Series: Scandals & Seduction, #1
Traits & Tropes: titled hero; impoverished heroine; suspense/danger
Publication Date: 10.28.08
Genre/Setting: Historical; Regency; December 1809, London/Kent, England
Heat Level: 1.5
Rating: 3.5/5
Narration Rating: 3/5
Fiona Lachlan is in dire financial straits and struggling to feed herself after losing her work as a seamstress, so she reluctantly agrees to take her friend’s place in a plan designed to embarrass a nobleman. Unfortunately, said plan attracted a different nobleman, the Duke of Holburn, and everything that could go wrong did, leaving Fiona living in the man’s house as his ward for his own safety. She’s determined to ignore any attraction she may feel for the duke, but she can’t seem to help it as she grows closer to the man even knowing she cannot have him.
Dominic Lynsted, the Duke of Holburn, has spent his adult life trying to live up to his father’s memory and avoiding the prim young misses who are thrown into his path. Despite the fact that he’s grown to be responsible, his wild youth seems to be coming back to haunt him as it becomes apparent that someone is trying to kill him. He also finds himself enchanted by a beautiful woman and, though at first he’s not sure if he can trust her, he can’t help but fall for her anyway.
I really was not a fan of the way this book started out. The first half of the story and the way the MCs met just didn’t really work to hold my attention or make me care about them. Fiona came off as a naïve, immature idiot and her lack of fear with Nick from the moment she met him didn’t make much sense. I also wasn’t a fan of the fact that circumstances are such that Fiona’s friend sees Nick naked before Fiona does. I’m not sure why that stuck out to me, but I found it super weird and unromantic, plus it combined with her other behaviors to make Fiona seem even more airheaded. The second half of the book was totally different for me. Nick took charge and he and Fiona had lots of on page time together. This was a slow burn but there was a lot of quality conversation between these two, even if that was sometimes stunted or made repetitive by Fiona’s self-doubting inner monologues and dialogues. I actually found that doubt to be rather relatable and the way Nick reassured her was pretty romantic. I liked that we had a bit of suspense here with someone trying to kill Nick and that Fiona refused to leave his side and was determined to help keep him safe. I also liked that he was very clear with her about what he wanted from her and was completely undeterred by all her reasons why they couldn’t be together, and he didn’t let any disapproval from his family stop him from following his heart either. It seemed Nick was made stronger by his feelings and that helped him come into his own as a confident man, embracing his role as duke. The relationship also helped Fiona find the sense of self-worth she lost after all she’d been through, and I liked that aspect. After all, what are relationships for if not to find someone who brings out the best in you and makes you want to be better.
The second half of this book definitely raised it a star for me. Though this book didn’t quite give me all the Christmassy feelings I was looking for, I did like this couple together in the end.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4398477601
https://www.bookbub.com/reviews/157060669
Comments
Post a Comment