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The Wild Quartet #4
Une Française à Londres
Devenu duc de Denford, Julian fait désormais partie de l'élite de la noblesse. C'est le moment que choisit sa mère pour lui confier ses trois demi-soeurs. Julian est consterné. Que va-t-il faire de ces gamines intenables qu'il connaît à peine ? Il lui faut une gouvernante de toute urgence ! Par chance se présente au château Mlle Jane Grey, qui semble avoir toutes les qualités requises. En vérité, Julian est surtout frappé par sa beauté. Ne pourrait-il pas joindre l'utile à l'agréable et en faire sa maîtresse ? Il ignore que Jane s'appelle en réalité Jeanne de Falleron et qu'elle a tout fait pour s'introduire chez lui...
384 pages, Pocket Book
First published December 30, 2014
162 people are currently reading
1269 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Neville
27 books515 followersMiranda Neville grew up in England, loving the books of Georgette Heyer and other Regency romances. She lived in Vermont with her daughter and an immensely talented cat, who made a book trailer for her novel, The Importance of Being Wicked. Her historical romances published by Avon include the popular Burgundy Club series, about Regency book collectors, and The Wild Quartet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
July 26, 2016
I've given this an A- at AAR, so 4.5 stars.
Miranda Neville’s books have been a bit hit and miss for me in the past. I wasn’t too keen on the first book in this series (The Importance of Being Wicked), although I loved the prequel novella (The Second Seduction of a Lady) and while it had its weaknesses, I enjoyed her last book (Lady Windermere's Lover). But The Duke of Dark Desires hands down worked for me and then some. It doesn’t hurt that the story pushes some of my favourite buttons; bad boys made good are like catnip, and I’m also partial to an aristocrat/governess story (although this is a bit more complicated than that). Ms Neville also picks up the plot threads she left unresolved at the end of the last book (although it’s not absolutely necessary to have read it, as this works as a stand-alone) and ties everything up in a nice big bow, presenting readers with a very satisfying conclusion to the series.
Julian Fortescue has travelled extensively and made his living as an art dealer – a fairly successful one with a real passion for the wheeling and dealing involved in buying and selling as well as for the works of art themselves. As the scion of a minor branch of the family, he never expected to inherit anything – but became the Duke of Denford because of a completely unexpected and unfortunate series of illnesses and accidents that befell his numerous male relations. The trouble was, given that he was very much the black sheep of the family, his remaining (mostly female!) relatives decided to contest his accession, meaning that for the past two years, he’s been a very impoverished duke. When the book opens, he has finally reached a financial settlement with them which means that he now has the funds necessary to live in style and maintain his estates.
Finding himself suddenly responsible for his three younger half-sisters, Julian decides he needs to hire someone to look after them so he can have as little to do with them as possible, so he advertises for a governess. He takes one look at Miss Jane Grey and decides she can have the position – although the positions he has in mind are principally horizontal ones!
But the prim, proper Miss Grey is not what she seems. In reality, she is Jeanne de Falleron, the one surviving member of a family of French aristocrats whose parents and two younger sisters were guillotined during the Terror. She has travelled to London in search of one particular Mr. Fortescue, the man she believes responsible for betraying her family a decade earlier, and is determined to exact a terrible and final revenge. She believes that by taking a position in the home of the head of the Fortescue family, she will be able to find the man she seeks.
The relationship between Julian and Jane is brilliantly written and hits its stride right off the bat. Their verbal cat-and-mouse games are a real delight, and because it’s very clear that Jane knows exactly what Julian is up to – and feels the pull of the intense physical attraction between them every bit as much as he does – there’s none of the power imbalance between them that can make a master/servant romance a bit difficult to take. Jane responds in kind to Julian’s flirting and challenges him - and obviously enjoys it - even though she knows that ending up in his bed is probably not a good idea.
Miranda Neville’s books have been a bit hit and miss for me in the past. I wasn’t too keen on the first book in this series (The Importance of Being Wicked), although I loved the prequel novella (The Second Seduction of a Lady) and while it had its weaknesses, I enjoyed her last book (Lady Windermere's Lover). But The Duke of Dark Desires hands down worked for me and then some. It doesn’t hurt that the story pushes some of my favourite buttons; bad boys made good are like catnip, and I’m also partial to an aristocrat/governess story (although this is a bit more complicated than that). Ms Neville also picks up the plot threads she left unresolved at the end of the last book (although it’s not absolutely necessary to have read it, as this works as a stand-alone) and ties everything up in a nice big bow, presenting readers with a very satisfying conclusion to the series.
Julian Fortescue has travelled extensively and made his living as an art dealer – a fairly successful one with a real passion for the wheeling and dealing involved in buying and selling as well as for the works of art themselves. As the scion of a minor branch of the family, he never expected to inherit anything – but became the Duke of Denford because of a completely unexpected and unfortunate series of illnesses and accidents that befell his numerous male relations. The trouble was, given that he was very much the black sheep of the family, his remaining (mostly female!) relatives decided to contest his accession, meaning that for the past two years, he’s been a very impoverished duke. When the book opens, he has finally reached a financial settlement with them which means that he now has the funds necessary to live in style and maintain his estates.
Finding himself suddenly responsible for his three younger half-sisters, Julian decides he needs to hire someone to look after them so he can have as little to do with them as possible, so he advertises for a governess. He takes one look at Miss Jane Grey and decides she can have the position – although the positions he has in mind are principally horizontal ones!
But the prim, proper Miss Grey is not what she seems. In reality, she is Jeanne de Falleron, the one surviving member of a family of French aristocrats whose parents and two younger sisters were guillotined during the Terror. She has travelled to London in search of one particular Mr. Fortescue, the man she believes responsible for betraying her family a decade earlier, and is determined to exact a terrible and final revenge. She believes that by taking a position in the home of the head of the Fortescue family, she will be able to find the man she seeks.
The relationship between Julian and Jane is brilliantly written and hits its stride right off the bat. Their verbal cat-and-mouse games are a real delight, and because it’s very clear that Jane knows exactly what Julian is up to – and feels the pull of the intense physical attraction between them every bit as much as he does – there’s none of the power imbalance between them that can make a master/servant romance a bit difficult to take. Jane responds in kind to Julian’s flirting and challenges him - and obviously enjoys it - even though she knows that ending up in his bed is probably not a good idea.
Jane is an engaging and well-developed character whose pragmatism has sustained her through some terrible times. After she lost her family, she had to make some horrible decisions in order to survive, but she refuses to feel ashamed about them or see herself as a victim. The relationships she develops with Julian’s sisters are well-drawn and are not overly sweet or twee; she recognises that while they need affection, they also need someone to set boundaries. Each of the three girls (aged nine to fifteen) is a recognisable individual, even if they’re perhaps just a teeny bit stereotypical; there’s the one who will soon enter society and become a young lady, the sullen middle one and the young moppet – but despite that, they’re all very likeable.
Julian is a great hero – smart, sexy and under no illusions about himself. He doesn’t have the best of reputations; in fact he spent most of the last book in the series trying to seduce his former best friend’s wife! He had a wild, rebellious youth, and his good looks and charm have ensured him plenty of female companionship over the years. But he’s not your typical rake who shags his way through town in order to assuage his man-pain or because he doesn’t want anything to do with that touchy-feely-emotional -girly crap. Julian is more the sort of man who simply enjoys good living and pleasurable activities, and he’s pleasantly self-aware, especially when it comes to his immediate desire to get Jane into bed. ”Besides, no one expected Julian to behave properly, least of all himself”
He’s cultivated his mad, bad and dangerous to know reputation, but deep down, he’s a decent man, haunted by his (unwitting) part in a tragic event, and who recognizes that he now has responsibilities that he needs to fulfil. Not least of those is that to his sisters, although he has no idea exactly what he’s supposed to do with them! But as the book progresses, Ms. Neville creates a really warm and caring relationship between them, with Julian pretending not to be interested while teasing them in a “big brotherly” kind of way that shows them the complete opposite.
The romance is sensual and well-developed, and I particularly liked the comfortable domesticity that evolves between Julian and Jane during their after-dinner meetings. There’s plenty of humour and the plotline concerning the paintings and Julian’s guilt over the events of a decade ago is intriguing and satisfactorily resolved. My one reservation about that aspect of the story is that the way the villain is disposed of is a little over the top, but other than that, The Duke of Dark Desires is a terrific read, and one I recommend most highly.
October 7, 2015
*I gave this audiobook an A- for the story and B for the narration at AudioGals*
The Duke of Dark Desires proved to be a delightful mix of a historical romance (poised among the backdrop and life-changing consequences of the French Revolution) and an intriguing romantic suspense title. Do not be fooled by blurb though, there is so much more to this addicting romance than just the duke and the nanny seduction story that is immediately apparent from the book’s description. Moreover, Shaun Grindell’s adept narration of this romantic tale makes it an all-around good choice for an audiobook selection.
See the full review at AudioGals.
The Duke of Dark Desires proved to be a delightful mix of a historical romance (poised among the backdrop and life-changing consequences of the French Revolution) and an intriguing romantic suspense title. Do not be fooled by blurb though, there is so much more to this addicting romance than just the duke and the nanny seduction story that is immediately apparent from the book’s description. Moreover, Shaun Grindell’s adept narration of this romantic tale makes it an all-around good choice for an audiobook selection.
See the full review at AudioGals.
April 17, 2022
Julian Fortescue, Duke of Denford, hires "Jane Grey" (actually Lady Jeanne de Falleron) as governess for his sisters. She's super sexy and mysterious and awakens his boners. Jane, meanwhile, is on a mission for revenge? But she def has time to get jiggy with the hot emo duke, so: benefits?? They end up falling into FEELINGS between all the historical angst.
1. Too much angst, ugh. I kind of knew what I was getting into because this is a revenge story, but still: Jane/Jeanne's tragic history and Julian's tragic history, and the Mystery of What Happened to the Falleron Family—it's a lot.
2. The development of feeeeelings was actually pretty well done? A little light on the ground because of the aforementioned angstfest, but.
3. Called the baddie.
1. Too much angst, ugh. I kind of knew what I was getting into because this is a revenge story, but still: Jane/Jeanne's tragic history and Julian's tragic history, and the Mystery of What Happened to the Falleron Family—it's a lot.
2. The development of feeeeelings was actually pretty well done? A little light on the ground because of the aforementioned angstfest, but.
3. Called the baddie.
February 3, 2015
Oh I love a good Governess story. This might actually be only my second one that I have read in my lifetime and I am oh so glad that I did.
Jane Grey is really Lady Jeanne de Falleron, a woman who is out for revenge after witnessing the fall and death of her family, including her little sisters. She finds herself at Fortescue home posing as a governess because she remembers that it was a member of that family that has betrayed her family and sent them to their deaths.
Julian inherited dukedom because everyone else in the family seemed to have met some sort of misfortune, leaving him a sole male heir that the rest of the family does not approve of. He must take care of his half-sisters and doesn't really want anything to do with them, so he looks for the governess to keep them off his hands. The last thing Julian expected was for Jane Grey to be so attractive, and now getting her into his bed seems to be one of his top priorities, unknown to him the real reason the woman has tricked her way into his home.
The characters in this story were so much fun. I like Jane and I liked Julian's sisters, as well as her interactions with them and how she bought them out of their shells and dealt with their behaviors. I loved Jane's spirit, despite being one of the few de Falleron's left. Thought she had some obstacles in the way, especially in a male form, she continuously kept her mind wrapped around her mission and the revenge she was seeking. I also love how she tried so hard to get Julian to get along with his sisters, who at first he wanted nothing to do with.
Julian was an interesting character as well, a little brooding, had no interest in his sisters. It was nice to see his character open up thanks to Jane. Their interaction was fun and the chemistry was sizzling and clear between these two. It was almost heart-warming watching him slowly warm up to his sisters, who admired him so much.
The plot line was fun and entertaining. I found myself completely hooked and wanted to know what was going on, how was Julian involved in Jane's families death, what does he know about it and did he really do it? It kept me on the edge of my seat and the twist in the end was a bit surprising, did not see it coming. Thought I am not sure how I feel about it completely, I did like it!
I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
Jane Grey is really Lady Jeanne de Falleron, a woman who is out for revenge after witnessing the fall and death of her family, including her little sisters. She finds herself at Fortescue home posing as a governess because she remembers that it was a member of that family that has betrayed her family and sent them to their deaths.
Julian inherited dukedom because everyone else in the family seemed to have met some sort of misfortune, leaving him a sole male heir that the rest of the family does not approve of. He must take care of his half-sisters and doesn't really want anything to do with them, so he looks for the governess to keep them off his hands. The last thing Julian expected was for Jane Grey to be so attractive, and now getting her into his bed seems to be one of his top priorities, unknown to him the real reason the woman has tricked her way into his home.
The characters in this story were so much fun. I like Jane and I liked Julian's sisters, as well as her interactions with them and how she bought them out of their shells and dealt with their behaviors. I loved Jane's spirit, despite being one of the few de Falleron's left. Thought she had some obstacles in the way, especially in a male form, she continuously kept her mind wrapped around her mission and the revenge she was seeking. I also love how she tried so hard to get Julian to get along with his sisters, who at first he wanted nothing to do with.
Julian was an interesting character as well, a little brooding, had no interest in his sisters. It was nice to see his character open up thanks to Jane. Their interaction was fun and the chemistry was sizzling and clear between these two. It was almost heart-warming watching him slowly warm up to his sisters, who admired him so much.
The plot line was fun and entertaining. I found myself completely hooked and wanted to know what was going on, how was Julian involved in Jane's families death, what does he know about it and did he really do it? It kept me on the edge of my seat and the twist in the end was a bit surprising, did not see it coming. Thought I am not sure how I feel about it completely, I did like it!
I got a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
January 4, 2015
This is my first full length Neville (reading out of order) - I finished novella The Second Seduction of a Lady last night, and it was ok - although there was A Big Misunderstanding that kept the MCs apart for 5 years, not my favorite trope. I was really excited to start The Duke. The description sounded like something I could really sink my teeth into - a wronged lady seeks vengeance for her dead family! Should have been awesome - I was hoping for a Shana Galen or Joanna Bourne type story, but came away bummed out by the weak characters and storyline.
The male MC, the Duke, put me off right at the start by being a nasty sleazeball, and I never really came around to liking him - although he did less overtly awful shit as the book progressed, he also didn't really do anything nice for the female MC, Jane. Posing as the governess for the Duke's sister, he coerces her into making out with him in exchange for behaving nicely to his sisters. I honestly just didn't understand what was attractive about him. He was SUCH AN ASSHOLE. On the other hand, Jane's character actually got weaker (loss of confidence, loss of self-worth, increased self-doubt and self-hatred, etc) as the story went on, and he didn't really do anything to shore her up.
I'll be reading Lady Windemere next, having purchased it in a fit of optimism. Maybe I will like it better?
The male MC, the Duke, put me off right at the start by being a nasty sleazeball, and I never really came around to liking him - although he did less overtly awful shit as the book progressed, he also didn't really do anything nice for the female MC, Jane. Posing as the governess for the Duke's sister, he coerces her into making out with him in exchange for behaving nicely to his sisters. I honestly just didn't understand what was attractive about him. He was SUCH AN ASSHOLE. On the other hand, Jane's character actually got weaker (loss of confidence, loss of self-worth, increased self-doubt and self-hatred, etc) as the story went on, and he didn't really do anything to shore her up.
I'll be reading Lady Windemere next, having purchased it in a fit of optimism. Maybe I will like it better?
September 29, 2021
This had such a great concept but it felt like it was trying to do too much and underdelivered on both the plot and the romance.
December 30, 2014
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
The Duke of Dark Desires by Miranda Neville
Book Four of The Wild Quartet series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .
Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified—to become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears impervious to him. Somehow Julian must find a way to make her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart and revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.
Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation . . .
Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family—and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.
But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?
What I Liked:
Well, this book wasn't quite what I expected. It was so much more than whatever I thought it would be. I love lord/governess stories (though I feel like there aren't many), so I couldn't wait to dig into this romance. As many of you know, I didn't really like The Ruin of a Rogue (book two of this series). This one (book four) caught my attention because of the lord/governess thing. But there was so much more to this book!
Jane Grey isn't a governess - she is a French aristocrat, fallen from grace. Everyone believes that she and her family are dead, murdered nine years ago when an English lord betrayed them, stole expensive paintings from them, and left them to hang. She has known for years that a Mr. Fortescue was behind it all... potentially the same Duke of Denford, Julian Fortescue, her new employer. Jane has every intention of getting her revenge, but she doesn't expect to fall in love with the man...
Ahhh, this book was so complex! It's not just a romance novel. There is so much scheming and betrayal and even politics in this book, it's fabulous. I didn't like a lot of things about The Ruin of a Rogue, but I'm glad I wasn't deterred by that novel. The complexity and depth of this novel was fascinating!
Jane is the model of a perfect governess. She schools Julian's three half-sisters into proper ladies, all while keeping up pretenses that she is an Englishwoman from St. Lucia, with an excellent reference and a mysterious past. I really like Jane! She is direct and forward and proper and ladylike. She has no problem telling Julian exactly how she thinks things should be done, but it's not done in a stuffy or bossy or annoying way.
I like Julian a lot. That man is sinful, but he is also sweet and kindhearted. At first, it seems like he's kind of a meanie, because he doesn't want to take in his three half-sisters as his mother and her latest husband gallivant across the globe. Honestly, I feel for him, and understand. But he slowly begins to really like his sisters. I love seeing this progression. I also love seeing him fall for Miss Grey.
The romance is fabulously slow-burn. It's all sorts of wrong, for the duke and his governess to be doing anything improper, but Julian knows no boundaries, and Jane has no honor to lose. She wants to kill him, anyway, but she also wants to kiss him. Tough decision...
I thought I would be constantly annoyed by Julian's younger half-sisters, but I really liked them! The oldest is fifteen, the youngest is... seven? Nine? Somewhere around there. The author does a really great job of making sure that readers really like the girls, in addition to Julian and Jane.
I won't go too deep into Jane's past and the huge conflict that made her go after the Fortescue family and how everything comes down to her and Julian. But trust me, it gets twisted. And intriguing! I really liked how much bigger it was than Jane's family and Julian's family. There was a country involved, in a time of war. You really have to read the book to know what I mean!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The characters were really likable, the chemistry was sizzling, and the mystery/story was captivating.
What I Did Not Like:
The cover. Haha. Not that the author can do anything about that. But anyway - I wanted one or two scenes more between Julian and Jane...
Would I Recommend It:
I really liked this historical romance novel, so yes! It's not the most amazing historical romance novel of the year, but I am so glad that I didn't miss this one (especially after how I felt about The Ruin of a Rogue).
Rating:
4 stars. I haven't read books one or three of the series, but I'm glad I read two of the four books! This last book is probably the best (in my opinion).
The Duke of Dark Desires by Miranda Neville
Book Four of The Wild Quartet series
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: December 30, 2014
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***
Summary (from Goodreads):
Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .
Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified—to become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears impervious to him. Somehow Julian must find a way to make her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart and revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.
Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation . . .
Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family—and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.
But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?
What I Liked:
Well, this book wasn't quite what I expected. It was so much more than whatever I thought it would be. I love lord/governess stories (though I feel like there aren't many), so I couldn't wait to dig into this romance. As many of you know, I didn't really like The Ruin of a Rogue (book two of this series). This one (book four) caught my attention because of the lord/governess thing. But there was so much more to this book!
Jane Grey isn't a governess - she is a French aristocrat, fallen from grace. Everyone believes that she and her family are dead, murdered nine years ago when an English lord betrayed them, stole expensive paintings from them, and left them to hang. She has known for years that a Mr. Fortescue was behind it all... potentially the same Duke of Denford, Julian Fortescue, her new employer. Jane has every intention of getting her revenge, but she doesn't expect to fall in love with the man...
Ahhh, this book was so complex! It's not just a romance novel. There is so much scheming and betrayal and even politics in this book, it's fabulous. I didn't like a lot of things about The Ruin of a Rogue, but I'm glad I wasn't deterred by that novel. The complexity and depth of this novel was fascinating!
Jane is the model of a perfect governess. She schools Julian's three half-sisters into proper ladies, all while keeping up pretenses that she is an Englishwoman from St. Lucia, with an excellent reference and a mysterious past. I really like Jane! She is direct and forward and proper and ladylike. She has no problem telling Julian exactly how she thinks things should be done, but it's not done in a stuffy or bossy or annoying way.
I like Julian a lot. That man is sinful, but he is also sweet and kindhearted. At first, it seems like he's kind of a meanie, because he doesn't want to take in his three half-sisters as his mother and her latest husband gallivant across the globe. Honestly, I feel for him, and understand. But he slowly begins to really like his sisters. I love seeing this progression. I also love seeing him fall for Miss Grey.
The romance is fabulously slow-burn. It's all sorts of wrong, for the duke and his governess to be doing anything improper, but Julian knows no boundaries, and Jane has no honor to lose. She wants to kill him, anyway, but she also wants to kiss him. Tough decision...
I thought I would be constantly annoyed by Julian's younger half-sisters, but I really liked them! The oldest is fifteen, the youngest is... seven? Nine? Somewhere around there. The author does a really great job of making sure that readers really like the girls, in addition to Julian and Jane.
I won't go too deep into Jane's past and the huge conflict that made her go after the Fortescue family and how everything comes down to her and Julian. But trust me, it gets twisted. And intriguing! I really liked how much bigger it was than Jane's family and Julian's family. There was a country involved, in a time of war. You really have to read the book to know what I mean!
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! The characters were really likable, the chemistry was sizzling, and the mystery/story was captivating.
What I Did Not Like:
The cover. Haha. Not that the author can do anything about that. But anyway - I wanted one or two scenes more between Julian and Jane...
Would I Recommend It:
I really liked this historical romance novel, so yes! It's not the most amazing historical romance novel of the year, but I am so glad that I didn't miss this one (especially after how I felt about The Ruin of a Rogue).
Rating:
4 stars. I haven't read books one or three of the series, but I'm glad I read two of the four books! This last book is probably the best (in my opinion).
July 10, 2020
It was different to finally read about a non-virginal heroine with a dark past.
June 23, 2017
The summary makes the book sound a lot more interesting than it actually is. If the plot had a tighter pacing and the characters were more adventurous, it could've been a 4 star read.
*Minor spoilers ahead.*
The heroine is the only surviving member of her family, her parents and sisters were cruelly guillotined during the French revolution. She believes one of the hero's relatives is responsible for her family's deaths and poses as an English governess for the hero's family to investigate the culprit.
Things I liked about the heroine:
-She is not a virgin. Granted, she's 27 years old, but that never stopped HR writers from making ~pure~ heroines before, so this is refreshing. She had been with two other men before meeting the hero and I liked that very much.
Things I didn't like:
-The heroine has a dark past with some heavy baggage. I was expecting a strong woman dealing with survivor's guilt, covert investigations the hero's background and thinking clever schemes to carry out her revenge. All I got instead was a heroine who is far too taken by the hero's "startling sky blue eyes" and his three bland sisters and barely does anything for the majority (75%) of the book. It was actually the hero who sets things right and makes it his duty to avenge her family. And I have to say, he's got a lot more done in the last quarter of the book than the heroine ever did in the rest.
I loved the hero. He was very charming and his character growth kept things interesting. He starts as a wastrel with a selfish attitude but he gradually matures throughout the story and is very likeable by the end.
One thing I adored about the hero was that he was never showed double standards and wasn't a hypocrite. Take the scene where
And he stays true to his character throughout the story. It's fantastic to see a hero who isn't an insecure dickhead to the heroine for her past relationships. There's also none of that horrible MINE. MINE. MINE jealous/ possessive love that I absolutely detest.
*Minor spoilers ahead.*
The heroine is the only surviving member of her family, her parents and sisters were cruelly guillotined during the French revolution. She believes one of the hero's relatives is responsible for her family's deaths and poses as an English governess for the hero's family to investigate the culprit.
Things I liked about the heroine:
-She is not a virgin. Granted, she's 27 years old, but that never stopped HR writers from making ~pure~ heroines before, so this is refreshing. She had been with two other men before meeting the hero and I liked that very much.
Things I didn't like:
-The heroine has a dark past with some heavy baggage. I was expecting a strong woman dealing with survivor's guilt, covert investigations the hero's background and thinking clever schemes to carry out her revenge. All I got instead was a heroine who is far too taken by the hero's "startling sky blue eyes" and his three bland sisters and barely does anything for the majority (75%) of the book. It was actually the hero who sets things right and makes it his duty to avenge her family. And I have to say, he's got a lot more done in the last quarter of the book than the heroine ever did in the rest.
I loved the hero. He was very charming and his character growth kept things interesting. He starts as a wastrel with a selfish attitude but he gradually matures throughout the story and is very likeable by the end.
One thing I adored about the hero was that he was never showed double standards and wasn't a hypocrite. Take the scene where
And he stays true to his character throughout the story. It's fantastic to see a hero who isn't an insecure dickhead to the heroine for her past relationships. There's also none of that horrible MINE. MINE. MINE jealous/ possessive love that I absolutely detest.
You’re very beautiful today, Jane. You always are, but it’s a pleasure to see you in such fine gowns as you wore last night, and now. I don’t miss your governess attire.”
She countered the caress of his voice with a remark perversely designed to wound. “Henri liked his mistress to be well dressed. It flattered his importance, you understand.”
“It would be unreasonable to be upset because your clothes were the gift of another man. He is the other side of the English Channel and I am here. I would like to give you gowns and much more besides, but not because it flatters my importance.”
March 19, 2016
I think this particular plotline is just not my cup of tea. a governess who was hired on the spot because the hero has decided to sleep with her from the moment he sets eyes on her. out of nowhere the author flings 2 ex- lovers from the heroine, to give her more depth as a character. but I was just unprepared for it. and how is the hero thinking something like: "she is definitely not a virgin" romantic? I mean, is that supposed to be hot???
I stopped at 40% and have no intention of going back to finish the book. I hate leaving books unfinished but my free time is limited. I much rather spend it on a good book.
I stopped at 40% and have no intention of going back to finish the book. I hate leaving books unfinished but my free time is limited. I much rather spend it on a good book.
October 29, 2023
This was perfectly fine, neither outstanding nor dreadful, until the big reveal at the end. What happened at that point was so stupendously silly that I was embarrassed for having spent time reading this book, and yeah, I’m gonna ***spoil*** it. This woman whose focus in life was to kill the betrayer of her family—she has saved her money and has a plan, “to kill him” is mentioned two dozen times in the book, she owns a knife and says she knows how to use it—discovers who actually did it, plays into his hands by meeting him alone at the top of a tower, goes armed with her knife…and becomes the most helpless female who ever breathed. So much for that.
December 23, 2017
Julian Fortescue
January 5, 2015
4.5 Stars
This was a very enjoyable historical romance. The plot and time period were just different enough to stand out from the pack of historical romances. A lot of times with romances, I find the 'mystery' plots so forced and over the top. However, in this book, I genuinely cared about just who was truly responsible for what happened to Jane's family, something that Julian had always blamed himself for. I also was on pins and needles waiting for the moment that Jane and Julian would discover each other's true identities.
The cover captures Julian's character especially well. Julian wears all black, he's a bit of a grouch, and wants everyone to think he is horrible, but he isn't the least bit horrible at all. His relationship with his three young sisters proves that he's a caring, tender person.
I loved the three girls so much, each of them had a distinct, well-rounded personality, and they were never used for their cute factor. The girls were their own characters, not just children thrown in to move the story along. Family was such an important part of the book, and both Jane and Julian had such great relationships with the three girls. It was wonderful to see their relationships grow.
I loved this historical romance, the lead characters were strong yet tender, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This one definitely stands apart from other books in the genre.
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
ebook sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
This was a very enjoyable historical romance. The plot and time period were just different enough to stand out from the pack of historical romances. A lot of times with romances, I find the 'mystery' plots so forced and over the top. However, in this book, I genuinely cared about just who was truly responsible for what happened to Jane's family, something that Julian had always blamed himself for. I also was on pins and needles waiting for the moment that Jane and Julian would discover each other's true identities.
The cover captures Julian's character especially well. Julian wears all black, he's a bit of a grouch, and wants everyone to think he is horrible, but he isn't the least bit horrible at all. His relationship with his three young sisters proves that he's a caring, tender person.
I loved the three girls so much, each of them had a distinct, well-rounded personality, and they were never used for their cute factor. The girls were their own characters, not just children thrown in to move the story along. Family was such an important part of the book, and both Jane and Julian had such great relationships with the three girls. It was wonderful to see their relationships grow.
I loved this historical romance, the lead characters were strong yet tender, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This one definitely stands apart from other books in the genre.
reviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
ebook sent by the publisher in exchange for an honest review
December 31, 2014
Satisfying end to The Wild Quartet, with equal parts humor, drama and poignancy. It's one of those books where the romance just feels inevitable. Only Jane could have managed to bring the wicked, worldly Julian to his knees and only he could lift Jane from the darkness that had followed her since the nightmare of the Revolution. I especially enjoyed the comic relief Julian's sisters brought to the story and how despite the way they paralleled Jane's own sisters they were dull characters in and of themselves. The only thing better than seeing Julian and Jane get to HEA was seeing a certain villain get his comeuppance. I'm looking forward to wherever Miranda Neville decides to take us next.
January 17, 2015
3.75 Stars. It took me awhile to warm to Julian and Jane for some reason. Once the story caught me though, it was a really good read.
March 27, 2015
Wonderful!
Read
February 8, 2015Duke + Governess + Dark Secrets From The Past = Win.
September 27, 2017
This book has some definite pluses including a heroine that is not a virginal ingenue. But the plot kind of fizzled 2/3 way through.
February 20, 2015
The storyline was quite interesting and had lots of potential, but the story didn't grab me emotionally for some reason. Maybe because the hero Julian left a negative impression on me right from the start - the only reason he hires the heroine as the governess for his half-sisters is to make her his mistress. (He has no real interest in his sisters at first, because his mother basically dumped them at his house so she could go off to America with her latest husband.) And the heroine initially is no great character either - she is quite willing to go along with Julian's plan once she realizes he is attracted to her - her real motive is to find out which of the hero's relatives betrayed her family during the French Revolution so she can take revenge, and the methods she uses to achieve this are not important - basically she is willing to do anything. The characters of the hero and heroine improve as the book progresses, but not enough to completely change the negative initial impressions.
April 21, 2015
I had a couple of problems with this book.
The first is the tone. The heroine has had something really, really horrible and dark happen to her in the past that drives her throughout the book. But sometimes this dark thing is an all-consuming force driving her, and other times Jane just seems to forget about it. It gave me whiplash.
The second issue is that it is, in essence, a workplace romance. Jane, the heroine, is the employee and has very little power. The duke who has hired her has all the power. The duke connives and manipulates Jane into bed. We know that she has some desire toward him because we see into her head, but she doesn't act like she wants him at ALL and yet he keeps persisting. No does not particularly mean no to him!
The book did a good job of wrapping up the mystery that hung over from the last book. It would have been nice if they'd gotten characters from previous books involved earlier and a bit more embedded in the story. (Or, frankly, if they'd kept the bad guy from book #2 alive and had him be the bad guy for the rest of the series.)
The first is the tone. The heroine has had something really, really horrible and dark happen to her in the past that drives her throughout the book. But sometimes this dark thing is an all-consuming force driving her, and other times Jane just seems to forget about it. It gave me whiplash.
The second issue is that it is, in essence, a workplace romance. Jane, the heroine, is the employee and has very little power. The duke who has hired her has all the power. The duke connives and manipulates Jane into bed. We know that she has some desire toward him because we see into her head, but she doesn't act like she wants him at ALL and yet he keeps persisting. No does not particularly mean no to him!
The book did a good job of wrapping up the mystery that hung over from the last book. It would have been nice if they'd gotten characters from previous books involved earlier and a bit more embedded in the story. (Or, frankly, if they'd kept the bad guy from book #2 alive and had him be the bad guy for the rest of the series.)
January 21, 2015
Oh dearie me, this was dire. Info dump exposition, no characterisation. Over the top plot, and both characters too stupid to plot their way out of a wet paper bag.
And the grasp of the historical period was very very poor.
And the grasp of the historical period was very very poor.
July 3, 2015
blah blah blah. he wants to bone her she wants to kill him.
March 20, 2017
It was okay. Duke, governess, mystery. All good in theory, but *meh* in practice.
The author told us how they felt instead of showing it, and as a result I didn't feel it.
The author told us how they felt instead of showing it, and as a result I didn't feel it.
May 30, 2024
Jane and Julian
Wonderful Book!
Jane Grey is hired to be the Duke of Denver’s three sisters governess. The Duke is instantly attracted to her and as he tries to know more about her he realizes that she is hiding something.
Jane and Julian fall in love. But their secrets could destroy their love.
This book has a wonderful main female character and male character. She is strong in spite of her tragic past. He is getting used to becoming a Duke.
This book is a page turner and it has secrets, action and interesting secondary characters.
This is my first book by this author and I liked this book. I especially love a good epilogue and this one has it!
Wonderful Book!
Jane Grey is hired to be the Duke of Denver’s three sisters governess. The Duke is instantly attracted to her and as he tries to know more about her he realizes that she is hiding something.
Jane and Julian fall in love. But their secrets could destroy their love.
This book has a wonderful main female character and male character. She is strong in spite of her tragic past. He is getting used to becoming a Duke.
This book is a page turner and it has secrets, action and interesting secondary characters.
This is my first book by this author and I liked this book. I especially love a good epilogue and this one has it!
May 11, 2019
Had no idea that I read this so out of order , but I started with the last. Oops. Didn’t seem to matter. Only met the previous characters non the epilogue. This book had a good plot and the characters were fine. I feel like I should have liked it more, I can’t pinpoint anything negative , just didn’t love it. Not sure I’ll start over for the series either.
July 5, 2021
Interesting story about the h who lost her family to the the French terror, now trying to fight for the last of her family's possessions. The H is angsty and a push over for women. His mother and sisters manipulate him and he's hopelessly enamoured with the h. It's a good plot, the characters are a lot of fun and I really enjoyed it. I did skip a lot of pages as it veered into Telling, so only just 4 stars.
April 27, 2019
This book started off and ended strong, but I felt it sagged a bit in the middle. Jane/Jeanne wants revenge on the person responsible for the betrayal and ultimate death of her family. In the interim, she falls for her employer under the guise of a governess. The ending heats up as foes are revealed and emotions run high.
March 4, 2017
I was pretty bowled over by this book- I picked up a copy for $1 at my local Op Shop. I thought given the cover that I was going to get a frothy, sexy romp (and nothing wrong with that!) but instead I found myself reading a very engaging, heart-rending emotional journey of 2 people whose lives have been overshadowed by tragedy.
Set in the aftermath of one of the French Revolutions. The hero Julian had promised to arrange the safe passage of heroine Jeanne and her family. However someone betrayed them and Jeanne’s parents and 2 younger sisters were executed. Julian although personally not to blame, has carried the guilt over his involvement in the tragedy for 12 years. Jeanne escaped at 15 by pretending to be a governess and survived by becoming the mistress of a soldier. She comes to London for revenge and seeks employment as a governess Jane Grey to Julian’s 3 younger sisters. She thinks one of Julian’s family members betrayed her family, but she is not sure who.
The reader knows Julian’s involvement in Jane’s tragedy for the very start. As we watch Julian plotting to seduce Jane, and the two falling in love, it is with mounting dread and tension as we know sooner or later Jane is going to find out his involvement. I thought this was very skillfully written. Jane’s growing attachment to the sisters was also really quite lovely but laced with sadness as she is reminded of her own sisters. There was a toughness to the book too which I liked. Julian (now a duke) is more than happy to sleep with the governess, but doesn’t for a minute consider marriage- that would be out of the question for someone of her station.
This was the fourth in a series and I wished I had read the earlier books as there were some business with secondary characters that would have meant more I think had I read their stories. The end did seem to wrap things up a bit quickly- but overall- I really did enjoy this and will watch out for more by this author.
Set in the aftermath of one of the French Revolutions. The hero Julian had promised to arrange the safe passage of heroine Jeanne and her family. However someone betrayed them and Jeanne’s parents and 2 younger sisters were executed. Julian although personally not to blame, has carried the guilt over his involvement in the tragedy for 12 years. Jeanne escaped at 15 by pretending to be a governess and survived by becoming the mistress of a soldier. She comes to London for revenge and seeks employment as a governess Jane Grey to Julian’s 3 younger sisters. She thinks one of Julian’s family members betrayed her family, but she is not sure who.
The reader knows Julian’s involvement in Jane’s tragedy for the very start. As we watch Julian plotting to seduce Jane, and the two falling in love, it is with mounting dread and tension as we know sooner or later Jane is going to find out his involvement. I thought this was very skillfully written. Jane’s growing attachment to the sisters was also really quite lovely but laced with sadness as she is reminded of her own sisters. There was a toughness to the book too which I liked. Julian (now a duke) is more than happy to sleep with the governess, but doesn’t for a minute consider marriage- that would be out of the question for someone of her station.
This was the fourth in a series and I wished I had read the earlier books as there were some business with secondary characters that would have meant more I think had I read their stories. The end did seem to wrap things up a bit quickly- but overall- I really did enjoy this and will watch out for more by this author.
February 19, 2015
I was pulled in my the marvelous cover and was lulled into a false sense of security that this was going to be a great book. Sadly, the only good thing about this book is the cover.
Julian Fortescue is being haunted by his past. He acts out by being rebellious of his duties as a Duke. All that was about to change when he was unexpectedly saddled with his his three half sisters, while his mom went on yet another honeymoon with her new husband.
Having lost track of the current number that husband made, Julian can only watch on helplessly as his mother escaped into her couch. Knowing that he must hire a governess, he picks one, but for entirely the wrong reasons.
Lady Jeanne de Falleron was the lucky lady to land the job. She knew that taking care of the girls was not the only job her employer had in mind. Unfortunately for him, she has a job to do that does not include taking care of his sisters, or becoming his mistress.
In order to complete her mission, Lady Jeanne has taken an alias as Jane Grey to track down the man responsible for her family's death. She believed that someone in Julian's family was responsible and she is determined to find out. She made a promise on the unfaithful day, when her family was beheaded, that she would kill the man accountable with her own hands.
Passion explodes between the two immediately and as Julian pursues his mysterious governess he feels things that he thought he was incapable of or have a right too. Lady Jane on the other hand finds information so shocking that has her in a turmoil. Is the man she's falling in love with, the very one she has sworn to kill? Find out in fourth installment of The Wild Quartet Series.
My thoughts on this book are not good. Not good at all. I don't know French, or French history so I was confused almost all the time by terms and sayings in this book. I read this book a while ago and I still can't make sense of the ending.
The first thing that irked me in this book was that the sister's just felt as an excuse to bring Lady Jane into the house in the plot. The sisters were there, but they don't really have much essence in the story. It just felt as if the girls were , but not important and then they would suddenly be thrust into the story at certain parts. It made me remember that they were even part of the story.
If have a part in the book that said that when Lady Jeanne and her family were fleeing, she was given papers to make it look as if she was the nanny/governess, which saved her from execution. Finding out the reason for that threw me for a loop, because, honestly, I did not see it coming. I had to have prior knowledge of history to understand.
The thing that got to me the most was the way in which she revealed who she really was. I was like seriously! That's how you're going to revealed yourself. That just pissed me off and I had to take off my Kindle app and stew in my disbelief.
This book could have been so good, but it just felt flat and confusing to me. It seemed that the author changed her mind a lot and threw random stuff into the book, for no good reason. I love the cover though, I can look at the cover all day and put it up on my wall, but the book did not live up to the beauty that is the cover.
Julian Fortescue is being haunted by his past. He acts out by being rebellious of his duties as a Duke. All that was about to change when he was unexpectedly saddled with his his three half sisters, while his mom went on yet another honeymoon with her new husband.
Having lost track of the current number that husband made, Julian can only watch on helplessly as his mother escaped into her couch. Knowing that he must hire a governess, he picks one, but for entirely the wrong reasons.
Lady Jeanne de Falleron was the lucky lady to land the job. She knew that taking care of the girls was not the only job her employer had in mind. Unfortunately for him, she has a job to do that does not include taking care of his sisters, or becoming his mistress.
In order to complete her mission, Lady Jeanne has taken an alias as Jane Grey to track down the man responsible for her family's death. She believed that someone in Julian's family was responsible and she is determined to find out. She made a promise on the unfaithful day, when her family was beheaded, that she would kill the man accountable with her own hands.
Passion explodes between the two immediately and as Julian pursues his mysterious governess he feels things that he thought he was incapable of or have a right too. Lady Jane on the other hand finds information so shocking that has her in a turmoil. Is the man she's falling in love with, the very one she has sworn to kill? Find out in fourth installment of The Wild Quartet Series.
My thoughts on this book are not good. Not good at all. I don't know French, or French history so I was confused almost all the time by terms and sayings in this book. I read this book a while ago and I still can't make sense of the ending.
The first thing that irked me in this book was that the sister's just felt as an excuse to bring Lady Jane into the house in the plot. The sisters were there, but they don't really have much essence in the story. It just felt as if the girls were , but not important and then they would suddenly be thrust into the story at certain parts. It made me remember that they were even part of the story.
If have a part in the book that said that when Lady Jeanne and her family were fleeing, she was given papers to make it look as if she was the nanny/governess, which saved her from execution. Finding out the reason for that threw me for a loop, because, honestly, I did not see it coming. I had to have prior knowledge of history to understand.
The thing that got to me the most was the way in which she revealed who she really was. I was like seriously! That's how you're going to revealed yourself. That just pissed me off and I had to take off my Kindle app and stew in my disbelief.
This book could have been so good, but it just felt flat and confusing to me. It seemed that the author changed her mind a lot and threw random stuff into the book, for no good reason. I love the cover though, I can look at the cover all day and put it up on my wall, but the book did not live up to the beauty that is the cover.
January 1, 2015
Posted on What I'm Reading
Let me express how much I loved The Duke of Dark Desires. What a fantastic story about one woman's pursuit for vengeance and a man living by his own rules. Oh my goodness, I didn't know what to expected when I started to read this book, other than "Yes, Julian's story." Seriously, an incredible journey. Okay, I better get on with the rest of my thoughts and why I thought this was fantastic.
LOVE Julian! He's a marvelous character. I mean he paints himself as this dark, brooding man that people should be afraid to cross paths. However, if they got to know him they would see there is more to him than what he presents. I love that Jane sees right through him, and she even tells him what she thinks of him:
"I wouldn't want you to be a saint, merely a halfway decent man. And I believe that you are and always were. You like to pretend to be devilish with your black garments and your long hair and your twisted smile but you don't deceive me. You were never black as you pretend. There is a soft heart underneath that alarming shell."
Love that. He truly is a decent guy. However, certain events in his life kind of made him jaded, and who wouldn't after certain things in his life.
Jane, where do I begin with her. Amazing character. Ever since her family was murder, she has been on the course to find the culprit and find justice and peace. However, we know that vengeance is never the answer, it just sounds like a great idea at the time. Having a character fueled for vengeance makes Jane an interesting character. Not only does she feeds off that, but she's intelligent and poise. This helps her guide Julian's half-sisters. We can't forget Julian's half-sisters, because they are kind of important to the story. After all if it wasn't for them Julian and Jane would probably have a hard time crossing paths, but I think Jane would have found another way.
The dynamics between Julian and Jane are incredible. At first, there interactions feel like one giant cat and mouse game. Each one trying to outwit the other in the game of seduction, of course this intrigues Julian. During this cat and mouse game, they both start to respect one another and slowly enjoy one another's company; eventually it turns into foreplay.
Here's the bottom line: LOVED The Duke of Dark Desire, because masterful story. I love how it all starts with one big cat and mouse game that transform into something more. There wasn't one dull moment, and at times had me holding my breath. I did get a knot in my stomach cause I was worry that Julian might seek out being a proper duke for his sister. We can't have that happen. By the end I was shedding those happy tears, because Julian and Jane found happiness amidst the darkness in their lives. Just beautiful and enjoyed every moment.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
Let me express how much I loved The Duke of Dark Desires. What a fantastic story about one woman's pursuit for vengeance and a man living by his own rules. Oh my goodness, I didn't know what to expected when I started to read this book, other than "Yes, Julian's story." Seriously, an incredible journey. Okay, I better get on with the rest of my thoughts and why I thought this was fantastic.
LOVE Julian! He's a marvelous character. I mean he paints himself as this dark, brooding man that people should be afraid to cross paths. However, if they got to know him they would see there is more to him than what he presents. I love that Jane sees right through him, and she even tells him what she thinks of him:
"I wouldn't want you to be a saint, merely a halfway decent man. And I believe that you are and always were. You like to pretend to be devilish with your black garments and your long hair and your twisted smile but you don't deceive me. You were never black as you pretend. There is a soft heart underneath that alarming shell."
Love that. He truly is a decent guy. However, certain events in his life kind of made him jaded, and who wouldn't after certain things in his life.
Jane, where do I begin with her. Amazing character. Ever since her family was murder, she has been on the course to find the culprit and find justice and peace. However, we know that vengeance is never the answer, it just sounds like a great idea at the time. Having a character fueled for vengeance makes Jane an interesting character. Not only does she feeds off that, but she's intelligent and poise. This helps her guide Julian's half-sisters. We can't forget Julian's half-sisters, because they are kind of important to the story. After all if it wasn't for them Julian and Jane would probably have a hard time crossing paths, but I think Jane would have found another way.
The dynamics between Julian and Jane are incredible. At first, there interactions feel like one giant cat and mouse game. Each one trying to outwit the other in the game of seduction, of course this intrigues Julian. During this cat and mouse game, they both start to respect one another and slowly enjoy one another's company; eventually it turns into foreplay.
Here's the bottom line: LOVED The Duke of Dark Desire, because masterful story. I love how it all starts with one big cat and mouse game that transform into something more. There wasn't one dull moment, and at times had me holding my breath. I did get a knot in my stomach cause I was worry that Julian might seek out being a proper duke for his sister. We can't have that happen. By the end I was shedding those happy tears, because Julian and Jane found happiness amidst the darkness in their lives. Just beautiful and enjoyed every moment.
Copy provided by Avon via Edelweiss
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