Historical Romance published by Avon 26 Jul 22
The Duke of Wolfford, before he was hanged for conspiring to assassinate Queen Victoria, had three children, and they all suffered after the dukedom was stripped of everything. Each sibling has their story in this trilogy, and we finally get to Marcus Stanwyck, who has been the darker of the three, someone readers may have a difficult time with. As well, his heroine, Esme, has also come out of hard times. Can these two work together for their own reasons, despite what they believe about each other?
Esme was purportedly the Duke’s mistress. So you can guess what Marcus thinks of her, and he has no problem voicing those opinions when they first meet. She, too, has her idea of the man he is and she’s certainly not impressed. But when they realize they want the same answers, albeit for their own reasons, they mark a tentative association to share information to get to the bottom of the plot.
Thus begins a mysterious spy game. They learn about the other, fight attraction, and then finally give in to that attraction the closer they come to solving their case. The reader is surprised by all the revelations, just as they are when both information about themselves and the assassination comes to light, as Marcus and Esme delve into the dark side of society, a place Ms. Heath doesn’t frequent very often. So this is a great departure for her fans, going in an unexpected direction.
I love that while both of these characters have had tragic and unanticipated circumstances to overcome, they do succeed quite nicely, all the while discovering a new life together, despite what their investigation might reveal. Both are strong characters, especially Esme. She’s a woman ahead of her times for her gender, trailblazing and paving the way for more to follow her in the future. I also enjoyed the updates we get for Marcus’ siblings, the family coming together to finally get the answers they’ve waited so long for.
Another beautifully written story from Lorraine Heath. With the end of one series, so begins another. Her Chessmen: Masters of Seduction series will begin in February 2023 with the release of The Counterfeit Scoundrel. And you guessed it, I can’t wait for that one!
Grade: A
Summary:
When his father, the Duke of Wolfford, is hanged for an assassination attempt on Queen Victoria, Marcus Stanwick is stripped of everything. Vowing to return honor to his family, he seeks to expose the others involved in the treasonous plot and bring them to justice. His search forces him to turn to a woman he despises for her unforgiveable betrayal—a woman known as the heartless harlot.
Harboring secrets, Esme Lancaster has her own reasons for wanting to discover who’s behind the conspiracy that’s still afoot. She doesn’t trust Marcus but can’t deny the handsome devil makes her wonder if she does indeed possess a heart, one he could very easily steal.
As their hunt for the truth leads them into danger, Marcus finds Esme isn’t cold and calculating as he’d assumed but fire and brimstone, with courage and determination to match his own. Soon, they’re unable to deny their growing desire for each other. But giving into temptation comes at a cost, and they must decide if love is worth the risk of losing their one chance for redemption.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
