Lynn Kerstan

Francesca is tall, 31, intellectual, and illegitimate; not a likely candidate for suitors in Regency London. Viscount Clayburn has been humiliated by his father yet again and now said father wants to force him into a marriage to gain access to the land adjoining his estate. Clay determines to thwart his efforts by marrying another unsuitable woman. When he meets Francesca, he thinks she will be perfect and he falls in love at first sight, so... a win/win situation. Francesca has other ideas, since she recognizes his name immediately and knows he is the son of the man who has been trying to negotiate her marriage. This was a misunderstanding plot that actually had many variations and so avoided the typical pitfalls. It was also an older woman, younger man plot that was well handled. Enjoyed this.… (more)

When I read this story I wasn’t aware that it was a part of a trilogy and that this was the last one of the series, but now I’ll make sure to read all of them even though this book left me torn about if I liked it enough to bother with the other books.

Have you ever read a book that was well written and plotted, but still left you feeling somehow robbed of the connection to either hero or the heroine?

That’s exactly what this book did to me!

I liked the fast pace of it, the plot and the mystery; intrigue and dialogue all came perfectly together, yet I felt no chemistry between the hero and heroine, and I’m not sure why. I want to say it’s because I wasn’t there in the first two books of the series where they initially get introduced to the series, but that can’t be it. The author does fairly good job in making sure I’m brought up to speed on the other ‘happenings’.

So that leaves me with characterization of the two main protagonists, Derek Leighton and Helena Pryce. While I thought that Helena was a well fleshed out and three-dimensional, Derek on the other hand felt more like he needed a bit more added to him to feel like a three-dimensional character.

From the start of the story I thought him cold and callous; selfish and uncaring and really hoped that my feelings toward him would change as I kept reading, but alas I came to dislike him even more, especially after bedding Helena, yet admitting his love for another woman. That just rubbed me the wrong way! After that, nothing could convince me that these two should or could be together.

The part I enjoyed, and the reason for me giving this series another chance is the mystery aspect of the story. That was well-developed and executed and kept me reading on.

Because this is the last book in this series, I recommend [if you decide you want to read it] you read them in order, as I should have [The Golden Leopard, Heart Of The Tiger and Silver Lion].

Also, if you’re more into the ‘romance’ of the story, then you might not like it as much, because this reads more like a ‘who done it’ rather than a ‘romance’ book.

Melanie for b2b

*Book provided by publisher through NetGalley… (more)

As blurbs go, this one tells you enough of a story to hook you in. I thought the story was well written and intriguing enough to have me wish that it was just a tad faster moving, but regardless, I liked it very much and the reason for it was the heroine.

She was one of those women that the word “determined” encompassed all that she was. She was determined to merry Charles; she was determined to survive and thrive after he abandoned her and she was determined to win him back after he tells her he wants to divorce.

I do have to say that it took me awhile to get warmed up to the hero, but I did and I was actually glad that he was written in such a way that it made him complex and intriguing.

If you like your romance featuring some intrigue and adventure, I highly recommend this one.

Melanie for b2b

Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
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