Darius - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Apr 2013)

Series: Lonely Lords (Book 1)

A story that breaks all the rules...

With his beloved sister tainted by scandal, his widowed brother shattered by grief , and his funds cut off, Darius Lindsey sees no option but to sell himself -- body and soul. Until the day he encounters lovely, beguiling Lady Vivian Longstreet, whose tenderness and understanding wrap his soul in a grace he knows he'll never deserve...

Excellent book with a very different premise. Darius is the second son of an earl, one whose father has cut him off financially. He has a small manor house and some land, and people he cares for and feels responsible for. The only way he can make any money is to make himself available to bored society women.

Vivian is the young second wife to elderly Lord William Longstreet. He married her after the death of his first wife, in order to protect her from her nasty stepfather. William is still in love with his first wife, and realizes that he's nearing the end of his life. If he dies without an heir, his lands and wealth will revert to the Crown, something he cannot accept. So he goes to Darius and offers him a large sum of money to get Vivian pregnant. 

Though not entirely comfortable with the idea, Darius is desperate to escape the clutches of the two women he is currently employed by. Vivian is also uncomfortable, but she cares for William and understands what he is trying to do. The initial meeting between Darius and Vivian is awkward, but they agree to terms and make their arrangements.

I really liked Darius. He hates what he does, but he is willing to do whatever it takes to provide for his family. When Vivian arrives at his home in Kent, he is quite sensitive to her fears and discomfort. I loved seeing the way he worked to show her that it could be a pleasurable interlude for both of them. Normally he is able to keep his emotions out of his encounters, but with Vivian he isn't able to do that. I loved the way that he was determined that she feel all the pleasure that is possible, and also to show her that she is an intelligent and capable woman who can do anything. He can see that she will need the skills to stand up for herself and protect her child once her husband is gone. He doesn't expect to fall for her, and the thought of having to give her up at the end of the month is tearing him up.

I also liked Vivian. She starts out as very shy and self-effacing. She is wary of the things that Darius makes her feel. They spend the first few days just getting to know each other, and she discovers that there is much more to Darius than she expected. Seeing the way he cares for the people who inhabit his home makes her realize that he is a man she can trust. That trust makes it a little easier for her to accept what they must do, and she soon learns much about her own feelings and responses. The "baby-making" scenes are both incredibly sexy and really sweet. I loved the way that she saw the good in Darius and tried to show him that he is better than what he has been forced to do. Leaving him at the end of the month is hard, and the reality of not seeing him anymore is hard for her to take.

Once they are back in London, they are not supposed to see each other again. Vivian doesn't want to accept that and manages to find ways to encounter Darius. But seeing him return to the two society women hurts terribly, and she is torn about how to handle it. Darius wants to escape them, but their threats against his family have his hands tied for awhile. I loved seeing him finally muster up the determination to escape, and how he did it was extremely satisfying. Though they do have several meetings, both Darius and Vivian are honorable people, and they are very careful to stick to friendship. 

I loved Lord William. He has never loved anyone but his first wife and misses her desperately. What he has with Vivian is actually a beautiful friendship, but he knows without an heir she will be in dire straits when he dies. Even though what he was doing was basically dishonest, his reasons were good. I really liked his treatment of Darius, and as the book went on it became obvious that he also had a secondary motive for his actions. I loved the way that he mentored Darius through some financial waters, and how he made sure to keep Darius involved in Vivian's life. It became obvious that he had a secondary motive to his actions, and one that he had great confidence in.

Darius's protective nature comes fully to the surface once Vivian has the baby. I loved seeing him with the child and the obvious adoration he has for it. It only serves to make Vivian love him more. And when William dies, it is up to Darius to keep Vivian and the baby safe. I loved seeing how he did it, and the confrontation with Vivian's nasty stepfather was so very satisfying.

Darian Hunter: Duke of Desire - Carole Mortimer (HH #1209 - Nov 2014)

Series: Dangerous Dukes (Book 2)

The Players:

Darian Hunter, Duke of Wolfingham: legendary rake and notorious bachelor

Mariah Beecham, Countess of Carlisle: society's scandalous widow and secret agent of the crown

The Stage:

A notoriously debauched house party

The Scene:

Forced to pose as lovers, Darian and Mariah must work together to stop an assassination plot

The Twist:

As the shocking and oh-so-sensual games play out around them, the romantic ruse becomes all too real. And the tantalizing temptation to indulge their every desire becomes overwhelming…

Very good book that starts out with sparks that turn combustible later. Darian is angry when he hears that his younger brother appears to be in a relationship with Mariah. Mariah is a widow with the reputation of having had multiple lovers, and Darian doesn't want his brother involved with her. When he confronts Mariah about it, sparks fly between them. 

Darian comes across as quite a judgmental jerk in their first encounters. He's trying to protect his brother from what he sees as a bad influence, but his methods are not appreciated. He certainly doesn't expect to find himself physically attracted to a woman so outside of anything that would normally appeal to him. He's also intrigued by things that don't seem to be consistent with his view of her.

Mariah's marriage had not been by her choice and it had not been a good one. After her husband's death, she swore she would never put herself under the control of another man. She enjoys her freedom and is angered by Darian's accusations. She doesn't see that he has any right to judge considering he has his own reputation. There's also something about him that sets her on edge.

As their latest argument is interrupted by a man they both know, Darian and Mariah are shocked to discover that the other has also been working as a secret agent for the crown. They are asked to put aside their differences and work together to stop an assassination plot against the prince. To do so, they must play the part of lovers at a notorious house party.

I loved the sparks and chemistry between Darian and Mariah. Once they discovered each other's secret lives, both had to resolve the conflicts between their perceptions and what was the truth. This wasn't easy for either of them. They also had to deal with their attraction to each other. Because of her marriage and its effect on her, Mariah is far different than Darian had believed. I loved his protectiveness and gentleness as he gets to know her, and his attempts to control the strength of the desire he feels for her. I loved the strength of will that Mariah had, that enabled her to overcome all that had happened to her. Her wariness about the way Darian made her feel was quite understandable, but I liked that she allowed herself to pursue it. The things that went on at the house party were quite eye opening for her. After the action was all done, I loved seeing Darian realize just how strong his feelings for her were. The scene in the carriage on the way back to London was fun to read as Darian tried to tell her how he felt. I liked the epilogue and the bit about Darian's brother.

The mystery of the traitor was good, but was really mostly in the background. The final confrontation was good, but didn't have much intensity to it.

Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Sept 2013)

Series: Duke's Daughters (Book 5)

What Lady Jenny wants for Christmas...

For Christmas, soft-spoken Lady Jenny Windham craves the freedom to pursue her artistic ambitions, though it will mean scandalizing her ducal parents and abandoning all hope of a family of her own. She confides her plans to successful artist Elijah Harrison when he's commissioned to paint a portrait of her small nephews, because assisting Elijah will bring Jenny that much closer to her heart's desire--won't it?

...Will break both their hearts

Elijah Harrison finds in his unlikely assistant not only an inspiring muse and unappreciated talent, but also a lovely and passionate woman. If Elijah supports Jenny's career, his own professional interests will suffer, but more significantly, he will lose Jenny forever. Both Jenny and Elijah must choose between true love and a lifelong dream.

Very good book. Jenny is the only one of the Duke's daughters who is yet unmarried. While she would like to have a family of her own, there is something she wants even more. Jenny wants a chance to pursue her art by going to Paris to study. She also knows that her parents and her siblings would not understand what is driving her. Instead, she is stuck in the position of doting aunt to her siblings' children, making the rounds of their houses when her parents are away from home. One night, alone at her sister's home, she offers shelter from the storm to Elijah Harrison, a talented artist who, unknown to her, is headed to another sister's house to paint her children.

This is not the first time Jenny has seen Elijah. Several years earlier she had disguised herself as a boy to attend some art classes. Elijah was the model for those classes and Jenny has never forgotten him. Since then he has become a respected portrait artist and Jenny sees this as an opportunity to learn from him. She doesn't expect the flare of attraction she feels for him, but tries to subdue it in the interest of her art. Before he leaves the next morning she has sketched for him and he sees just how much talent she has. He also steals a kiss under the mistletoe.

Later that day they meet again, this time at another sister's home. Elijah has been commissioned to paint Jenny's nephews, something he needs to do if he wants a chance to be accepted into the Royal Academy. Elijah quickly sees how much Jenny would like to be involved, and finds a way to get her assistance with the project. It's a dream come true for Jenny to be working with someone who sees her passion for her art, and she finds herself telling Elijah about her dreams.

Jenny and Elijah spend a lot of time together as Elijah works on the portrait of her nephews. Elijah has never painted children before and is having trouble getting started. They are truly able to help each other, as Jenny shows him what has been missing in his views of the children. Elijah helps Jenny with her art, showing her that there is someone who appreciates her talent for what it is. They develop a terrific friendship, sometimes arguing but always supportive. That friendship deepens further into love, but there are obstacles to overcome.

Besides being a talented artist, Elijah is also an earl in his own right, and heir to the Marquis of Flint. Ten years earlier, in an argument with his father over his ambitions, he left home swearing he wouldn't be back until he met his goal. As a result, he's been estranged from his family, rarely seeing any of them and always brief encounters in London. He has missed them more as the years have passed, and seeing Jenny and her loving family makes him homesick for his own. He is ready to stop traveling and settle down, but discovers that the one woman he wants is only interested in getting away. Elijah loves her enough that he can't ask her to give up her dreams.

I ached for Jenny. She loves her drawing and painting, it is so much of who she is. She loves her family, and it is obvious that they love her, but it is also obvious that they don't understand her. She's hurt when they don't see that her painting is more than a hobby. She feels that the only way she can be who she is, is to leave them behind and go to Paris. Elijah's appreciation of her talent and support of her means so much to her. As they work together over the days leading up to Christmas, their feelings only get stronger. Elijah proposes, but Jenny turns him down, unable to give up her dream. They part, heartbroken, but Elijah refuses to ask her to give everything up for him.

One of the most emotional parts of the book comes as the portraits of the Duke and Duchess are unveiled. There is an interesting twist involving one of the portraits. As the family raves about how good they are and compliments Elijah on them, Jenny finally assembles the courage to confront her family about her own dreams and plans. There is much that comes out about why she is so driven and her parents at last begin to see her determination. They want her to be happy, and what happens next is both sweet and devious, as they make plans to give her what she wants. A gift from Elijah opens her eyes and her heart as her determination gains a new goal. 

Elijah also goes through his own changes during the time he spends with the Windham families. The disagreement and vow that have kept him away from his own family for ten years are starting to wear on him. He misses his family and being around such a close family make it even worse. His family feels the same way and an effort is being made to show him how they feel. As more information comes out about his efforts to join the Royal Academy, Elijah's feelings about what is more important to his life also begin to change. I enjoyed his conversation with his father at the end and the effect it had on his goals.

The ending was quite satisfying as both Jenny and Elijah are able to overcome their personal obstacles and see that what they need is each other. Though Jenny was ready to give it all up for love, Elijah knows her well enough to refuse to let her do so. Nothing is said outright about the nominations for the Royal Academy, I suspect even that will turn out well.

Grace Burrowes always has great family scenes in her books. In this one the duke is once again shown to be subtly pulling strings to get his family where he wants them. Partway through the book we find that he has set up the meeting between Elijah and Jenny, sensing that they are right for each other. There is also some encouragement from the duchess, who is friends with Elijah's mother, as she points out ways to motivate him to come home. One of the funniest parts of the book is when the various men of the family find their way to Elijah's studio, as they attempt to escape the confusion and mayhem as all the families assemble at Moreland.

Though the Windham series is done, I hope that some of them show up as secondary characters in other books, as I'd love to see how they go on.

Lady Eve's Indiscretion - Grace Burrowes (Sourcebooks Casablanca - Feb 2013)

Series: Duke's Daughters (Book 4)

Lady Eve's Got The Perfect Plan

Pretty, petite Evie Windham has been more indiscreet than her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Moreland, suspect. Fearing that a wedding night would reveal her past, she's running out of excuses to dodge adoring swains. Lucas Denning, the newly titled Marquis of Deene, has reason of his own for avoiding marriage. So Evie and Deene strike a deal, each agreeing to be the other's decoy. At this rate, matrimony could be avoided indefinitely...until the two are caught in a steamy kiss that no one was supposed to see.

Emotional story of Evie Windham, the fourth of the Duke's five daughters. Seven years earlier, at the age of sixteen, she had gone through two life changing events. One was an injury so severe that it was thought she would never walk again. The other left her unwilling to marry, but unable to confess why. Pressure is growing on her to pick someone to settle down with. Lucas has only recently inherited the title and is trying to get a handle on his estates and finances. He is also trying to gain custody of his niece, from the brother-in-law he despises. He knows he needs to marry, but picking the right person isn't going to be easy.

Evie and Lucas have known each other most of their lives. Lucas has long been a friend of her brothers and was a frequent visitor to her home. He also served in the military with two of her brothers. The previous Christmas, under the influence of a little too much punch, they had shared a rather potent kiss, but have avoided each other since. Then, at a society event, Evie protects Lucas from a persistent matchmaking mama and he later gets her safely home when she takes ill.

This is the beginning of a great friendship and an even greater love. They begin as co-conspirators, promising to help each other with their marital issues.  Lucas knows that Evie isn't the wife for him, as he needs an heir and she wants a marriage without intimacy.  As they spend time together, that pesky attraction keeps growing, until Lucas starts to realize that a marriage between them could work if he could overcome her fears.

Eve's traumatic past has crippled her emotionally and kept her from living her life. She was always horse mad as a girl, but since her accident she hasn't ridden at all, and even avoids driving out if she can. Lucas remembers her as she was, and wants to help her be able to move on with her life. He seems to know exactly when to push and when to back off. He shows her that she can trust him and lean on him when she needs it, but that he will also believe in her ability to stand on her own. I especially loved the scene where she visited the scenes of her trauma and Lucas was right there with her. His support helped her through it, and gave her one more reason to trust him.

Lucas is fighting his own demons. His beloved sister died in childbirth, after being pretty much sold to a rich Irishman by her father. He had promised her that he would look after his niece, but his brother-in-law has fought him on every front. Lucas will do anything it takes to gain custody of her, including taking Dolan to court, something that would create a huge scandal. 

The attraction that Lucas and Evie feel for each other ends up putting them in a compromising position, which forces them to marry. Lucas is happy with the idea, but Evie is not, because of the secrets she has. Lucas ends up with some extra help in convincing her, in the persons of her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Morland. Lucas's patience and understanding show Evie that some of her fears were ungrounded, and they begin to settle in to life together. I loved seeing Evie grow in her confidence as Lucas's sensitivity helps her regain her love of horses. One of the best things about the story was the realistic progress of their romance. Though the attraction was immediate, their love grew slowly out of their friendship. I loved their conversations and how they showed their developing feelings. Their internal dialogues showed that their fears were still there.

However, communication still is not their strong point. Evie hasn't told Lucas about her secret, and believes that he does not suspect. And Lucas hasn't told her about his plans to gain custody of his niece. His plans and the way he goes about them throw a wedge between them that is hard to overcome. I liked the support and advice they got from the family, and how it helped keep them from making things worse. It took them awhile, but they did finally learn to trust each other and their feelings.

Lucas's fixation on his niece and her father tended to make him blind to other possibilities. Things really came to a head when Evie finds out. It was interesting to see how Lucas tried to solve the problem and how it nearly made it even worse. The horse race was an interesting solution. I could see where that storyline was going and wasn't surprised by what happened with the race itself. It was interesting to see how the conflict was resolved, and I now have high hopes for the relationship between the two men.

The part of the story involving Lucas's cousin Anthony was interesting. I had my suspicions about him and his attitude and wasn't at all surprised by what he was doing. I was rather disappointed by what didn't happen to him. 

As always, the Moreland family is there to help and support each other. Even her deceased brother Bart has his moment. It was obvious how much they worried about Evie and how helpless they felt. It was fun to see the men try to help Lucas, and how oblivious he was until his feelings were engaged. I loved the full family presence at the end and their joy in Evie's success.