Book review : The Secret of the India Orchid by Nancy Campbell Allen

The Secret of the India Orchid
Regency Proper Romance series book #2
by Nancy Campbell Allen

GENRE: Regency clean romance with a hint of mystery
My rating: ★★★★☆

I have to start saying that the intriguing title is a bit misleading.
While the story unfolds in India among members of the British aristocracy, there is no actual secret surrounding an orchid. Orchids are mentioned only as beautiful local flowers, and the central mystery revolves around stolen documents.
Though a more accurate title might have been something like "The Disappeared Document", I admit the chosen title sounds certainly more exciting. Having said that, I can say that I enjoyed the book from start to finish.

___ THE PLOT IN SHORT ____
Anthony Blake is smitten with Sophia Elliot, his best friend’s sister, but his chance to pursue her is cut short when he’s pulled back into his secret life as a spy for the Crown. After a sensitive list naming British agents—including himself—is stolen, Anthony distances himself from Sophia, trading his noble reputation for the guise of a carefree playboy to keep her safe.

Heartbroken, Sophia heads to India seeking solace, only to get caught up in a tangled mystery involving a missing sea captain, a possible murder, and whispers of royal intrigue.
When Anthony arrives at the British Residency, cautious and distant, Sophia is torn.
She still loves him and believes he feels the same, but with his secrets between them, can their love survive under the scorching Indian sun?

Their story unfolds amid danger and longing, testing whether trust and love can be rebuilt from the shadows.

________________________

This novel offers a refreshing take on the romance genre, standing out as a “clean romance” where the emotional connection between the protagonists takes center stage. Unlike many novels that lean heavily on physical intimacy, this story highlights feelings and subtle emotional exchanges, creating a tender and heartfelt love story without relying on sex scenes or kisses.

What makes this novel especially compelling is its clever blend of romance and murder mystery.
The plot skillfully balances the blossoming relationship of the two main characters with the suspense and intrigue of a whodunit, keeping readers engaged on multiple levels.

___ MAIN CHARACTERS _____
Anthony and Sophia possess a rare blend of charm and intelligence, their moral compasses unwavering.
They are not merely characters, but souls yearning to rekindle a love threatened by circumstance and deception. Their earnest desire to rebuild what was broken is deeply compelling, making it remarkably easy to become invested in their individual journeys and, more importantly, in the fate of their intertwined hearts.
One cannot help but be drawn to their noble spirits and the palpable hope they carry for a future together, a future you desperately want them to achieve.

___ SIDE CHARACTERS ____
Beyond the leads, the story also weaves in the lives of several supporting characters, exploring their private stories, hopes, fears, and dreams. While these side plots are treated with a lighter touch, they add depth and texture to the narrative, enriching the overall reading experience. One of Allen’s strengths lies in her emotional portrayal of characters. Each individual, from main to minor roles, is vividly brought to life through their feelings and inner conflicts. Interestingly, physical descriptions are minimal; the author simply notes that the young characters are beautiful and charming, letting their personalities and emotions paint the true picture.

The writing style is fluid and easy to read, which allows readers to fully enjoy both the suspenseful and joyful moments of the story.

The plot is well thought out and consistent, making the novel a strong candidate for a family-friendly film adaptation suitable for both adults and children. The pacing is excellent, gradually building tension until about 75% through the book, when the action reaches a thrilling peak. A daring, time-sensitive sequence followed by a heart-pounding climax fills the final part of the story with intense emotion.

___ WHY I DIDN'T RATE IT 5 FULL STARS ___
Overall, I found myself fully engaged from beginning to end.
That said, I would have appreciated some sensual, well-described kisses.
Many “clean” romances compensate for the absence of sex scenes with moments of charged closeness—a lingering touch, a meaningful look—that create palpable sexual tension.
This subtle intimacy was something I missed in The Secret of the India Orchid.

___ IS IT READABLE AS A STANDALONE ? ___
Yes, the book is readable as a standalone novel, even though the main couple first appeared as side characters in book 1 of her “Proper Regency Romance” series.

I also enjoyed that first book, despite some reviewers pointing out inaccuracies regarding the aristocratic rules of the Regency era. Not being an expert myself, I found the story well written and captivating.

It’s a shame the series only comprises two books because The Secret of the India Orchid lays a solid foundation and introduces characters ripe for at least three more installments.

___ RECOMMENDED TO ____
For readers seeking a Regency-era romance infused with mystery, adventure, and heartfelt sentiment—but without explicit physical scenes—this book comes highly recommended.
----> However, those who crave romances filled with passionate kisses and steamy encounters may want to look elsewhere.

If you would like to read my review about BOOK #1 inthe series: just click down below:

BOOK #1 "My Fair Gentleman"

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my point of view. I hope it will be useful for your next reading choice :-)

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Book review : My Fair Gentleman by Nancy Campbell Allen

My Fair Gentleman
Regency Proper Romance series book #1
by Nancy Campbell Allen

GENRE: Regency clean romance
My rating: ★★★★★

I loved it !

Engaging read from start to finish.
Not suitable for readers who prefer romance novels with passionate kisses and strong sexual tension.

This is a sweet and funny novel set in the Regency era, with a plot different from the usual (already read a thousand times) and far from the clichés of frivolous Regency romances.

____ PLOT IN SHORT ____

Set in England during the Regency era, the story follows Jack, the grandson of the Earl of Stansworth. However, Jack was raised in poverty because his father was disinherited for marrying a commoner.
His father died from the hardships of working in the port, leaving behind a wife and two children. Jack began working at just twelve years old to support his mother and sister, and now that he has a stable job, he's on the verge of being promoted to captain.
However, when the Earl is dying, and wishes to avoid leaving his inheritance to an inept nephew, he sends for Jack.

Jack is uninterested in the world of the aristocracy and despises it, just as he despises his grandfather. However, for the sake of his mother, whose health is precarious, and his sister, who is a mistreated maid in the homes of nobles, he accepts becoming the heir. To do this, he must be educated in the ways of high society.

Ivy Carlisle, the granddaughter of a lady friend of Jack's grandmother, is hired as a tutor to help transform Jack into a gentleman.
This might seem like a daunting but doable task, if Jack weren't prejudiced against the aristocracy, sometimes letting his rebellious nature get the better of him... However, Ivy also suffers from a secret and is aware of the injustices to which the noble world inevitably condemns others.
Spending so much time with a handsome, passionate, and heartfelt man can only transport her into a world of feeling, one she previously considered improbable and foolish.

_________ ********** _______

The title and Goodreads introduction to the general plot, may suggest something like "My Fair Lady" musical comedy drama (based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 stage play Pygmalion), but it's misleading.
Here, we don't have a rude boy, and there are no strange or extreme teaching methods.

It's a clean romance where the plot focuses more on substantive content that solidifies the story, rather than on explicit kisses and physical sensations.

I won't deny that I would have liked a longer and warmer description of the kisses (only two or three in the book), but the mix of drama, light-heartedness, and fun was so well-balanced, and the plot was so compelling that I have no choice but to give it a full five stars.


___ THE CHARACTERS ___

The characters are wonderful and emotionally well-developed.
Except for the hateful grandfather and the cousin eager to inherit (equally hateful and slimy, as is his wife), the two main characters, their family, and new friends have all won my affection and sympathy.

JACK: He is a young man, confident but with a raw wound from witnessing his family's rejection and abandonment by his cold grandfather.
He grew up working hard, yet his tenderness for his mother and sister is unmatched. While he initially judges Ivy as a snob, his sensitivity allows him to understand her fears and encourages her to find the courage to live that great love.

What I appreciated in Jack is that he didn't take his newfound fortune for granted. He generously worked to provide well-paid jobs to a new friend and to the staff, improving the well-being of those who suffered because of others' greed.

IVY: If at first glance she seems a little presumptuous, even to the reader, that feeling quickly disappears.
Ivy takes her commitment seriously, and despite educating three people who have lived in squalor (Jack, his mother, and his sister), she never judges from a pedestal. Her innate goodness allows her, through getting to know these people deeply, to view her own fortunes and misfortunes differently and to accept certain parts of her life with serenity and without shame.

Ivy's GRANDMOTHER is sweet and loving, but also intelligent and modern.

Jack's MOTHER is sweet and was strong enough to raise two children alone after being widowed and abandoned. Now, however, she is fragile, both in health and when faced with this new world of rich and haughty people. Luckily, Ivy and her grandmother know how to help her.

Jack's SISTER, Sophia, suffered not only from hunger but also from the vulgar advances of her employers and the envy and wickedness of the wives and other women in the houses where she worked due to her great beauty. Sophia is proud, intelligent, and ready to fight anyone who challenges her, but she also has a big heart, like her brother, and she finds fantastic ideas for using her new wealth, also involving her new best friend.

DYLAN: A noble, charming man about to inherit great wealth, he detests convention and acts according to his heart and mind. He is a true friend to Jack and the protagonist of the next book in the series, along with the beautiful Sophia.

CLARENCE FUDDLESTON: The old Earl's solicitor, then Jack's right-hand man and new good friend. I loved him too!


___ LOVE STORY ___

It's a slow-burn romance, well-developed through lively and plausible dialogues.
There's never a dull moment; on the contrary, the reader can fully enjoy the unfolding romance of Jack and Ivy.

They didn't know each other before, and despite Jack's aversion to society and its habits, he respects Ivy, so it's not an enemies-to-lovers story.
They simply confront the fears that every lover has when they realize how immense a feeling of love can be and how equally immense the pain can be in losing that person.

Despite the absence of explicit love scenes and in-depth descriptions of kisses, I felt the passion and the desire to live that feeling to the fullest by the two main characters.

There is no shortage of moments of suspense and twists that keep the pages turning. A little mystery and good deeds enrich the overall plot.

The writing style is fluid, making the reading light, fun, and full of deep emotion.
It was a satisfying read from start to finish!
I remember when I was at work, I would often stop to think: "I can't wait to finish so I can get back to reading that story!"

READABLE AS A STANDALONE: No unresolved plot points and a happy ending guaranteed.

This is my first time reading something by Nancy Campbell Allen, and I loved her ability to write a story, going into great detail without ever being boring.
I am ready to read book 2 of the series, featuring two supporting characters from this story! 😃

Thanks for stopping by and reading my review.

Read also my review about BOOK #2 inthe series: just click down below:

BOOK #2 "The Secret of the India Orchid"

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Book review : Her Gentleman Thief by Robyn DeHart

Her Gentleman Thief
by Robyn DeHart

GENRE: Regency clean romance
My rating: ★★★★★

A delightful Regency novella of only about 30 pages! :-)

It's a proper romance, with no explicit scenes but a strong love connection and a completely satisfying ending.

____ IN A NUTSHELL ____
Annalise Petty is on her way to her wedding with her sister and maid when a highwayman holds up their carriage.
To protect her sister's reputation and to escape her impending marriage to a man she finds boring and solely interested in her land, she asks the highwayman to take her with him.

Griffin Hartwell, Viscount Benning, never imagined that playing the highwayman would bring him face-to-face with his own fiancée. Once alone, Griffin seizes the opportunity to show Annalise just how passionate he can be. But will his charade ruin their chance at a forever love? _________________________________

It's often difficult to find short stories, whether romance or mystery, that are truly satisfying, especially those that can be read in an hour or less.

And yet this story is adorable, very sweet with a hint of spice.

Although there isn't much time to properly get to know the characters, I still managed to become quite attached to them.

I can't say much more without revealing spoilers, except that Griffin, the MALE CHARACTER, was very sweet and utterly adorable. He embodies the role of a gentleman perfectly, yet he can also be adventurous, which I adored.

I like Annalise, the HEROINE, too. She isn't the classic beauty society requires, but she isn't envious of her sister; on the contrary, she is generous and protective, and she tends to act outspokenly.

With her brown hair and generous curves, she is beautiful in Griffin's eyes. Her indomitable and intelligent character is something that appeals to passionate men like him.

You'll have to read the rest of the story for yourself!

Suffice it to say that this intriguing, wonderful read left me wanting to read other stories or books by this author.

As always, thanks for stopping by and reading my review.
Wishing you all a happy Sunday !

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Book review : Unrequited by Martha Keyes

Unrequited
The Donovans #0.5
by Martha Keyes

GENRE: Regency clean romance
My rating: ★★★★★
full 5-star rating !!!!!!!

A wonderful and sweet, clean romance!

It's a short and light read, but with great intensity and is very engaging from start to finish.
This is the second time I've read a novel by Martha Keyes, and it's the second time I've given it a five-star rating.
I kept dreaming about the story and its characters for many days after finishing the book.

I loved it because, even though at first glance the plot might seem unoriginal, or even like the usual banal Regency love story, this short novel stands out from the rest.
There's no bickering or spite between lovers who then resolve their issues and have a happy ending, starting a life of comfort and privilege, as you might expect after reading the synopsis.

____ WHAT THE SYNOPSIS TELLS US: England, after the end of the war against Napoleon.
Elena MacKinnon has spent the last seven years training to become a proper English lady. When her childhood friend, Captain Theo Donovan, returns from serving in the Navy, he brings with him the memory of Elena’s humiliation: the ill-advised and ardent love letter she wrote him before his departure, which he ignored entirely.
Elena hopes to simultaneously suppress his memory of the letter and make him regret overlooking her, showing him just how refined an English lady she can be.
The only problem? She is not English, but a proud Scot—and her heart may be more enamored with Theo than ever.

_________*********__________*********________

As I already said the story doesn't include the bickering and foolish revenge that the back cover implies.
Elena only intends to seek revenge in the first few pages of the book, knowing that her childhood love is about to return from the war (now over) after having ignored her and made her suffer for seven long years.
As we all know, things rarely go according to plan, and both Elena and Theo find themselves in situations where it's difficult to understand what is real and what only appears to be.

The general plot summary on the back cover doesn't do the novel justice. It's misleading and suggests a story of little intensity, offering, at most, a few comic situations.

The reading is light and very pleasant, but the story also conveys deep feelings.
It subtly addresses serious themes such as the conflict between appearance and reality, the struggle for self-acceptance, and society's often unfair expectations, trapping individuals within rigid and unjust rules.

___ THE MAIN CHARACTER: ELENA ___ I would argue there's only one main character in this narrative: Elena, who tells us the whole story in the first person. Everything revolves around her feelings, assumptions, considerations, and thoughts. We get to know the other characters, including her beloved Theo, through her words and the lively dialogue.

____ EXCELLENT FIRST-PERSON NARRATION ___ Even though the events are told from her point of view, I assure you it's not boring at all; on the contrary, it's very captivating.

I really like first-person narration. In fact, when it's done well, I find it more engaging than third-person stories because it gives me the impression of hearing the confidences of a friend, allowing me to be more involved in the character's emotions.
Of course, the writer must skillfully insert surprising scenes and effectively convey the character's excitement, anticipation, passion, fear, happiness, and other emotional involvements to the reader.
It's not easy at all, but Martha Keyes excels at this. She has an exceptional writing style and makes you feel every little thrill and heartbeat of her characters.

___ THE MAIN CHARACTER'S BELOVED: THEO _____ Through Elena's keen observations and thoughtful reflections, we are able to discern, along with her, the emotions of the other characters, especially the fascinating and enigmatic Theo.
He is a complex character who is difficult to judge at first (and here we see the author's skill in leading us to make at least three or four different conjectures).
Despite the brevity of the novel, he gradually reveals himself to the reader. He pleasantly surprised me and made me read voraciously to discover new developments.

___ SIDE CHARACTERS ___ Each of them plays a relatively small role, which is understandable in such a short novel, but I was still satisfied with how the author managed to bring out the essence of each, providing us with a complete and gratifying picture of the situation and the dynamics of the events.

___ FULFILLING HAPPY ENDING ___ Martha Keyes surprised me even with the ending, which is quite original and different from the usual happy endings.

___ AN UNDERLYING THEME, HIDDEN BETWEEN THE LINES ___ What I appreciate in some novels are the serious themes that are addressed while entertaining us.
The underlying theme of this book is the acceptance of oneself – embracing who you are and your origins – without conforming to the rigid rules imposed by society. These rules, based on prejudices, dictate who is worthy and who is not, who is better and who is worse. This theme remains relevant in every era, even today, despite the ongoing battles fought in the name of equality and respect for all.

Elena is Scottish, and therefore her accent is not favored by the English. She grew up with a certain freedom of expression, running in nature and interacting with commoners.
While, initially, we observe her efforts to please society and Theo, and Theo's efforts to fulfill a parent's dream, we see these two caterpillars transform into butterflies and fly with their own colors during the story.
I really liked it!

____ CONCLUSION ___ In summary, this is a clean romance with just kissing, and with characters and an ending that are a little different from the usual clichés.
A pleasant read that I recommend to all romantic and dreamy readers who aren't necessarily looking for hot sex, alpha males, and scandals.

----> SUITABLE FOR ALL AGES !

Thank you for reading my review. I hope you'll enjoy the book as much as I did.
Please forgive any remaining English grammar errors, as English is not my first language.

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Book review : The Heiress Who Dared Me by Charlie Lane

The Heiress Who Dared Me: A Christmas novella
The Debutante Dares Book 8
by Charlie Lane
GENRE : #Regency-romance #Christmas-short-story

My rating: ★★★★★

5 FULL STARS WELL DESERVED!! :-D

A delightful read from start to finish !!!!

____ HERE THE PLOT IN SHORT___ Regency era, England.
A London heiress, Lady Georgiana Hunt, and the younger brother of an heir to the Earldom, Josiah Evans, meet at his family's party.

She is beautiful and he is enchanted by watching her while she eats a cake in a very sensual way.
Unfortunately Lady Georgiana is very bitter towards every man, she was taught by the aunt who raised her that suitors only chase her money and that it is better to keep it all away.

For his part, Josiah, although aristocrats usually don't work, has decided to dedicate himself to managing the lands that will be inherited by his brother and building every possible improvement for the villagers... therefore, he doesn't have time for a possible wife.

So when she addresses him harshly, he is not offended and responds in an ironic but also friendly and kind manner.
Georgiana, taken aback, laughs and as they continue to chat, teasing each other with irony, they lay the foundations for a solid friendship.
However, they don't see each other for a year and only in the following December will they meet again and make a pact: a sincere friendship through which they will make everyone believe they are courting each other, in this way she will be free from gold hunters and he from mothers, which will feature daughters looking for husbands.

******--------******

What follows is a nice and sweet story of friendship that slowly turns into love.

----> The FIRST PART of the novel could be defined as a CLEAN ROMANCE,
---> while in the SECOND PART there are more daring scenes and a LOVEMAKING SCENE, very sensual but NEVER ANYTHING VULGAR and that's one of the reason I really liked the story ( in fact I hate scenes that tell all the details of sex, mechanically without leaving room for emotions and true romance, turning only into a vulgar chronicle)

Another reason I like reading this little book:
Josiah and Gerogiana's relationship evolves progressively from friendship to love and every kiss and every love scene is described in the right way to make the reader dream.
Nothing too saccharine or far-fetched, on the contrary: every situation and every word is completely plausible even in reality.

The passion that slowly envelops them and the small jealousy that at a certain point touches Georgiana is completely normal in every person in love.

I hate when falling in love is described in a ridiculous way as if the couple has seen nothing else on this planet (the romance I read previously was like this and it was ridiculous!), I hate the ultra-possessive and jealous hero who takes it out on anyone who looks at the heroine.

I LOVED THIS ROMANCE BECAUSE THE CHARACTERS ARE NICE, SENSITIVE AND INTELLIGENT!!!

Yes, I really liked this couple!
Although it is not a long novel, the author was very good at making us get to know the characters in depth through dialogues and their small spontaneous gestures dictated by the heart.

OUR HEROINE : Lady Georgiana may seem cold at first sight, but in reality she hides the soul of a child wounded by her family and she's in need of sincere affection and to experience holidays and entertainment like any other person surrounded by a real family.

OUR HERO : Josiah is a good guy, willing, generous and enterprising, this can be seen immediately.
What prevents him from dedicating himself to the search for his own happiness is his sense of duty and the awareness that he loves living in the countryside and dedicating himself to work while Lady Georgiana is a city girl accustomed to every luxury and comfort.

Sometimes, however, it is enough to share small joys to understand that reaching compromises to enjoy happiness is not so impossible.

___SIDE CHARACTERS __
In the story we find other family characters, some of whom are protagonists in previous books, but this novella CAN ALSO BE READ AS A STANDALONE and I assure you that you will equally enjoy it.

The author's cunning was to complete the scenes with supporting characters, but without making them too intrusive in the story, so that the few pages available could give enough space to delve deeper into the protagonist couple and their feelings (doubts, hopes , old memories, dreams for the future and of course a new feeling that transports them more and more towards each other).

__CONCLUSION ___
Recommended for all those who love sweet and fun romances with a guaranteed happy ending.

This is the first time I've read a Charlie Lane romance and I'll happily read many more.

Thanks for reading my opinion, I hope it can be useful.
Please forgive any errors you may find in my text, I'm from Italy and English isn't my native language.

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Book review : Confessions of a Dangerous Lord by Elisa Braden

Confessions of a Dangerous Lord
Rescued from Ruin series book #6
by Elisa Braden
GENRE : #Regency-mystery-romance

My rating: ★★★★☆
Real rating : 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

A regency mystery-romance, book #6 in a family saga, but perfectly readable as a standalone.

I rate the mystery part with 4 stars and while many readers who are passionate about regency romance would also be happy with the romantic part (lots of spicy kisses and hot sex scenes) I only rate it with 2.5 stars because it bored me to read continuously: "she loves him" ", "he loves her", "she needed his lips and tongue" etc... and how much they both were aroused by each other and to see them having sex everywhere.
My personal opinion: too much is unbearable !

__ THE PLOT IN SHORT __ Regency England.
Henry Thorpe, Earl of Dunston and Lady Maureen Huxley have been in love with each other for two years, but while she has openly declared herself, he remains ambiguous and plays the role of best friend, always joking and frivolous and not at all interested in marrying her.

Maureen is therefore on the hunt for a husband, but internally she continues to yearn for Henry.
Henry suffers because he cannot declare his love due to his secret life: he has been hunting his father's killer for 10 long years. A perverse and dangerous killer, who would surely harm Maureen just to get revenge on Henry.

However, love is too strong and at a certain point telling the truth becomes necessary.
Happiness is one step away but Maureen's whole world is turned upside down and everything is at stake: their love, their life and that of the people around them...

-------------****-------------

The book started out as a real mystery and I loved it straight away.
Action, murder, mystery, false identities, unstoppable good guys and elusive bad guys... Everything involved me so much that I was super excited.
Being a romance novel, I thought I would rate it 5 stars.
I love the suspense of mystery combined with the sweet emotions of romance.

The romantic past started in a fun and cute way, but then in my opinion it went on too long with Maureen's insistence... I can't stand it when women persistently run after men who don't want them (in reality he wanted her , but she doesn't know it and I don't like her way).

---> The first 50% of the book starts with action and mystery, but then the story focuses on romance.
Unlike other novels, here there is no part dedicated to conquest, because the two main characters are already mutually in love.
---> There are spicy kisses and hot scenes that last many pages, but the writer's style failed to excite me, on the contrary the continuous declaration of their love and their desire to have sex tired me.

At one point I was so tired of this saccharine, sex-hungry couple that I decided to abandon the book. I was already at 50%.

Two days later I decided to continue reading to the end:
----> luckily the second 50% of the book is mostly dedicated to the mystery, Henry's secrets, the new reality that Maureen finds herself facing and the action and discovery of new shocking truths.

---->You romantics and those eager for sex, don't worry, you will also have a good dose of sensual love-making in the second 50%.

In the book we met two interesting male characters who will be protagonists in the books following this one in the series.
Part of me would have liked to read them, but I find the author's style unbearable as far as the romantic part is concerned: everything is over-emphasized: Henry's jealousy, his desire to kill anyone who harms a hair of his wife's hair, Maureen's adoration for him, their mutual desire for sex even in the most unexpected and delicate moments when there are other important things at stake... and then certain Americanisms in the books set in the Regency era in England are unbearable.

I'm happy I managed to get to the end of the book, but I won't read the others in the series because it's not for me (I've been reading mysteries all my life, despising romances, only 2 years ago I started to appreciate reading them), but I recommend it warmly to all the passionate lovers of regency romances.

Thanks for reading my opinion and please forgive any errors in my text since English is not my language.

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Book review : Once Upon A Wallflower by Wendy Lyn Watson

Once Upon A Wallflower
by Wendy Lyn Watson
GENRE : #regency-gothic-romance

My rating: ★★★★★
5 FULL STARS !! :-D

I LOVED IT FROM THE VERY FIRST PAGE TO THE LAST ONE !!!!!!!!!!
5 full stars well deserved!!

If you like love stories set in the Regency era with an undercurrent of suspense and mystery, then this book is a suitable read for you.

__ THE PLOT __ London.
Mirabelle Fitzhenry was betrothed, by her uncle, her guardian, to Nicholas, Viscount Ashfield, not a lover of society, considered by all to be strange, dark and believed responsible for the death of 3 young women.

So why did "Mira"'s uncle (as she is called by everyone) do this? Simply to honor a gambling debt and by making Nicholas' father, the famous libertine Lord Blackwell, believe that the bride was his beautiful daughter, also named Mirabelle Fitzhenry, but called "Belle" by everyone.

Mira is not too worried because she thinks that as soon as the viscount and her father realize that it is the wrong Mirabelle, they will back off and not accept the marriage. In fact, Mira has never had a season, she is not fashionable, she is not devoid of curves as the current fashion requires and she has red hair.

Nicholas Ashfield is not interested in getting married to a blond goose with ribbons (this is the Mirabelle he believes he should marry) and thinks that she will back down because she is scared of his height, grandeur and above all of the chatter that considers him a killer.

Actually, when Nicholas and Mira meet for the first time, they immediately like each other not only physically, but also because they spend a little time together, complicity is created and both decide to wait to let the other escape.
But there are unsolved murders that complicate the situation and Mira decides to find out who the real culprit is.

For his part, Nicholas is attracted to Mira, a spontaneous courtship ensues with sweet and passionate kisses, he wishes to marry her, but remains ambiguous regarding the murders and the possibility of investigating... He is truly innocent as Mira's instincts initially tell her ? Should she follow her heart or logic?

As things become more complicated and dangerous, the truth becomes confused with the killer's cunning machinations and the passionate love that is being born between Nicholas and Mira risks being destroyed before it can blossom openly in the sunlight.
______________

The story is well written, the part is narrated in the third person and the dialogues change in a pleasant way and the reading is always smooth.
I never encountered a dull moment, and while I longed to find out more about the mystery I enjoyed the moments of sensual romance with which Nicholas slowly won Mira's heart.

___ ROMANCE & MYSTERY ___ Both elements are well developed by the author and I felt engaged by the story from start to end.
The sexual tension and the longing that Nicholas and Mira feel for one another is palpable, just as the suspense and hypotheses about who the real culprit could be will make you turn the pages faster and faster.

THE TWO MAIN CHARACTERS are both, even if for different reasons, outcasts from aristocratic society, but this is not the only thing they have in common, they find in each other sensitivity of soul, spontaneity and a tenderness that until then had been missed to them.
They also like each other physically and the chemistry is perfect, despite the odds to the contrary, they are made for each other.

CARESSES, KISSES AND LOVEMAKING:
Barely touched kisses, passionate kisses, languid caresses, intense looks, whispered words and a long making-love scene (but clean and without anything vulgar) are expertly distributed throughout the course of the story and in my opinion this makes reading more enjoyable for those who want to read a love story.

INVESTIGATION _ Basically the story is a romance and Mira is not an investigator, so her questions and research are not those of an amateur detective that we usually find in "whodunits", but there are still many clues, phrases, attitudes and sudden discoveries that they will divert your hypotheses.
When you'll understand who the culprit is, you will probably be 70% of the way through the book (even if my suspicions had already begun before), however the author is good at making you doubt your hypotheses so much so that at a certain point, perhaps for a short while, for a very brief moment, you will wonder if Nicholas is really innocent (he is the protagonist and therefore we readers already know that he is innocent, but how often do unexpected twists happen in films???)
But don't panic, happy ending guaranteed.

I already miss this couple that I liked so much, it's really a shame that the author hasn't written other historical-suspense-romances, I like her style !

Thank you for reading my opinion and sorry for any English error in my text, it is not my native language.

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Book review : The Smuggler's Escape by Barbara Monajem

The Smuggler's Escape
Perilous Secrets book #1
by Barbara Monajem
My rating: ★★★☆☆

I'm giving it 3 stars which may seem like a good enough rating, but it isn't becauseactually it must be read as 2.5

____ THE PLOT ____ THE BACK COVER READS:
1795, England. After escaping the guillotine, Noelle de Vallon takes refuge with her aunt in England. Determined to make her own way, she joins the local smugglers, but when their plans are uncovered, Richard, Lord Boltwood steps out of the shadows to save her. Too bad he’s the last man on earth she ever wanted to see again.

Years ago, Richard Boltwood’s plan to marry Noelle was foiled when his ruthless father shipped him to the Continent to work in espionage. But with the old man at death’s door, Richard returns to England with one final mission: to catch a spy. And Noelle is the prime suspect.

Noelle needs Richard’s help, but how can she ever trust the man who abandoned her? And how can Richard catch the real culprit while protecting the woman who stole his heart and won’t forgive him for breaking hers?

_____________________________

Reading this "romance" novel was like eating soup with a beautiful appearance, but a bland taste: the cover and the plot allowed us to imagine romance and passionate love between dangers and adventure.
None of this!
It could have been a nice novel full of adventures, feelings and some hot and sensual scenes... but instead it's just a jumble with a lot of annoying repetitions, no exciting adventure/action, no romance, but just thoughts constantly turning to sex and two protagonists who consider it "fun" to argue and insult each other, chemistry between the two perceived by the reader =0

The dialogues are mostly witty and this occasionally gave me hope that the plot could become more engaging and interesting, but there would also have been depth of feeling...
Unfortunately, the author thought she would attract more fans by focusing the entire book on the constant thought of sex and lust.
The author thought that to make the book romantic it was enough to write a couple of times that the hero "wanted to protect his beloved from hanging at any cost" (adding then that she was his and only his and he wanted her back in his bed).
... Too bad.
I have no doubt that there are readers who probably enjoy this type of romance (Seriously? This is a romance book??? yuck!).
I, on the other hand, am the classic type of person who appreciates hot and sensual scenes, but hates vulgar ones and definitely needs to read about true romance made up of deep feelings.
Yes, I'm the classic type of person who labels these types of novels as: rubbish!

The basic idea wouldn't be bad, but there are several concepts that are too repetitive, a lot of confusion and the story is more developed towards superficiality than interesting and engaging content.

In the introduction the author says that she wrote it when she was very young and then rewrote it as an adult and published it.

My thoughts: you can see that she wrote it at a very young age when she was still inexperienced. It doesn't look like he rewrote it...it looks like he edited it and changed it a little here and there but in my opinion she didn't do a good job.


__ THE 2 MAIN CHARACTERS ____ :
The main characters do nothing but argue and suspect each other, as well as feeling strongly sexually attracted to each other, recalling their sexual experience that occurred 2 and a half years earlier.

The LOVERS--> to ENEMIES--> to LOVERS cliché is nice to read if well developed and a little spice in a relationship has always made things more exciting.
BUT IN THIS BOOK it is really tiring to read the accusations that the two make towards each other without explaining the reasons for their wrong actions...SO UNTIL THE VERY LAST PAGES OF THE BOOK

The thing that I didn't like even more is that both are aristocrats but behave in a slutty and vulgar way and both (especially him) consider the love relationship fun only with insults and sex (but what was the author thinking about when she decided to publish this book ????? )


___ ADVENTURE/ACTIONS ___
So...in addition to the adventure-inspiring cover, the story goes that "our hero" worked as a British spy and is now working on one last task and "our heroine" turns to smuggling.
All the adventure and action there is is moving barrels from one place to another, continuously throughout the length of the book.
Is this a spoiler? No, but if it were I tell you: save your time for better novels!

___REPETITIONS___ :
"his disastrous plan", "bed", "he will make you very happy in bed" and "lust" are repeated over and over again.
Already 25% of the way through the book, I assure you that you will be fed up with reading these sentences/words.

___ KISSING AND LOVEMAKING ___
The thought of past kisses and the sex had by the two protagonists are two other repetitions that we find from the beginning to the end of the book.

----> The kisses stolen during the story have nothing sensual or exciting and the scene in which he kisses her, WARNING SPOILER ___ ___ gropes her and partially undresses her in the courtyard in the middle of the afternoon with people nearby, I honestly didn't like it.
It gave me no emotions and I didn't like it, not because I'm a bigot, which I'm not, but because the male character had no regard for her lover's reputation, but only thought about satisfying "his cravings" SPOILER END ___ ___

---> But the vulgarity doesn't end there, the sex scene WARNING SPOILER ___ ___ is carried out by the two main characters to escape arrest (and in the meantime they have the excuse to do what they wanted to do from the beginning of the book): it takes place in the room of an inn, knowing that the excisemen would enter and when they enter "our hero" talks to the excisemen while the sexual act continues and while she's keeping moaning because she is reaching orgasm " SPOILER END ___ ___, what a disgusting novel, it made me vomit.

__ THE SIDE CHARACTERS __
None worthy of note. A set of characters who pop up like mushrooms, here and there in the book, say a couple of lines (mostly rude) and then disappear into thin air, without really having a role in the story.
As I said, the book is a hotchpotch.

_____________________________

In the introduction the author even praises herself by saying that in her initial youth novel there was a lot of good material... yes maybe there was, but dear author, you should have developed the plot by putting a little more heart into it, instead of focusing on lust to sell more copies.

In my opinion the book lacks quality (wow, sometimes I can be a bitch, but I'm tired of being understanding in my reviews, after all, books are costing money!)

Thanks for reading my rant and my opinion on the book. English is not my native language, so please forgive me if you find errors of form or grammar in my text.

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Book review : Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas

Devil in Winter
Wallflowers Book 3
by Lisa Kleypas
My rating: ★★★★★
5 FULL STARS !! :-D

Gosh!   Definitely not my usual reading   ...this really took me by surprise since I didn't know what kind of romance writer Lisa Kleypas is. 

You know, I just chose something romantic having many enthusiastic reviews, without the faintest idea about the kind of romance.
It's a well written story with hot and sensual scenes, where I won't tell you what is or isn't there... because the author has been generous in all the descriptions!
... And it's definitely suitable for adults.

--------> But that's not why I gave it 5 stars: 
it's because in addition to the theme on which the book "seems" to mainly focus, i.e. the hot and sexy intimate scenes, the author was good at inserting other emotional elements and parallel plots, which are intertwined with the love story of the two main characters.

---> I am not an expert of romance and in particular not of those with explicit sex scenes, which I usually discard, but according to my tastes, a love story becomes engaging and truly pleasant to read if the reader is also involved in other events and situations.
Some that constantly keep him/her on the razor's edge, piquing his/her curiosity and leading him/her to make suppositions and conjectures, to hope for one solution or another and to keep on turning the page by the desire to know what will happen the next moment. 

---> Here the author has been completely successful in keeping alive the interest of a reader, me, who usually rejects this type of reading!

_____ THE PLOT____ London, 1843.
Desperate to escape her scheming relatives, Evangeline Jenner, a 23-year-old spinster desperately trying to escape her abusive relatives, who want to rob her of her future inheritance by marrying her to their slimy and stupid son, finds the only possible solution in proposing herself in wife to London's most infamous scoundrel: Viscount Sebastian St. Vincent, a thirty-year-old womanizer whose father has squandered his entire fortune.
The advantage for her is to escape family members who mistreat her and keep her prisoner, the advantage for him is that he will be rich again and will be able to satisfy his father's creditors.
To get married immediately they must reach the village of Gretna Green, Scotland, famous for the marriages of couples who do not have their parents' permission.
She sets the condition that she will only give herself to him on her wedding night (to validate the marriage which would otherwise be considered null), then she will dedicate herself to the care of her dying father, who had left her as a child and she will be independent with her part of the money.
He happily accepts the condition posed by her, because spending more than one night with the same woman bores him to death.
So they leave that same night and together with the journey their life adventure also begins...
But is Sebastian really the rake he seems or does he, after all, have a heart too? And will Evangeline, Evie to her friends, be able to keep at a distance a man she's really falling in love with ?
_____________________

MY THOUGHTS WHILE I WAS READING :
--> Usually clean romance plots follow more or less these stages:
meeting between hero and heroine + dislike and/or adversity + overcoming problems + first kiss + other problems ( other kisses ) + definitive solution + finally sweet and intimate moment between the main characters + they lived happily ever after.

--> Well, this novel begins with the meeting of Sebastian and Evie who already know each other superficially (they met in the previous books of the series).
+ they make an agreement and a journey together follows. We do not have a classic courtship but the story of the journey is so beautiful and sweet to read, which can be equivalent to the courtship in which the protagonists begin to become familiar with each other.
+ The wedding ( so fun scene and I confess that I was also nervous for fear that one of the "villains" would stop it.)
+ Everything is ok and we have "a whole chapter" about their wonderful wedding night that WILL NOT DISAPPOINT any of the romantic readers 😉

So far we are at 25% through the book and my thought was: WHAT NOW? I HAVE ALREADY READ EVERYTHING THAT USUALLY TAKES PLACE IN THE SPACE OF AN ENTIRE BOOK...

I really feared that the book would continue with a succession of skirmishes and intimate scenes until I felt nauseated...

...BUT HERE COMES THE BOMB :
While I expected that the problems would come from asshole family members or that Sebastian was really the scoundrel bastard that he himself and his bad reputation proclaimed, she is the one who creates problems with her stubbornness and one-sided decisions.

-----> In addition to the disagreement between the two spouses, new dynamics enter the plot, altogether with painful events, new unexpected challenges, moments of action and new characters, who will have a very important role in the course of events.

----> Furthermore, every time it seems that a certain difficulty is about to be overcome by smoothing the path of the two young, a new emotional element comes into play and it revolutionizes the plans of our heroes once again.

---> In all this whirlwind of events, not only the great attraction that Sebastian and Evie feel for each other and their mutual desire are highlighted, but also the deep feeling that is being created thanks to the mutual support they give each other in overcoming critical moments ( in which sometimes their very lives are at risk).

CHARACTERS: THE COUPLE __ I liked both characters, although I must admit that for 5 minutes, I found her a bit hypocritical, too stubborn and too whiny, luckily she then redeemed herself...I'll explain better below.

___ SEBASTIAN and the subplot that makes his personality interesting:
from the story emerges his nature was not as selfish and contemptuous as it seems from the previous books... Basically the young man's nature was good, but having lost, at very young age, his mother and his loving sisters, he had grown up in a superficial way with a selfish and spendthrift father, certainly not the best of examples. The great beauty he possessed led women to throw themselves at his feet, resulting in great self-confidence, arrogance and boredom.
By reading the story WE REALIZE THAT THE CAUSE OF THIS WAY OF DOING IS THE LACK OF A PURPOSE, OF SOMETHING TO DEDICATE TO AND OF A GOAL TO REACH.

Evie's arrival ( a "wallflower" who is not only more beautiful than he had previously noticed, but also turns out to be much sharper and more intelligent than he supposed ) combined with her need for protection and the problems related to her father's work her, trigger a process that manages to bring out from Sebastian his true value and skills.

His respect and esteem for her arises immediately and this changes the balance between them.
He immediately offers her the needed help and so he discovers that in dedicating himself to someone and something he finds the satisfaction and fulfillment that he previously lacked.

If on the one hand he is gratified by all this, the change scares him very much.
He feels vulnerable for the first time, because now he feels that "his well-being depends on someone else's happiness".
---> Being selfish and self-centered is ultimately much easier.
LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING, and even though he behaves like a lovely husband, he refuses to admit that he feels himself in love.
The care that Sebastian gives Evie ( despite the fact that she no longer wants to behave like a wife ) and his unconsciously sweet gestures easily made it easy for the reader to fall in love with him.

WARNING SPOILER ___ ___ There is a moment when she takes off the wedding ring (which is a small protagonist of the story from the beginning), he continues to pretend to be the indifferent asshole who doesn't get hurt by anything, but later on, we will discover that he had hung the ring on a chain around his neck, therefore the object had an intrinsic value to him: it represented the bond with her, their adventure to and in Greta Green and all moments spent together.
So for him, keeping the ring around his neck was like keeping her (and the bond with her) close to his heart... but Evie doesn't know this, she will discover it by chance only later. SPOILER END ___ ___


_____ EVIE and what gives her value: Evie's value lies precisely in her strength of mind and her courage in throwing herself into new situations which ultimately do not give her guarantees, but could be a leap into the void, just to escape an unacceptable family life.
Shyness and a slight stammer, mainly due to the mistreatment suffered in the family by greedy relatives, do not make her popular at social events.
Instead of crying over herself, she rebels against events and reacts.
She doesn't want to be intimidated even by Sebastian's boastfulness, but she wins his respect and obtains his kindness.
The journey to Gretna Green is very long and full of discomfort and yet she never complains, pursuing her goal with clarity and great determination.
She falls in love with Sebastian not only because he is beautiful and, as we will discover, a fabulous lover, but above all because for the first time she experiences what it means to have someone who covers her with attention, takes care of her, cuddles her and makes her feel protected and safe.

During the trip, Evie has the opportunity to see a side of Sebastian that he had never shown to anyone and she will learn to appreciate him also for his desire to get involved in her father business despite having never worked before.

---> What Evie gives Sebastian is "faith" in him and his abilities, something that everyone else continues to deny him despite facts proving the opposite.

---> Obviously Evie also has her fragilities and the fear of falling in love with someone who perhaps sooner or later will betray her is what complicates things.
As I already said above, there is actually a moment in which Evie makes me angry:

WARNING SPOILER ___ ___to protect herself from a strong disappointment in love, she no longer wants to have sexual relations with Sebastian, SPOILER END___ ___ however don't think that after the first 25% of the book, there are no more hot scenes: Sebastian tries in every way to provoke her desire with kisses and touching, intense or amused and inviting looks, barely hinted mischievous smiles ...

--> There is a scene WARNING SPOILER ___ ___ which, although not a complete sexual intercourse, it is anyway sex and she is in ecstasy because of that, so I said to myself: WHAT A KIND OF HYPOCRITE!
Furthermore, she doesn't want make love with him, but when he tries to detach himself from her to overcome the constant temptation, she whines "because no one wants her and everyone has always left her in a corner".
NO GIRL! IT'S YOU WHO ARE DOING THIS TO YOURSELF, YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO WHINY! SPOILER END ___ ___
...luckily this attitude changes thanks to an unexpected dramatic event and all situations are turned upside down again.

__ I ALSO LOVED EVERY MOMENT in which Sebastian enjoyed scandalizing her with risqué topics or words that gentlemen would never say in front of a woman.
It made me laugh too much every time she pointed out: I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD, like a diligent little nun could do and then he usually smiled smugly and topped up the dose.
Then she smiled just as much, accepting the joke and accepting Sebastian's personality in its entirety.
---> These little skirmishes are not only funny to read, but they help to create an intense bond between them two.
A certain playfulness and complicity are born, this strengthens their relationship.

__SIDE CHARACTERS:

--> I adored Cam Rohan, a young half-Irish and half-gypsy man, who not only has the charm of a pirate, but is also intelligent, capable at his job and knows how to prove himself to be a loyal and affectionate friend for Evie and a great help to Sebastian.
He is a secondary character, but he was fundamental to the realization of Sebastian and Evie in a world hostile to them.
____ We have a scene of a kiss between him and the heroine's friend Daisy... don't have any illusions about this couple, but each of the two has a book dedicated to, with a related love story (see at the bottom).
I will definitely read that one telling about Cam Rohan love story : "MINE TILL MIDNIGHT" ( book #1 in The Hathaways series )

---> Lord Westcliff ( Sebastian's former best friend ): ...always serious, always loyal to duty and justice.
Main character in book #2 alongside Lillian, but that one I won't read, because I don't want to go back to an asshole Sebastian. I am happy with everything that is told in this book.
I'm more interested in "A Wallflower Christmas", to read next December. That's book #5 in the series, in which all the characters from the previous books are reunited.

---> Lillian ( Evie's friend ): when she was mentioned I didn't see her as a poor one in a difficult situation, but I disliked her.
Then later her jokes become funny and she proves to Evangelin (Evie) that she is a good friend who can be counted on.

---> the family of villains ... a little exaggerated, they seemed to have come out of the Cinderella fairy tale: a triple stepmother in the role of the 3 uncles and the 2 step sisters concentrated in the character of the slimy cousin.
I suppose it was necessary to be represented in this way in order to justify Evie's proposal to the rake in question, resulting in her escape to Gretna Green

--> the other villain: the perfect expression of a dissatisfied person who is constantly envious of others success, devoured by envy, anger and desire for revenge.

4 CURIOSITIES that the author cleverly inserted into the events: 

1) GAME OF DICE and EXPLANATIONS OF THE CALCULATION OF PROBABILITIES: logic + mathematics ... It was interesting to read how expert croupiers and gamblers make their bets not by relying on chance, but on very precise calculations.
The process is explained just enough to capture the reader's attention without becoming boring.

2) COMBAT AND LEVERS TO LAND THE OPPONENT: Cam explains to Sebastian that to defend himself and defend the place effectively, he must put aside the correct behavior of a lord. To deal with drunks and brawlers and avoid trouble in the shortest possible time, it is necessary to implement some immobilization techniques. Here too a brief explanation and demonstration together with other club employees.

3) BLEEDING TECHNIQUE TO TREAT: obviously leeches are no longer used as in the 18th century, but the doctor brings a special device and explains how the whole procedure works.
What I FOUND UNLIKELY:

WARNING SPOILER ___ ___even though Sebastian was against it thanks to his common sense, the doctor and all the other doctors proposed that solution.
Evie is brave to follow her husband's will, but it is a little absurd that the doctors proposed the wrong thing, while Evie and friends find the "right cure" on their own through the remedies of grandmothers and housekeepers.
...Oh well, after all it's a fiction, let's ignore it. SPOILER END ___ ___

4) A PARTICULAR VARIANT OF SMALLPOX. I didn't know there were various types of smallpox, much less that the disease attacked the brain and could show itself through symptoms of confusion and madness.

These little notions have somehow enriched my knowledge and given a little added value to the author's writing style and the plot of the book.

CONCLUSION: is it worth reading? If you are looking for a beautiful love story full of sensuality, a little adventure and action, feelings (including friendship, loyalty, spirit of sacrifice), irony and lightness combined with moments of drama, the answer is yes!
If you are romance-addicted, then ABSOLUTELY YES!

---> I find the whole story interesting from start to finish.

Oh my goodness, such a long review!
I suppose I needed to share my enthusiasm... well, if you've read this far, thank you for your patience and interest in my opinion.
English is not my native language, but I hope I managed to write in an understandable way and that my thoughts can be useful to you in choosing or rejecting this novel :-)

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LIBRO disponibile anche in EDIZIONE LINGUA ITALIANA, leggi la mia recensione !

Peccati d'Inverno
di Lisa Kleypas
My rating: ★★★★★
5 STELLE PIENE !! :-D

Caspita, decisamente, non il mio solito tipo di lettura... Son stata colta di sorpresa, dato che non sapevo che tipo di scrittrice di romanzi rosa fosse Lisa Kleypas, ho scelto qualcosa di romantico che avesse molte recensioni positive, senza la più pallida idea al riguardo...
E' un Romance dalle scene molto calde e sensuali, dove non sto a dirvi cosa c'è e cosa non c'è ...perchè c'è tutto ! L'autrice non si è risparmiata nelle descrizioni ed è decisamente adatto solo ad adulti.

Ma non è per questo che ho dato 5 stelle:

----> Dal mio punto di vista, infatti, il libro è ben scritto e la storia mi è piaciuta tantissimo,  perché oltre al tema su cui "sembra" focalizzarsi principalmente il libro, ovvero le scene intime calde e sexy, l'autrice è stata brava ad inserire altri elementi emozionali e trame parallele, che s'intrecciano alla storia d'amore dei due protagonisti e che mantengono il lettore coinvolto con un turbinio di emozioni che vanno dal divertimento alla suspense, dalla tristezza alla tensione per situazioni pericolose, dall'insofferenza nei confronti dei cattivi alla felicità per una nuova chance di vita...

---> Come ho già detto non un'esperta di romance e in particolare non di quelli con scene di sesso esplicite, che di solito scarto, ma non per bigotteria, semplicemente perchè "il troppo annoia" ( penserei lo stesso se il libro fosse stato sulla cioccolata che adoro o su qualsiasi altra cosa, se dall'inizio alla fine il tema si ripete in continuazione ed è sempre e solo fine a se stesso ). 
---> La storia d'amore per me diventa coinvolgente e davvero piacevole da leggere se il lettore viene coinvolto anche da altri elemnti che lo tengono continuamente in suspense stuzzicandone la curiosità e inducendolo a fare supposizioni e congetture, a sperare per una soluzione o per l'altra, girando continuamente le pagine con la brama di sapere cosa succederà l'attimo dopo.
---> Qui l'autrice ha avuto pieno successo nel mantenere vivo l'interesse di una lettrice,la sottoscritta, che solitamente scarta questo tipo di letture !

_______ LA TRAMA ___ Londra, 1843.Nel disperato tentativo di sfuggire ai suoi intriganti parenti, Evangeline Jenner , una zitella 23 enne che cerca disperatamente di sfuggire a parenti maneschi, che vogliono derubarla della  futura eredità facendola sposare al loro figlio viscido e stupido, trova l'unica soluzione possibile nel proporsi in moglie al più famigerato mascalzone di Londra: il Visconte Sebastian St. Vincent, un trentenne donnaiolo il cui padre ha sperperato tutto il patrimonio.Il vantaggio per lei è sfuggire ai familiari che la maltrattano e la tengono prigioniera, il vantaggio per lui è che sarà nuovamente ricco e potrà soddisfare i creditori del padre.
Per sposarsi immediatamente devono raggiungere il villaggio di Gretna Green, in Scozia, famoso per i matrimoni di coppie che non hanno il permesso dei genitori.
Lei pone come condizione, che si concederà  a lui solo la prima notte di nozze ( per convalidare il matrimonio che diversamente sarebbe considerato nullo ), poi si dedicherà alle cure del padre morente, che l'aveva lasciata da piccola e sarà indipendente con la sua parte di soldi.
Lui accetta la condizione posta da lei con contentezza, perchè passare più di una notte con la stessa donna lo annoia da morire.
Partono dunque la notte stessa e insieme al viaggio comincia anche la loro avventura di vita.
Ma Sebastian è davvero il bastardo mascalzone che sembra oppure in fondo anche lui ha un cuore?
...Ed Evangeline, Evie per gli amici, riuscirà a tenere a distanza un uomo di cui si sta davvero innamorando ?

----------------

I MIEI PENSIERI MENTRE LEGGEVO : -->  Comincio col dire che fin ora ero abituata a trame che, nel loro svolgimento, seguivano questo più o meno queste tappe:
incontro dei 2 protagonisti + antipatia e/o avversità + superamento dei problemi * bacio  + altri problemi + soluzione definitiva + finalmente momento dolce e intimo tra i protagonisti + vissero felici e contenti.

--> Bene, questo romanzo comincia con l'incontro dei due protagonisti che già si conoscono superficialmente  ( si sono incontrati nei libri precedenti della serie ), stringono un patto, ne segue un viaggio che non è un corteggiamento ma è talmente bello e dolce da leggere che può equivalere al corteggiamento in cui i protagonisti cominciano a prendere confidenza tra loro.

--> Il matrimonio offre spunti divertenti e confesso che ero anche in tensione per paura che qualcuno dei "villains" lo fermasse.

--> Tutto ok e abbiamo "un intero capitolo" sulla meravigliosa notte di nozze che NON DELUDERA' nessuna delle lettrici romantiche...... Fin qui siamo al 25% del libro e il mio pensiero fu : E ORA ? HO GIà LETTO TUTTO CIò CHE DI SOLITO SI SVOLGE NELL'ARCO DI UN INTERO LIBRO... temevo davvero che il libro sarebbe proseguito con un susseguirsi di qualche scaramuccia e scene intime fino ad averne la nausea... 

ECCO CHE INVECE ARRIVA LA BOMBA :
mentre i mi aspettavo che i problemi sarebbero arrivati dai familiari stronzi o che Sebastian fosse davvero il bastardo mascalzone che lui stesso e la sua brutta fama proclamavano, è proprio lei a rovinare tutto con la sua testardaggine e le sue decisioni a senso unico.

-----> Oltre allo screzio tra i due sposi entrano nelle trama nuove dinamiche, vicende dolorose, nuove sfide inattese, momenti d'azione e nuovi personaggi che avranno un ruolo molto importante nel corso degli eventi. 
----> Inoltre ogni volta che sembra che una certa difficoltà stia per essere superata appianando il cammino dei due giovani ecco che entra in gioco un nuovo elemento emozionale che rivoluzione nuovamente i piani dei nostri eroi. 
In tutto questo turbinio di eventi vengono messe in rilievo non solo l'attrazione che Sebastian ed Evie hanno l'uno per l'altra e il loro desiderio, ma anche i sentimento profondo che si sta creando grazie all'appoggio che ognuno da all'altro nel superare momenti critici in cui a volte la loro vita stessa è a rischio.

PERSONAGGI : LUI E LEI __  mi sono piaciuti entrambi anche se devo ammettere che per 5 minuti, durante la storia, l'ho trovata un po' ipocrita, troppo cocciuta e troppo frignona, per fortuna poi si è riscattata...spiego meglio sotto.

___ PERSONAGGIO: SEBASTIAN e la sottotrama che rende interessante la sua personalità: 
dalla storia emerge la sua natura non era così egoista e sprezzante come sembra dai libri precedenti, di base l'indole del ragazzo era buona, ma avendo perso, in età molto giovane, madre e sorelle che ne avevano cura con affetto, era cresciuto in maniera superficiale con un padre egoista e scialacquatore, non certo il migliore degli esempi. 
La grande bellezza di cui era dotato portava le donne a buttarglisi ai piedi, ne conseguiva grande sicurezza in se stesso, arroganza e noia. ( come dite? Certo, sono d'accordo, non è comunque da giustificare !!! Essere stronzi è una scelta, non si sono scuse che engano !)

IN REALTà, man mano che leggiamo la storia, CI RENDIAMO CONTO CHE LA CAUSA DI QUESTO MODO DI FARE è LA MANCANZA DI UNO SCOPO, DI QUALCOSA A CUI DEDICARSI E DI UN TRAGUARDO DA RAGGIUNGERE.

L'arrivo di Evie, non solo più bella di quanto lui avesse mai notato, ma anche molto più acuta ed intelligente di quanto lui supponesse, unito al bisogno di protezione di lei e ai problemi legati al lavoro del padre di lei, innescano un processo che riesce a tirare fuori da Sebastian il suo vero valore e capacità.

Il rispetto e la stima di lui nei confronti di lei cominciano da subito e questo cambia gli equilibri. Lui le offre aiuto e scopre che nel dedicarsi a qualcuno e a qualcosa trova la soddisfazione e il completamento che prima gli mancavano. 
LA SUA BATTAGLIA INTERIORE: Se da una parte è gratificato da tutto ciò, il cambiamento lo spaventa, si sente vulnerabile per la prima volta, perchè ora sente che "il suo star bene dipende dalla felicità di qualcun altro".

---> Essere egoisti ed egocentrici in fondo è molto più facile, l'amore cambia tutto e pur comportandosi da innamorato rifiuta di ammettere che prova questo sentimento.La cura che Sebastian ha per Evie, nonostante lei non voglia più comportarsi da moglie e i suoi gesti inconsapevolmente dolci, mi hanno facilmente fatta innamorare di lui.

ATTENZIONE SPOILER ___ ___ C'è un momento in cui lei toglie l'anello di matrimonio ( che fin dall'inizio è un piccolo protagonista della storia ), lui continua a fingere di essere lo stronzo indifferente che non rimane ferito da nulla, invece più avanti scopriamo che aveva appeso l'anello ad una catenina al suo collo, ergo per lui l'oggetto aveva un valore intrinseco, rappresentava  il legame con lei, la loro avventura a Greta Green e i bei momenti trascorsi insieme. Dunque per lui tenere l'anello al collo era come tenere lei (e il legame con lei) vicino al cuore...ma Evie questo non lo sa, lo scoprirà casualmente solo più avanti. FINE SPOILER ___ ___

__ PERSONAGGIO _ EVIE e ciò che le da valore: ogni libro di questa serie mostra come ognuna della 4 ragazze che per più di una stagione londinese sono state solo wallflower, riesce a riscattare la propria esistenza e a trovare il vero amore.
Il valore di Evie sta proprio nella sua forza d'animo e nel suo coraggio nel buttarsi in nuove situazione che in fondo non le danno garanzie, ma potrebbero essere un salto nel vuoto.
E' una ragazza che viene lasciata in ombra dagli altri a causa della timidezza e di una leggera balbuzie, dovuta soprattutto ai maltrattamenti subiti in famiglia dagli avidi parenti.
Invece di piangere su sé stessa, si ribella agli eventi e reagisce. Non vuole farsi intimidire nemmeno dalla sbruffoneria di Sebastian, conquistandone così la stima e ottenendone la gentilezza.
Il viaggio a Gretna Green è molto lungo e colmo di scomodità eppure lei non si lamenta mai , perseguendo il suo obiettivo con lucidità e grande decisione.

S'innamora di Sebastian non perchè è bellissimo e, come scopriremo, un favoloso amante, ma perchè per la prima volta sperimenta ciò che significa avere qualcuno che la copre di attenzioni, si prende cura di lei, la coccola  e la fa sentire protetta e al sicuro.
Evie durante il viaggio ha l'opportunità di vedere un aspetto che Sebastian che lui non aveva mai mostrato a nessuno e imparerà ad apprezzarlo anche per la sua voglia di mettersi in gioco nonostante non abbia mai lavorato prima d'allora.
---> Ciò che Evie regala a Sebastian è la "fiducia", sia come partner sia nelle sue capacità, qualcosa che tutti gli altri continuavano a negargli nonostante i fatti dimostrassero il contrario.
---> Ovviamente anche Evie ha le sua fragilità e la paura di innamorarsi di qualcuno che forse prima o poi la tradirà è ciò che complica le cose da una parte, ma che forse crea anche le basi per un impegno reciproco solido, nonostante la vita non possa mai dare certezze assolute.  Come ho già detto sopra, effettivamente c'è un momento in cui Evie mi fa arrabbiare: per proteggere sé stessa da una forte delusione amorosa, non vuole più avere rapporti sessuali con Sebastian, tuttavia non pensate che dopo il primo 25% del libro non ci sia più nulla : Sebastian cerca in tutti i modi di creare desiderio in lei, i baci non erano compresi nel patto e oltre agli sfioramenti, agli sguardi, ai sorrisi, ai baci caldi c'è una scena ATTENZIONE SPOILER ___ ___ che pur non essendo un rapporto sessuale completo, è comunque sesso e lei è praticamente in estasi per cui io mi son detta : CHE RAZZA DI IPOCRITA !  Inoltre lei non vuole concedersi a lui, ma quando lui cerca di distaccarsi da lei  per superare la tentazione continua, lei frigna " perché nessuno la vuole e tutti l'hanno sempre lasciata in un angolo " . EH NO RAGAZZA ! SEI TU CHE STAI FACENDO QUESTO A TE STESSA, NON HAI DIRITTO DI FRIGNARE ! FINE SPOILER ___ ___
...Per fortuna questo atteggiamento cambia grazie ad un evento drammatico inaspettato e tutte le situazioni vengono nuovamente mette sotto sopra.

_LUI E LEI__ HO ADORATO INOLTRE OGNI MOMENTO in cui lui si divertiva a scandalizzarla con argomenti osé o parole che i gentiluomini non direbbero mai davanti ad una donna.  Mi faceva troppo ridere ogni volta che lei puntualizzava : I DON'T LIKE THAT WORD ( non mi piace quella parola ),  come una piccola e diligente suorina e lui sorrideva compiaciuto e rincalzava la dose. A quel punto lei sorrideva altrettanto, accettando lo scherzo e accettando la personalità di Sebastian nella sua interezza. IN QUESTO LEI MI è PIACIUTA MOLTO.

---> Queste piccole schermaglie non solo sono divertenti, ma contribuiscono a creare un legame intenso tra loro.
Si creano una certa giocosità e complicità, che rafforza il loro rapporto. 
Evie mi è piaciuta anche quando mostra di rispettare a pieno la volontà del marito nel momento in cui il dottore proponeva una soluzione che andava contro ogni buon senso, ma che al tempo era una pratica molto diffusa tra i medici.
Sebastian non voleva sottoporsi a quel procedimento e Evie, combattuta tra la volontà del marito e  l'opinione professionale del medico, decide di rispettare la volontà del marito( vedi sotto al punto in cui parlo del SALASSO ).

__PERSONAGGI DI CONTORNO : 

--> Cam Rohan, impiegato nel club del gioco d'azzardo: giovane mezzo irlandese e mezzo zingaro, che non solo ha il fascino da pirata, ma è anche intelligente, capace nel suo lavoro e sa dimostrarsi un amico leale ed affettuoso per Evie che, conoscendolo sin da piccolo, lo considera un fratello.
Naturalmente ciò indispone Sebastian, ma Cam non fa mai nulla per mettersi tra marito e moglie, anzi con modi non convenzionali aiuta St. Vincent ad inserirsi i un mondo che non gli apparteneva e a farsi rispettare da coloro che lo ritenevano un intruso non abbastanza forte, emotivamente e caratterialmente, per sostenere quella situazione e quel tipo di lavoro.
E' un personaggio secondario, ma è stato fondamentale per la realizzazione di Sebastian ed Evie in un mondo a loro ostile.
DIFFICILE NON INNAMORARSI DI LUI e sarà con lui protagonista, che più avanti leggerò nuovamente Lisa Kleypas!
____ Abbiamo una scena di un bacio tra lui e l'amica dell'eroina, ma per questa coppia non fatevi illusioni: ognuno dei due ha un romanzo dedicato, con relativa storia d'amore. ( Daisy è nel libro 4 della serie Wallflowers : Scandalo in primavera; Cam è nel libro 1 della serie Hathaways, con il titolo Fino a mezzanotte ).

---> Lord Westcliff, ex amico del protagonistatenebroso, sempre serio e ligio al dovere e alla giustizia.
  Protagonista nel libro #2 insieme a Lillian. Non lo leggerò, perché non mi va di tornare ad un Sebastian stronzo. Sono contenta di tutto ciò che viene raccontato nel libro presente.

---> Lillian, amica della protagonista e neo-moglie di Lord Westcliff: quando veniva nominata per gli eventi concernenti il libro precedente, non la vedevo come una vittima, ma mi stava antipatica.
Poi successivamente le sue battute divertenti me l'hanno resa più simpatica. Lei dimostra ad Evangelin ( Evie ) di essere una buona amica, su cui si può contare.

---> La famiglia dei cattivi: un po' esagerati, sembravano usciti dalla favola di cenerentola: una tripla matrigna nei panni dei 3 zii e le 2 sorellastre concentrate nel personaggio del viscido cugino.
Suppongo fosse necessario essere rappresentati in questo modo per poter giustificare la proposta di Evie al rake di turno con conseguente fuga a Gretna Green.

--> L'altro cattivo: la perfetta espressione della persona scontenta e costantemente invidiosa del successo altrui, divorato dall'invidia, dalla rabbia e dal desiderio di vendetta.

___ LOCATION :

---> Gretna Green ___ le lettrici di romance conoscono già questa località. Per chi non lo sa dirò semplicemente che questa cittadina scozzese, vicino al confine con l'Inghilterra, divenne famosa in passato per i matrimoni delle coppie in fuga, che non avevano il consenso dei genitori.
Qui non era nemmeno necessario andare in chiesa, i matrimoni potevano essere celebrati da chiunque, anche se  per lo più i posti dove venivano celebrati i matrimoni erano i fabbri. I documenti che venivano preparati immediatamente e la presenza di 2 testimoni era sufficiente per confutare il matrimonio. Unica clausola per evitare l'annullamento era consumare il matrimonio subito alla prima notte di nozze ( per questo i fabbri non solo avevano tutto l'occorrente, ma disponevano anche di una stanza per la prima notte ).
La scena del matrimonio è molto divertente e la prima notte di nozze molto calda e sensuale.

---> Club di gioco d'azzardo ___ non mi piaceva inizialmente che l'autrice facesse prendere in mano questo lavoro a Sebastian...ma perlomeno lo ha reso più accettabile facendo togliere prostitute e mandandole in un luogo vicino dedicato a quell'attività. "In un certo qual modo" il protagonista pian piano lo trasformerà in un club rispettabile( metto tra virgolette, perchè ovviamente si tratta sempre di gioco d'azzardo che comunque non è legale e sia in passato che al giorno d'oggi è un vizio che rovina la vita delle persone, per cui per me non è accettabile ).

____ 4 CURIOSITA' che l'autrice ha inserito abilmente in mezzo agli eventi: 

1) SPIEGAZIONI DEL CALCOLO DELLE PROBABILITà: logica + matematica ...è stato interessante leggere come i croupiers e i giocatori d'azzardo esperti, facciano le loro puntato non affidandosi al caso, ma a calcoli ben precisi.
Il procedimento viene spiegato quanto basta per catturare l'attenzione del lettore senza scadere nella noia.

2) COMBATTIMENTO E LEVE PER ATTERRARE AVVERSARIO: Cam spiega a Sebastian che per difendersi e difendere il locale in maniera efficace, deve mettere da parte il comportamento corretto da lord. Per fronteggiare ubriachi e attaccabrighe ed evitare guai nel più breve tempo possibile, è necessario infatti mettere in atto alcune tecniche di immobilizzazione. Anche qui una breve spiegazione e dimostrazione insieme ad altri impiegati del club.

3) TECNICA  DEL SALASSO PER CURARE: ovviamente non sono più usate le sanguisughe come nel 700, ma il dottore porta un apparecchio apposito e spiega come funziona tutto il procedimento.
Ciò CHE HO TROVATO IMPROBABILE : nonostante Sebastian si opponesse grazie al suo buon senso, il dottore e tutti gli altri dottori proponevano quella soluzione.
Evie è coraggiosa a seguire la volontà del marito, ma è un poco assurdo che i dottori proponessero una  cosa sbagliata, mentre Evie e amici trovano da soli la "giusta cura" attraverso i rimedi di nonne e governanti ...mah !..eh vabbè, in fondo è una fiction, sorvoliamo.

4) UNA PARTICOLARE VARIANTE DI VAIOLO. Non sapevo ci fossero vari tipi di vaiolo, ne tanto meno che la malattia attaccasse il cervello e potesse mostrarsi attraverso sintomi di confusione e pazzia.
Queste piccole nozioni hanno in qualche modo arricchito la mia conoscenza e dato un piccolo valore aggiunto allo stile di scritture dell'autrice  alla trama del libro.

CONCLUSIONE : vale la pena leggerlo ? Se cercate una bella storia d'amore ricca di sensualità, un poco di avventura e azione, sentimenti ( tra cui anche amicizia, lealtà, spirito di sacrificio ), ironia e leggerezza unita a momenti di drammaticità, la risposta è si !
Se siete romance-addicted, assolutamente si !

Trovo tutta la storia interessante dall'inizio alla fine.
L'unica differenza tra i romanzi normali ( diciamo così ) è che trattandosi di un romanzo dai toni caldi, le parti in cui i protagonisti hanno dei rapporti vengono raccontate per filo e per segno. Se noi abbreviassimo quelle parti, vi assicuro che non rimarrebbe una storia vuota, bensì rimarrebbe una storia ugualmente dolce ed avvincente ed è questo ciò che apprezzo di più.

Ringrazio chiunque abbia letto la mia recensione con interesse, spero possa essere utile nella scelta o meno del romanzo.
Non sempre i libri che leggo hanno la corrispondente edizione italiana, ma se volete rimanere aggiornati potete seguirmi sulla mia PAGINA FB: Tizi Cozy Corner .