1.5 stars
WARNING! This review WILL contain fairly specific plot spoilers, but it’s an awful book, so you don’t want to read it anyway, and should thank me for explaining in detail why you should avoid it.
Jessica Wentworth is probably the most successful actress in London, but she’s hiding a deep dark secret. Her real name is Julia Hargate and she’s been married to the Marquess of Savage since they were both children. Julia ran away from home and has been disowned, she only wants her independence and to become famous on the stage. Her husband, Damon, Lord Savage (yeah, I can’t even begin about that name) has been searching for her for years, eager to obtain an annulment. With the dowry his family got from the arrangement, the sensible and super-serious Lord Savage has restored the family fortunes that his wastrel father gambled away, fixed up the family estate and in general, he’s the responsible brother, whilst his younger brother takes after dear ol’ dad.
By happy coincidence, because this is clearly that sort of book, Damon and Julia have actually met once, in passing at a country fair, but didn’t know each other’s true identities. After invading Julia’s personal space, Damon kisses her, then they part ways again, until they meet again at a party, three years later. Damon, ever the arrogant alpha douchebag, recognizes the girl he kissed and promises Julia’s employer, the theatre owner, 5000 pounds if she’ll come to dinner with him – all platonic like. He already has a very demanding mistress, but wants to woo the famous Mrs. Wentworth. It doesn’t take many days before he discovers that the most celebrated actress on the London stage is his long lost wife, and suddenly, Damon’s no longer all that keen on an annulment. Julia, on the other hand, seems to have a terrible time figuring out what she really wants, pushing him away one second and falling into his arms the next, asking him to ravish her. More on my blog.
YOU ARE A MACHINE!
Not really. Most of these reviews, I wrote several days ago. I was stuck on review nr 66, which I also have to send to Smart Bitches for their RITA Reader Challenge. So all I had to do today, once I actually finished that one, was put the finishing touches on the rest of them, and publish away. Now I’m only three books behind. It feels good.
That book almost broke me. Kleypas was my standard and my standby, and then this happened. I mean, there were moments in other books, but this was a whole book of bad. Sometimes I wonder if she’s two people who work well together, but then one goes on vacation and we get this book and that Friday Harbor silliness.