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Taming a Rogue #3
My Lord's Invitation to Passion
(Alternate cover edition of ASIN B00LOXR3RU.)
Book three in my Invitation To ...Regency romance series...
Consummate rake, Lord Richard Craven, has his heartbroken when the woman he loves is forced into an arranged marriage to a violent brute. To make matters worse, circumstances force him to marry Lady Madeline Knight—a woman he views more like a sister-only for fate to play the cruelest of tricks. Shortly after his wedding his former lover is widowed, and Richard learns she could be pregnant with his child.
Madeline Knight thought she was doing the right thing when she saved Richard Craven from his lover's irate husband. Now her silly schoolgirl crush has left her married to a man who's in love with another woman. Consumed with guilt over trapping Richard, she tries her best to be the perfect wife and win his heart. Failure is not an option. For if she fails she loses everything, she loves him too much not to set him free…
While Richard and Madeline confront the reality of their marriage, Madeline’s life comes under threat. A family enemy is set on revenge. Will Richard learn the truth of his heart, and what is truly precious to him, before the unknown enemy destroys their world?
Book three in my Invitation To ...Regency romance series...
Consummate rake, Lord Richard Craven, has his heartbroken when the woman he loves is forced into an arranged marriage to a violent brute. To make matters worse, circumstances force him to marry Lady Madeline Knight—a woman he views more like a sister-only for fate to play the cruelest of tricks. Shortly after his wedding his former lover is widowed, and Richard learns she could be pregnant with his child.
Madeline Knight thought she was doing the right thing when she saved Richard Craven from his lover's irate husband. Now her silly schoolgirl crush has left her married to a man who's in love with another woman. Consumed with guilt over trapping Richard, she tries her best to be the perfect wife and win his heart. Failure is not an option. For if she fails she loses everything, she loves him too much not to set him free…
While Richard and Madeline confront the reality of their marriage, Madeline’s life comes under threat. A family enemy is set on revenge. Will Richard learn the truth of his heart, and what is truly precious to him, before the unknown enemy destroys their world?
234 pages, ebook
First published August 20, 2014
141 people are currently reading
864 people want to read
About the author
Bronwen Evans
162 books971 followersUSA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.
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Join my book club newsletter and receive a FREE eBook.
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at Bronwen@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com
Or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwenevans...
Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/bronwenevans_NZ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 26, 2022
Reread6/14/16
I loved Richard from the first book. Madeline has been in love with Richard for years. While trying to save him she gets herself ruined. Now they have to marry. Being friends and great sexual chemistry is a good start.
Problems in the marriage: she has to take Richard off a petalstool. Also her myrta act gets old. Her sex from Megan (1st book) helps and makes interesting love scenes.
Richard has to get rid of his ex. He wants to help her especially since she carries his baby??? He is too nice and let's the shedevil ruin his marriage.
There is also a villian on the horizon waiting to take revenge. Messed up revenge.!
This couple were great. I loved we got to read their letters to each other over the years. It sweeten the story.
I loved Richard from the first book. Madeline has been in love with Richard for years. While trying to save him she gets herself ruined. Now they have to marry. Being friends and great sexual chemistry is a good start.
Problems in the marriage: she has to take Richard off a petalstool. Also her myrta act gets old. Her sex from Megan (1st book) helps and makes interesting love scenes.
Richard has to get rid of his ex. He wants to help her especially since she carries his baby??? He is too nice and let's the shedevil ruin his marriage.
There is also a villian on the horizon waiting to take revenge. Messed up revenge.!
This couple were great. I loved we got to read their letters to each other over the years. It sweeten the story.
December 13, 2021
I read this a week ago, so this isn’t super fresh, but I gobbled it down til 3am. It has one of my fav tropes “MOC while H is hung up on OW” with the added bonus of the ex being evil and the H oblivious. 🙌🙌 I didn’t read the previous books with the secondary characters, but they didn’t take up much page time and I never felt lost. Although the "bad guy situation" was introduced in her brother’s book (previous book).
Richard and Maddy have been BFFs of sort for several years. He’s actually her older bro’s best bud, so there’s an age gap and the H has always looked at her as a little sister while she’s been besotted. Before the book starts, Richard’s love Sarah marries a rich dude (her father’s choice) rather than eloping with him. The book opens with Maddy risking her reputation to cover for Richard which results in the two needing to marry. What I liked about this is that they had a foundation for love and trust, and both went into the marriage with the mindset to make a real go at things. So, things move pretty quickly (real wedding night) which worked for an impatient reader like myself. Not long after, Sarah becomes a widow and returns with a secret and plan to get Richard back.
Bottom Line- This is a fairly quick, smutty, soapy-ish read, it’s not super heavy, but I really enjoyed it. I liked that the “drama” was caused by the manipulations of the wannabe OW and misunderstandings rather that the H behaving badly. (although some actions were illogical) Richard was just the right amount of clueless to feed the drama flames without being unforgivable for me. That being said, I’m not sure I’d recommend to strict safety folks or those sensitive to a second-best situation. There’s no real cheating, there’s one situation that crosses into gray, but the H and h are both on board to get a specific outcome (trying to be vague) that could potentially upset strict safety readers. This isn’t the situation, but I’d compare it to a married actor filming a sex scene. I’m sure it’s not fun, but I don’t consider it cheating. Basically, to enjoy this you really need to have some level of patience because circumstances require the h to look like second place on several occasions, (we do get his POV and know what’s really going down) but if you love drama… you’ll probably be pleased. This would have been a 5 star for me if Maddy was just a little less understanding, and Richard would’ve been a smidge less honor bound.
Richard and Maddy have been BFFs of sort for several years. He’s actually her older bro’s best bud, so there’s an age gap and the H has always looked at her as a little sister while she’s been besotted. Before the book starts, Richard’s love Sarah marries a rich dude (her father’s choice) rather than eloping with him. The book opens with Maddy risking her reputation to cover for Richard which results in the two needing to marry. What I liked about this is that they had a foundation for love and trust, and both went into the marriage with the mindset to make a real go at things. So, things move pretty quickly (real wedding night) which worked for an impatient reader like myself. Not long after, Sarah becomes a widow and returns with a secret and plan to get Richard back.
Bottom Line- This is a fairly quick, smutty, soapy-ish read, it’s not super heavy, but I really enjoyed it. I liked that the “drama” was caused by the manipulations of the wannabe OW and misunderstandings rather that the H behaving badly. (although some actions were illogical) Richard was just the right amount of clueless to feed the drama flames without being unforgivable for me. That being said, I’m not sure I’d recommend to strict safety folks or those sensitive to a second-best situation. There’s no real cheating, there’s one situation that crosses into gray, but the H and h are both on board to get a specific outcome (trying to be vague) that could potentially upset strict safety readers. This isn’t the situation, but I’d compare it to a married actor filming a sex scene. I’m sure it’s not fun, but I don’t consider it cheating. Basically, to enjoy this you really need to have some level of patience because circumstances require the h to look like second place on several occasions, (we do get his POV and know what’s really going down) but if you love drama… you’ll probably be pleased. This would have been a 5 star for me if Maddy was just a little less understanding, and Richard would’ve been a smidge less honor bound.
February 10, 2023
✔️Friends to Lovers
✔️Unrequited Love
✔️Arranged Marriage
✔️Interconnected standalone
I didn’t read the previous books and didn’t feel lost.
It got so close to being 5 Stars. I highly enjoyed most of this book. The angst was spectacular without ripping my heart out. The hero was actually incredibly sweet and considerate towards the heroine; so, safe in that regard. But towards the end, it started to let me down a bit. The heroine declared her forever love to the hero before he could even figure out his own feelings. I thought she showed her cards too soon. It really bugs me when that happens, when a hero knows she’s a sure thing and will always be there waiting for him no matter what. Grrr. Therefore, H didn’t really need to grovel.
On another note: The heroine getting kidnapped and everyone trying to find who was responsible, well, I’m just not into suspense/mystery plots in romance. This one got a little dark. The villains are sickos.
The epilogue did turn things around for me. It was a lovely one.
I enjoyed the writing, too. I will definitely check out the author’s other books.
✔️Unrequited Love
✔️Arranged Marriage
✔️Interconnected standalone
I didn’t read the previous books and didn’t feel lost.
It got so close to being 5 Stars. I highly enjoyed most of this book. The angst was spectacular without ripping my heart out. The hero was actually incredibly sweet and considerate towards the heroine; so, safe in that regard. But towards the end, it started to let me down a bit. The heroine declared her forever love to the hero before he could even figure out his own feelings. I thought she showed her cards too soon. It really bugs me when that happens, when a hero knows she’s a sure thing and will always be there waiting for him no matter what. Grrr. Therefore, H didn’t really need to grovel.
On another note: The heroine getting kidnapped and everyone trying to find who was responsible, well, I’m just not into suspense/mystery plots in romance. This one got a little dark. The villains are sickos.
The epilogue did turn things around for me. It was a lovely one.
I enjoyed the writing, too. I will definitely check out the author’s other books.
November 17, 2015
UGH..
I’ve read 3 other books by Ms. Evans and I loved them all. This one, not so much. I wasn’t crazy about the letters at the beginning of each chapter, they didn’t seem to fit there. And some reviewers said Maddy was a “doormat.” I wouldn’t go that far but she didn’t seem very strong to me. Her constant thoughts about Richard’s happiness was just ridiculous. I mean, thinking for a minute of asking him for a divorce so he could be with Sarah. And speaking of Sarah, I was pretty sick of that name by about 60%, AND Richard’s “helping the woman in distress” attitude, leaving Maddy to her own devices so he could see to Sarah’s comfort. I have no idea why he was so PO’d when Maddy was attacked since it was his fault for not being where he was supposed to be- with Maddy.
There was sooo much time spent on Richard’s and Maddy’s desire for each other. The first 60% or so was filled with that. I like sex in my books but you can have too much, or too many thoughts of it until it becomes rather boring.
AND the friendship thing became really boring. That seemed to be all-important to them. Not the sex or their marriage but their friendship. The word friend or friendship was used 182 times in this 234 page book, just to give you an idea how important that friendship was. That’s a little crazy.
And Maddy was beautiful, as was Richard. We were told that 58 times. I like my hero and heroine to be beautiful but you only need to tell me a time or two and that’s enough.
OK.. At 63% I’m done. I can’t read any more about his “fickle” heart and her making excuses for his stupidity. I’m happy for all those who loved this book but it’s just too silly for me.
As to the narrator: Ms. Hussey did a wonderful job with what she had to deal with. I've listened to her before and it's always a pleasure.
I’ve read 3 other books by Ms. Evans and I loved them all. This one, not so much. I wasn’t crazy about the letters at the beginning of each chapter, they didn’t seem to fit there. And some reviewers said Maddy was a “doormat.” I wouldn’t go that far but she didn’t seem very strong to me. Her constant thoughts about Richard’s happiness was just ridiculous. I mean, thinking for a minute of asking him for a divorce so he could be with Sarah. And speaking of Sarah, I was pretty sick of that name by about 60%, AND Richard’s “helping the woman in distress” attitude, leaving Maddy to her own devices so he could see to Sarah’s comfort. I have no idea why he was so PO’d when Maddy was attacked since it was his fault for not being where he was supposed to be- with Maddy.
There was sooo much time spent on Richard’s and Maddy’s desire for each other. The first 60% or so was filled with that. I like sex in my books but you can have too much, or too many thoughts of it until it becomes rather boring.
AND the friendship thing became really boring. That seemed to be all-important to them. Not the sex or their marriage but their friendship. The word friend or friendship was used 182 times in this 234 page book, just to give you an idea how important that friendship was. That’s a little crazy.
And Maddy was beautiful, as was Richard. We were told that 58 times. I like my hero and heroine to be beautiful but you only need to tell me a time or two and that’s enough.
OK.. At 63% I’m done. I can’t read any more about his “fickle” heart and her making excuses for his stupidity. I’m happy for all those who loved this book but it’s just too silly for me.
As to the narrator: Ms. Hussey did a wonderful job with what she had to deal with. I've listened to her before and it's always a pleasure.
March 20, 2022
1 for a book that fails the Bechdel test. 1 for the disappointment of a book that started off well but got more and more painful to read, the amount of times I scoffed aloud, rolled my eyes or had to read something else just to take a break.
GR friends, if you know a book where the h doesn't immediately believe another woman or anyone else when they reveal something about the H and actually CONFRONT the H. Please recommend.
This h was so very stupid, but so was the H so congrats on the HEA I guess.
Hero: basically 'I thought I was in love but if that wasn't love then I don't know what love is!'. Angst!
He gets over thinking about her like a sister very quickly don't worry. He also tries to be a good husband, until he gets it into his head that he can be a detective too...? Then tried to seduce another woman? Did he think the clue was going to be between her thighs??
If I was a wealthy Lord historical London, I would do something called HIRE people to investigate. Maybe I should go back to reading about middle class folk, when you need to put food on your table you don't have time to research the death of people you don't even like.
(Side peeve, why do villains have to always be crazy? Why can't they be sane? The sane ones are scarier.)
Heroine: I got real tired of her moaning about accidentally trapping him. Every conversation between them went
' do you love her?'
'no I don't' a few days later
'do you love her?' 🙄
I'm adding a new tag because of this book #bookofsexmadehimloveme
She forgives Way too quickly. And he's not even fully honest with her, he didn't tell her he had his hand on another woman's boobs.
She doesn't really have much of a personality. Everything we learn about her and attached to him. And she's all about sacrificing herself for the men in her life. Not surprising since every conversation the women had in this book was about men.
I deeply dislike how her reputation had to be sacrificed for another woman and her everyone around her was okay with that??
*mini spoiler*
I also can't be the only one uncomfortable with the villain being a gay man that enjoys sodomizing his victims.
GR friends, if you know a book where the h doesn't immediately believe another woman or anyone else when they reveal something about the H and actually CONFRONT the H. Please recommend.
This h was so very stupid, but so was the H so congrats on the HEA I guess.
Hero: basically 'I thought I was in love but if that wasn't love then I don't know what love is!'. Angst!
He gets over thinking about her like a sister very quickly don't worry. He also tries to be a good husband, until he gets it into his head that he can be a detective too...? Then tried to seduce another woman? Did he think the clue was going to be between her thighs??
If I was a wealthy Lord historical London, I would do something called HIRE people to investigate. Maybe I should go back to reading about middle class folk, when you need to put food on your table you don't have time to research the death of people you don't even like.
(Side peeve, why do villains have to always be crazy? Why can't they be sane? The sane ones are scarier.)
Heroine: I got real tired of her moaning about accidentally trapping him. Every conversation between them went
' do you love her?'
'no I don't' a few days later
'do you love her?' 🙄
I'm adding a new tag because of this book #bookofsexmadehimloveme
She forgives Way too quickly. And he's not even fully honest with her, he didn't tell her he had his hand on another woman's boobs.
She doesn't really have much of a personality. Everything we learn about her and attached to him. And she's all about sacrificing herself for the men in her life. Not surprising since every conversation the women had in this book was about men.
I deeply dislike how her reputation had to be sacrificed for another woman and her everyone around her was okay with that??
*mini spoiler*
I also can't be the only one uncomfortable with the villain being a gay man that enjoys sodomizing his victims.
May 22, 2017
Don't you just LOVE the cover!!!!! Passionate Love Story!
I was soooo excited to read this and it DID not disappoint..... le sigh! ♥
I love historical romances for the passion, the angst, the desires, the intensity the Hero and heroine feel... you know you are reading a great author when you can FEEL every emotion through the pages... and Brownwen Evans does exactly that.
In this 3rd installment in the Invitation to series.... you are introduced to Richard and Madeline (Maddy). They have known each other for many years. Circumstances have Maddy saving Richard's arse and that in turn, ends them up together. As we know how critical and judgemental the ton can be, and women cannot be caught in compromising positions, without risking ruination (I LOVE that word!!!) And, alas Richard and Maddy embark on quite a journey of passion, angst, realization, and drama (of course no good historical romance could be without drama. And it was of the delicious, wickedest kind. We see someone FINALLY get what was coming to them!!!! And another seemingly sane person, not so sane!!)
I DEVOURED this in one afternoon.
Tears and Smiles. Well worth the time, and price!!
Looking forward to the next book from this very talented author! She is an automatic one-click for me.
I was soooo excited to read this and it DID not disappoint..... le sigh! ♥
I love historical romances for the passion, the angst, the desires, the intensity the Hero and heroine feel... you know you are reading a great author when you can FEEL every emotion through the pages... and Brownwen Evans does exactly that.
In this 3rd installment in the Invitation to series.... you are introduced to Richard and Madeline (Maddy). They have known each other for many years. Circumstances have Maddy saving Richard's arse and that in turn, ends them up together. As we know how critical and judgemental the ton can be, and women cannot be caught in compromising positions, without risking ruination (I LOVE that word!!!) And, alas Richard and Maddy embark on quite a journey of passion, angst, realization, and drama (of course no good historical romance could be without drama. And it was of the delicious, wickedest kind. We see someone FINALLY get what was coming to them!!!! And another seemingly sane person, not so sane!!)
I DEVOURED this in one afternoon.
Tears and Smiles. Well worth the time, and price!!
Looking forward to the next book from this very talented author! She is an automatic one-click for me.
July 17, 2014
This was the first Invitation To book I've read. I've read the Disgraced Lords series from this author and am in love with her work. So I read this one and fell in love. I seriously need to go back and read the rest!! This is one crazy powerful suspenseful series. This book is fantastic.
"There is a difference between loving me and being in love with me." This book is so emotional. It made me smile and I for real cried! It was so beautiful and well written! Not to mention, it was sexy!
"Primal awareness shimmered through Maddy as he began his sensuous assault all over again." You'll fan yourself, you'll ride the rollercoaster of emotion. It doesn't matter if you haven't read the rest of the series. This book can be stand alone and still fill you in! I'm in love with this author. She has quickly risen to my top 10 faves!
"There is a difference between loving me and being in love with me." This book is so emotional. It made me smile and I for real cried! It was so beautiful and well written! Not to mention, it was sexy!
"Primal awareness shimmered through Maddy as he began his sensuous assault all over again." You'll fan yourself, you'll ride the rollercoaster of emotion. It doesn't matter if you haven't read the rest of the series. This book can be stand alone and still fill you in! I'm in love with this author. She has quickly risen to my top 10 faves!
March 18, 2023
My favourite part of finishing a book is sitting there trying to fit the book into all the shelf tags I have.
Woulda given it 3 stars except the main villain being a gay man who also is a serial rapist and pedophile seemed uhhhhhh a tad homophobic in my honest opinion. I'm not reading to see people identifying with marginalized groups act in negative and damaging stereotypical ways, unless, there's some deeper commentary going on? But no, this is a smutty angsty MoC romance where the ML has a flighty sense of love and the FL is his young plucky best friend and now wife who's in love with him. Maybe I'm expecting too much from the author. Who knows? I do know that it gave me a sense of wrongness.
The ending was meh and I'm not reading the rest of this series.
Woulda given it 3 stars except the main villain being a gay man who also is a serial rapist and pedophile seemed uhhhhhh a tad homophobic in my honest opinion. I'm not reading to see people identifying with marginalized groups act in negative and damaging stereotypical ways, unless, there's some deeper commentary going on? But no, this is a smutty angsty MoC romance where the ML has a flighty sense of love and the FL is his young plucky best friend and now wife who's in love with him. Maybe I'm expecting too much from the author. Who knows? I do know that it gave me a sense of wrongness.
The ending was meh and I'm not reading the rest of this series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2014
Lord Richard is heartbroken when he loses the woman he loves to an arranged marriage to an evil man. Desperate to be with Sarah, he finds himself in a compromising position and the only one able to save him is Maddy who has had a crush on him for years. Richard is now being forced to marry a girl he views more as his sister than a wife. I loved this book, the story is exciting and fast paced and even though it takes Richard some time to figure things out I do like him. Maddy was a bit naïve but she knew what she wanted, Richard. Great characters, with lots of romance and danger, a wonderful read to escape into. Enjoy!
July 22, 2014
whoa I loved this historical romance. Maddy and Richard were so easy to fall in love with because each had their own set of flaws that made them more human in my eyes. Richard is this wonderful hero who doesn't know his own heart and never discovered what love really meant until Maddy came along and taught him. Romance, Intrigue and so much more! 5 stars! I can't wait for the next one as this was my first invitation book as well. I will need to go back and read the others because I also fell in love with the other characters such as Rufus, Anthony, Melissa and Rhedda. :)
July 19, 2014
Ms Evans does it again
November 27, 2014
A Myrt's Review
Invitation to Passion (My Lord's) by Bronwen Evans
The Course of True Love...
Madeline Knight thought she was helping her long time friend Richard Craven from being found in a compromising situation with married lady, Sarah Wrentham, only to end up compromising herself and being quickly married off to Richard in a matter of days!
Maddy and Richard have been friends for years, ever since he rescued her at 13 from bullies. He has always been her hero and as she grew older, her secret crush. However, she never expected to actually marry the dashing ladies man. Richard thinks of Maddy as a little sister, in fact, the little sister of one of his closest friends. He is in love with Sarah, who had been forced to marry another man. He never expected to marry his sweet friend, Maddy.
While Maddy was growing up, her brother, Rufus, had relentlessly worked to redeem the family name from years of disgrace by proving their late father had been falsely accused of treason. During that time Richard had filled the void left in Maddy's life by befriending her and exchanging in a regular correspondence with her over the years setting the foundation for a deep friendship.
Maddy had hoped to marry for love and despite her feelings for Richard she hoped to marry a man who loved her back. Maddy knows Richard is in love with Sarah and doesn't want to force him into a loveless marriage. Richard doesn't want to see his dear friend ruined in Society because of his selfish actions and wants do the right thing by her so he insists they marry.
When Richard really looks at Maddy as his prospective wife he stops seeing her as a little sister and sees the beautiful young woman she has become. One of the best things in the book is the open and honest friendship the two have and how Maddy has always been able to ask Richard about anything over the years and he has always given her the respect of an honest answer. As they discuss their marriage and what they want it to be, they agree they want to maintain their special friendship and they both acknowledge they want more than a marriage of convenience. Maddy asks only that Richard continue to be completely honest with her and when he takes a mistress, as she assumes he will eventually, that he tell her. Richard wants to tell her that this would never happen but he doesn't know if he can trust himself and instead promises her he will always be honest with her.
One of Ms. Evans' strong suit is the intimate and passionate love scenes she writes. Her heroines usually have a wedding night that virtually sets the reader's own room on fire and Maddy is no exception. Her and Richard's first night together starts their new life off with figurative fireworks for both of them and helps to solidify their new relationship. It also deepens Richard's resolve to always make sure Maddy is happy in their marriage.
But there is still Sarah, whose husband manages to die in a suspicious fall from a horse while Maddy and Richard are being married. Richard ends up helping the needy Sarah, who is now either a murderess or a potential victim to someone after her husband's estate. Sarah also makes it clear she is very much interested in continuing their previous relationship, In a nice turn, Richard realizes he doesn't want to be with Sarah anymore and keeps Maddy informed of everything that is happening with Sarah. Except of course for one little, tiny detail...
The story continues with the mystery of Wrentham's death, a suddenly supportive and handsome new friend who shows up at the right times to rescue our heroine, old grudges coming back to haunt, and it is never a good idea to break a promise, no matter how much of a good idea it seemed at the time.
The biggest issue in all this for Richard is the question of true love and is it possible. He comes to love Maddy so much that he constantly questions whether his love for her is enough. Maddy is not the only one to be in love for the first time. For Richard, his history of superficial relationships in the past where he thought he was in love make him doubt his capacity for the real thing when he has it. It's up to Maddy to show him the way.
I really enjoyed the easy banter between the characters. Maddy's openness with Richard was refreshing in the way she really could and often did ask him about anything. Richard's attempts to always answer honestly even when the subject was something a young Society lady should know nothing about were very amusing. I really liked that they had such a strong physical chemistry to match their emotional one. Sarah was definitely set up to be a bad girl but just how bad was the question running through the story and kept her interesting.
This is the third in a series and can be read as a standalone like I did but the ending was a bit murky (although completely resolved) with the sudden appearance and reference to characters and incidents in the previous books. I look forward to reading those two now as well.
This a wonderful read for those who are interested in a Regency romance that offers more than a series of misunderstandings!
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Invitation to Passion (My Lord's) by Bronwen Evans
The Course of True Love...
Madeline Knight thought she was helping her long time friend Richard Craven from being found in a compromising situation with married lady, Sarah Wrentham, only to end up compromising herself and being quickly married off to Richard in a matter of days!
Maddy and Richard have been friends for years, ever since he rescued her at 13 from bullies. He has always been her hero and as she grew older, her secret crush. However, she never expected to actually marry the dashing ladies man. Richard thinks of Maddy as a little sister, in fact, the little sister of one of his closest friends. He is in love with Sarah, who had been forced to marry another man. He never expected to marry his sweet friend, Maddy.
While Maddy was growing up, her brother, Rufus, had relentlessly worked to redeem the family name from years of disgrace by proving their late father had been falsely accused of treason. During that time Richard had filled the void left in Maddy's life by befriending her and exchanging in a regular correspondence with her over the years setting the foundation for a deep friendship.
Maddy had hoped to marry for love and despite her feelings for Richard she hoped to marry a man who loved her back. Maddy knows Richard is in love with Sarah and doesn't want to force him into a loveless marriage. Richard doesn't want to see his dear friend ruined in Society because of his selfish actions and wants do the right thing by her so he insists they marry.
When Richard really looks at Maddy as his prospective wife he stops seeing her as a little sister and sees the beautiful young woman she has become. One of the best things in the book is the open and honest friendship the two have and how Maddy has always been able to ask Richard about anything over the years and he has always given her the respect of an honest answer. As they discuss their marriage and what they want it to be, they agree they want to maintain their special friendship and they both acknowledge they want more than a marriage of convenience. Maddy asks only that Richard continue to be completely honest with her and when he takes a mistress, as she assumes he will eventually, that he tell her. Richard wants to tell her that this would never happen but he doesn't know if he can trust himself and instead promises her he will always be honest with her.
One of Ms. Evans' strong suit is the intimate and passionate love scenes she writes. Her heroines usually have a wedding night that virtually sets the reader's own room on fire and Maddy is no exception. Her and Richard's first night together starts their new life off with figurative fireworks for both of them and helps to solidify their new relationship. It also deepens Richard's resolve to always make sure Maddy is happy in their marriage.
But there is still Sarah, whose husband manages to die in a suspicious fall from a horse while Maddy and Richard are being married. Richard ends up helping the needy Sarah, who is now either a murderess or a potential victim to someone after her husband's estate. Sarah also makes it clear she is very much interested in continuing their previous relationship, In a nice turn, Richard realizes he doesn't want to be with Sarah anymore and keeps Maddy informed of everything that is happening with Sarah. Except of course for one little, tiny detail...
The story continues with the mystery of Wrentham's death, a suddenly supportive and handsome new friend who shows up at the right times to rescue our heroine, old grudges coming back to haunt, and it is never a good idea to break a promise, no matter how much of a good idea it seemed at the time.
The biggest issue in all this for Richard is the question of true love and is it possible. He comes to love Maddy so much that he constantly questions whether his love for her is enough. Maddy is not the only one to be in love for the first time. For Richard, his history of superficial relationships in the past where he thought he was in love make him doubt his capacity for the real thing when he has it. It's up to Maddy to show him the way.
I really enjoyed the easy banter between the characters. Maddy's openness with Richard was refreshing in the way she really could and often did ask him about anything. Richard's attempts to always answer honestly even when the subject was something a young Society lady should know nothing about were very amusing. I really liked that they had such a strong physical chemistry to match their emotional one. Sarah was definitely set up to be a bad girl but just how bad was the question running through the story and kept her interesting.
This is the third in a series and can be read as a standalone like I did but the ending was a bit murky (although completely resolved) with the sudden appearance and reference to characters and incidents in the previous books. I look forward to reading those two now as well.
This a wonderful read for those who are interested in a Regency romance that offers more than a series of misunderstandings!
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
August 23, 2014
I was raised on historical romance novels and it is still my favorite subgenre. Give me the ball gowns, mansions, lords and ladies, and I’m a happy woman. But give me a marriage of convenience between the hero and heroine and I’m practically giddy.
That’s how I felt when I began reading Invitation to Passion by Bronwen Evans and I just got happier and happier as I lost myself in this engrossing tale of friendship turned to love. I could not have asked for more from Ms. Evans. Her tale gave me everything I would want or need in a romance. A heroine head over heels in love with a man who doesn’t yet return the love? Check. A hero who is handsome, charming and caring? Check. A villain you love to hate? Check. A forced marriage to avoid scandal? Check. Passion and drama with some suspense as a bonus? Check. A happy and satisfying ending? Check and double check.
Once I began reading, I could not put the book down. I found myself sneaking off at work to just get in one more chapter. I stayed up late reading because the need to find out what would happen next far outweighed the need for sleep. Let me tell you that every dark circle under my eyes was well worth it.
Madeline and Richard have been friends ever since Richard rescued a young Maddy from a bunch of bullies. They maintained their friendship through a series of letters that are unveiled throughout the book. Maddy slowly fell in love with her white knight but had come to accept that he would never be hers. That is until the night that she stepped in to help save him and inadvertently compromised her own reputation forcing the two to get married. But what would happen to their friendship now that they were husband and wife.
While it was no surprise that Richard would eventually fall in love with his beautiful wife, I still enjoyed the journey that he took to get to that point. Though I must confess that I sometimes found myself shaking my head at some of his stupid antics that he resulted from his misplaced notion that he was protecting his wife.
Ms. Evans provided the reader with believable characters that drew my sympathy and respect. Despite the times, Maddy was not a wishy-washy female. She was smart and independent and willing to do whatever was necessary to protect the man she loved. Richard was a compassionate and caring man who wasn’t in the least bit the typical arrogant man that you see in many historicals. He wasn’t perfect and made many mistakes, but only because he cared too much.
Even the secondary characters were interesting. I loved the relationships that Maddy had with her brother and his wife, as well as the one between Richard and his twin brother and his wife. The friendship between the men, and the one between the women was so authentic and just added another layer of enjoyment to the book.
As if all the romance and passion wasn’t enough, Ms. Evans provided us with suspense and drama that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read. I completely lost myself in the world she created.
Invitation to Passion is the third book in the My Lord’s series. I have not read the other books in the series but had no difficulty following along. Of course, I will have to go back and read those books because I am so intrigued now as to their stories. However, this is not the first historical by Ms. Evans that I have read. She has impressed me with her writing ability and I am excited to have a new go to author for when I need that historical romance fix.
That’s how I felt when I began reading Invitation to Passion by Bronwen Evans and I just got happier and happier as I lost myself in this engrossing tale of friendship turned to love. I could not have asked for more from Ms. Evans. Her tale gave me everything I would want or need in a romance. A heroine head over heels in love with a man who doesn’t yet return the love? Check. A hero who is handsome, charming and caring? Check. A villain you love to hate? Check. A forced marriage to avoid scandal? Check. Passion and drama with some suspense as a bonus? Check. A happy and satisfying ending? Check and double check.
Once I began reading, I could not put the book down. I found myself sneaking off at work to just get in one more chapter. I stayed up late reading because the need to find out what would happen next far outweighed the need for sleep. Let me tell you that every dark circle under my eyes was well worth it.
Madeline and Richard have been friends ever since Richard rescued a young Maddy from a bunch of bullies. They maintained their friendship through a series of letters that are unveiled throughout the book. Maddy slowly fell in love with her white knight but had come to accept that he would never be hers. That is until the night that she stepped in to help save him and inadvertently compromised her own reputation forcing the two to get married. But what would happen to their friendship now that they were husband and wife.
While it was no surprise that Richard would eventually fall in love with his beautiful wife, I still enjoyed the journey that he took to get to that point. Though I must confess that I sometimes found myself shaking my head at some of his stupid antics that he resulted from his misplaced notion that he was protecting his wife.
Ms. Evans provided the reader with believable characters that drew my sympathy and respect. Despite the times, Maddy was not a wishy-washy female. She was smart and independent and willing to do whatever was necessary to protect the man she loved. Richard was a compassionate and caring man who wasn’t in the least bit the typical arrogant man that you see in many historicals. He wasn’t perfect and made many mistakes, but only because he cared too much.
Even the secondary characters were interesting. I loved the relationships that Maddy had with her brother and his wife, as well as the one between Richard and his twin brother and his wife. The friendship between the men, and the one between the women was so authentic and just added another layer of enjoyment to the book.
As if all the romance and passion wasn’t enough, Ms. Evans provided us with suspense and drama that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could read. I completely lost myself in the world she created.
Invitation to Passion is the third book in the My Lord’s series. I have not read the other books in the series but had no difficulty following along. Of course, I will have to go back and read those books because I am so intrigued now as to their stories. However, this is not the first historical by Ms. Evans that I have read. She has impressed me with her writing ability and I am excited to have a new go to author for when I need that historical romance fix.
July 16, 2014
Madeline Knight has been in love with Lord Richard Craven for years, but Richard has had his eyes set on the now married Sarah and even though she is married, Richard has no qualms about having a liaison with her. Madeline and Richard have been best friends since the time the now twenty-one year old was thirteen. Richard and Rufus, Madeline's older brother have been friends and since Rufus was away clearing his father's name of treason, he had nothing to say about the odd relationship between his sister and his friend.
Rufus is having a party for his sister. It's time for the sheltered Madeline to open up a bit and begin to feel out her prospects. While at her party, Richard whisks the well married, Sarah off to an empty room with amorous intentions for his ex-lover. When Sarah's cruel husband seeks out the pair, knowing they must have an affair going on, Madeline jumps in to save Richard from being called out, but in turn ends up being compromised publicly. Rufus insists on a wedding between his sister and his friend to save face and Madeline's faltering reputation.
Maddy feels she has trapped Richard into a marriage he didn't want, but the more time they spend in each other's company, the more the marriage feels right to Richard. Maddy needs more convincing, because even though Richard makes her feel like a treasured wife, when they are alone, she also feels like the third wheel when Sarah is around. When Sarah's husband dies in an apparent hunting accident, Madeline is unimaginably distressed that through her own fault, Richard is not with the woman he truly loves, but with the friend he had to settle for.
When Sarah's husband's so called accident turns into an apparent murder, Richard and his brother, Anthony set out to find out who the culprit is. In the meantime,an old enemies appears and worms its way into the brother's lives, carefully planning reckoning for the death of the enemy's loved one. Time may be running out for Richard to save his wife from evil's hands, and prove to her that she is all he really wants and needs.
INVITATION TO PASSION by Bronwen Evans is a face-paced thrill of a ride. Lord Richard Craven has been put on on a pedestal by the naive Madeline from a young age, but with age,comes wisdom. Although a rake, Richard is a good man, who promises to never intentionally hurt his Maddy, but intentions fall short sometimes. The couple must work through their issues, if only outside forces weren't always against them. This third installment of the INVITATION TO series is a strong story with passionate budding romance. Bronwen Evans has cemented her place as one of my favorite authors and I eagerly await each and every word she puts to pen. I strongly recommend INVITATION TO PASSION as it is a wonderful book.
~KIMBERLY~
September 8, 2021
The Honorable Richard John Craven, handsome, white knight to damsels in distress and rake is watching his life turn upside down. He is not sure what true love is and if he is capable of the feeling.
Madeline Knight, sister of Viscount Strathmore, is strong, loving, compassionate, loyal and lonely. She has only known life in the country and the censure of society as the daughter of a supposed traitor to the crown. Regarding marriage, she knows she wants a man to love that loves her totally and completely and wishes that man is Richard.
Richard and Madeline have a wonderfully unique relationship- they are friends and have been corresponding for six years. Because of a shallow manipulation they find themselves married, both bringing their insecurities with them. Their road to love is filled with murder investigations, ex-lover manipulations, fire, lies and betrayal, danger, abductions and a flaming passion neither of them knew their friendship help.
With her usual style, humor and brilliant characters we are on a wonderful journey of emotional discovery where the heroine must convince our hero he is worthy of her love. We see the white knight rescued by her strong love. Ms. Evans brings the hero’s into the open with grace and leaves you cheering as he comes to believe in himself and his capacity to really love another. Throughout the story Madeline is steadfast in her love of Richard, but her youth and secluded upbringing add a vulnerability to the journey. The characters that support Richard and Madeline love are charming and in-depth and add layers of emotion I enjoyed.
The subplot that pulls the story together has excellent villains. The shallow, spoiled and spitefulness of these characters keep you turning the pages to see evil overturned by good and love.
I am a fan of Ms. Evans’ writing and was not disappointed. I recommend this and her other stories wholeheartedly. I missed the book before this in the series, but will be going back to read it. Once again, well done, Ms. Evans.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Madeline Knight, sister of Viscount Strathmore, is strong, loving, compassionate, loyal and lonely. She has only known life in the country and the censure of society as the daughter of a supposed traitor to the crown. Regarding marriage, she knows she wants a man to love that loves her totally and completely and wishes that man is Richard.
Richard and Madeline have a wonderfully unique relationship- they are friends and have been corresponding for six years. Because of a shallow manipulation they find themselves married, both bringing their insecurities with them. Their road to love is filled with murder investigations, ex-lover manipulations, fire, lies and betrayal, danger, abductions and a flaming passion neither of them knew their friendship help.
With her usual style, humor and brilliant characters we are on a wonderful journey of emotional discovery where the heroine must convince our hero he is worthy of her love. We see the white knight rescued by her strong love. Ms. Evans brings the hero’s into the open with grace and leaves you cheering as he comes to believe in himself and his capacity to really love another. Throughout the story Madeline is steadfast in her love of Richard, but her youth and secluded upbringing add a vulnerability to the journey. The characters that support Richard and Madeline love are charming and in-depth and add layers of emotion I enjoyed.
The subplot that pulls the story together has excellent villains. The shallow, spoiled and spitefulness of these characters keep you turning the pages to see evil overturned by good and love.
I am a fan of Ms. Evans’ writing and was not disappointed. I recommend this and her other stories wholeheartedly. I missed the book before this in the series, but will be going back to read it. Once again, well done, Ms. Evans.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
August 2, 2014
I am really loving this series. One of my favorite things about this book is the Heroine. She had to grow up fast in her young life. Her maturity and strength at such a young age helped her get through the difficult things that happened to her in this book. I love how every book in this series carries on the story with each book. To be able to revisit the characters from the other books and see how their lives are going and how their families are growing. It is almost like checking in with old friends. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
March 17, 2021
Have you ever hate watched a show? Well I hate read this book, and I clearly hated it! This book made me so angry I actually had a headache from reading it. There’s so many wrong things with this book that I can’t list them all without getting angry all over again.
The only reason I gave this book two stars is because I liked the cover. Suffice to say I’m not reading another book by Bronwen Evans because they clearly don’t know how to write a historical romance or any romance for that matter.
The only reason I gave this book two stars is because I liked the cover. Suffice to say I’m not reading another book by Bronwen Evans because they clearly don’t know how to write a historical romance or any romance for that matter.
January 15, 2024
Ridiculous and cheesy.
Richard is "madly in love" with Sarah, his ex, who unfortunately was forced to marry someone else, but Richard and Sarah continue to see each other and have touching and kissing, although Sarah's husband is jealously possessive, meanwhile we have Maddy, the little sister of Richard's best friend, but she is secretly in love with Richard and in fact Richard and she are friends (completely wrong and improbable for the time ) , so when she sees that Sarah's husband is about to discover the affair, she intervenes and makes everyone think that she is the one who is with Richard, a scandal is made, Richard ends up forced to marry Maddy, but shortly after Sarah becomes a widow and claims to be pregnant with Richard's child, however it takes Richard a day to fall in love with Maddy, so everything It's about misunderstandings, mistrust and bad guys against good guys....
The plot seemed promising, I really wanted to read a complicated regency romance, with a third party involved and real, complex, interesting characters, well unfortunately this book was a big disappointment....
Starting with the plot, which turned out to be pure smoke and one of the simplest, cloying, ridiculous and stupid that I have read, although the first 20 pages reflect the sadness of impossible love, a real internal conflict in Richard, the customs of a time that forced the union or separation of people and unrequited love, the truth is that that turns out to be nothing, it doesn't take Richard a day to forget Sarah, and fall in love with Mady. Excuse me? If you tell me that your whole life you saw her as a younger sister, how? Why ? At what time? Well apparently it all has to do with the fact that Maddy is the most beautiful woman in the world, blessed god!!!! Because apart from that there is nothing in that couple.....
Now what about Sarah? Richard swore eternal love to her for months, he proposed to her, he thought about dueling for her, running away with her and she gave herself to him, risking her reputation and her life!!!! But from one day to the next, Richard discovers that he never loved her, only that he is a gentleman with a huge heart who has the defect of wanting to save everyone and that leads him to think that he loves all the damsels in distress, and that was what happened to him with Sarah..... Which is not only absurd but also has no logic, first a gentleman, a good man, would not sleep with a single woman knowing that he would ruin her like he did with Sarah and even more so thinking that " HE LOVED HER , second when he met and became entangled with Sarah she was not in any danger she was not a damsel in distress so his woman saving complex did not apply, and third if his protective instinct was what kept him tied to her why did he lose the interest in her? I mean she was in serious danger at that moment but the only thing he thought about was having sex with Maddy....
So like I said this is stupid and I'm not even done, let's go to the next point, most of the conversations in the book (which are boring as hell) are about one thing EVERYONE debates and gives their opinion about the concept of love. As if love could be defined 🙄 it was horribly boring to read that, but in the end the most horrible thing is that everyone seems to think (even the author) that love is just sex!!!! Richard loves Maddy because he loves her body, her face and having sex with her!!! I hope to God that this is a magical universe and that Maddy never gets old and that she never gets bored of having sex, because then Richard will leave her, he is not even sure if he will be faithful to her in the long term, so poor stupid girl .....and seriously there is nothing else there, there is no chemistry, there is no complicity or common themes, they never cause tenderness nor are they even pleasant, so it was so frustrating to have to read so much debate about love and see the conclusion , silly and erroneous that everyone came to, although it was funny that everyone was happy feeling loved 🤣🤣🤣 now my other big problem with the story is the characters are so boring, so flat and absurd that they are very boring EVERYONE EVERYONE is good as saints or bad as the devil, the good ones, as I said, are RIDICULOUS, no one in the world is that perfect, you see good men, they are saints, they have no weaknesses, they love their women with patience, devotion and passion, they never shout, they never get angry, they never say bad things , and obviously they NEVER make mistakes, they are strong, handsome, rich, brave and with titles, their conversations between men are very stupid, they are like I love my wife, not I love mine more, not me more, she is My light of life is sweet, my air that I breathe......🙄🙄🙄 which is the same as implausible and BOOOORING!!! But on top of that, everyone thinks they are superheroes and they happily offer to solve a crime 🤣🤣🤣🤣 as far as I remember there were police and also investigators, but NO the author wants to make them more important and also more stupid why do they believe all the lies that they are told? Hello!!! Nobody is like that in real life and reading a novel with those characters is predictable at least for me, the women are not to mention perfect, each and every one is a Mary Sue, starting with Maddy, she is young, beautiful, good in bed, educated, a good person, sweet with the poor, patient , good wife, and of course everyone loves her and falls in love with her, even people who don't know her admire her 🥱🥱🥱 Why? I have no idea, Maddy grew up secluded in her country house but for some reason everyone knows that she is beautiful and a good person, and she functions perfectly in society even though she tells us over and over again how sad it was to grow up alone and without society (🤔🤔🤔) plus it's so annoying to read over and over and over and over again how beautiful she is.... It was clear the 10th time, seriously!!!! In general, all women are like that in the book, but in Maddy's case, another thing that bothered me is how she encourages the idea that it is okay to keep everything quiet, to beg, to humiliate oneself, to endure, to beg, why is love encouraged like this? Sorry? I have read novels with submissive protagonists, especially medieval ones, but none as stupid as this one, which also has no justification and its story does not respond to that attitude.
Furthermore, although I understand that passion is a fundamental part of the novel, it seemed absurd and even silly to me to read as She spent her time looking for ways to seduce her husband in bed to make him fall in love, which of course makes sense because in the book SEX = LOVE but that someone raised in the countryside in a traditional way and without experience will behave like an expert prostitute In the kamasutra it seemed improbable to me and I don't mind the sex scenes that are quite bad in this book for my taste, nor that she was the way she was but rather that she does it not because she likes it but because she wants to make Richard happy.. ... And Maddy's entire life revolves around making him happy, she even offers to get a divorce for his sake, 🙄 And don't get me wrong, of course sex is a fundamental part but why have we never seen her, do something more personal and different ??? Embroider something? A special gift? Take care of him in an illness? Show him that she is an efficient manager? I don't know anything more than something cute, tender, functional, anything more than presenting herself as her free whore. Although we didn't see him do anything either, in fact, they almost raped her and killed her because he is a terrible husband, but Maddy forgives him so easily because in her eyes he is perfect, the stupid girl even jumps for joy when Richard tells her that he never loved Sarah that he loves her, HALLELUJAH!!! Let's hope Richard doesn't change his mind in three days.....
Now the thing about the bad guys taking revenge is predictable from the beginning and we know how it will end, there is no drama or surprise, and Sarah being a bitch was nothing new either, but it was also unfair, she fell in love with Richard and gave herself to him. , she wanted to marry him, and then she got married because her family forced her, Richard himself tells us that he didn't try very hard to save her, her husband was a damn abusive man, the poor thing sees the love of her life Richard marry another woman and love the new girl in less than 24 hours, so yes she takes things into her own hands, she gets rid of her husband and tries to get Richard back, why did she think he loved her but SHE IS THE CRAZY AND THE BAD ..... Seriously?? ??? I honestly thought she would be a normal person but she does join the ranks of crazy exes, because you know one should hate her and not the guy who cheated on her, took her virginity and then left her, a bastard right?? ? But since he is the protagonist and must be perfect, let's make her a lying bitch that justifies everything Richard did to her, I say maybe it would have been better to make Richard someone more human with flaws, make him fall little by little in love with Maddy, make him mature and accept that although he loved Sarah (because Dear author, a person can love more than once) he must overcome it for the sake of both and be happy, let's also make her a woman who separates from her husband and who faces scandal and all because it is the only option left but NOOOO let's copy all the clichés in the world and repeat the same old story!!!
I really had a hard time finishing this book and I definitely don't plan to read anything else by this author, I guess it's not for me, I don't like predictable stories with perfect characters, but if you want cheesy romances and simple stories you might enjoy it...
Richard is "madly in love" with Sarah, his ex, who unfortunately was forced to marry someone else, but Richard and Sarah continue to see each other and have touching and kissing, although Sarah's husband is jealously possessive, meanwhile we have Maddy, the little sister of Richard's best friend, but she is secretly in love with Richard and in fact Richard and she are friends (completely wrong and improbable for the time ) , so when she sees that Sarah's husband is about to discover the affair, she intervenes and makes everyone think that she is the one who is with Richard, a scandal is made, Richard ends up forced to marry Maddy, but shortly after Sarah becomes a widow and claims to be pregnant with Richard's child, however it takes Richard a day to fall in love with Maddy, so everything It's about misunderstandings, mistrust and bad guys against good guys....
The plot seemed promising, I really wanted to read a complicated regency romance, with a third party involved and real, complex, interesting characters, well unfortunately this book was a big disappointment....
Starting with the plot, which turned out to be pure smoke and one of the simplest, cloying, ridiculous and stupid that I have read, although the first 20 pages reflect the sadness of impossible love, a real internal conflict in Richard, the customs of a time that forced the union or separation of people and unrequited love, the truth is that that turns out to be nothing, it doesn't take Richard a day to forget Sarah, and fall in love with Mady. Excuse me? If you tell me that your whole life you saw her as a younger sister, how? Why ? At what time? Well apparently it all has to do with the fact that Maddy is the most beautiful woman in the world, blessed god!!!! Because apart from that there is nothing in that couple.....
Now what about Sarah? Richard swore eternal love to her for months, he proposed to her, he thought about dueling for her, running away with her and she gave herself to him, risking her reputation and her life!!!! But from one day to the next, Richard discovers that he never loved her, only that he is a gentleman with a huge heart who has the defect of wanting to save everyone and that leads him to think that he loves all the damsels in distress, and that was what happened to him with Sarah..... Which is not only absurd but also has no logic, first a gentleman, a good man, would not sleep with a single woman knowing that he would ruin her like he did with Sarah and even more so thinking that " HE LOVED HER , second when he met and became entangled with Sarah she was not in any danger she was not a damsel in distress so his woman saving complex did not apply, and third if his protective instinct was what kept him tied to her why did he lose the interest in her? I mean she was in serious danger at that moment but the only thing he thought about was having sex with Maddy....
So like I said this is stupid and I'm not even done, let's go to the next point, most of the conversations in the book (which are boring as hell) are about one thing EVERYONE debates and gives their opinion about the concept of love. As if love could be defined 🙄 it was horribly boring to read that, but in the end the most horrible thing is that everyone seems to think (even the author) that love is just sex!!!! Richard loves Maddy because he loves her body, her face and having sex with her!!! I hope to God that this is a magical universe and that Maddy never gets old and that she never gets bored of having sex, because then Richard will leave her, he is not even sure if he will be faithful to her in the long term, so poor stupid girl .....and seriously there is nothing else there, there is no chemistry, there is no complicity or common themes, they never cause tenderness nor are they even pleasant, so it was so frustrating to have to read so much debate about love and see the conclusion , silly and erroneous that everyone came to, although it was funny that everyone was happy feeling loved 🤣🤣🤣 now my other big problem with the story is the characters are so boring, so flat and absurd that they are very boring EVERYONE EVERYONE is good as saints or bad as the devil, the good ones, as I said, are RIDICULOUS, no one in the world is that perfect, you see good men, they are saints, they have no weaknesses, they love their women with patience, devotion and passion, they never shout, they never get angry, they never say bad things , and obviously they NEVER make mistakes, they are strong, handsome, rich, brave and with titles, their conversations between men are very stupid, they are like I love my wife, not I love mine more, not me more, she is My light of life is sweet, my air that I breathe......🙄🙄🙄 which is the same as implausible and BOOOORING!!! But on top of that, everyone thinks they are superheroes and they happily offer to solve a crime 🤣🤣🤣🤣 as far as I remember there were police and also investigators, but NO the author wants to make them more important and also more stupid why do they believe all the lies that they are told? Hello!!! Nobody is like that in real life and reading a novel with those characters is predictable at least for me, the women are not to mention perfect, each and every one is a Mary Sue, starting with Maddy, she is young, beautiful, good in bed, educated, a good person, sweet with the poor, patient , good wife, and of course everyone loves her and falls in love with her, even people who don't know her admire her 🥱🥱🥱 Why? I have no idea, Maddy grew up secluded in her country house but for some reason everyone knows that she is beautiful and a good person, and she functions perfectly in society even though she tells us over and over again how sad it was to grow up alone and without society (🤔🤔🤔) plus it's so annoying to read over and over and over and over again how beautiful she is.... It was clear the 10th time, seriously!!!! In general, all women are like that in the book, but in Maddy's case, another thing that bothered me is how she encourages the idea that it is okay to keep everything quiet, to beg, to humiliate oneself, to endure, to beg, why is love encouraged like this? Sorry? I have read novels with submissive protagonists, especially medieval ones, but none as stupid as this one, which also has no justification and its story does not respond to that attitude.
Furthermore, although I understand that passion is a fundamental part of the novel, it seemed absurd and even silly to me to read as She spent her time looking for ways to seduce her husband in bed to make him fall in love, which of course makes sense because in the book SEX = LOVE but that someone raised in the countryside in a traditional way and without experience will behave like an expert prostitute In the kamasutra it seemed improbable to me and I don't mind the sex scenes that are quite bad in this book for my taste, nor that she was the way she was but rather that she does it not because she likes it but because she wants to make Richard happy.. ... And Maddy's entire life revolves around making him happy, she even offers to get a divorce for his sake, 🙄 And don't get me wrong, of course sex is a fundamental part but why have we never seen her, do something more personal and different ??? Embroider something? A special gift? Take care of him in an illness? Show him that she is an efficient manager? I don't know anything more than something cute, tender, functional, anything more than presenting herself as her free whore. Although we didn't see him do anything either, in fact, they almost raped her and killed her because he is a terrible husband, but Maddy forgives him so easily because in her eyes he is perfect, the stupid girl even jumps for joy when Richard tells her that he never loved Sarah that he loves her, HALLELUJAH!!! Let's hope Richard doesn't change his mind in three days.....
Now the thing about the bad guys taking revenge is predictable from the beginning and we know how it will end, there is no drama or surprise, and Sarah being a bitch was nothing new either, but it was also unfair, she fell in love with Richard and gave herself to him. , she wanted to marry him, and then she got married because her family forced her, Richard himself tells us that he didn't try very hard to save her, her husband was a damn abusive man, the poor thing sees the love of her life Richard marry another woman and love the new girl in less than 24 hours, so yes she takes things into her own hands, she gets rid of her husband and tries to get Richard back, why did she think he loved her but SHE IS THE CRAZY AND THE BAD ..... Seriously?? ??? I honestly thought she would be a normal person but she does join the ranks of crazy exes, because you know one should hate her and not the guy who cheated on her, took her virginity and then left her, a bastard right?? ? But since he is the protagonist and must be perfect, let's make her a lying bitch that justifies everything Richard did to her, I say maybe it would have been better to make Richard someone more human with flaws, make him fall little by little in love with Maddy, make him mature and accept that although he loved Sarah (because Dear author, a person can love more than once) he must overcome it for the sake of both and be happy, let's also make her a woman who separates from her husband and who faces scandal and all because it is the only option left but NOOOO let's copy all the clichés in the world and repeat the same old story!!!
I really had a hard time finishing this book and I definitely don't plan to read anything else by this author, I guess it's not for me, I don't like predictable stories with perfect characters, but if you want cheesy romances and simple stories you might enjoy it...
July 20, 2014
If I could, I would give this way more stars than 5. Because I have read all of the books in this series and I can honestly say this is my favorite from this series. Each time I read one of this fantastic author's books, I feel she cannot make the next one any better. This is just not true, which was proven with Richard and Madeline's story.
This book is definitely a page turner from start to finish. This is one that I will re-read over and over again. It is a keeper. I do not say that lightly. I read a book a day, so I can honestly say I have read too many authors to count. This book, I loved. This author is one of my favorite authors in the Recency genre.
Richard Craven is Maddy's brother Rufu's childhood friend. Richard's saves Maddy from bullies when she was 13 years old. Maddy is like a little sister to Richard so from then on they are friends who write to each other for six years. Maddy was so mature for her age. She realized from early on how special their friendship was. She cherished it and she knew she loved him. She is now a grown woman and loves him, but he sees her as a sister. He thinks he is love with Sarah. There are obstacles in place. Madeline saves Richard, but in turn compromises herself, so Richard offers marriage, which Rufus accepts. Here is where their journey begins, but evil lurks around.
Richard was magnificent throughout and Maddy's devotion and loyalty was unparalleled. I loved the promises they made to one another prior to their marriage. Those promises were so heartfelt, they brought tears to my eyes. And the fact that they truly attempted to keep them was so refreshing. There was no hesitation in the lengths she would be willing to go for her happiness.
The concept of being in love with someone else and marrying another because you respect her and her family too much to ruin your best friend's sister was admirable.
I loved that this gifted author took me, the reader, on this journey of discovery for Richard to figure out what love truly meant for him in his life and would he be capable of: Figuring it out for himself, would love truly exist for him one day, would he recognize it, would he realize who "the one" would really be and would he be able to reciprocate and never waiver once he found her. Or could he possibly, not recognize love and ruin everything.
The letters between the two of them at the beginning of every chapter was brilliant. The intrigue of the evil that lurked around them was truly palpable.
I enjoyed that all of the previous main characters from the other books in this series appeared in this book.
The love scenes were fantastic. Just loved it. People back then lived so very different and accepted things in their lives differently.
This is truly a wonderful book. The series is great. Picked it up and try it.
This book is definitely a page turner from start to finish. This is one that I will re-read over and over again. It is a keeper. I do not say that lightly. I read a book a day, so I can honestly say I have read too many authors to count. This book, I loved. This author is one of my favorite authors in the Recency genre.
Richard Craven is Maddy's brother Rufu's childhood friend. Richard's saves Maddy from bullies when she was 13 years old. Maddy is like a little sister to Richard so from then on they are friends who write to each other for six years. Maddy was so mature for her age. She realized from early on how special their friendship was. She cherished it and she knew she loved him. She is now a grown woman and loves him, but he sees her as a sister. He thinks he is love with Sarah. There are obstacles in place. Madeline saves Richard, but in turn compromises herself, so Richard offers marriage, which Rufus accepts. Here is where their journey begins, but evil lurks around.
Richard was magnificent throughout and Maddy's devotion and loyalty was unparalleled. I loved the promises they made to one another prior to their marriage. Those promises were so heartfelt, they brought tears to my eyes. And the fact that they truly attempted to keep them was so refreshing. There was no hesitation in the lengths she would be willing to go for her happiness.
The concept of being in love with someone else and marrying another because you respect her and her family too much to ruin your best friend's sister was admirable.
I loved that this gifted author took me, the reader, on this journey of discovery for Richard to figure out what love truly meant for him in his life and would he be capable of: Figuring it out for himself, would love truly exist for him one day, would he recognize it, would he realize who "the one" would really be and would he be able to reciprocate and never waiver once he found her. Or could he possibly, not recognize love and ruin everything.
The letters between the two of them at the beginning of every chapter was brilliant. The intrigue of the evil that lurked around them was truly palpable.
I enjoyed that all of the previous main characters from the other books in this series appeared in this book.
The love scenes were fantastic. Just loved it. People back then lived so very different and accepted things in their lives differently.
This is truly a wonderful book. The series is great. Picked it up and try it.
August 24, 2014
The third in this series, yet the first I have read, Bronwen Evans’ Disgraced Lords series has never failed to please, so I was excited to be offered the opportunity to start this series.
Richard and Madeline have been friends for years, but some rather transparent manipulations pushed the two into marriage: not a horrible pairing but their own issues play heavily into the less than happy start to their life.
Richard is a bit of difficult hero – while you can admire his determination and desire to protect those who need him, his lack of recognition of his own emotions and his tendency to conceal the truth of his comings and goings. Not to say that he is horrible, and if Madeline was a little more ‘worldly’ her experience would have shot her into confrontation far earlier, but his lack of sense and emotional immaturity is frustrating. Evans did a wonderful job in making him just ‘difficult’ enough to appreciate, then developing his character and showing his growth to present the real connection and love between the two.
Madeline was a little more difficult: having been sheltered in the country most of her life, then finding herself shunned in society because of her ‘connection’ to a traitor, her naiveté is charming, but you just worry that her steadfast support of Richard will end in heartbreak. It wasn’t that she was whinging or complaining, but Richard’s perseveration was eating away at her own confidence and security, and came close to shattering her dreams of love.
A twist puts Madeline into the danger zone, and Richard, being Richard, can’t help but step in to save the day, and realize that the love he didn’t recognize was there all along. With secondary characters that epitomize spoiled, selfish and spiteful, and the addition of some humor and heat, the story moves forward quickly and enjoyably, despite some troubling character’s actions.
Doing just what an author should do, Evans keeps the reader engaged and interested, feeling slighted with Richard’s behavior, worrying for Madeline, and thoroughly enjoying the ride to the end.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Richard and Madeline have been friends for years, but some rather transparent manipulations pushed the two into marriage: not a horrible pairing but their own issues play heavily into the less than happy start to their life.
Richard is a bit of difficult hero – while you can admire his determination and desire to protect those who need him, his lack of recognition of his own emotions and his tendency to conceal the truth of his comings and goings. Not to say that he is horrible, and if Madeline was a little more ‘worldly’ her experience would have shot her into confrontation far earlier, but his lack of sense and emotional immaturity is frustrating. Evans did a wonderful job in making him just ‘difficult’ enough to appreciate, then developing his character and showing his growth to present the real connection and love between the two.
Madeline was a little more difficult: having been sheltered in the country most of her life, then finding herself shunned in society because of her ‘connection’ to a traitor, her naiveté is charming, but you just worry that her steadfast support of Richard will end in heartbreak. It wasn’t that she was whinging or complaining, but Richard’s perseveration was eating away at her own confidence and security, and came close to shattering her dreams of love.
A twist puts Madeline into the danger zone, and Richard, being Richard, can’t help but step in to save the day, and realize that the love he didn’t recognize was there all along. With secondary characters that epitomize spoiled, selfish and spiteful, and the addition of some humor and heat, the story moves forward quickly and enjoyably, despite some troubling character’s actions.
Doing just what an author should do, Evans keeps the reader engaged and interested, feeling slighted with Richard’s behavior, worrying for Madeline, and thoroughly enjoying the ride to the end.
I received an eBook copy of the title from the author for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
June 17, 2022
Nope. I couldn’t enjoy this one. The story begins with a 13 year old Maddy and a pivotal moment that begins her friendship with her brother’s friend, Richard. Her brother is 22, so if he and Richard went to school together that would make him around the same age.
This is where the problems lies. A love story centered around a woman who befriends her future lover, a grown man, when she’s just a kid gives me the ick.
These lines didn’t make it any better:
“Part of me thinks you recognized she was your destiny many years ago. Why else would a grown man befriend a young girl?”
You literally just described a groomer.
Richard couldn’t deny his words. Something about Maddy had drawn him all those years ago. By choosing not to acknowledge these strange feelings, it had allowed him to entertain a totally inappropriate relationship with his best-friend’s younger sister. Even Rufus recognized the bond they shared and did not deny them. Was it because in the depths of his soul he knew Maddy was the one? That one day he’d realize he needed her and only her.
She was a CHILD. If “something had drawn him all those years ago” then that makes him a major creep.
This is him recalling a moment with a then 13 year-old Maddy:
When he’d helped her off his horse and she’d slipped her tiny hand in his and walked with him into her house, something inside him had stirred.
And this is when they’re about to have sex:
She gave him one of her looks. The sort of look she’d been giving him since she was thirteen-years-old, only he’d never fully understood it before, a look of absolute faith and trust that sent his heart and soul flying free.
🤮🤮🤮
And just when I thought this book couldn’t get any worse, the gay characters are rapists and killers 🙄.
On another note, there were many inconsistencies regarding Maddy’s age and the time frame. Somehow, she aged from 13 to 21 in 6 years (at one point 7 years had gone by but then it was back to 6). Initially, she and her brother were 8 years apart but then it was 10. It was all so confusing.
This is where the problems lies. A love story centered around a woman who befriends her future lover, a grown man, when she’s just a kid gives me the ick.
These lines didn’t make it any better:
“Part of me thinks you recognized she was your destiny many years ago. Why else would a grown man befriend a young girl?”
You literally just described a groomer.
Richard couldn’t deny his words. Something about Maddy had drawn him all those years ago. By choosing not to acknowledge these strange feelings, it had allowed him to entertain a totally inappropriate relationship with his best-friend’s younger sister. Even Rufus recognized the bond they shared and did not deny them. Was it because in the depths of his soul he knew Maddy was the one? That one day he’d realize he needed her and only her.
She was a CHILD. If “something had drawn him all those years ago” then that makes him a major creep.
This is him recalling a moment with a then 13 year-old Maddy:
When he’d helped her off his horse and she’d slipped her tiny hand in his and walked with him into her house, something inside him had stirred.
And this is when they’re about to have sex:
She gave him one of her looks. The sort of look she’d been giving him since she was thirteen-years-old, only he’d never fully understood it before, a look of absolute faith and trust that sent his heart and soul flying free.
🤮🤮🤮
And just when I thought this book couldn’t get any worse, the gay characters are rapists and killers 🙄.
On another note, there were many inconsistencies regarding Maddy’s age and the time frame. Somehow, she aged from 13 to 21 in 6 years (at one point 7 years had gone by but then it was back to 6). Initially, she and her brother were 8 years apart but then it was 10. It was all so confusing.
July 21, 2014
I was a bit anxious reading the synopsis for this book because the hero is supposed to be in love with another person & not the heroine. His "love", Sarah, is forced by her father to marry another man after refusing to elope with the hero, Richard who is only a second son. During a party, Sarah seduces Richard & in trying to save them from her husband, Madeline (Maddy)herself gets caught alone with Richard & they end up getting married instead to save her from ruin.
Richard & Maddy have been firm friends since he saved her from a bunch of bullies (Sarah's husband & siblings, what d'u know!) when she's just 13. They correspond over the years & the beginning of each chapter contains one of their letters, which I really enjoyed. He'd always regarded her as a younger sister especially since he's her brother's BF. Maddy of course is totally infatuated with him & it's easy to see why she soon falls in love with him.
Richard took a little bit more time for me to warm to. But kudos to the author who handled his character & the situation very well. I enjoyed watching (I should say reading I guess)their relationship grow & it was very plausible. Maddy is sweet, innocent, passionate yet with a strong character.
There were a few things that made this a 3 star read for me. I found the language & writing quite contemporary at times & was somewhat abrupt. Towards the end, the number of sex scenes between the H/H become rather tedious & I ended up flipping. There were several typos as well.
Richard & Maddy have been firm friends since he saved her from a bunch of bullies (Sarah's husband & siblings, what d'u know!) when she's just 13. They correspond over the years & the beginning of each chapter contains one of their letters, which I really enjoyed. He'd always regarded her as a younger sister especially since he's her brother's BF. Maddy of course is totally infatuated with him & it's easy to see why she soon falls in love with him.
Richard took a little bit more time for me to warm to. But kudos to the author who handled his character & the situation very well. I enjoyed watching (I should say reading I guess)their relationship grow & it was very plausible. Maddy is sweet, innocent, passionate yet with a strong character.
There were a few things that made this a 3 star read for me. I found the language & writing quite contemporary at times & was somewhat abrupt. Towards the end, the number of sex scenes between the H/H become rather tedious & I ended up flipping. There were several typos as well.
July 28, 2014
I haven't read the first two books in the series yet but I do have it in my nook. I just need to get started on it after reading about the heroes from those books in this one.
I hated Richard at the beginning of the book. He really know how to break a girl's heart. At the beginning of the book, we read about our heroine Madeline trying to protect Richard from being caught in a tryst with someone's wife. This wife was his lover before she marry Richard's enemy and they someone still continue the relationship even after her marriage. Because of this situation of Madeline being caught in a compromising situation with Richard, they are married as soon as possible and that from there it is like a roller coaster.
I had a change of heart with dear Richard after his marriage to Madeline. Even though he had a tryst with someone's wife, he stays true to his wife...well..ish. There were some scenes in the book where he may had made a stupid mistake by leaving her alone with the ton. Those scenes, I want to punch him. Everything else is like emotional. I can't blame Madeline for not emotionally trusting Richard because of the problems that happen after Sarah (Richard's ex-lover) becomes a widow. Her character isn't someone that I can hate because she does her best to stay strong and not get hurt from what is happening.
Definitely a good read with all the drama that Sarah causes. But a good thing is that it does allow Richard and Madeline to bond closer :)
I hated Richard at the beginning of the book. He really know how to break a girl's heart. At the beginning of the book, we read about our heroine Madeline trying to protect Richard from being caught in a tryst with someone's wife. This wife was his lover before she marry Richard's enemy and they someone still continue the relationship even after her marriage. Because of this situation of Madeline being caught in a compromising situation with Richard, they are married as soon as possible and that from there it is like a roller coaster.
I had a change of heart with dear Richard after his marriage to Madeline. Even though he had a tryst with someone's wife, he stays true to his wife...well..ish. There were some scenes in the book where he may had made a stupid mistake by leaving her alone with the ton. Those scenes, I want to punch him. Everything else is like emotional. I can't blame Madeline for not emotionally trusting Richard because of the problems that happen after Sarah (Richard's ex-lover) becomes a widow. Her character isn't someone that I can hate because she does her best to stay strong and not get hurt from what is happening.
Definitely a good read with all the drama that Sarah causes. But a good thing is that it does allow Richard and Madeline to bond closer :)
July 26, 2014
This is the first Invitation book I have read. I have read all of the Wicked Wagers and Disgraced Lords books and loved every one of those books. I liked this book also but it was very frustrating at times. For the first half of the book I just wanted to slap Richard and say "snap out of it". Honestly I was tired of hearing him wavering between whether he was in love with Sara and what his feeling were for Madeline. Even at the end of the book he could not stop himself from trying to help Sara due to his savior complex. I believe Maddy was a fairly strong woman. She loved Richard for several years and was not willing to give up on him. But if I were in her position I am not sure I would have hung on for so long because at the beginning of their marriage they promised all truth and to "protect" Maddy Richard decided to leave out details of his comings and goings which only led to misunderstandings which was not good for the relationship. I did like how Richard grew to realize the difference between wanting to help others in need and the meaning of true love. I had to put this book down a couple of times because the emotions were so high. In the end I really did enjoy this book. I have the other two Invitation books and am looking forward to reading them.
I received a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of the book for an honest review.
September 16, 2014
4 stars
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Richard is at a loss when the woman he loves is forced to marry a violent man. Despite her marriage the two cannot stay away from one another. At a ball the two are in a room alone with her husband on his way to find her. Richard's best friend, Rufus's sister, Madeline looks to Richard as her best friend. To save him from his lover's wrath she steps in and is compromised. Now Richard and Madeline must marry.
Madeline is excited to marry her best friend and the man she has always loved but cannot help feeling she is not the only one in his heart. Richard loves Madeline and thinks he is in love with Sarah. He will always be faithful to Madeline but can't help feeling like he is asking Madeline to give up on love.
While Sarah continues to threaten their relationship there is a mysterious man looking to enact his revenge on Rufus and his loved ones. Will Madeline and Richard be able to find love and peace?
I really liked the third book in the Invitation series. Much like the first novel the hero and heroine sparked every time they are together and the suspense and tension are great balance for the romance and sensuality. I was happy to find out there will be a fourth book in the series.
(I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review).
Richard is at a loss when the woman he loves is forced to marry a violent man. Despite her marriage the two cannot stay away from one another. At a ball the two are in a room alone with her husband on his way to find her. Richard's best friend, Rufus's sister, Madeline looks to Richard as her best friend. To save him from his lover's wrath she steps in and is compromised. Now Richard and Madeline must marry.
Madeline is excited to marry her best friend and the man she has always loved but cannot help feeling she is not the only one in his heart. Richard loves Madeline and thinks he is in love with Sarah. He will always be faithful to Madeline but can't help feeling like he is asking Madeline to give up on love.
While Sarah continues to threaten their relationship there is a mysterious man looking to enact his revenge on Rufus and his loved ones. Will Madeline and Richard be able to find love and peace?
I really liked the third book in the Invitation series. Much like the first novel the hero and heroine sparked every time they are together and the suspense and tension are great balance for the romance and sensuality. I was happy to find out there will be a fourth book in the series.
July 27, 2014
Since age 13 Madeline has thought Richard to be her knight in shining armor. They have written to each other for the past several years. Fearing for Richard at a ball where he secretly meets a married woman (whom he tried to elope with before her father demanded she marry another) she ends up sacrificing her reputation to keep him safe. He marries her and realizes he has feelings for her. But suddenly the woman he thought he loved becomes a widow. Madeline can't help but feel there are three in her marriage as Sarah clings to Richard once again. Richard feels conflicted that with his fickle heart he may hurt his best friend. But the more he is with Maddy the more he is sure she is the only one for him. And when enemies from the past threaten he will give anything to keep Madeline from being hurt.
As much as I enjoy this author this book was just a little too forced for me. I liked and then really didn't like Madeline and Richard. Can't quite put my finger on the pros and cons of this one.
As much as I enjoy this author this book was just a little too forced for me. I liked and then really didn't like Madeline and Richard. Can't quite put my finger on the pros and cons of this one.
August 11, 2014
I have waited for this book. Although, I did not read the 2nd book of this series and forgot about the first book I am somewhat lost. The 2nd book of this series is partially entwined with this book. Even though, I still didn't stop reading this book. It is has been a while since I read a book from this author. I really liked the plot. I got intrigued about it. I liked the heroine but sometimes a pity her. I just wished that there is more to her that loving the hero. It goes around and around about the love that is uncertain between the h/h, which is very tiring.
There is the mystery, but since I cannot relate because it is connected to the 2nd book. It did not have an impact on me. It got predictable and even in the mention of the new character I already know that he is involved.
I am giving this a 3.5 stars, since there something about it that I don't want to stop reading it. I think I might go back to the book 2 and book 1 just to refresh myself about this series.
There is the mystery, but since I cannot relate because it is connected to the 2nd book. It did not have an impact on me. It got predictable and even in the mention of the new character I already know that he is involved.
I am giving this a 3.5 stars, since there something about it that I don't want to stop reading it. I think I might go back to the book 2 and book 1 just to refresh myself about this series.
January 13, 2015
Unfortunately, the plot (which was a good one) did not recieve the attention it deserved. Why you ask? Sex scene after sex scene after sex scene. When there was no sex scene, Richard and Maddy were thinking about when to fess up to one another their true feelings...Don't get me wrong I enjoy a good, well thought, well written love scene. However, this book was just overloaded, which in turn overshadowed the plot, making me skim over the last half of the book just to conclude (including several more sexually descriptive scene's).
To conclude; I can not recommend this book if you are looking to get lost in a good story with depth and well developed charcters.
However, if you need a quick read with very detailed sexually explicit scene's, you've got a winner.
I'm no expert, just an everyday gal who has read her fair share and this is my opinion.
To conclude; I can not recommend this book if you are looking to get lost in a good story with depth and well developed charcters.
However, if you need a quick read with very detailed sexually explicit scene's, you've got a winner.
I'm no expert, just an everyday gal who has read her fair share and this is my opinion.
April 28, 2024
First problem: the dialogue in this book seems anachronistic and too modern for the book's time period. Second Problem: I hated how the hero put the other woman over the heroine even though he said that he would always choose the heroine first. Third problem: I also didn't like how his first reaction to hearing about the OW's pregnancy was excitement for a baby instead of concern about how this would affect the heroine if the baby was his. Moreover, the hero stages a seduction of the OW in order to see if she is involved with her husband's death. They don't have sex, but afterwards, he kisses the heroine when his lips had been macking on the OW. GROSS! This all happens AFTER he supposedly realizes that he no longer loves the OW. WTF? To top it all off, heroine is a doormat. No romance in this story at all. Just pure frustration.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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