Amidst murder and
betrayal, destiny and hearts collide when scandal forces a nobleman and a
gypsy to marry in this Regency Romance.
Half Romani, half English noblewoman, Evangeline Caruthers is the last woman in England Ian Hamilton, the Viscount Warrick, could ever love—an immoral wanton responsible for his brother’s and father’s deaths. She thinks he’s a foul-tempered blackguard, who after setting out to cause her downfall, finds himself forced to marry her—snared in the trap of his own making.
When Vangie learns the marriage ceremony itself may have been a ruse, she flees to her gypsy relatives, declaring herself divorced from Ian under Romani law. He pursues her to the gypsy encampment, and when the handsome gypsy king offers to take Ian’s place in Vangie’s bed, jealousy stirs hot and dangerous.
At last, under a balmy starlit sky, Ian and Vangie breech the chasm separating them. Peril lurks though. Ian’s the last in his line, and his stepmother intends to dispose of the newlyweds so her daughter can inherit his estate. Only by trusting each other can they overcome scandal and murderous betrayal.
Half Romani, half English noblewoman, Evangeline Caruthers is the last woman in England Ian Hamilton, the Viscount Warrick, could ever love—an immoral wanton responsible for his brother’s and father’s deaths. She thinks he’s a foul-tempered blackguard, who after setting out to cause her downfall, finds himself forced to marry her—snared in the trap of his own making.
When Vangie learns the marriage ceremony itself may have been a ruse, she flees to her gypsy relatives, declaring herself divorced from Ian under Romani law. He pursues her to the gypsy encampment, and when the handsome gypsy king offers to take Ian’s place in Vangie’s bed, jealousy stirs hot and dangerous.
At last, under a balmy starlit sky, Ian and Vangie breech the chasm separating them. Peril lurks though. Ian’s the last in his line, and his stepmother intends to dispose of the newlyweds so her daughter can inherit his estate. Only by trusting each other can they overcome scandal and murderous betrayal.
This book is based in the times where sex was a taboo. I
was so into the story that I often forgot where I was. Be prepared--the book is
longer than a normal romance novel but it is totally worth it!!!
In this book we meet Ian who is the Viscount of Warrick and Vangie Carruthers who will be his intended and wife, even before they have the chance to really get to know each other. Because of a variety of issues surrounding their meeting they marry before having much of a courtship and once they are married, they are left to their own devices of learning about each other and maybe even falling in love with the person they are now tied to.
Let me jump right ahead and tell you that the bedroom scenes are not at all conventional. They are sexy steamy and just wow!!! I mean for the time period. There is not much left to the imagination, but I'm not complaining. There were Christian principles throughout the book-even Biblical quotes and prayers.
Even though his was a historical book it never lost its romance. I recommend this book I you want to sit curled up on your couch and have some leisure time.
In this book we meet Ian who is the Viscount of Warrick and Vangie Carruthers who will be his intended and wife, even before they have the chance to really get to know each other. Because of a variety of issues surrounding their meeting they marry before having much of a courtship and once they are married, they are left to their own devices of learning about each other and maybe even falling in love with the person they are now tied to.
Let me jump right ahead and tell you that the bedroom scenes are not at all conventional. They are sexy steamy and just wow!!! I mean for the time period. There is not much left to the imagination, but I'm not complaining. There were Christian principles throughout the book-even Biblical quotes and prayers.
Even though his was a historical book it never lost its romance. I recommend this book I you want to sit curled up on your couch and have some leisure time.
Why
had Vangie hit him so hard? A welt, red and raw like a fresh branding, was
clearly visible on his angled face. Standing before him, the intense,
provocative glimmer in his eye sent a fresh dash of color across her cheeks.
“Ian.
. .”
No,
she would not apologize. He deserved it, the brute.
Faith,
why is he grinning? Was her new husband dicked in the nob? She frowned at him,
inching her way backward. Perhaps he’s mad. Mayhap it wasn’t bad temperament
plaguing the man at all, but lunacy. She sent a sidelong glance to the open
wardrobe.
Where was her blasted dagger?
Clasping
her hands before her, she warily watched him. A muscle flexed in his jaw. She
gasped when he stole closer, his gait purely predatory. She sucked in another
wheezing lungful of air.
It
was most difficult to breathe, or think, when one was being stalked.
Ian
crept onward, step-by-step.
For
every step he took forward, Vangie retreated until she was brought up short by
the small bench she’d just vacated. She tried to skirt around it, not daring to
take her eyes from him. Her hip grazed the dressing table, rattling the
contents on top. Reaching beside her, her gaze fixated on him, she grasped
wildly. Her hand closed on the handle of the silver hairbrush.
She
sent it sailing at his head. He ducked, then laughed, a deep resounding echo in
his chest. He was enjoying this, the cretin. She began tossing objects at him
as fast as she could grab them.
Crystal
perfume bottle. Engraved hand mirror. Jar of face cream. Jewel encrusted comb.
Her wedding wreath. They all went careening past him.
He
dodged each item, stealthy edging nearer. The floor was littered with broken
glass, petals and leaves, globs of cream, and a puddle of perfume, which bathed
the room with its citrusy scent.
In
desperation, she tossed the last item, a filmy lace-edged handkerchief. A feral
grin on his lips, he watched it flutter onto the rug, then raised mocking eyes
to her.
The
damned cur. He still laughed at her.
She
frantically sought something else to throw at him. Ah, there it was. The
jeweled dagger had been beneath the handkerchief the entire time. She snatched
the blade, wielding it before her. He would gloat no more.
Ian’s
gaze dipped to the knife. The lines of laughter on his face shifted into
irritation. “Put down the blade.”
“No.”
“Vangie,
give me the knife.”
She
shook her head, daring to take a step forward, the blade tilted at a dangerous
angle. The metal glinted in the candlelight. She knew how to use it. Puri
Daj insisted upon it.
He
retreated a cautious step, his dark gaze narrowed and trained on the knife.
“I
won’t be called a lรณoverni.”
Emboldened,
she took another step his direction. No man, not even her husband, had the
right to call her a whore.
His
eyes slowly rose to meet hers, his expression unreadable. “Give it to me.”
His
lips thinned, and he extended his hand, palm upward. “I won’t ask you again.”
A
shaky laugh escaped her. “Not likely, my lord.” She angled the dagger in the
direction of the adjoining door. “Now get out.”
Multi-published
historical romance author Collette Cameron has a BS in Liberal Studies and a
Master's in Teaching. She only teaches part-time so she has time for her
greatest passion: writing. Collette’s been married for 30 years, has 3 amazing
adult children, and 5 dachshunds. Collette loves a good joke, inspirational
quotes, flowers, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate.
You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of
inspiration in her novels. Her motto for life? You can’t have too much
chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers. She’s thinking about adding
shoes to that list.
Good morning! Thanks for hosting and for the review. I appreciate both so much.
ReplyDeleteThat was a tasty teaser! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSounds awesome!!!
ReplyDelete