I’ve lurked on Pajiba and subsequently this blog, and decided to take the plunge and join. I love to read, primarily historical romance; contemporary/new adult just don’t interest me. Whether I can review on a regular basis remains to be seen, but I hope to do my best!
This book by Lorraine Heath is part of a series, Scandalous Gentlemen of St. James, and is actually the second generation of characters from a previous series but I think it works well enough on its own. Rosalind Sharpe is a lady on a mission when she tours a gambling club opened to women for the first time, hoping to find a wealthy man to swindle. She attracts the attention of the wicked Duke of Avendale, and finds herself torn between her own attraction to him despite his reputation, and the fact that he is the perfect target for what could be her last con.
Of course, Avendale is a rogue of the worst kind, accustomed to drinking and gambling and having whatever woman he desires. Now he wants Rosalind, but he is no fool. After she manages to get the funds from him that she asked for, and is prepared to flee London, he discovers she played him. At this point, he proposes that she can keep the money, if she will agree to spend a week in his bed. And of course, she agrees, but asks that he doesn’t question her need for the funds, and that she is allowed to have some time away from him every day.
Rosalind and Avendale are well suited, they both have their secrets and are reluctant to reveal them. She succumbs to the pleasure and passion that he provides, all the while trying to maintain an emotional distance from him. For his part, Avendale finds himself growing more and more intrigued with her, and wants more than one week with her. He is jealous of the time she wants away from him, and follows her one day back to her residence. He discovers that her brother is the reason she needs money; he is afflicted with a disease that leaves him vulnerable to ridicule and Rosalind will do anything to protect him.
For his part, Avendale is somewhat of a loner, and estranged from his mother, due to something he witnessed as a small boy. This has colored his perception of his mother’s subsequent re-marriage, and he finally has to confront the truth which isn’t what he thought it was.
He eventually meets Rosalind’s brother, Harry, and the two form a friendship. He arranges to bring Harry to stay with them, and give the young man some experiences that never would have happened otherwise. It’s all sweet and poignant, and endears Avendale to Rosalind even further. I don’t believe it could all happen so smoothly in real life, but I appreciated all of his gestures to win her heart.
I read this book in record time, and was sorry to see it end. I’ve read many of Lorraine Heath’s books, and enjoyed all of them. This is one that I can recommend without reservation!
Congratulations on delurking and writing your first review.
Welcome to what has to be one of the largest collection of historical romance readers around, looks like you’ll fit right in :)
Welcome to the Cannonball Read, fellow romance fan. I used to read primarily historical romance, but have discovered some authors I like who write really enjoyable contemporaries or New Adult. I find Lorraine Heath’s books frustrating, in that she’ll only produce a really great and truly memorable one every three or four books – the rest tend to be fairly forgettable to me. She’s on my “pick up if on sale” list, as in I’ll still read all her books, but I won’t pay full price or pre-order them.
Thanks for the warm welcome all! It’s great to be here among fellow romance readers.
The books I’ve read by Ms Heath have all been in the same two series, and I enjoyed the characters weaving in and out of the stories. I’ll have to try one of the others in her backlist to see how I like a different saga.
Welcome, lurker. We only bite sometimes.
Five bucks extra.
As others have said, there are a lot of readers of romance here, so you’ll fit right in.
Welcome to the Cannonball!
One of us! One of us!
Welcome, welcome! I am a newly arrived (long timer lurker) romance reviewer too. Would you say that you need to read the earlier books in the series to enjoy this one? I tried When the Duke Was Wicked, but couldn’t get in to it. But, based on your review here, I want to try this one.
Thanks for the welcome! I think this book does well enough on its own, you wouldn’t be too lost not having read the others. There are a few bits with past characters, but the focus is definitely on Rose & Avendale. Hope you like it.
Welcome to the Read! Please vote on our book club read… its a close vote!
Oooh a close vote – EXCITING!!!
Thanks, I will be sure to vote!
Welcome fellow romancer! And I’ve never read any Lorraine Heath before, but she’s on my list to try this year.
I’m so happy you de–lurked. Good job on your very first review. Welcome!
May I add my voice to the welcomes you are receiving?
I’ve read A LOT of Lorraine Heath, but I paid for almost none of it. She’s on my B-/C+ list and I continue to read her books when nothing else is to hand. I’ve read almost all of these series except this one. I suppose I will read it, too. Recently, I read Falling Into Bed with a Duke and found it better than her usual middling effort, but I haven’t gotten around to the review yet.
I thank you and all the rest here for the warm welcomes! It’s very encouraging.