beneficial to them both; he is taken aback. Dangling the proposition of helping him prove that the arsonist is still out there and with the desire to see him behind bars, Morgan finally agrees.
Marriage starts off a bit rocky as each begin to truly learn of the person they are promised together. However, the chemistry and conversations between our hero/heroine make the story enjoyable to read in this push and pull relationship. Julia is self assured, feisty, knows her own mind and has her own ideas of how she wants things to go, including time to get to know Morgan better before trying to have an heir.
Morgan anticipated having relations with is wife on their first night together. He has a set regime and Julia's presence only throws him off kilter. When a plan is devised between the two and the Inspector who believes them, they pretend to be a happy couple madly in love and flaunt themselves at every available party and gathering in hopes to pull Lazarus into the light. The more Julia puts herself in danger, however, the more Morgan dislikes the plan.
Towards the end of the book, the author gives us glimpses into the tortured soul of a grown man living with life altering events from little boy's mind. With two possible suspects to go after in the end, Morgan, whom has changed towards marriage with Julia, must choose the right way or possibly loose when he realizes is the best thing that has ever happened to him.
This was an enjoyable read with a plot, that although well used, was still nicely written. It kept my attention as the story flowed so well.
Three years later and Julia is surprised to find another Lazarus letter in her work mail. She comes up with a scheme which will her her take the lead in all areas of her life. Julia catches Morgan's eye at a gathering and invites him to meet her at the address on a card she gives him.
Morgan, of course, believes that she only wants to sleep with "The Beast" as some have called him. But when she explains that her father died with scandal on his shoulders and her aunt and uncle don't have her best interests at heart as well as the fact that many people in Society don't wish to associate with him anymore, marriage would be beneficial to them both; he is taken aback. Dangling the proposition of helping him prove that the arsonist is still out there and with the desire to see him behind bars, Morgan finally agrees.
Marriage starts off a bit rocky as each begin to truly learn of the person they are promised together. However, the chemistry and conversations between our hero/heroine make the story enjoyable to read in this push and pull relationship. Julia is self assured, feisty, knows her own mind and has her own ideas of how she wants things to go, including time to get to know Morgan better before trying to have an heir.
Morgan anticipated having relations with is wife on their first night together. He has a set regime and Julia's presence only throws him off kilter. When a plan is devised between the two and the Inspector who believes them, they pretend to be a happy couple madly in love and flaunt themselves at every available party and gathering in hopes to pull Lazarus into the light. The more Julia puts herself in danger, however, the more Morgan dislikes the plan.
Towards the end of the book, the author gives us glimpses into the tortured soul of a grown man living with life altering events from little boy's mind. With two possible suspects to go after in the end, Morgan, whom has changed towards marriage with Julia, must choose the right way or possibly loose when he realizes is the best thing that has ever happened to him.
This was an enjoyable read with a plot, that although well used, was still nicely written. It kept my attention as the story flowed so well.
January 23, 2012
originally posted at http://www.its-raining-books.blogspot...
Morgan St. James, fire-scarred former rake and tortured hero is given an offer he can't refuse: marriage to a beautiful, intelligent woman. With his past and his scars, he never believed he'd be in this situation.
But Julia is desperate. Her uncle is trying to marry her off to undesirable men. She has no dowry (publically) and her family has a shady past, so no good, desirable man would want her. She's done some research on Morgan St. James, and believes him to be an honorable man. More, she has an ace in the hole: clues to the identity of the arsonist who started the fire that burned Morgan and killed many of his much-loved servants.
With the marriage agreement starts a well-written, fun, tension-filled novel. Julia isn't ready to jump into the marriage bed, and Morgan wants an heir, but agrees to wait three months. This sets the stage for romance and loads of sexual tension.
I love how matter-of-fact Julia is about ... well, everything. She's honest (sometimes brutally so), caring and impassioned. She has things she believes in (she's quite a suffragette!) and does whatever it takes to support those things.
Morgan spends a good deal of the book a bit mystified by his bride. She's nothing like the women he's known, and he's not entirely certain how to handle her. Of course, she doesn't want to be "handled" and he learns quickly that she won't accept being forbidden to do anything, and soon becomes more intriuged by Julia than mystified. It was fun to watch such an alpha hero trying to keep up with the heroine for a change. He didn't rule the roost, no matter how hard he tried.
I admit I'm not a huge reader of historical romances, and require them to be both well-written and to include a bit more than simply romance in order to enjoy them. With This Kiss meets those requirements. This book grabbed my attention from the prologue and held on tight. It had the occasional bumps in the road, as most books do, but it never took me long to get right back on track. The search for the arsonist, the development of their relationship, their banter and, of course, the heat between them kept me quite riveted.
With This Kiss is a book that will satisfy any romance lover with its interesting plot, proficient writing and sigh-worthy ending. I'm glad I read it.
Morgan St. James, fire-scarred former rake and tortured hero is given an offer he can't refuse: marriage to a beautiful, intelligent woman. With his past and his scars, he never believed he'd be in this situation.
But Julia is desperate. Her uncle is trying to marry her off to undesirable men. She has no dowry (publically) and her family has a shady past, so no good, desirable man would want her. She's done some research on Morgan St. James, and believes him to be an honorable man. More, she has an ace in the hole: clues to the identity of the arsonist who started the fire that burned Morgan and killed many of his much-loved servants.
With the marriage agreement starts a well-written, fun, tension-filled novel. Julia isn't ready to jump into the marriage bed, and Morgan wants an heir, but agrees to wait three months. This sets the stage for romance and loads of sexual tension.
I love how matter-of-fact Julia is about ... well, everything. She's honest (sometimes brutally so), caring and impassioned. She has things she believes in (she's quite a suffragette!) and does whatever it takes to support those things.
Morgan spends a good deal of the book a bit mystified by his bride. She's nothing like the women he's known, and he's not entirely certain how to handle her. Of course, she doesn't want to be "handled" and he learns quickly that she won't accept being forbidden to do anything, and soon becomes more intriuged by Julia than mystified. It was fun to watch such an alpha hero trying to keep up with the heroine for a change. He didn't rule the roost, no matter how hard he tried.
I admit I'm not a huge reader of historical romances, and require them to be both well-written and to include a bit more than simply romance in order to enjoy them. With This Kiss meets those requirements. This book grabbed my attention from the prologue and held on tight. It had the occasional bumps in the road, as most books do, but it never took me long to get right back on track. The search for the arsonist, the development of their relationship, their banter and, of course, the heat between them kept me quite riveted.
With This Kiss is a book that will satisfy any romance lover with its interesting plot, proficient writing and sigh-worthy ending. I'm glad I read it.
June 8, 2013
I was really excited to read this book. After reading the description I couldn't wait and the beginning was quite wonderful and held so much promise. I loved the way the author was setting everything up with the plot, and then it kind of fell flat. Then it got a little bit better, and then flat again. I just had a hard time focusing on the story and while I read it all I had a hard time not skipping ahead.
***Spoiler***
Julia is a Chameleon like woman who blends in or stand out in whatever environment she is in. She has taken to writing a gossip column(Gossip intermingled with he true subject of the column which is bringing to light the injustice in london... workhouses, child labor, ect.) in one of the news papers and has attracted an obsessive fire bug of a fan.
Two years ago said fan set fire to Lord St. James's (Morgan) house which lead to not only the burning of his house but several deaths as well as his own injury's which in turn left him scared and alone. (His fiance having not though he would live having abandoned him.)
The arrest of Julia's father has set several events into action, along with the renewed letters from her fire bug fan she sets out to entice Morgan into marriage. From there Julia and Morgan set out to discover the identity of the fire bug and also learn how they fit into marriage with each other.
Once everything is said and done it is a fairly common template for what happens in Beauty and the Beast covers. I honestly wish that Morgan had maybe been a touch more arrogant, or sardonic maybe? It was a good book but I feel that it lacked a certain flair in the dramatics, they were almost like a perfect couple that the author was hesitant to allow to argue or have conflict of any kind. So over all I would have to give it a 3.
***Spoiler***
Julia is a Chameleon like woman who blends in or stand out in whatever environment she is in. She has taken to writing a gossip column(Gossip intermingled with he true subject of the column which is bringing to light the injustice in london... workhouses, child labor, ect.) in one of the news papers and has attracted an obsessive fire bug of a fan.
Two years ago said fan set fire to Lord St. James's (Morgan) house which lead to not only the burning of his house but several deaths as well as his own injury's which in turn left him scared and alone. (His fiance having not though he would live having abandoned him.)
The arrest of Julia's father has set several events into action, along with the renewed letters from her fire bug fan she sets out to entice Morgan into marriage. From there Julia and Morgan set out to discover the identity of the fire bug and also learn how they fit into marriage with each other.
Once everything is said and done it is a fairly common template for what happens in Beauty and the Beast covers. I honestly wish that Morgan had maybe been a touch more arrogant, or sardonic maybe? It was a good book but I feel that it lacked a certain flair in the dramatics, they were almost like a perfect couple that the author was hesitant to allow to argue or have conflict of any kind. So over all I would have to give it a 3.
February 9, 2012
From the very beginning of the book, I was immersed in the incredible romance and mystery beneath the pages. This book contains all the elements I relish reading: romance, mystery, incurable rakes, beautiful ladies, and all in an English setting.
Julia made the ideal strong heroine even though she did not fit the typical English lady. And you cannot get more unconvential than Morgan, and I loved him as the reluctant yet capable hero. I was fascinated to see the growth and blossoming of their relationship, and the ending did not disappoint.
My favorite element of the book was the mystery that was woven seamlessly into the story. The author knows how to keep the reader guessing at every turn. She never gave away the details, and in the end, I believe everyone was surprised at the outcome.
My complaints with the book are so minor that they are almost not worth mentioning. There was some mild profanity in the book, but I truly did not find it overly offensive. The sex scenes are hot and may offend some people, but I was so glad that the scenes only appeared following marriage. There was implied fidelity to be sure. For my tastes, I did not find any of these offensive.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and historical fiction. My first 5-star romance this year!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
Julia made the ideal strong heroine even though she did not fit the typical English lady. And you cannot get more unconvential than Morgan, and I loved him as the reluctant yet capable hero. I was fascinated to see the growth and blossoming of their relationship, and the ending did not disappoint.
My favorite element of the book was the mystery that was woven seamlessly into the story. The author knows how to keep the reader guessing at every turn. She never gave away the details, and in the end, I believe everyone was surprised at the outcome.
My complaints with the book are so minor that they are almost not worth mentioning. There was some mild profanity in the book, but I truly did not find it overly offensive. The sex scenes are hot and may offend some people, but I was so glad that the scenes only appeared following marriage. There was implied fidelity to be sure. For my tastes, I did not find any of these offensive.
I would whole-heartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance and historical fiction. My first 5-star romance this year!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
January 28, 2012
Morgan St. James is an absolutely adorable smart ass that I immediately liked, and despite all he went through, I never felt any pity for him. Julia Prentisse is an intelligent, defiant woman I would like as a friend.
This is a really well written, smart book. The pretenses of their marriage had me smiling at its cleverness, and I enjoyed the sarcasm and banter back and forth between Morgan and Julia to a certain point. Just when I had grown tired of it all, the author realized they had bantered enough, and got down to the nitty gritty.
I was also surprised at who the villain turned out to be. It wasn't until the last moment that he was revealed, and that was a real pleasure, and surprise, in the book.
Morgan and Julia are both very intelligent, likable, and sometimes very unlikable, flawed characters who I found myself very much attached to. I liked the way the author slowly broke down the barriers both characters had erected, and found myself grinning at the end of the book, happy for Morgan and Julia, but sad the book had ended.
This is a really well written, smart book. The pretenses of their marriage had me smiling at its cleverness, and I enjoyed the sarcasm and banter back and forth between Morgan and Julia to a certain point. Just when I had grown tired of it all, the author realized they had bantered enough, and got down to the nitty gritty.
I was also surprised at who the villain turned out to be. It wasn't until the last moment that he was revealed, and that was a real pleasure, and surprise, in the book.
Morgan and Julia are both very intelligent, likable, and sometimes very unlikable, flawed characters who I found myself very much attached to. I liked the way the author slowly broke down the barriers both characters had erected, and found myself grinning at the end of the book, happy for Morgan and Julia, but sad the book had ended.
November 26, 2013
A strong plot with a nice tale of over-coming hardships to accept love. Strong characters, easy to hope for their HEA.
Paraphrases A Christian Confederate Soldier's Prayer
Paraphrases A Christian Confederate Soldier's Prayer
I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things.
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for but got everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.
I am, among all people, most richly blessed.
December 26, 2012
Ignore the title of this book. In fact, I would have entitled it something more...appropriate and less something that probably makes people think this is a cheesy Harlequin style romance. This was surprisingly well written. The prose was eloquent and had a perfect flow. The leading lady wasn't annoying or defendant. The leading man was a perfect combo of jaded tortured hero and smitten, protective husband. And the best thing? There were no big, dumb misunderstandings that are so standard in this genre. The plot had a nice mystery/suspense element, and the sexual tension was rewarded with a great first love scene, followed by many more great ones. This is the kind of romance I love: historical, well-written, non-annoying characters, a sexy, scarred hero, and a plot that's much more than misunderstandings followed by rushed smutty sex scenes.
February 4, 2014
No sé porqué no le he dado las 5 stars a este libro, porque me ha encantado. Quizás me hubiese gustado que el suspense hubiese sido más…más… no sé… algo más trabajado… y que el principio no hubiese sido tan rápido, tan… ya está!, pero a partir de ahí, o salvando este punto, la historia es muy bonita, los personajes crecen poco a poco, no hay malentendidos (aunque sí inseguridades), no hay enfado entre la pareja protagonista (refrescante) y los personajes no hacen estupideces (refrescante de nuevo!).
Recomendable.
Recomendable.
February 13, 2017
Another arranged marriage story from Victoria Lynne. Some of the lines are exactly the same as in "The Wedding Bed". But in that book the couple consummate the marriage and then grow feelings for one another. In this one the consummation is delayed while they try to solve a mystery and learn about each other. I think this is the better book.
July 9, 2015
My complain about this book was that 80% of the book was spent with Morgan resenting his wife.....and only 19% falling in love and 1% expressing his love. With the secondary story going on the author could have developed their relationship gradually and earlier in the book.
August 2, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, I wish the author continued writing historical romance but it seems she didn't.
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