I have wanted to read this book for a while. I can't tell you how happy I am that I finally did read this book! As I closed the book, I was gushing. There were so many aspects of this story that I liked, it's hard to find any to point out as negatives, but there are two side plot arcs that could have been left well enough alone and the story would have been tighter focused and undiminished.
As both arcs together make the bigger blackmail arc in the story, I'll just detail them really quickly. One was the woman who slept with Anna's late husband, and wanted that information hidden. The other was the lover of the woman who wanted his pockets lined. Of the two, the male lover blackmail arc was completely superfluous and unnecessary.
What I liked:
- Anna working as Edward's secretary.
- Edward's internal monologues.
- Anna masquerading herself and claiming Edward at a "luxury" brothel.
- Edward's proposals.
- The sex. Hot stuff, I tell you.
Anna is a respectable widow. Her late husband a complete scoundrel and adulterer. She can't have kids, or so she thinks (as is the way with most romance novels - the heroes just have mightier seed - it's a fact!).
Edward's late wife died in childbirth. He found out after he married her just how much he disgusted her. He won't make that mistake twice. He's currently wooing a baron of an old family line for his daughter, and reassuring himself more than once that the daughter wants to be wed to him. This side arc makes sense for the time period, but it was just another unneeded obstacle in the story.
Meanwhile, Anna has gone to work for him. From the moment he meets her officially, he can't take his mind off of Anna. She's invaded his senses so much, he runs to London to seek release in a high end brothel so he won't ruin her respectability. Little does he know... evil grin.
In parting I want to add just how much I loved the wren and raven symbolism and it's correlation to the fairytale posted at the beginning of every chapter.
Review: 4 Stars
This post was written by...
Keira – who has written 1168 posts on Love Romance Passion.
Keira's favorite type of heroes are blind, scarred, and tortured... yes, she understands those should be separate, but all 3 at once is also nice! She enjoys historical romances best and adores audio books because great narrators turn books into auditory/mental movies (and she loves her romantic dramas like Pride and Prejudice/North and South!) Learn more about Keira in My Instant Turn Ons, Offs, and Ifs.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
This one is in my tbr. I have been meaning to get to it! Looking forward to Edward’s internal monologues (and hot sex;)
Really great book even though the whole scenario with Anna going to the brothel and seducing Edward is a bit out there. But the sex is mighty hot, hot hot.
It is out there, but it’s out there in a fun way. Even working as his secretary is way out there for a respectable widow. I guess I have just read so many historicals that I am able to suspend disbelief and go with the flow… if the sex hadn’t been good, I would have wanted to nix the brothel scenes. I like comparing them to their later encounters when he finally lets her kiss him… yowza!
I just finished this book last night! Wow, loved it! Elizabeth Hoyt is one of my favorite authors. Her stories never disappoint. I just started The Serpent Prince today!
This was my first Elizabeth Hoyt and still my favorite although I’ve loved her others also. The intensity of feeling between these two characters is just outstanding. I also love that her characters are often not perfect physical specimens, Edward being a perfect example of that with his pox scars.