Secluded with My Hellion

Linked Across Time #10

by Dawn Brower

Lady Odessa Lynwood has loved the Earl of Havenwood since she was a young girl. He is her brother's best friend and their nearest peerage neighbor. She is tired of him avoiding her and decides to do something about it. There isn't a doubt in her mind that he loves her too; however, she doesn't understand why he's denying it. She leaves Kingbridge, her family home, on the brink of a snowstorm to confront him.

Gavin Barrington, the Earl of Havenwood hasn't made a move to declare his intention for Odessa for a very good reason. His family is cursed and he refuses to subject her to the disaster his family name would bring her. But when they are trapped in a hunting cabin during an epic snowstorm it changes everything.

In the midst of the blizzard they must come to terms with their love and figure out if they can overcome Gavin's worst fears and have a life together.

Genres: Historical Romance, Novella

Unknown Binding

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

USA TODAY Bestselling author, DAWN BROWER writes both historical and contemporary romance. There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.

Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She raised two boys into productive young men. There is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby and she loves all genres.

She is active on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To follow her or can find more about her check out her website for the pertinent information: www.authordawnbrower.com

Reviews

[Jamie Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-Written and Dreamily Narrated Story

Audiobook Review:
This is a relatively quick-listen novella, weighing in at just under 2 hours long, but happily, it did not suffer the typical faults of a novella. It was constrained in both time and space, as the crucial part took place when the hero and heroine were stranded together. Ah, nothing like a forced proximity to bring two people together. The heroine is certainly a hellion, as the title states, and delightfully so. She never wants to listen to any advice or caution offered by others. In the immortal words of Fleetwood Mac, she wants to go her own way. The hero was an absolute delight, fighting—and, of course, ultimately losing—his feelings for the heroine. There was only a brief moment when I was annoyed with him when he almost gave up on that battle. But this is a romance, so their HEA is guaranteed.

What makes this audiobook absolutely delicious and dreamy is the swoon-worthy voice of the male narrator. I recently suffered through a spate of poorly narrated audiobooks that nearly had me tearing my hair out because they were so bad. As soon as I heard this gentleman's voice, I was transported and knew I was in excellent hands. He's British, so he's got the perfect accent for a Regency romance. He also added the perfect level of acting to his narration. Again, some narrators I've listened to lately have overacted, which makes an audiobook tedious to listen to for hours on end. This guy not only had the perfect voice, but he also had a way of narrating thoughts versus narrative versus speech in a way that made the book come alive. As often happens in romances, particularly historical romance, the characters think something quite different from what they say. This narrator perfectly made clear thought versus speech, which was highly amusing. The only oddity about his narration—but I will forgive him for his gorgeous voice—is that the ends and beginnings of chapters had an odd, airy-sounding emptiness that wasn't there while he was talking. It jolted me out of the book at times. That noisy air should have been edited out. A minor quibble for such a delightful book. Highly recommended.

I received a promo code for this audiobook, but that did not affect my review.

[Kiley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Secluded with My Hellion, Book 10 of the Linked Across Time series, was about Lady Odessa Lynwood, sister to Lord Killian, the Earl of Thornbury, and Lord Gavin Barrington, the Earl of Havenwood, her brother's best friend.
Odessa had been in love with Gavin for as long as she could remember and always believed that she would one day marry him. However, having overheard a conversation between him and her brother during which Gavin said he would never marry and "and that went double for her", she was determined to force him to confess his true feelings for her. She set out for his estate which neighbored hers just as a snowstorm started.
Having loved Odessa for more than ten years, Gavin knew he could never marry her, for he believed if he did, she would die because his family was cursed. When the two of them got snowed in at a small hunting lodge, Odessa convinced him to tell her why he refused to marry her. However, nothing she said could persuade him to realize that he wasn't, in fact, cursed.
While the storyline was well-written, it was not only too brief but it felt incomplete like it just stopped mid-thought and ended without being finished. That, to me, is just as bad as a true cliffhanger. The romance of the story was sweet, hot, and volcanic but, then again, it too was lacking something
Definitely not a five-star worthy book, but it was ... decent. That's the best I can say for it.

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A short fun listen that was very entertaining, I have listened to everyone in this series and have totally loved them all. This is a great addition, it is short sweet and to the point. I did think the ending was too fast but that is the way short stories usually go. Odessa has picked her man but her man has a family curse on the woman they marry he won’t take the chance of losing her. She won’t give up until she has what she wants. The two are at odds and only one will come out the winner. If Odessa wins than so does Gavin but at what cost.

The narrator did a wonderful job with his character voices putting the right tones with the emotions. Pulling the listener in giving a highly entertaining listen. I always knew who was talking, what they were feeling. There are no repeating of words, no volume change, if any breaks were taken I could not tell. I thought he really brought the story to life. I do wish it was longer but it was a great performance that I totally enjoyed.

I loved the plot and the characters, I thought it really added to the series. I do wish it has been longer the ending came too fast.

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odessa and Gavin have loved each other for years, but Gavin is afraid that the curse that plagues the women in his family would affect Odessa if they married. She only wants him, refusing to have a season and be courted by other suitors. She manages to be alone with him in his game keeper’s cabin during a snow storm and he confesses his love and also why he is afraid to be with her. I thought it strange that her family didn’t notice her absence until a day later even though the groom saw her ride off into a snow storm and when they did only her brother was worried. She could have fallen off her horse and frozen to death in the snow. The story also seemed to wrap up a little too quickly. It would have been better if there was epilogue a year later to show that there was nothing for Gavin to fear.

[Jocelyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book 10 of the Linked Across Time Series. I haven't listened to the first books in the Series, but I'd love to! I loved this sweet short love story! This story is really beautifully written and surprisingly well developed. Gavin's family story was so heartbreaking! Odessa and Gavin are wonderful characters. They share a great chemistry and they got their HEA. I loved the Epilogue! The narration was well done and easy to listen. The narrator has a great voice. I enjoyed my listening and I totally recommend this audiobook. I received this free review copy audiobook at my request and I have voluntarily left this review.

[Trish R. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have no idea why this novella was part pf the Linked in Time series. There was no time travel in it, or even any talk of it. It was simply about Gavin and Odessa who loved each other but Gavin tried to stay away from her because he thought his family was cursed and if he married Odessa AND lived with her she would die.

It was not nearly as interesting as the other 9 stories. Very disappointing.

There was explicit sex in this and the F-bomb wasn’t used at all in this story.

As to the narration: David Wayman was barely okay for me. He has a nice reading voice but he reads without any emotions. The conversations between Gavin and Odessa sounded silly at every turn.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written story of a man who believes his family is cursed, I enjoyed reading this book. Gavin Barrington, the Earl of Havenwood loves Lady Odessa Lynwood but he will not tell her. Odessa has loved him since he rescued her when she was thirteen. Now that she is twenty-three she is going to tell him but she has to take shelter with Gavin when a snowstorm hits. I am going to read these books starting with the first one when I get time to do so. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

She has loved him for so long and he has never said a word to her. He does love her but he is firebrand will not do anything until he is free. She is tired if waiting so she travels to him but a snowstorm hits. They are snowed in a little hunting cabin. Can they work it all out? Can she help him? Can they be happy at long last? See if they can

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brenda Moser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a short entertaining read. The characters are strong and the story moves quickly and smoothly. I loved Odessa and her determination to get Gavin. It's a well written historical romance that was fun to read. I would recommend this book.

All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.

[Laila Viking · Rating 3 out of 5]

The tenth story in this series. Well written with nice plot. The characters are well described and have a nice chemistry.
I am a big fan of historical romances but this disappointed me in the language. It was very modern and did not fit the story.
The story was very fast paced but several things did not fit the time period.
It is a short and easy read and enjoyable at times.

[Jodi Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, good characters and plot. Odessa and Gavin have loved each other for years, but Gavin is afraid that the "curse" that plagues his family would affect Odessa if they married, Odessa only wants him and no other.

[Sieravonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this in Hot Winter Nights. The story was sappy in a negative way.

[Sharon Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!

Absolutely loved the 10th book! Dawn Brower knows how to write great characters and storyline's. I am always drawn into these books!

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short story. 3☆

[between the covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part of "Unwrapping a Rogue" box set.

[between the covers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Also Part of Hot Winter Nights Collection

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Odessa and Gavin's story! It's a entertaining read. It did seem a little rushed in the end but overall it's an enjoyable story.

[K.J. Sweeney]

This really wasn't to my taste. Part of the problem was that it didn't feel like a regency. The language was far too modern and American. For example, the hero refers to himself as a Jerk at one point, someone tells someone to 'Quit' something more than once. It also featured a log cabin, in Regency England, a log cabin?!
The story just didn't work for me, I couldn't warm to either the heroine or hero and when the whole romance was 'resolved' it didn't make much sense and happened far to fast. I know that this was a novella and they tend to be shorter, but it just didn't work for me.
I'm not giving this a star review, as I see no one else has left one yet and while for me it wasn't good, other people might love it.