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Runaway Desires #3
To Seduce a Stranger
Desire waylays the plans of a man with a mysterious past and a woman with an uncertain future, in Susanna Craig’s unforgettable series set in Georgian England.
After her much older husband dies—leaving her his fortune—Charlotte Blakemore finds herself at the mercy of her stepson, who vows to contest the will and destroy her life. With nowhere to turn and no one to help her, she embarks on an elaborate ruse—only to find herself stranded on the way to London. . .
More than twenty years in the West Indies have hardened Edward Cary, but not enough to abandon a helpless woman at a roadside inn—especially one as disarmingly beautiful as Charlotte. He takes her with him to the Gloucestershire estate he is determined to restore, though he is suspicious of every word that falls from her distractingly lush lips.
As far as Charlotte knows, Edward is nothing more than a steward, and there’s no reason to reveal his noble birth until he can right his father’s wrongs. Acting as husband and wife will keep people in the village from asking questions that neither Charlotte nor Edward are willing to answer. But the game they’re each determined to play has rules that beg to broken, when the passion between them threatens to uncover the truth—for better or worse. . .
After her much older husband dies—leaving her his fortune—Charlotte Blakemore finds herself at the mercy of her stepson, who vows to contest the will and destroy her life. With nowhere to turn and no one to help her, she embarks on an elaborate ruse—only to find herself stranded on the way to London. . .
More than twenty years in the West Indies have hardened Edward Cary, but not enough to abandon a helpless woman at a roadside inn—especially one as disarmingly beautiful as Charlotte. He takes her with him to the Gloucestershire estate he is determined to restore, though he is suspicious of every word that falls from her distractingly lush lips.
As far as Charlotte knows, Edward is nothing more than a steward, and there’s no reason to reveal his noble birth until he can right his father’s wrongs. Acting as husband and wife will keep people in the village from asking questions that neither Charlotte nor Edward are willing to answer. But the game they’re each determined to play has rules that beg to broken, when the passion between them threatens to uncover the truth—for better or worse. . .
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 11, 2017
89 people are currently reading
491 people want to read
About the author
Susanna Craig
31 books485 followersAlmost as soon as she could hold a pencil, Susanna Craig began writing stories. Today, she pens award-winning Regency-era romance novels that blend history and heart with a dash of heat. An English professor, wife, and mom, she’s currently finding her happily ever after in Kentucky while holding onto her Midwestern roots. Find her online at http://www.susannacraig.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
April 11, 2017
To Seduce a Stranger has one of my favorite tropes in Historical Romance, the fake marriage. I specifically look for plot lines that incorporate this into them.
The premise is pretty simple Edward has been away from his family home for a very long time and has finally decided to return to claim his inheritance and eventually confront the father he hated when he was a child. Charlotte on the other hand is recently widowed and needing to hide from her stepson for a while until the finances can be worked out. He has vowed that he will see her inherit nothing from the very short marriage.
When Charlotte tries to escape her stepson’s prying eyes she runs into an incognito Edward and remarkably they fall into claiming to be married so none would suspect either of what they are really doing. Neither thinks the other is being extremely truthful and so each tries slowly to draw the other out and discover their secrets.
This read a little slow for me. The beginning outlining why Edward ran off was a good start but then It seemed that the book took a long time to get where it was going. I liked Charlotte well enough, she is a likeable character and I felt bad that she up until this point in her life had a pretty unloved life. The only man who was ever kind to her did her a favor in one sense but then cursed her in another. I did like Charlotte’s backstory once we got to it.
There were a few surprises along the way but nothing that really grabbed me. I maybe just wanted a little more chemistry between Edward and Charlotte or fun banter. There is a little but not quite what I’m used to in the Historical Romances I’ve read in the past.
There were some references and appearances by other characters that perhaps if I’d read the first two books in this series I might have picked up on or cared more about. For instance the references to Tempest and the ship captain she ends up with in the second book seemed like it might be more for me. I might just give one of the other books in this series a try.
Overall: The characters were a little Meh for my taste but it could have just been this story I wasn’t really into. But I'll probably give another book in this series a try in the future.
The premise is pretty simple Edward has been away from his family home for a very long time and has finally decided to return to claim his inheritance and eventually confront the father he hated when he was a child. Charlotte on the other hand is recently widowed and needing to hide from her stepson for a while until the finances can be worked out. He has vowed that he will see her inherit nothing from the very short marriage.
When Charlotte tries to escape her stepson’s prying eyes she runs into an incognito Edward and remarkably they fall into claiming to be married so none would suspect either of what they are really doing. Neither thinks the other is being extremely truthful and so each tries slowly to draw the other out and discover their secrets.
This read a little slow for me. The beginning outlining why Edward ran off was a good start but then It seemed that the book took a long time to get where it was going. I liked Charlotte well enough, she is a likeable character and I felt bad that she up until this point in her life had a pretty unloved life. The only man who was ever kind to her did her a favor in one sense but then cursed her in another. I did like Charlotte’s backstory once we got to it.
There were a few surprises along the way but nothing that really grabbed me. I maybe just wanted a little more chemistry between Edward and Charlotte or fun banter. There is a little but not quite what I’m used to in the Historical Romances I’ve read in the past.
There were some references and appearances by other characters that perhaps if I’d read the first two books in this series I might have picked up on or cared more about. For instance the references to Tempest and the ship captain she ends up with in the second book seemed like it might be more for me. I might just give one of the other books in this series a try.
Overall: The characters were a little Meh for my taste but it could have just been this story I wasn’t really into. But I'll probably give another book in this series a try in the future.
December 30, 2025
4/5
It was an interesting read. I’ve read other books by this author, and Edward and Charlotte were likeable. However, the pacing was rather slow and weighed down by too many details.
It was an interesting read. I’ve read other books by this author, and Edward and Charlotte were likeable. However, the pacing was rather slow and weighed down by too many details.
March 30, 2017
To Seduce A Stranger is a delightful read, it is a thoroughly enjoyable story of love, secrets and lies. Characters that are entertaining and highly likable – not to mention devilishly handsome! But apart from that this is a solid Historical Romance, Craig is a confident writer in field, her love for the genre just shines through and she is an author that I am looking forward to reading more of.
Full review at
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Full review at
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April 10, 2017
Review For: To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig 'Review For: To Seduce a Stranger' by Susanna Craig is book Three in the "Runaway Desires" series. This is the story of Charlotte Blakemore and Edward Cary. I have read the other books but feel this is easily a standalone book. Edward left home when he was a child because he overheard his mother talking that she will leave her abusive husband once Edward is a away and safe at school. Edward knew he would leave for school for two years. So Edward thinks to leave to help make his mom safe. Now 22 years later he is back from Antigua to make his way home. But before he gets there he runs into Charlotte who tells him that she is traveling alone...and is a lady's maid. Edward feels that she is hiding something from him. Charlotte was living with a Aunt when she met the Duke who was in his seventies at the time. The Duke asked her to marry him as he knew that Charlotte wasn't happy living with her Aunt. But now the Duke has past and he has left her a very large portion of his money. This has made her an enemy of her Step-Son who calls her a 'French Whore'. Charlotte has grown worried that he intends to do something and she tries to go into hiding. This is how she met Edward. Now Edward has taken her to his home and is pretending to be married. Very interesting story from the start!"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H... https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR... https://twitter.com/soapsrus68https:/... https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
March 8, 2017
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher*
Charlotte is having a bad day - her husband has passed and left her a fortune, but her vile stepson has made it his mission to take it from her. Desperate to get away, she trades places with her maid and ends up stranded at an inn with no money.
Edward Carey is on his way home after 22 years in Antigua. He doesn't know what he will find upon his return and decides to keep his identity a secret for now. When he stops at the inn, the last thing he expects to do is rescue a damsel in distress and find himself with a "wife". It is clear to Edward that Charlotte has secrets, but so does he and when he offers to take her with him, she accepts.
When they arrive at his home, he is in for more than one surprise. Ravenwood is not how Edward remembered it - it is deserted and in disrepair. No one from his youth is there any longer and he learns heartbreaking news. He introduces Charlotte as his wife and is then shocked to find that Mari from Antigua has followed him. He decides to stay for a few days and get the lay of the land before setting out to London to confront his demons.
Charlotte and Edward continue the charade of being married, but they both know that it will have to end - they share an mutual attraction, but neither of them has been honest with the other and know when their secrets are revealed that they will not be together.
When an impostor comes to Ravenwood and the truth about Charlotte is revealed, she runs.
Edward is shocked to learn the truth about Charlotte and has to wonder if she used him - but he knows that he can't just let her walk away, so he follows her to London.
Once in London, he happens upon St. John Sutliffe, Viscount Fairfax - whom he knew as Mr. Fairfax in Antigua. He is shocked to learn that St. John is the son of a marquis and was married. He confesses his secrets to St. John and tells him he is searching for Charlotte. St. John knows her stepson and offers to help.
When Charlotte and Edward are finally reunited, it is very sweet and there are more surprises in store for Charlotte.
This book was very good, I really enjoyed the story and became invested in the characters. While it is part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand alone title without any problems. I would happily recommend this book.
Charlotte is having a bad day - her husband has passed and left her a fortune, but her vile stepson has made it his mission to take it from her. Desperate to get away, she trades places with her maid and ends up stranded at an inn with no money.
Edward Carey is on his way home after 22 years in Antigua. He doesn't know what he will find upon his return and decides to keep his identity a secret for now. When he stops at the inn, the last thing he expects to do is rescue a damsel in distress and find himself with a "wife". It is clear to Edward that Charlotte has secrets, but so does he and when he offers to take her with him, she accepts.
When they arrive at his home, he is in for more than one surprise. Ravenwood is not how Edward remembered it - it is deserted and in disrepair. No one from his youth is there any longer and he learns heartbreaking news. He introduces Charlotte as his wife and is then shocked to find that Mari from Antigua has followed him. He decides to stay for a few days and get the lay of the land before setting out to London to confront his demons.
Charlotte and Edward continue the charade of being married, but they both know that it will have to end - they share an mutual attraction, but neither of them has been honest with the other and know when their secrets are revealed that they will not be together.
When an impostor comes to Ravenwood and the truth about Charlotte is revealed, she runs.
Edward is shocked to learn the truth about Charlotte and has to wonder if she used him - but he knows that he can't just let her walk away, so he follows her to London.
Once in London, he happens upon St. John Sutliffe, Viscount Fairfax - whom he knew as Mr. Fairfax in Antigua. He is shocked to learn that St. John is the son of a marquis and was married. He confesses his secrets to St. John and tells him he is searching for Charlotte. St. John knows her stepson and offers to help.
When Charlotte and Edward are finally reunited, it is very sweet and there are more surprises in store for Charlotte.
This book was very good, I really enjoyed the story and became invested in the characters. While it is part of a series, it could easily be read as a stand alone title without any problems. I would happily recommend this book.
April 10, 2017
'Review For: To Seduce a Stranger' by Susanna Craig is book Three in the "Runaway Desires" series. This is the story of Charlotte Blakemore and Edward Cary. I have read the other books but feel this is easily a standalone book.
Edward left home when he was a child because he overheard his mother talking that she will leave her abusive husband once Edward is a away and safe at school. Edward knew he would leave for school for two years. So Edward thinks to leave to help make his mom safe. Now 22 years later he is back from Antigua to make his way home. But before he gets there he runs into Charlotte who tells him that she is traveling alone...and is a lady's maid. Edward feels that she is hiding something from him.
Charlotte was living with a Aunt when she met the Duke who was in his seventies at the time. The Duke asked her to marry him as he knew that Charlotte wasn't happy living with her Aunt. But now the Duke has past and he has left her a very large portion of his money. This has made her an enemy of her Step-Son who calls her a 'French Whore'. Charlotte has grown worried that he intends to do something and she tries to go into hiding. This is how she met Edward. Now Edward has taken her to his home and is pretending to be married.
Very interesting story from the start!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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Edward left home when he was a child because he overheard his mother talking that she will leave her abusive husband once Edward is a away and safe at school. Edward knew he would leave for school for two years. So Edward thinks to leave to help make his mom safe. Now 22 years later he is back from Antigua to make his way home. But before he gets there he runs into Charlotte who tells him that she is traveling alone...and is a lady's maid. Edward feels that she is hiding something from him.
Charlotte was living with a Aunt when she met the Duke who was in his seventies at the time. The Duke asked her to marry him as he knew that Charlotte wasn't happy living with her Aunt. But now the Duke has past and he has left her a very large portion of his money. This has made her an enemy of her Step-Son who calls her a 'French Whore'. Charlotte has grown worried that he intends to do something and she tries to go into hiding. This is how she met Edward. Now Edward has taken her to his home and is pretending to be married.
Very interesting story from the start!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/A2H...
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1...
https://www.facebook.com/RomanceBookR...
https://www.facebook.com/groups/17091...
http://sissymaereads.blogspot.com/
https://twitter.com/soapsrus68
https://romancebookreviewforyou.wordp...
http://booklikes.com/blog
https://www.tumblr.com/blog/romancebo...
https://plus.google.com/+SissyHicks
https://www.pinterest.com/u2soapsrus/
April 12, 2017
Charm, mystery and danger!
Unfaltering continuation of The Runaway Desires series. I must admit to guessing some of the storyline before things developed but that was fine.
This is the story of Tempest Holderin's plantation manager and close friend Edward Cary.
Edward returns to England after twenty years absence. A mystery surrounds him and his leaving England, and now that mystery will be revealed.
Half French, Charlotte Blakemore, the widowed Duchess of Langerton finds herself the focus of her stepson's anger and sworn enemy. He vows to seize back what his father has bequeathed to her. Charlotte flees the estate and finds herself without funds, alone in the middle of the countryside. Edward appears on the scene enroute to Gloucestershire, takes pity on Charlotte and rescues her. Needing a place of safety, Charlotte joins him on his journey. Of course that leads to some very interesting situations. Especially as each has there own set of secrets, which to some degree trip over each other and add a certain piquancy to the mix.
I liked both the man Cary portrays and the woman Charlotte presents.
Other Runaway Desires are referenced or make their appearance including the Tempest and Andrew Corrvans, and Sarah and Lord St. John Sutcliffe.
All's well that ends well, despite the anguished beginnings for both leads.
They found do indeed find l'amour after handwringing episodes of fate and fortune.
A NetGalley ARC
Unfaltering continuation of The Runaway Desires series. I must admit to guessing some of the storyline before things developed but that was fine.
This is the story of Tempest Holderin's plantation manager and close friend Edward Cary.
Edward returns to England after twenty years absence. A mystery surrounds him and his leaving England, and now that mystery will be revealed.
Half French, Charlotte Blakemore, the widowed Duchess of Langerton finds herself the focus of her stepson's anger and sworn enemy. He vows to seize back what his father has bequeathed to her. Charlotte flees the estate and finds herself without funds, alone in the middle of the countryside. Edward appears on the scene enroute to Gloucestershire, takes pity on Charlotte and rescues her. Needing a place of safety, Charlotte joins him on his journey. Of course that leads to some very interesting situations. Especially as each has there own set of secrets, which to some degree trip over each other and add a certain piquancy to the mix.
I liked both the man Cary portrays and the woman Charlotte presents.
Other Runaway Desires are referenced or make their appearance including the Tempest and Andrew Corrvans, and Sarah and Lord St. John Sutcliffe.
All's well that ends well, despite the anguished beginnings for both leads.
They found do indeed find l'amour after handwringing episodes of fate and fortune.
A NetGalley ARC
September 15, 2019
I would like to thank Susanna Craig, Kensington Books, Lyrical Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Charlotte Blakemore, Dowager Duchess of Langerton, is grieving the loss of not only her recently past husband, but the loss of the only person who’d ever cared about her. Her stepson is more concerned with gaining the assets the late duke had left to his much, much younger wife. He warns Charlotte he’ll do anything to get his entire rightful inheritance, a threat she didn’t take seriously until she spotted the men he’d hired to stalk her. She manages to slip away unnoticed…but a small mistake leaves her stranded at a roadside inn, penniless.
Edward Cary, the long-lost heir of the Earl of Beckley, has finally returned home, and nothing is as he imagined. First of all, he hadn’t imagined inviting a woman with secrets in her dark eyes to travel with him. He also hadn’t imagined no one would be there to welcome him home. There’s a mystery to unravel, but more pressingly, there’s a field to sow. He’s got his work cut out for him, and he can’t afford to be distracted by the beautiful enigma that is his companion. But distracted he is…
______
I was sucked in immediately. The writing was thoroughly descriptive without smothering the reader with unnecessary detail. It was the little things, gestures and thoughts, that made a scene not just take form, but come to life with meaning that lent layers of depth to the story. Things like the greedy step-son rearranging the items on his late father’s desk possessively; the grooms exchanging a commiserating glance upon learning of last-minute travel plans; the cat pretending to ignore a new toy, though the tip of his tail flicked. The book was written with an intelligence that kept me from finding any flaws in logic but that didn’t try too hard to sound serious—it never forgot it was a romance.
Some might consider a good portion of the plot elements to be overused tropes, but then what romance doesn’t have at least one? If nothing else, Craig gave them a fresh take and blended them together into a seamless narrative. Or at least that’s what I think.
There’s a heavy freedom theme threaded throughout the work. I didn’t have a problem with it because I agreed with the points that were made, but some may think of the book as a very sophisticated SJW rant.
I loved the characters. Edward, Charlotte, Mari, Jack. They seemed very personable and down-to-earth. They were relatable, too, at least as far as their personalities and emotional plights. I LOVED that Charlotte giggles when she’s nervous or uncomfortable. I do that, too!
I don’t have a whole lot more to say. No list of nitpicks for once. I just bought the first two books in the series; I’m curious to see if I like them as much. But be assured, this would read just fine as a standalone. I’m just personally not ready to be done with that world or those characters.
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Charlotte Blakemore, Dowager Duchess of Langerton, is grieving the loss of not only her recently past husband, but the loss of the only person who’d ever cared about her. Her stepson is more concerned with gaining the assets the late duke had left to his much, much younger wife. He warns Charlotte he’ll do anything to get his entire rightful inheritance, a threat she didn’t take seriously until she spotted the men he’d hired to stalk her. She manages to slip away unnoticed…but a small mistake leaves her stranded at a roadside inn, penniless.
Edward Cary, the long-lost heir of the Earl of Beckley, has finally returned home, and nothing is as he imagined. First of all, he hadn’t imagined inviting a woman with secrets in her dark eyes to travel with him. He also hadn’t imagined no one would be there to welcome him home. There’s a mystery to unravel, but more pressingly, there’s a field to sow. He’s got his work cut out for him, and he can’t afford to be distracted by the beautiful enigma that is his companion. But distracted he is…
______
I was sucked in immediately. The writing was thoroughly descriptive without smothering the reader with unnecessary detail. It was the little things, gestures and thoughts, that made a scene not just take form, but come to life with meaning that lent layers of depth to the story. Things like the greedy step-son rearranging the items on his late father’s desk possessively; the grooms exchanging a commiserating glance upon learning of last-minute travel plans; the cat pretending to ignore a new toy, though the tip of his tail flicked. The book was written with an intelligence that kept me from finding any flaws in logic but that didn’t try too hard to sound serious—it never forgot it was a romance.
Some might consider a good portion of the plot elements to be overused tropes, but then what romance doesn’t have at least one? If nothing else, Craig gave them a fresh take and blended them together into a seamless narrative. Or at least that’s what I think.
There’s a heavy freedom theme threaded throughout the work. I didn’t have a problem with it because I agreed with the points that were made, but some may think of the book as a very sophisticated SJW rant.
I loved the characters. Edward, Charlotte, Mari, Jack. They seemed very personable and down-to-earth. They were relatable, too, at least as far as their personalities and emotional plights. I LOVED that Charlotte giggles when she’s nervous or uncomfortable. I do that, too!
I don’t have a whole lot more to say. No list of nitpicks for once. I just bought the first two books in the series; I’m curious to see if I like them as much. But be assured, this would read just fine as a standalone. I’m just personally not ready to be done with that world or those characters.
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March 19, 2017
Delightfully entertaining novel! Talk about troubled people having a very bad day!!! Charlotte's much older husband passes away and leaves her a substantial bequest, but her very, very bad step-son threatens her and says he'll sue to invalidate the will, cause a scandal and drag her deceased husband's name through the mud. Yep -- not a good way to start your day. So, what does she do -- stand and fight? No way (then we wouldn't have this great book). She decides to flee and when she spots a man she thinks is one of her step-son's henchmen following her, she separates from her traveling party to head out on her own. However, through a baggage mix-up, she's left without funds. Yes indeed -- a very bad day indeed.
Edward Cary is every bit as troubled as Charlotte is -- poor boy. His trouble is just not quite as immediate and blatant in the beginning.
I like both of these troubled characters. Both had unfortunate childhoods and one or more very unloving, uncaring parents and/or caregivers. Both are damaged, fearful and insecure, so it is a real delight to watch them come to grips with their pasts, their present and their future.
I don't know who picks out the titles for these books. Maybe they just drop a quarter into a slot and it spits out a fortune cookie with a name on it. The book doesn't have much seduction in it and at the point there is seduction, the parties aren't strangers at all.
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Edward Cary is every bit as troubled as Charlotte is -- poor boy. His trouble is just not quite as immediate and blatant in the beginning.
I like both of these troubled characters. Both had unfortunate childhoods and one or more very unloving, uncaring parents and/or caregivers. Both are damaged, fearful and insecure, so it is a real delight to watch them come to grips with their pasts, their present and their future.
I don't know who picks out the titles for these books. Maybe they just drop a quarter into a slot and it spits out a fortune cookie with a name on it. The book doesn't have much seduction in it and at the point there is seduction, the parties aren't strangers at all.
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
March 15, 2017
Having read Susanna Craig's previous Runaway Desires books (although that isn't necessary to enjoy this book), I confess I have a thing for Edward. He's responsible but sexy, a little heartbroken, and somewhat of a mystery. He's the guy you have the secret crush on and hope will notice you. So I was excited to finally get to read his story. Well ... I cannot begrudge him Charlotte. These two really are made for each other, and they should have figured it out when they were prepared to fake a marriage. (Unconscious desires? Yes!)
As always, Craig's writing is dazzling, her characters engaging (all of them, so much fun to have such a great supporting cast), and her world-building a delight. Edward sets out to right a personal wrong, and in the process finds himself, a family, and someone to love. There is a nice twist on the villain of our tale too . . .
I love that solving the puzzle of Edward leads to a very satisfying happily ever after. And even though I don't want to, I like Charlotte. I was rooting for her, gosh darn it. Add in my beloved St. John and you really cannot go wrong. (And yes, I have a think for all of Craig's leading men.) So enjoy a lovely ending to a terrific series, or the envy, go and read To Kiss a Thief and To Tempt an Heiress. Running away never felt so much like coming home.
As always, Craig's writing is dazzling, her characters engaging (all of them, so much fun to have such a great supporting cast), and her world-building a delight. Edward sets out to right a personal wrong, and in the process finds himself, a family, and someone to love. There is a nice twist on the villain of our tale too . . .
I love that solving the puzzle of Edward leads to a very satisfying happily ever after. And even though I don't want to, I like Charlotte. I was rooting for her, gosh darn it. Add in my beloved St. John and you really cannot go wrong. (And yes, I have a think for all of Craig's leading men.) So enjoy a lovely ending to a terrific series, or the envy, go and read To Kiss a Thief and To Tempt an Heiress. Running away never felt so much like coming home.
July 8, 2021
I didn't read the description of this book. Not before I bought it, nor after. So when I realized it was about Edward Cary I was *beyond* excited. And then the cameo at the end? I. Love. These. Books. If Susanna Craig publishes it, I will buy it.
January 8, 2019
If you like historical romance you will LOVE this book. The characters are all really developed and you will easily fall in love with them. The author's descriptive writing puts you in the heart of Gloucestershire estate, so much that you could almost smell the countryside. I am now a huge fan of this author and look forward to reading anything she writes!
March 5, 2017
*I got this ARC one from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
The plot is really nice but the tempo of the book is too slow but the storyline itself is good. I really skipped a few pages because I couldn't bare it anymore and than suddenly over the last 50 pages every mystery is solved - but everything was quite predictable.
The plot is really nice but the tempo of the book is too slow but the storyline itself is good. I really skipped a few pages because I couldn't bare it anymore and than suddenly over the last 50 pages every mystery is solved - but everything was quite predictable.
February 24, 2017
To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig was the first book I've read by this author and book number 3 of the Runaway Desires series, but I read well as a stand alone novel. Charlotte and Edward make for a wonderful love story, and an especially well written sex scene which was written wonderfully and although the story is fraught with characters who have run away or escaped from something and nicknames, it was charming and interesting non the less. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a honest review.
April 11, 2017
*****FIVE STARS*****
Why?
Because I liked this book!
It took me away and into the lives of Charlotte and Edward.
It made me care about the characters both main and supporting.
It made me think, “What would I have done if…?”
It pleased me in more ways than one.
I forgot that I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series and wish I had not missed book two as I looked back and realized I was reading book three. This author seems to be able to hit my “like” button so I know I will be looking for more of her work in the future. She creates strong multi-dimensional characters that have issues to deal with but when dealing with these issues find they are stronger together than apart. Her writing is easy to read and entertaining and hard to put down. It left me happy I had read this book and made me eager to read her next one.
Anyway...since the blurb for the book is spot-on and tells you what to expect I will just reiterate that this was a special book that hit the spot and made my day a whole lot better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.
Why?
Because I liked this book!
It took me away and into the lives of Charlotte and Edward.
It made me care about the characters both main and supporting.
It made me think, “What would I have done if…?”
It pleased me in more ways than one.
I forgot that I had read and enjoyed the first book in this series and wish I had not missed book two as I looked back and realized I was reading book three. This author seems to be able to hit my “like” button so I know I will be looking for more of her work in the future. She creates strong multi-dimensional characters that have issues to deal with but when dealing with these issues find they are stronger together than apart. Her writing is easy to read and entertaining and hard to put down. It left me happy I had read this book and made me eager to read her next one.
Anyway...since the blurb for the book is spot-on and tells you what to expect I will just reiterate that this was a special book that hit the spot and made my day a whole lot better.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Shine for the ARC – This is my honest review.
June 10, 2017
Full Review at: What's Beyond Forks?
Oh my goodness, there were so many secrets and so many lies, and I'll be honest, both of those things in abundance usually irk me in fiction, but in this case? It worked, and it worked well. Both Edward and Charlotte have survived on secrets and lies, and I guess that's the biggest reason why it worked so well. They did it for survival or self preservation rather than selfish reasons. The romance was just how I like it.. a lot of build up, a lot of cute, with a little naughty. I haven't read the previous two books yet, but this one stands alone just fine, and I'm anxious to get my hands on those two as well.
The ARC of To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig was kindly provided to me by Silver Dagger Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.
Oh my goodness, there were so many secrets and so many lies, and I'll be honest, both of those things in abundance usually irk me in fiction, but in this case? It worked, and it worked well. Both Edward and Charlotte have survived on secrets and lies, and I guess that's the biggest reason why it worked so well. They did it for survival or self preservation rather than selfish reasons. The romance was just how I like it.. a lot of build up, a lot of cute, with a little naughty. I haven't read the previous two books yet, but this one stands alone just fine, and I'm anxious to get my hands on those two as well.
The ARC of To Seduce a Stranger by Susanna Craig was kindly provided to me by Silver Dagger Book Tours for review. The opinions are my own.
April 12, 2017
Two people with a past they are running from. Widow, Charlotte Blakemore, runs from a stepson who wants her fortune. Meanwhile, after years away, Edward Cary runs to return in secret to help restore his estate ruined by his abusive father.
They meet at a roadside in and both choose to lie about who they are. Charlotte believes Edward is a steward instead of an Earl and pretends to be his wife when she thinks she is being followed.
The pacing of the story ruined it for me. The set-up dragged on forever due to an abundance of storylines that could have been cutout. There were too many characters to set up with not enough time spent on the romance.
They meet at a roadside in and both choose to lie about who they are. Charlotte believes Edward is a steward instead of an Earl and pretends to be his wife when she thinks she is being followed.
The pacing of the story ruined it for me. The set-up dragged on forever due to an abundance of storylines that could have been cutout. There were too many characters to set up with not enough time spent on the romance.
April 30, 2023
**Trigger Warnings Below**
Heroine: Charlotte Blakemore, 24. Dowager Duchess of Langerton. Her husband was much older than she and her stepson is contesting both the validity of the will and of the marriage.
Hero: Edward Cary, about 31. Viscount Ravenswood and heir to Earl of Beckley. He left England as a boy in an attempt to save his mother from his abusive father and has returned after 22 years away.
Date: 1797 (prologue = 1775; epilogue = “some years later”)
How they meet: After the death of her husband and reading of his will, Charlotte heads to London to get some space from her stepson who is angry with the large sum her husband left her. Paranoid that she is being watched by someone on the stepson’s orders, she switches places with her lady’s maid at a coaching inn so she can hide out for a while. Edward rescues her in the yard of the inn when she is nearly run over by a coach. He believes her to be a servant.
What happens: Unfortunately when they made the switch, Charlotte grabbed the wrong bag and has her lady’s maid’s things and no money. Edward offers to either give her a ride or money for coach fare. At first she is reluctant to take it, but when she sees a man who she thinks is following her, she accepts Edward’s offer for a ride, insisting they leave immediately.
They travel to Edward’s father’s estate which appears to have been abandoned. Edward decides not to reveal his identity, telling Charlotte he is to be the steward there. There is a single servant in residence and when Charlotte takes off her gloves revealing a wedding ring, he covers by introducing her as his wife and she goes along with the ruse.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: This story really drew me in and I was interested to see how the secrets of the hero and heroine gradually came to light. They had a quiet chemistry and a lot of the book was about day-to-day life, which I rather enjoy (although I get that some will find this book too slow moving or even boring). Both the hero and heroine had integrity and a strong sense of responsibility despite difficult childhoods. This book overall is fairly low key--no strong personalities, wild passion, or crazy action scenes--and I thought that was a nice change of pace. There was a bit of humor and a friendly cat. If I had a critique it would be the large number of fortunate coincidences that happened. This book would read ok as a standalone, although the hero from book 1 does make an appearance and the hero from this book is a secondary character in book 2.
Steam-level: moderately steamy and moderately explicit
Rating: 5 stars
Heroine: Charlotte Blakemore, 24. Dowager Duchess of Langerton. Her husband was much older than she and her stepson is contesting both the validity of the will and of the marriage.
Hero: Edward Cary, about 31. Viscount Ravenswood and heir to Earl of Beckley. He left England as a boy in an attempt to save his mother from his abusive father and has returned after 22 years away.
Date: 1797 (prologue = 1775; epilogue = “some years later”)
How they meet: After the death of her husband and reading of his will, Charlotte heads to London to get some space from her stepson who is angry with the large sum her husband left her. Paranoid that she is being watched by someone on the stepson’s orders, she switches places with her lady’s maid at a coaching inn so she can hide out for a while. Edward rescues her in the yard of the inn when she is nearly run over by a coach. He believes her to be a servant.
What happens: Unfortunately when they made the switch, Charlotte grabbed the wrong bag and has her lady’s maid’s things and no money. Edward offers to either give her a ride or money for coach fare. At first she is reluctant to take it, but when she sees a man who she thinks is following her, she accepts Edward’s offer for a ride, insisting they leave immediately.
They travel to Edward’s father’s estate which appears to have been abandoned. Edward decides not to reveal his identity, telling Charlotte he is to be the steward there. There is a single servant in residence and when Charlotte takes off her gloves revealing a wedding ring, he covers by introducing her as his wife and she goes along with the ruse.
Trigger Warnings:
Verdict: This story really drew me in and I was interested to see how the secrets of the hero and heroine gradually came to light. They had a quiet chemistry and a lot of the book was about day-to-day life, which I rather enjoy (although I get that some will find this book too slow moving or even boring). Both the hero and heroine had integrity and a strong sense of responsibility despite difficult childhoods. This book overall is fairly low key--no strong personalities, wild passion, or crazy action scenes--and I thought that was a nice change of pace. There was a bit of humor and a friendly cat. If I had a critique it would be the large number of fortunate coincidences that happened. This book would read ok as a standalone, although the hero from book 1 does make an appearance and the hero from this book is a secondary character in book 2.
Steam-level: moderately steamy and moderately explicit
Rating: 5 stars
November 30, 2020
This was a competently written book of its kind with many elements of a romance checked off but its characters left me unmoved, both singly and together. Edward had the personality of a Quaker with his "no violence under any circumstances" obsession (supposedly to avoid becoming like his father who was a wife abuser) and his farming mentality, no lord of the manor attitude though he was in fact born to the manor but working there incognito. Such people are solid citizens but not very exciting. Charlotte was the opposite of feisty, marooning herself with not a penny to her name out of foolishness. If the hero hadn't happened along just at that instant, she would have almost certainly ended up harmed or worse. Even when she went to "confront" the villainous stepson, like a milksop she gave him everything he demanded, impoverishing herself just so he would no longer harass her. Edward fixed that bad decision for her again but where would she be without him?
There were so many lies by both leading characters to each other as well as the supporting cast, although his seemed rational in the beginning and hers were depicted as evidence of a wonderful imagination. Besides the hero turning up twice just in the nick of time to save the day, Charlotte's friend appeared conveniently on the street when she was wandering about in another risky situation with no idea of her address and Edward "ran into" an old acquaintance who happened to be both nobility and an ally when he needed that kind of help. Then there were TWO parents missing for decades who popped up. Serendipity was overused in this plot.
Finally, when H and h admit their love for each other and plan to marry after a proper mourning period for her esteemed but grandfatherly husband (she says a year, he bargains for 6 months) they're going to honor the deceased's memory with implied celibacy. Where was that sense of honor when they had an earlier sexual interlude WITHOUT speaking of love and marriage? And how could she be so clueless as to need newspapers to tell her that losing her virginity would strengthen her case for her marriage to her elderly benefactor being real?
But those who feel enchanted by the H and h would not notice the inconsistencies I've pointed out so it's all about whether you like Edward and Charlotte who left me flat.
There were so many lies by both leading characters to each other as well as the supporting cast, although his seemed rational in the beginning and hers were depicted as evidence of a wonderful imagination. Besides the hero turning up twice just in the nick of time to save the day, Charlotte's friend appeared conveniently on the street when she was wandering about in another risky situation with no idea of her address and Edward "ran into" an old acquaintance who happened to be both nobility and an ally when he needed that kind of help. Then there were TWO parents missing for decades who popped up. Serendipity was overused in this plot.
Finally, when H and h admit their love for each other and plan to marry after a proper mourning period for her esteemed but grandfatherly husband (she says a year, he bargains for 6 months) they're going to honor the deceased's memory with implied celibacy. Where was that sense of honor when they had an earlier sexual interlude WITHOUT speaking of love and marriage? And how could she be so clueless as to need newspapers to tell her that losing her virginity would strengthen her case for her marriage to her elderly benefactor being real?
But those who feel enchanted by the H and h would not notice the inconsistencies I've pointed out so it's all about whether you like Edward and Charlotte who left me flat.
August 13, 2023
4.25 stars. I've read books by this author before, though not the previous books in this series. I felt that this worked pretty well as a standalone, although there are characters from previous books who play fairly large roles and so it took me a bit to feel like I was really "into" the MMC's storyline. The writing style is strong and the plot is compelling enough to keep you reading. Also, the world building is solid. The descriptions of the sprawling manor, with its secrets, border on Gothic; there is an excellently moody sense of atmosphere in the first third of the book.
The secondary and off-the-page characters also draw you in. One notable thing was how the author provided depth to MMC's father; instead of painting him as a completely vile creature, as most authors would, the MMC has memories of small moments that humanize him and make their relationship even more tragic. It is hard to reconcile that person with the person who beat his mother so badly.
The MC's weren't quite as interesting. Their relationship is slow burn, which isn't always a bad thing, but I would have liked more spark. There is a spicy hint of naughtiness, then a lovely level-two steamy scene around the 60% mark, but then after that I felt somewhat let down by the lack of passion. Granted, the MMC is a cinnamon roll hero who adheres to a rigid sense of comportment due to his childhood. He's likable but perhaps too guarded to be super sexy. The MFC has positive qualities, but seems fey and passive at times (her occasional habit of giggling annoyed me). For someone who's been through hard experiences, she can be surprisingly naive and impulsive. I think if either of these characters had been slightly wilier or rougher around the edges, it would have enhanced their chemistry.
A few other things that didn't quite work for me and kept this from being a 5 star read:
--Why didn't the MMC have more of a plan for once he came home, and why hadn't he tried to track down his mom earlier?
--One too many convenient coincidences toward the end.
--The whole "run away from your problems" theme. Couldn't someone leave a note?
--The Jack character struck me as odd. At first he's creepy, then there's an abrupt character arc that just didn't take.
Overall, though, this is a well-written HR with pretty well developed characters and an excellent sense of mood and setting. It's not steamy, but it is compelling, with a mystery aspect that I did see coming but still found moving.
The secondary and off-the-page characters also draw you in. One notable thing was how the author provided depth to MMC's father; instead of painting him as a completely vile creature, as most authors would, the MMC has memories of small moments that humanize him and make their relationship even more tragic. It is hard to reconcile that person with the person who beat his mother so badly.
The MC's weren't quite as interesting. Their relationship is slow burn, which isn't always a bad thing, but I would have liked more spark. There is a spicy hint of naughtiness, then a lovely level-two steamy scene around the 60% mark, but then after that I felt somewhat let down by the lack of passion. Granted, the MMC is a cinnamon roll hero who adheres to a rigid sense of comportment due to his childhood. He's likable but perhaps too guarded to be super sexy. The MFC has positive qualities, but seems fey and passive at times (her occasional habit of giggling annoyed me). For someone who's been through hard experiences, she can be surprisingly naive and impulsive. I think if either of these characters had been slightly wilier or rougher around the edges, it would have enhanced their chemistry.
A few other things that didn't quite work for me and kept this from being a 5 star read:
--Why didn't the MMC have more of a plan for once he came home, and why hadn't he tried to track down his mom earlier?
--One too many convenient coincidences toward the end.
--The whole "run away from your problems" theme. Couldn't someone leave a note?
--The Jack character struck me as odd. At first he's creepy, then there's an abrupt character arc that just didn't take.
Overall, though, this is a well-written HR with pretty well developed characters and an excellent sense of mood and setting. It's not steamy, but it is compelling, with a mystery aspect that I did see coming but still found moving.
June 25, 2017
The third installment in this loosely linked series lacks a little of the sparkle of the first two books but is still a very enjoyable read. Very firmly rooted in all the traditions of modern Regency (well Georgian, but you know what I mean) romance it is full of lavish and interesting historical detail.
Edward Cary is a decent chap, an all round good guy, but love has some how passed him by. Returning to the inheritance fled an a young boy he meets another runaway with secrets to keep. Following the death of her elderly husband, Charlotte Blakemore is on the run from her dastardly step son who plans to cut her out of the will and ruin her. How running away is going to help this situation I do not know, but it all seemed to make sense at the time. Charlotte is half French, of dubious parentage and awfully pretty, she is also scared, penniless and alone. Edward rescues her at the roadside and they pretend to be married to avoid scandal and conceal her identity. Edward then returns to his grand family home, now abandoned, and pretends to be the new manager rather than the Heir. What follows becomes increasingly complex, fake marriages, secret marriages, lost children, lost parents in various different permutations. As if the author really wanted to use up a lot of leftover bits of plot. But I did enjoy it, it kept me reading till the end, even though, huh, its a regency romance, we all know how it is going to go down in the last chapter.
The characters are both thoroughly decent and hard working, quite likable, but I did find Charlotte a little dull, she does lots of cleaning and is very quick to get in tizzy. The inevitable romance between then was nicely paced and believable but I felt some of the steamier scenes did not hit the right note (nipple nibbling :-/ ick).
For the most part this is a very well written celebration of the genre – I enjoyed it.
Edward Cary is a decent chap, an all round good guy, but love has some how passed him by. Returning to the inheritance fled an a young boy he meets another runaway with secrets to keep. Following the death of her elderly husband, Charlotte Blakemore is on the run from her dastardly step son who plans to cut her out of the will and ruin her. How running away is going to help this situation I do not know, but it all seemed to make sense at the time. Charlotte is half French, of dubious parentage and awfully pretty, she is also scared, penniless and alone. Edward rescues her at the roadside and they pretend to be married to avoid scandal and conceal her identity. Edward then returns to his grand family home, now abandoned, and pretends to be the new manager rather than the Heir. What follows becomes increasingly complex, fake marriages, secret marriages, lost children, lost parents in various different permutations. As if the author really wanted to use up a lot of leftover bits of plot. But I did enjoy it, it kept me reading till the end, even though, huh, its a regency romance, we all know how it is going to go down in the last chapter.
The characters are both thoroughly decent and hard working, quite likable, but I did find Charlotte a little dull, she does lots of cleaning and is very quick to get in tizzy. The inevitable romance between then was nicely paced and believable but I felt some of the steamier scenes did not hit the right note (nipple nibbling :-/ ick).
For the most part this is a very well written celebration of the genre – I enjoyed it.
March 17, 2017
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Charlotte's elderly husband has just died after a very brief marriage, leaving her fairly wealthy. Her stepson, who inherits a generous amount too, tells her he is going to contest her marriage and inheritance on the basis that his father was insane when he married her. Charlotte believes that she is being watched by a man employed by her stepson and arranges to trade places with her maid to escape this surveillance, but unfortunately trades bags too and is left penniless when her maid is driven off in her carriage. She is rescued by Edward, who is travelling to his father's estate to confront him after 20 years in Antigua. Finding his father absent and the place in ruins, Edward tells Charlotte (and the few estate tenants/ servants) that he is Mr Cary, the new steward.
The plot of this story has far too much going on in it, and I suspect this is partly because some of the characters appeared in previous instalments in this series. There was Tempest, whom Edward mused about a lot, but whom we never got to meet, the Fairfaxes, who popped up out of nowhere towards the end, and Mari the freed slave, whose storyline I actually quite enjoyed. Did we really need Charlotte's father to turn up at the end? Jack's appearance seemed as if it might move things along, but just ended in the recital of yet more parts of the extended family tree.
Then there were the puzzling actions and motivations: when was Edward planning to confront his father and tell everyone who he really was? Why did no one in the village recognize him, especially as he was using the family surname? What was Charlotte's long term (or even medium term) plan? Was Jack really a womanizer or only pretending to be? Why didn't Charlotte tell Edward who she really was? The storyline concerning Tessie was obvious from a mile off and too sentimental for me.
I did like the epilogue though.
Charlotte's elderly husband has just died after a very brief marriage, leaving her fairly wealthy. Her stepson, who inherits a generous amount too, tells her he is going to contest her marriage and inheritance on the basis that his father was insane when he married her. Charlotte believes that she is being watched by a man employed by her stepson and arranges to trade places with her maid to escape this surveillance, but unfortunately trades bags too and is left penniless when her maid is driven off in her carriage. She is rescued by Edward, who is travelling to his father's estate to confront him after 20 years in Antigua. Finding his father absent and the place in ruins, Edward tells Charlotte (and the few estate tenants/ servants) that he is Mr Cary, the new steward.
The plot of this story has far too much going on in it, and I suspect this is partly because some of the characters appeared in previous instalments in this series. There was Tempest, whom Edward mused about a lot, but whom we never got to meet, the Fairfaxes, who popped up out of nowhere towards the end, and Mari the freed slave, whose storyline I actually quite enjoyed. Did we really need Charlotte's father to turn up at the end? Jack's appearance seemed as if it might move things along, but just ended in the recital of yet more parts of the extended family tree.
Then there were the puzzling actions and motivations: when was Edward planning to confront his father and tell everyone who he really was? Why did no one in the village recognize him, especially as he was using the family surname? What was Charlotte's long term (or even medium term) plan? Was Jack really a womanizer or only pretending to be? Why didn't Charlotte tell Edward who she really was? The storyline concerning Tessie was obvious from a mile off and too sentimental for me.
I did like the epilogue though.
December 12, 2025
Charlotte Blakemore, Duchess of Langerton, flees London after her husband dies and her stepson threatens to challenge the will. She fears he’s sent someone to follow her and means to disappear. At a roadside inn, she and her maid exchange places and the maid inadvertently takes Charlotte’s money bag as she drives away. Now what’s Charlotte to do? Fortunately, a handsome man notices her plight and offers her shelter. He’s a steward at a nearby estate. But through a misunderstanding, Charlotte is introduced as his wife, Mrs. Cary. Little does she know that Edward Cary is hiding a secret of his own. As they work together to restore the crumbling estate, their attraction blossoms. But can it withstand the truths that are sure to erupt? This slow sizzling romance takes two characters with troubled pasts who need each other to find their true selves. A pleasant escapist read!
March 19, 2017
Once again, Susanna Craig draws you into the lives of her characters, such that you feel that you have known them forever. Her writing is descriptive and almost hypnotising. Even her secondary characters have a life of their own and not just to enhance those of the main characters. This is the story of Charlotte Blakemore, Dowager Duchess of Langerton, who having lost her elderly husband, fears that her stepson will denounce her to society by contesting her marriage. Charlotte quickly leaves, trading places with her maid, but in doing so, leaves without any funds. Along the way, she meets Edward Cary, a character from the second book in this series. Edward has return to England, the heir of the Earl of Beckley having run away more than twenty years ago. In doing so, there are few who remember him nor realise that he is Beckley and not the manager of the estate.
The attention to detail for each character, brings this story to life. Gradually, Edward and Charlotte reveal their history either subtly or directly and I couldn’t help but cheer for them. These were two people who were meant to save each other. I loved the character of Mari – she has a large presence and just loved her responses to Jack.
If this book, doesn’t make you want to go back to the earlier stories, that can I suggest that you do!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The attention to detail for each character, brings this story to life. Gradually, Edward and Charlotte reveal their history either subtly or directly and I couldn’t help but cheer for them. These were two people who were meant to save each other. I loved the character of Mari – she has a large presence and just loved her responses to Jack.
If this book, doesn’t make you want to go back to the earlier stories, that can I suggest that you do!
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2018
A lot of twists and good turns
A young widow is on the run from her stepson, who has now inherited the title and will do anything to deny her settlement from his father's will. On the run and losing her funds, a dark haired stranger comes to her rescue. Only this is no ordinary stranger.
This my first book by this author and I'm already downloading another. Stayed up all night...damn good book.
A young widow is on the run from her stepson, who has now inherited the title and will do anything to deny her settlement from his father's will. On the run and losing her funds, a dark haired stranger comes to her rescue. Only this is no ordinary stranger.
This my first book by this author and I'm already downloading another. Stayed up all night...damn good book.
October 4, 2021
This book is populated by perfectly nice characters, who unfortunately have very tepid interactions and minimal chemistry.
Charlotte is a duchess by marriage, who has recently become the widow of her much older husband, who married her merely to basically . . . be nice and offer her some protection? Unfortunately, he left her a crap ton of money, enough that her dickish son-in-law is trying to contest the will and generally bring shame upon her. She decides the best response to this situation is to do a runner?
She gets picked up by our hero, Edward, who is of course the heir to an earl. He, also of course, decides not to disclose this to her, so I guess they're at least equally deceptive regarding their origins. They haul off to his estate, where he pretends to be the estate manager. They're both busy all day and frankly interact very little, but somehow they claim to have fallen in love. I dunno. I'm sure it could happen, but it's not the stuff of a passionate romance novel, at least not as it's written.
Edward is, I think, very briefly referenced in the first book in this series and seems to figure more heavily in the book preceding this one (which I skipped because the sea captain captivity concept bit), so you have that whole element where Slavery is Evil and Past Trauma. I know some people are very offended by this whole storyline through these books, but my feeling is more that the author was overly ambitious in trying to acknowledge a minefield of the times, and was maybe not quite experienced or gifted enough as a writer to hit all the right notes. There's a character in the book who is both disabled and a formerly enslaved person. Not sure how historically accurate the portrayal is, but it is there.
Charlotte is a duchess by marriage, who has recently become the widow of her much older husband, who married her merely to basically . . . be nice and offer her some protection? Unfortunately, he left her a crap ton of money, enough that her dickish son-in-law is trying to contest the will and generally bring shame upon her. She decides the best response to this situation is to do a runner?
She gets picked up by our hero, Edward, who is of course the heir to an earl. He, also of course, decides not to disclose this to her, so I guess they're at least equally deceptive regarding their origins. They haul off to his estate, where he pretends to be the estate manager. They're both busy all day and frankly interact very little, but somehow they claim to have fallen in love. I dunno. I'm sure it could happen, but it's not the stuff of a passionate romance novel, at least not as it's written.
Edward is, I think, very briefly referenced in the first book in this series and seems to figure more heavily in the book preceding this one (which I skipped because the sea captain captivity concept bit), so you have that whole element where Slavery is Evil and Past Trauma. I know some people are very offended by this whole storyline through these books, but my feeling is more that the author was overly ambitious in trying to acknowledge a minefield of the times, and was maybe not quite experienced or gifted enough as a writer to hit all the right notes. There's a character in the book who is both disabled and a formerly enslaved person. Not sure how historically accurate the portrayal is, but it is there.
March 18, 2017
I actually liked this book, though I found the recurrent theme of disappearing aristocrats a bit much. The H was heir to an Earl, and had disappeared over 20 years ago. He had a friend that had also been a vanished aristo, having left England to labor on a sugar plantation for a few years. The h is a duchess, who also "disappeared ", but for only the fortnight of the beginning of the book, so am surprised anyone noticed. Otherwise I liked the H and h, as individuals and as a couple. The action in the relationship seemed to take forever to start, but the overall story was interesting and held my attention. The West Indies was an intriguing addition, as was the interracial relationship. This is part of a series but stands well alone. I received a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2018
Loved it
Wonderful book by Susanna Craig. Loved the whole story about Edward and Charoltte . Loved how they met and worked together at his estate even though they both kept secrets. Fell in love and found some of their family that they all gone.
Wonderful book by Susanna Craig. Loved the whole story about Edward and Charoltte . Loved how they met and worked together at his estate even though they both kept secrets. Fell in love and found some of their family that they all gone.
March 22, 2018
Enjoyable
I am amazed about authors writing stories. They are so gifted. Ms. Craig sure did do a fine job with this story. I was surprised with the ending is the story. Wonderful story line. Thank you.
I am amazed about authors writing stories. They are so gifted. Ms. Craig sure did do a fine job with this story. I was surprised with the ending is the story. Wonderful story line. Thank you.
August 8, 2023
Could not put it down
Interesting and unique plot kept my attention on every page. Two people from dysfunctional families seem destined to meet. They help each other to take a chance on love.
Interesting and unique plot kept my attention on every page. Two people from dysfunctional families seem destined to meet. They help each other to take a chance on love.
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