Tag Archive | One Scandalous Season

Book Review-Never Entice An Earl by Lily Dalton

Jan29
Title: Never Entice An Earl 
Author: Lily Dalton 
Series: One Scandalous Season 
Format:Paperback 
Acquired: Library 
Release Date: April 29 2014 
Publisher: Forever 
Pages: 321
Genre: Regency Historical Romance 

Blurb

For fans of New York Times bestsellers Elizabeth Boyle, Jillian Hunter, Sabrina Jeffries, and Nicole Jordan…

A ONE SCANDALOUS SEASON NOVEL

A Deception Most Reckless
Lady Daphne Bevington would do anything for her maid Kate-including masquerading as Kate and sneaking around the wrong side of London to settle the poor girl’s debt. Yet her innocent ruse takes a scandalous turn when “Kate” runs into a handsome gentleman on a secret quest of his own. A moment of passion could cost Daphne her reputation, but how can she ignore the stranger’s searing kiss?

An Arrangement Most Wicked

Lord Cormack Northmore is determined to find the immoral peer who ruined his sister. So when he learns that the irresistible woman he knows as “Kate” is the Season’s most sought-after debutante, Cormack plans to use her connections to help him set a trap. Now, the closer Cormack gets to uncovering the villain who haunts the ton‘s ballrooms, the more he realizes that the lovely lady is in danger herself. Will he abandon his quest for revenge-or risk losing his one chance at love?

My Review


Lady Daphne, lost her father in an accident that she blames herself for. And has dedicated herself to her family and their happiness, and has decided to never marry no matter how much her mother wishes to change her mind. When she learns that her closest friend and maid, Kate, has gotten into some trouble, from a debt for her family, she decides to go about London, in the wrong part of it, and act the part of a servant to help pay off the debt. But she doesn’t expect to meet Lord Cormack Northmore, on her adventure, and after sharing some sizzling embraces, she knows that this will be the only night that she will be able to enjoy a night in his arms, never to see him again. But when Cormack recognizes her among the Ton, they engage in a battle of sorts, of passion and discovering secrets…and before they know it, they are uncovering a hidden desire that threatens to inflame them both…
I will say that this book just might be my favorite of the series. After reading all three books, and I did love the third book, but this installment, I just adored. I loved everything about this story, and it had the type of story line that really intrigues me…which can be difficult to do when it comes to regency romance. So many authors write in this sub-genre of historical romance, so it’s always a delight, to find one that really gets my interest from the beginning. Of course Lily Dalton, has the writing style that is very engaging on each page. So you can’t help but get fully into the story from the first few pages. But the way she develops the characterizations and the building up of the story line, really had me. You see how inventive this author is, and the way she puts some unique twists in the story. There is an underlying mystery in play as well, which kept me guessing from beginning to end.
The characters were just lovely, and I just loved both of them. Cormack, was a delight, and boy did he throw some curveballs into the story, but what a fun one he was. He definitely knows how to take Daphne in hand, and doesn’t let her get away with deceiving him. Daphne, was just a good one, and it can be hard to find in historical romance at times, but she is so passionate and stubborn and a bit willful, but I enjoyed that about her. She really seemed to brighten the story up and add some adventure into it too.
Never Entice An Earl is a well written romance, of engaging characters, sensual delights, a beautifully crafted plot, and a story to keep you fully satisfied…TERRIFIC!!
My Rating

5 Blossoms

Heat Level

Warm

Series Order
Never Desire A Duke (1)
Never Entice An Earl (2)
Never Surrender To A Scoundrel (3)

Book Review-Never Desire A Duke by Lily Dalton

Jan11
Title: Never Desire A Duke 
Author: Lily Dalton 
Series: One Scandalous Season 
Format: Paperback 
Release Date: September 24 2013 
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing 
Pages: 375 
Genre: Historical Romance 
ISBN: 978-1-4555-2401-3

Synopsis

A secret from his past holds the key to their future…

A Marriage Beyond Hope

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Lord Vane Barwick, the Marquess of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a shocking encounter with him in a crowded ballroom—and a single touch—are all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

A Love Beyond Reason

Lord Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Lady Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he’s ever truly loved. He’ll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves—and the passionate lover she desires. As the snowdrifts deepen outside their ancestral home, can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

My Review

So I didn’t realize until I started reading this one, that is was a Christmas themed story. The blurb does really give that away in any way, so you don’t expect it, but as I was reading, I found that the Christmas theme really added a flair to the story. This story is about Lord Claxton and Sophia, who fell in love and got married. But things went downhill very quickly, mostly judgements and miscommunication and making presumptions. Which can happen in any relationship especially in a romantic relationship. Then the book starts off after they have been estranged for almost a year. At this point the author does a bit of background information on the couple., so that you aren’t at a total loss. Then they end up stuck at a manor in the country while they get snowed in, and they are forced to resolve differences. Claxton wants to reconcile with Sophia, he loves her and is willing to do anything to get her to soften toward him. Sophia is a bit stubborn like a mule, and doesn’t believe there is any hope for them. All she wants is a child and then be separated for the rest of their lives. We see the ways that Claxton goes about to convince Sophia to listen to reason.

What I really enjoyed about this story, was seeing Claxton and Sophia interact with each other. They tend to get very intense with each other, and boy do they tend to say hurtful things, no wonder they are estranged…you see why they have been separated for a time. But you also see the sincere feelings that they have for each other. I found that I liked the hero way more than the heroine in this story. I found Sophia to be a bit full of herself at times, as the story progresses you see how much she has gone through, but so has Claxton, they both have been hurt, but she does have some good qualities, but I didn’t really like her all that much through the story. She rubbed off me the wrong way, which was a little sad since she seemed to have great potential in the beginning. Claxton, now he was so great, I adored his character. He is a fighter especially when it comes to keeping his marriage together, I loved how he refused to give up on it, no matter how Sophia could be about it.

All in all though, this was a charming and romantic story that drew my attention. The writing is engaging and pulls the reader, the story line is simple yet complex at times, and the plot gives you some sexy twists and turns…a tender love story with a holiday twist.

My Rating

4 Blossoms

Heat Level

Warm

Series Order
Never Desire A Duke (1)
Never Entice A Earl (2)
Never Surrender To A Scoundrel (3)

Book Review-Never Surrender To A Scoundrel by Lily Dalton

Jan4
Title: Never Surrender to a Scoundrel 
Author: Lily Dalton 
Series: One Scandalous Season 
Format: E Book 
Release Date: January 27 2015 
Publisher: Forever 
Pages: 384
Genre: Regency Historical Romance 

Synopsis

A Reckless Desire…

Lady Clarissa Bevington is in trouble. A reckless indiscretion has left her with two choices: ruin her family with the scandal of the Season, or marry Mr. Kincraig, the notorious scoundrel mistaken as her lover. Desperate and disgraced, Clarissa vows to love and cherish a veritable stranger, a man whose eyes smolder with danger—and undeniable desire…

An Unexpected Arrangement

As an agent for the Crown, Lord Donovan Blackmer has spent the last two years guarding Clarissa’s grandfather from an unknown assassin while disguised as the rakehell Kincraig. His mission may now be over, but his duty has just begun. Salvaging his beautiful, impetuous wife’s virtue will cost him his fortune and his position as an officer—but it might save him from the ghosts that haunt his own past. When their marriage “in name only” leads to exquisite seduction, Donovan must risk the only thing he has left to lose . . . his heart.

My Review

I received a ARC copy in exchange for a honest review.

Lady Clarissa, fell in love with a man that she met in secret, and she knows she will marry him. But then he betrays her and marries another woman, and she is pregnant, and when she turns to a family friend, Lord Donovan Blackmer, for comfort, they end up compromised and they are forced to marry. Donovan works as a spy for the crown, and for the past few years has kept his profile low and protected Clarissa’s grandfather. But when he is offered a prestigious position that is a dream come true for him, he ends up compromising Clarissa and ends up married which is the last thing he ever wanted. In the beginning he is bitter and almost cruel, but he sees Clarissa as a kind and passionate woman who deserves more. So he tries to make the best of the situation, and a desire ignites, passions inflame, and a sweet love erupts, but there is a danger from his past, one that haunts him and could tear Clarrissa from his life forever…

I just love Lily Dalton, her historical’s are amazing and every time I get the chance to read her I am always astounded by her storytelling abilities, they always blow my mind. Never Surrender To a Scoundrel is no different for me. Sometimes regency romances will set me back in my enjoyment of romance novels, but Dalton knows how to write a good one, and this story revitalizes the passion of the time. What we have here is two people that are put in a poor choice and even though completely innocent, they are forced together. Donovoan is very bitter, his dreams are faltering, and will have to settle for marriage to the lovely Clarissa. We see how at first he blames her for everything going wrong, and takes her up north to his family’s estate, but it doesn’t take long for him to soften toward her and the real love story really blossoms. Clarissa is headstrong and tends to go toward a situation with no thought process…just full speed ahead. I respected that aspect of her character, but I also felt like she could use a bit more backbone in certain situations…but she does hold her own with Dalton. He is not a easy man to be married to, and Clarissa really handles him quite well and boy do they have sparks that just fly everywhere. I loved their connection and the intrigue and suspense that is placed uniquely in the plot really adds a certain element to the story that adds more depth to the story. You also see various twists and tumbles in the plot that will surprise you and maybe shock you, but you will fall in love immediately. This is a story not to be missed out, a winner in every way!! ENGROSSING ON EVERY PAGE!!

My Rating

5 Blossoms

Heat Rating

Warm

Series Order
Never Desire A Duke 
Never Entice An Earl 
Never Surrender To A Scoundrel