This is a Quickie Review. For the full review, please visit The Romanceaholic.

Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Penguin
Imprint: Jove
Author’s Website: http://madelinehunter.com
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Book 4, Rarest Blooms
Series Best Read In Order: Yes, but would work well as a standalone
Steam Level: Hot


Anyone who has read Madeline Hunter's Rarest Blooms series has to be captivated by the Duke of Castleford. A Rake with a Capital R, he's one of the rare true hedonists in historical romance -- he is constantly drunk (except on Tuesdays, when he does all of his business), he is such a man-ho that he's even writing a tourist's guide to the brothels in London, and as a duke, he's more than used to everyone catering to him and bending to his whim.

When a hated relative leaves him some minor properties, he's intrigued. When he learns that the will asks that he continue to allow the tenants of these properties to continue to live there at very nominal rent, he's determined to discover the cause. As anyone familiar with Castleford knows, one of the most dangerous things in the world is to have Castleford be curious, because once his interest is piqued, he will stop at nothing to discover your secrets.

Daphne has been a total mystery since the beginning of the series. As the "head" so to speak of The Rarest Blooms, a combination greenhouse/flower-shop/woman's shelter, she has a strict policy of not digging into the pasts of others, because she more than most people how dangerous a past really can be.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed it. While Daphne wasn't as strong of a character as I'd anticipated based on earlier novels, Castleford was everything I'd hoped for and more. I loved the way they both danced around each other, and the several twists and turns that the novel took. While I wish that one particular twist had either been left out or revealed much sooner, I did really enjoy the ending, and was very glad to see them get their HEA. A cheerfully solid 4/5 Stars