Sandy M’s review of The Duke and the Lady in Red (Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, Book 3) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 28 Apr 15

Lorraine Heath is one on a very short list of authors who has brought me to tears over the years of my reading. This is her second book that has moved me to such emotion. Her characters always burrow into my heart, but this time they pierced that organ so entirely there was nothing left to do but cry.

When you first start reading about Rosalind Sharpe, however, you never imagine the woman and tears in the same thought. You see, Rosalind is a con artist. And she’s very good at it. Walking into a local gaming hell, she’s looking for her next mark, someone gullible and rich enough for her to continue looking after those in her care. Thus begins the slow reveal of exactly who Rosalind has in her life and why she does her swindling. This is done layer by layer as her game begins and proceeds, hopefully, in the direction she dictates.

But it’s the Duke of Avendale who forces her to make a decision or two she might regret. He spies her as she enters the room, her red dress catching his eye, along with her confident and regal bearing. The lady knows her stuff. He’s totally intrigued; even more so when she doesn’t end up fawning all over him. So the chase is on, and Avendale is relentless. Rosalind does fall under his spell, and as her feelings grow, it crosses her mind that he’s not a man who can be easily taken, which is proven to her when she and her brood do try to flee after she’s got what she wants from him.

Now it’s time for Avendale to fall under her spell, not just wanting her because he can have her at this point, and it’s his own downfall when he has her in his home for his every whim. While Rosalind never truly loses focus of what she has to do in life, even while in Avendale’s arms, it’s the man himself who captures my heart once he meets Henry. I’m not going to say anything more about Henry, only that you understand Rosalind better after meeting him. He also makes Avendale reassess his own life, and the scenes with the two men are some of the very best in the book. Henry will also capture your heart, as happens to everyone who has the honor of coming in contact with him in this book.

Take your time with this story, because this story unfolds as only Lorraine Heath can tell it. Beautifully written and heartfelt to the bone.

Grade: A+

Summary:

When Rosalind Sharpe gains the attention of the deliciously wicked Duke of Avendale, she’s torn between her distracting attraction to the notorious rogue and the knowledge that he—rich as Croesus—is the perfect target for a deception that will put her swindling days behind her.

However Avendale is no fool. After he discovers the tantalizing lady packing up to leave London with his coins in tow, he confronts her with a scandalous proposition: she can have all the money she requires…for a week in his bed.

Desperate for the funds, Rose agrees, but on one condition: he must never question her motives. Avendale quickly sees beneath her mask and discovers she is more than passion and pleasure—she is everything he has ever desired. But claiming her requires he unveil her secrets and lose her forever. Unless he can put his own dark past aside and risk everything for a chance at love.

No excerpt available.

Other books in this series: