Historical Romance published by Avon 21 Feb 23
David Blackwood, despite his wealth, is definitely not welcome in the ton’s drawing rooms, thanks to being named as the other party in various noble divorces. Daisy is a PI who masquerades as a maid in David’s household, seeking to expose David’s relationship with her client’s wife. She finds that David is quite the philanderer with a different woman every night and she can’t help but be amused at his shorthand descriptions of his lady loves when she finds his calendar.
The plot thickens as Daisy finds a way to enter David’s bedroom when he’s entertaining and is puzzled by the activities that she observes. Having been helpless to extract his mother from her poisonous relationship, David is now determined to help other women who are victimized by their husbands. Each encounter, as it turns out, is just for show and he engages in platonic activities with each of the women. Daisy’s musings about his sex drive and capacity are quite amusing, when they both show up at a club that caters to people exploring sexual relationships.
There is no question, the maid and the master have a connection, and, despite his butler’s admonitions, David is helpless to resist Daisy. Fortunately, he finds out that she is a PI and of noble birth and, therefore, eligible for his advances. But things are going to get very complicated before the path of true love can run smooth. There is a murder and David is the key suspect, plus his father is up to no good as well. The plot thickens and there are a lot of crossed wires and tangled lines before the truth will be out.
Overall, a good story but not a compelling one. I felt that the romance takes second fiddle to all the action and adventure. I am interested to see where the author will take this new series, though.
Grade: B-
Summary:
The Chessmen: Masters of Seduction, centering around three heroes—Knight, Bishop, and Rook—who play to win at any cost.
Born into an aristocratic family, yearning for a life beyond Society’s strictures, Marguerite “Daisy” Townsend is an enterprising sleuth. Hired to obtain proof of a wife’s infidelity, she secures a position in the household of the woman’s lover, never expecting to be lured into the seductive blackguard’s arms herself.
Devilishly handsome, David Blackwood, known widely as Bishop, quickly realizes the enticing maid is interested in far more than dusting. She aims to uncover his sins. Although tempted by the dangerous beauty, he can’t risk her learning the truth: his affairs are chaste. As a boy who witnessed his mother’s abusive relationship, Bishop now helps desperate wives escape unhappy marriages.
Yet when he is accused of murdering the husband of a “paramour,” he is forced to seek Daisy’s assistance in proving his innocence. As their perilous search draws them into a web of deceits, they can no longer deny their simmering desire. Once secrets are revealed, will Daisy’s counterfeit scoundrel give up the scandalous games he plays and surrender his heart into her keeping?
No excerpt available.
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