Review: Lady of Pleasure

Reviewed by Jen
 

A deliciously angsty hero; a heroine who is steadfast, loyal and knows her own heart. Fabulous sexual tension and a love story to pull on the heartstrings.  Simply put, this book rocked my socks off.  In her letter to readers at the before the story begins, Delilah Marvelle says the publishing industry has no place for a book like this one.  Perhaps the industry needs its head examined, because this book gave me absolutely everything I want in a historical romance.

Still need convincing?  Let me give you the setup.

Lady Caroline knew she was in love with Ronan, the Marquess of Caldwell, when she was only 13 years-old.  The dashing 24 year-old was her brother's friend, but he quickly made a special place in his life just for her.  They had a standing weekly card game for years.  They talked; they valued one another; they were friends in the truest sense of the world.  But circumstances forced Caroline to move away at 16.  She professed her love before she left, but it was clear he still saw her as a child.

Fast forward three years.  When she returns, Caroline is most definitely grown, and ready to pursue Caldwell's hand.  And when he sees her, he can't help but react as any man would to her beauty. The problem is, he doesn't want to soil the one true and good thing in his life.  He has a dark secret that keeps him from forming real relationships.  I won't spoil it, but suffice it to say, it leaves him feeling unworthy of Caroline and unwilling to pursue anything beyond friendship.  But fate and the interference of others won't let that be enough.

Ah, I loved Caldwell so.  Marvelle has constructed such a marvelous tortured hero in him.  He is so sure he isn't good enough for Caroline; so unaware of his own feelings; so... good.  And Caroline!  It would have been so easy to make her naive or weak-willed because of her age or her consuming devotion.  But she respects herself too much to be walked on; and at the same time is so unwavering and true. I loved her almost as much as I loved him.  There is great chemistry. And most importantly, I believed in their feelings for one another 100%.

My only small complaint is that Caldwell's issues resolved a little faster than I would have liked, and much of it, off page.  I would have liked to see more of his "education" at the school of gallantry, but perhaps, some of the events there happened in previous books.  I must go and read the backlist to find out. If books one and two are anywhere as good as this one, they will definitely be worth the read. I couldn't put this one down.

Rating: A- 

*ARC provided by author for review

Click to purchase: Amazon

Lady of Pleasure

by Delilah Marvelle

Release Date: March 15, 2013

Review: Forever a Lord

Reviewed by Jen
 

The more I read from Delilah Marvelle, the more I like her.  This third installment in The Rumor series was a hit for me.  Mostly because of its brawny, wounded hero, Nathaniel.  A British viscount, he was kidnapped at age 10, by a man who was wronged by Nathaniel's father.  Unfortunately, dear old dad would not bend to the kidnapper's demands, which left Nathaniel locked in a cellar for five years before being dispatched to the mean streets of New York.

Nathaniel created a new identity and a life for himself as a bare-knuckled boxer in Five Points.  But when his late sister's husband seeks him out to mend the rift with his family, it sets a chain of events in motion that brings him back across the pond.

In the meantime, Imogene dreams of setting her brother free. He's been shackled in a loveless marriage as he sinks all his money into doctors to help with her poor health.  Together, they come up with a plan to invest in a boxer to win the big championship fight. Enter Nathaniel.

The first time Gene lays eyes on Nathaniel, she is drawn in.  He is so masculine and powerful. And he feels the same attraction.  She decides she will make marriage to her, part of the investment into his training --and from there, their relationship is born.

Nathaniel is a tough nut to crack. His time in captivity did a number on him, but so did his father's betrayal, and his life on the streets.  It's hard for him to let Gene in, no matter how taken he is with her.  His issues run so deep that he can't even have sex without binding his partner. (This was the only part of the book I didn't love. --I would imagine being tied up while you lose your virginity isn't the best experience.) But he tries to protect her the best way he can. He honors her. He loves her. And eventually --he grows to trust her.  Which is when I really fell for him.

Gene is fragile in some ways, but she is strong in the ways that really count. And she is exactly what Nathaniel needs.  I really enjoyed their love story.  Well done.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Harlequin via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Forever a Lord

by Delilah Marvelle

Release Date: December 18, 2012

Publisher: HQN Books

Review: All I Want for Chrisrnas Is a Duke

Reviewed by Jen
 

This duology features two fantastic novellas, featuring historical Christmas romances.  I would absolutely recommend, since I adored them both.

"Merry Christmas, Mrs Robinson" - I really, really enjoyed this one!! Years ago, Jane fell in love with a secret admirer.  A man who called himself only Mr. X sent her beautiful letters... letters she responded to in kind.  She had no idea they were coming from Martin, a younger friend who never believed she would return his affection if she knew who she was.  When an older, dashing man came forward, claiming to be Mr. X, Jane believed him and married him.  It only took a couple of weeks for his lies to surface and for Jane to demand a divorce.  Only, her husband dropped dead before he could grant her wish.

It's been eight years since that happened.  Martin, who left town when Jane got married, is back.  And circumstances bring him back into Jane's life.  This time, however, he refuses to hide who he is and how he feels.  Can they find love after all that has happened?

This story was so good!  The characters were so engaging. It's impossible not to root for Martin as reaches for his dream of a life with Jane.  The sexual tension is palpable. The sex is hot.  And in just 100 pages or so, Delilah Marville had me completely emotionally invested in their future.  Loved.

"The 12 Days of Seduction" - The day Adrianna has long dreaded has finally come to pass.  Her employer has finally learned about her past and real identity. She had adopted a softer, more proper, persona as governess to Alexander's daughter.  The position, and the child, have come to mean the world to her.  But all is not lost. Alexander wants her as his mistress. She challenges him to seduce her and as he works to do that, he ends up peeling back the layers of Adrianna's true self she has hidden for so long.

Adrianna has worked hard to shed her horrible past, and she is a good person. I loved watching Alexander discover what a treasure she is. Just the right combination of romance and sensuality, this novella really hit the spot.

It's rare for a novella to truly satisfy for me, but both of these really did.  I was already a fan of Marvelle, but now I won't hesitate to try more from Clairmont.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by Entangled via NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

All I Want for Christmas Is a Duke

by Delilah Marvelle & Marie Claremont

Release Date: December 5, 2012

Publisher: Entangled Publishing

Review: Forever a Lady

Reviewed by Jen
 

Life has not been kind to Matthew Milton.  An unscrupulous businessman tumbled his father's newspaper into bankruptcy, pushing them into the slums of Five Points, New York.  There, an attack from a thug stole the vision from one eye and taught him a value lesson about the kind of man he would need to become in order to survive.  Matthew toughens up and forms an Irish-American gang, one that tries to protect the neighborhood, even if they have to stoop to illegal means to do it.

After a hit is put out on his life, Matthew journeys with his best friend to London, where he meets Lady Bernadette for the first time.  They are instantly drawn to one another, despite their vast difference in station. Bernadette has lived a life of pleasing others for too long. As a widow, she is now free from both her father and the old man she was forced to marry. In Matthew, she sees what she wants and she takes it.

After a night in each other's arms, Matthew knows he wants more than a fling with Bernadette.  But the odds are stacked against him.  She has no desire to marry again.  And to make matters worse, he makes a whopper of a mistake that almost ends things for good.  The story follows the ins and outs of their love affair as they return to New York and Matthew struggles to become worthy of the woman he has fallen in love with.

I liked Matthew. He was sexy and damaged, but he was solid hero material.  He always puts the needs of others before himself. Even as a ruffian, he is very good man.  Bernadette is understandably gun-shy.  Being a widow of means, she sees marriage as a trap to avoid and I can't blame her.  --Oh and did I mention she is mid-30s?  About six years older than the hero.  I loved that.  She is mature and she knows what she wants, but I didn't find her jaded.  She was still genuine and passionate despite the bindings of her earlier life.

I really felt like I witnessed a true journey in this relationship --and especially one for Matthew.  I liked that I got to see these two really fall in love over time. It felt authentic.  The sex was hot. (And pushed the envelope more than I expected.)  The plot was interesting. And the backdrop was very Gangs of New York. It was gritty and dark, especially when juxtaposed to London culture.

This is book two in The Rumor series, but works just fine as a standalone. I liked it a lot.

Rating: B+

*ARC Provided by NetGalley

Click to purchase: Amazon

Forever a Lady

by Delilah Marvelle
Release Date: July 24, 2012
Publisher: HQN Books