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Spice Trilogy #2
Her Secret Fantasy
Regency London's elegant ballrooms mask a daring world of erotic adventure. In this second novel in Gaelen Foley's Spicy Trilogy, a mysterious beauty with a devastating secret discovers, in the arms of a bold and fearless cavalry officer, passion that breaks all boundaries.
Some say the aristocratic Balfour clan is cursed, a once-great family now in slow decline. Graceful Lily Balfour is her family's last hope, and she has come to London with one goal-to marry a rich man. Her well-laid plans are balked, however, by the irresistible Major Derek Knight, a handsome highborn soldier and adventurer newly returned from India.
Hardened by battles on India's lawless frontiers, Derek is not just a fighter but a skilled and insatiable lover-a master of the Eastern arts of pleasure. Though Derek finds no shortage of willing women in London, it is the untouchable, aloof Lily who haunts him. After one stolen moment, he hungers for nights of sensual abandon to fulfill her fantasies and free her from her self-imposed prison. But he has come to England on a vital mission, and when Lily is pledged to a wealthy man suspected of corruption, Derek must thwart the treachery that ensnares them both-for only then will ecstasy and the sweet promise of her heart be his to claim.
Some say the aristocratic Balfour clan is cursed, a once-great family now in slow decline. Graceful Lily Balfour is her family's last hope, and she has come to London with one goal-to marry a rich man. Her well-laid plans are balked, however, by the irresistible Major Derek Knight, a handsome highborn soldier and adventurer newly returned from India.
Hardened by battles on India's lawless frontiers, Derek is not just a fighter but a skilled and insatiable lover-a master of the Eastern arts of pleasure. Though Derek finds no shortage of willing women in London, it is the untouchable, aloof Lily who haunts him. After one stolen moment, he hungers for nights of sensual abandon to fulfill her fantasies and free her from her self-imposed prison. But he has come to England on a vital mission, and when Lily is pledged to a wealthy man suspected of corruption, Derek must thwart the treachery that ensnares them both-for only then will ecstasy and the sweet promise of her heart be his to claim.
399 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 27, 2007
51 people are currently reading
680 people want to read
About the author
Gaelen Foley
43 books1,893 followersGaelen Foley is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher's Weekly bestselling author of twenty historical romances set in the glittering world of Regency England. Her books are available in sixteen languages and have won numerous genre awards, such as the Bookseller's Best, the NJRW Golden Leaf (three times), the CRW Award of Excellence, the National Reader's Choice Award, the Beacon, and the Holt Medallion.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
A Pennsylvania native, Gaelen holds a B.A. in English literature with a minor in Philosophy from the State University of New York, College at Fredonia, a quaint lakeside village where Mark Twain once owned a home. It was here, while studying the Romantic poets, such as Wordsworth, Byron, and Keats that she first fell in love with the Regency period in which her novels are set. Gaelen lives in western Pennsylvania with her college-sweetheart husband, Eric, a schoolteacher, with whom she co-writes middle grade fantasy adventure novels under the pen-name, E.G. Foley. (See www.EGFoley.com.) She is hard at work on her next book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
March 13, 2025
Regency England 1818. This had sex about 3/4 into
the story, had 2 baddies & felt too long. The heroine
did not listen. MCs were being chased, then thought
themselves safe, & skinny-dipped which lead to...
Gave this 2.5 stars.
Lily, a beauty, lived in a household of ladies: her
mother, aunt and cousin, with money woes. Her
late father had no financial plan in place for
his dependents. She expressed an interest in
Edward, a wealthy non-gentry man. He needed
more manners & strung along Lily about their
future. He stood out in a negative way.
At a masked ball, Lily, met Major Dereck Knight,
who served in the regular army in India. He
kissed her but she refused to share her name.
Their interactions were hot/ cold in the story.
Lily made assumptions & could act prissy. She
claimed Derek wanted to return to India for
"fortune & glory." No one ever questioned his
honor before. Lily needed to grow up.
Derek was brave and attractive. And the first
romance hero in forever who expressed: he
"wanted to know real love (of a woman.)"
His brother Gabe spiked my interest too.
My favorite scene? when Derek rescued a mare
being abused.
the story, had 2 baddies & felt too long. The heroine
did not listen. MCs were being chased, then thought
themselves safe, & skinny-dipped which lead to...
Gave this 2.5 stars.
Lily, a beauty, lived in a household of ladies: her
mother, aunt and cousin, with money woes. Her
late father had no financial plan in place for
his dependents. She expressed an interest in
Edward, a wealthy non-gentry man. He needed
more manners & strung along Lily about their
future. He stood out in a negative way.
At a masked ball, Lily, met Major Dereck Knight,
who served in the regular army in India. He
kissed her but she refused to share her name.
Their interactions were hot/ cold in the story.
Lily made assumptions & could act prissy. She
claimed Derek wanted to return to India for
"fortune & glory." No one ever questioned his
honor before. Lily needed to grow up.
Derek was brave and attractive. And the first
romance hero in forever who expressed: he
"wanted to know real love (of a woman.)"
His brother Gabe spiked my interest too.
My favorite scene? when Derek rescued a mare
being abused.
June 6, 2017
Es más bien 3,5 pero en este caso le voy a dar 3 en vez de 4. Me ha parecido soporífero en la mitad del libro.
Es que no he conseguido empatizar del todo con ninguno de ellos. Mira que se han tirado rato dándole vueltas sus pensamientos (demasiadas vueltas a sus supuestos impedimentos para estar juntos).
A mi Derek medio me ha desilusionado, es que ha hecho unos comentarios tan absurdos. Pensaba que iba a ser un tío vivaracho, divertido, con su profundidad claro está, pero al final me he encontrado a un tipo que ni él sabía dónde se encontraba (eso sí, tenía claro dónde estaba su parte de anatomía fecundadora y la de Lily). Es que me ha faltado un no se qué o más bien le ha sobradado un no sé cuánto.
A mí Lily me parecía la pobre un poco insegura, y un tanto ambivalente, pasaba de una seguridad aplastante a ser una niña temerosa en otros aspectos. Me han dado ganas de zarandearla en más de una ocasión.
Es que se ha tirado un montón del libro dándole a mismo "dilema", en serio, me ha sido insufrible. Le podía haber dado más tiempo al padre, por ejemplo, que tenía muy buena pinta ese asuntillo.
Es que no he conseguido empatizar del todo con ninguno de ellos. Mira que se han tirado rato dándole vueltas sus pensamientos (demasiadas vueltas a sus supuestos impedimentos para estar juntos).
A mi Derek medio me ha desilusionado, es que ha hecho unos comentarios tan absurdos. Pensaba que iba a ser un tío vivaracho, divertido, con su profundidad claro está, pero al final me he encontrado a un tipo que ni él sabía dónde se encontraba (eso sí, tenía claro dónde estaba su parte de anatomía fecundadora y la de Lily). Es que me ha faltado un no se qué o más bien le ha sobradado un no sé cuánto.
A mí Lily me parecía la pobre un poco insegura, y un tanto ambivalente, pasaba de una seguridad aplastante a ser una niña temerosa en otros aspectos. Me han dado ganas de zarandearla en más de una ocasión.
Es que se ha tirado un montón del libro dándole a mismo "dilema", en serio, me ha sido insufrible. Le podía haber dado más tiempo al padre, por ejemplo, que tenía muy buena pinta ese asuntillo.
November 10, 2017
Lily Balfour tahu betul dia hrs menghindari Derek Knight, bujangan yg paling diidamkan di London. Lily hrs menikahi pewaris yg kaya raya spt Edward Lundy, bukan prajurit dgn bayaran separo gaji spt Mayor Derek. Walaupun benih-benih ketertarikan mereka makin kuat, mereka satu sama lain berusaha mengenyahkan dan mengesampingkan cinta mereka. Hingga terungkaplah .
Penampilan bisa mengecoh. Penampilan bukan segalanya. Lily yg terlihat kaku dan dingin ternyata adalah wanita yg rela berkorban demi orang yg dicintainya. Dibalik kesempurnaan yg ditampilkan Lily, dia memendam rasa tidak percaya diri akibat perlakuan ibunya. Jadi saya sangat senang ketika Derek datang dan menyelamatkan langkah hidup Lily dari ambang kehancuran.
Sayangnya novel ini kurang greget dibandingkan novel pendahulunya, Her Only Desire
. Terlalu banyak narasi galau dan awal-awal relationship Derek dan Lily kurang menarik, apalagi menggugah selera saya. Cuma bagusnya karakter Lily dan Derek konsisten sejak awal. Kenaifan Lily ttg kaum pria, bercampur dgn keberanian Lily utk menyelamatkan hidup Derek adalah pesona utama novel ini. Pesan moral, cinta itu bukan hanya ttg materi, tetapi hal-hal non-materi spt perhatian, tindakan, dan kasih sayang jauh lebih ampuh utk mengungkapkan cinta.
3.5 stars.
Penampilan bisa mengecoh. Penampilan bukan segalanya. Lily yg terlihat kaku dan dingin ternyata adalah wanita yg rela berkorban demi orang yg dicintainya. Dibalik kesempurnaan yg ditampilkan Lily, dia memendam rasa tidak percaya diri akibat perlakuan ibunya. Jadi saya sangat senang ketika Derek datang dan menyelamatkan langkah hidup Lily dari ambang kehancuran.
Sayangnya novel ini kurang greget dibandingkan novel pendahulunya, Her Only Desire
. Terlalu banyak narasi galau dan awal-awal relationship Derek dan Lily kurang menarik, apalagi menggugah selera saya. Cuma bagusnya karakter Lily dan Derek konsisten sejak awal. Kenaifan Lily ttg kaum pria, bercampur dgn keberanian Lily utk menyelamatkan hidup Derek adalah pesona utama novel ini. Pesan moral, cinta itu bukan hanya ttg materi, tetapi hal-hal non-materi spt perhatian, tindakan, dan kasih sayang jauh lebih ampuh utk mengungkapkan cinta.3.5 stars.
August 27, 2015
Lily is old blood, but has no money. What is a lady of noble blood to do? Get a rich, hopefully stupid man. And she does manage to get the attention of a nobody with lots of money. And it's not like she is using him, he is using her right back. She is Ton. He is nothing. She has no money. He has money.
But that is not the way of a romance. Of course there needs to be drama.
The drama is named Derek. He is a good guy. Soldier through and through. Nowhere as rich as the guy she has on her hook. He is a player. She is pretty. He does want her.
So they start to fall even though they do not want to. But he is still all, I can't! And she is all, I must marry rich! And is everything ok with the guy she has on the hook?
So yes a bit of drama. And the longest after the HEA ever, seriously, it went on and on and on. The book could have ended long before. Cute, light, fast.
But that is not the way of a romance. Of course there needs to be drama.
The drama is named Derek. He is a good guy. Soldier through and through. Nowhere as rich as the guy she has on her hook. He is a player. She is pretty. He does want her.
So they start to fall even though they do not want to. But he is still all, I can't! And she is all, I must marry rich! And is everything ok with the guy she has on the hook?
So yes a bit of drama. And the longest after the HEA ever, seriously, it went on and on and on. The book could have ended long before. Cute, light, fast.
February 21, 2011
This book started out OK, nothing spectacular but I found it entertaining enough. However, about half way through it started to drag, and drag.... By the time it was over I was skipping and skimming pages and happy to be done with it.
August 4, 2010
More like 3.5 stars - definitely my least favorite of the entire Knight series, but still a good read.
November 26, 2016
I prefer this book 2 than book 1 of the Spice Trilogy.
4****
4****
September 19, 2018
Trilógia Gaelen Foley nazvaná „Hriešna“ je podľa mňa trochu nevhodný preklad, keďže v origináli sa každá trilógia začína so zámenom „Her“ – jej. Pod slovom hriešny si čitateľ predsa len predstaví niečo iné, než pútavé romantické, nežné, úsmevné príbehy pre ženy, prekvapivo plné ľudských hodnôt. Áno, ide o ľúbostnú romancu, ale nejde výsostne o erotiku, skôr o príbeh. Gaelen Foley má talent na podchytenie silného príbehu, v ktorom postavy majú svoje vlastnosti, svoj život, temné aj svetlé stránky, patrične dávkuje romantiku, ale nerobí zo svojich kníh bezduchú naháňačku „ako sa dostať do postele“.
Prečítala som práve druhú časť trilógie o klane rodiny Knightovcov s názvom Hriešne fantázie. Prvý, Hriešna túžba, hovorí o dcére Georgiane, fantázie hovoria o mladšom bratovi Derekovi a Hriešne pokušenie o dedičovi majetku Gabrielovi. Obaja bratia sú majormi v armáde Východoindickej spoločnosti a obaja sú ťažko poznamenaní tvrdými bojmi. Starší Gabriel dokonca na moment zomrel. A Derek sa naučil necítiť. Jeho povinnosťou ako druhorodeného syna bolo vydobyť si slávu a uznanie. A to aj robil.
Derek Knight je nesmierne sympatická, zásadová postava. Je známy nielen povesťou sukničkára, ale aj vynikajúceho bojovníka. Za trest, že povraždil niekoľko strážcov maharadžu a Gabriel pri obrane ich sestry rovno zabil indického princa, prišli o svoje posty. Dereka vyslali do Londýna pokúsiť sa vyjednať armádne peniaze, ktoré už predlho meškajú. Ak sa mu to podarí, omilostia ich.
No aj v tom je akýsi zádrh. Zistí, že ide o spreneveru a zdá sa, že v tom bude možno namočená aj krásna Lily Balfourová, snúbenica Edwarda Lundyho, boháča z Východoindickej spoločnosti.
Lily Balfourová je chladná, ľahostajná a takmer všetci o nej vedia, že je zlatokopka. Jej rodina je totiž na finančnom dne a jediné, čo im zostáva, je, aby si Lily našla bohatého manžela. Rozhodla sa pre Edwarda, ktorý nie je proti, no stále akosi so žiadosťou o jej ruku váha.
Lily a Derek sa náhodne stretnú na maškarnom bále. Lily už vtedy o ňom počula kadečo, a on v nej vďaka maske na tvári zase vidí ženu, s ktorou mal dohodnuté stretnutie. Veľmi rýchlo však zistí, že to nie je ona, no vášeň medzi nimi, prirodzene, vzplanie.
A potom sa náhodne stretnú raz tu, raz inde, scény sú opísané živo, príjemne až pohodovo, city vzrastajú, oni ich vnímajú, ale vedia, že nesmú. Ona sa musí kvôli rodine vydať za Lundyho, on sa musí vrátiť do Indie a bojovať. Lenže každým dňom je to ťažšie. Lily zisťuje, aký je Derek v skutočnosti a Derek odhaľuje nielen jej utlmenú vášeň s temným tajomstvom hlboko pochovaným v jej duši, ale aj mnohé špinavosti v pozadí.
Kniha je nečakane plná zvratov, akcie. Charaktery sú uveriteľné, silné, majú dušu. Myslím, že ženská čitateľská obec nebude chcieť knihu pustiť z ruky. Romantický náboj silného príbehu je tým pravým pre každého, kto má rád tento žáner.
Prečítala som práve druhú časť trilógie o klane rodiny Knightovcov s názvom Hriešne fantázie. Prvý, Hriešna túžba, hovorí o dcére Georgiane, fantázie hovoria o mladšom bratovi Derekovi a Hriešne pokušenie o dedičovi majetku Gabrielovi. Obaja bratia sú majormi v armáde Východoindickej spoločnosti a obaja sú ťažko poznamenaní tvrdými bojmi. Starší Gabriel dokonca na moment zomrel. A Derek sa naučil necítiť. Jeho povinnosťou ako druhorodeného syna bolo vydobyť si slávu a uznanie. A to aj robil.
Derek Knight je nesmierne sympatická, zásadová postava. Je známy nielen povesťou sukničkára, ale aj vynikajúceho bojovníka. Za trest, že povraždil niekoľko strážcov maharadžu a Gabriel pri obrane ich sestry rovno zabil indického princa, prišli o svoje posty. Dereka vyslali do Londýna pokúsiť sa vyjednať armádne peniaze, ktoré už predlho meškajú. Ak sa mu to podarí, omilostia ich.
No aj v tom je akýsi zádrh. Zistí, že ide o spreneveru a zdá sa, že v tom bude možno namočená aj krásna Lily Balfourová, snúbenica Edwarda Lundyho, boháča z Východoindickej spoločnosti.
Lily Balfourová je chladná, ľahostajná a takmer všetci o nej vedia, že je zlatokopka. Jej rodina je totiž na finančnom dne a jediné, čo im zostáva, je, aby si Lily našla bohatého manžela. Rozhodla sa pre Edwarda, ktorý nie je proti, no stále akosi so žiadosťou o jej ruku váha.
Jej fantázia kedysi dokázala premeniť obyčajný balvan na hrad Kamelot, ropuchu na draka chrliaceho oheň a žalude usporiadané do radu na kavalériu udatných rytierov, ktorí mali vyhnať obludu. Vtedy ešte verila na hrdinov a poznala aspoň tri kúzla, ako želanie zmeniť na skutočnosť.
Ukázali sa však ako falošné, trpko falošné, keď jej nedokázali privolať späť otca. So zlomeným srdcom svoje sny a čarodejnícke schopnosti zavrhla. Dnes si už vymyslené zaklínadlá nepamätala, a pokiaľ ide o hrdinov, život ju naučil, že sa vyskytujú ešte zriedkavejšie ako skutoční draci.
Nie, povzdychla si, upierajúc zrak do nočnej krajiny, kavaléria nepríde. Nikto nepríde na koni, aby ju zachránil. Bolo na nej, aby zachránila svoju rodinu.
Lily a Derek sa náhodne stretnú na maškarnom bále. Lily už vtedy o ňom počula kadečo, a on v nej vďaka maske na tvári zase vidí ženu, s ktorou mal dohodnuté stretnutie. Veľmi rýchlo však zistí, že to nie je ona, no vášeň medzi nimi, prirodzene, vzplanie.
„Viete, včera večer sa mi to páčilo. Veľmi sa mi to páčilo. A teraz mi to nestačí a chcem viac.“
„Prečo ma trápite?“
„Chcem vedieť, čo s tým budeme robiť.“
„S čím?“
„S týmto,“ zašepkal a bruškom prsta jej prešiel po predlaktí. Zachvela sa, potom sa naňho vystrašene pozrela a ustúpila, akoby tušila, že jej reakcia len podčiarkla skutočnosť, že chce Lundyho asi tak ako guľku do hlavy.
A potom sa náhodne stretnú raz tu, raz inde, scény sú opísané živo, príjemne až pohodovo, city vzrastajú, oni ich vnímajú, ale vedia, že nesmú. Ona sa musí kvôli rodine vydať za Lundyho, on sa musí vrátiť do Indie a bojovať. Lenže každým dňom je to ťažšie. Lily zisťuje, aký je Derek v skutočnosti a Derek odhaľuje nielen jej utlmenú vášeň s temným tajomstvom hlboko pochovaným v jej duši, ale aj mnohé špinavosti v pozadí.
Kniha je nečakane plná zvratov, akcie. Charaktery sú uveriteľné, silné, majú dušu. Myslím, že ženská čitateľská obec nebude chcieť knihu pustiť z ruky. Romantický náboj silného príbehu je tým pravým pre každého, kto má rád tento žáner.
April 23, 2018
Derek es castigado y debe volver a Inglaterra a conseguir el dinero para seguir luchando la guerra en India.
El comité lo menosprecia como a un galancito mujeriego, y si bien convence a todos que necesitan las armas y municiones cuanto antes, le dicen que el dinero va a demorar tal vez meses, que mientras se entretenga en la vida social.
Se dirige a una fiesta y encuentra a una belleza tras una máscara. La única que le rehuye.
Cuando va a un encuentro amoroso en el centro de un laberinto, se confunde a la joven enmascarada con su cita y la abraza y la besa.
Ella le sigue la corriente porque pronto deberá comprometerse con Eduard, el candidato rico e idiota que eligió para sacar a su familia de la ruina al que pueda perfidiar engañándolo para que no sepa que no es virgen.
Oculta su identidad y él se siente aún más intrigado.
La descubre cuando Eduard invita a Derek a su casa y ella se encuentra allí.
La cataloga como una cazafortuna y ella de la misma manera ya que odia a los hombres como su padre que abandonan su familia en busca de las riquezas de la India.
Lily tiene una mansión Tudor donde vive, que está en ruinas. Pero es el orgullo familiar de su largo linaje. No quiere venderlo.
Poco a poco se enamoran.
Él sospecha de que Eduard tomó los fondos para la guerra. Sin ello no le devolverán su puesto.
Lily descubre información importante y al tratar de escapar es secuestrada. Luego le hacen tender una trampa a Derek. Ella acuerda que no lo maten, sólo lo envíen a India y ella lo atraerá.
Deberán enfrentar también a su madre que la tiene sometida a Lily, a su tía y a su prima escritora de novelas góticas.
El comité lo menosprecia como a un galancito mujeriego, y si bien convence a todos que necesitan las armas y municiones cuanto antes, le dicen que el dinero va a demorar tal vez meses, que mientras se entretenga en la vida social.
Se dirige a una fiesta y encuentra a una belleza tras una máscara. La única que le rehuye.
Cuando va a un encuentro amoroso en el centro de un laberinto, se confunde a la joven enmascarada con su cita y la abraza y la besa.
Ella le sigue la corriente porque pronto deberá comprometerse con Eduard, el candidato rico e idiota que eligió para sacar a su familia de la ruina al que pueda perfidiar engañándolo para que no sepa que no es virgen.
Oculta su identidad y él se siente aún más intrigado.
La descubre cuando Eduard invita a Derek a su casa y ella se encuentra allí.
La cataloga como una cazafortuna y ella de la misma manera ya que odia a los hombres como su padre que abandonan su familia en busca de las riquezas de la India.
Lily tiene una mansión Tudor donde vive, que está en ruinas. Pero es el orgullo familiar de su largo linaje. No quiere venderlo.
Poco a poco se enamoran.
Él sospecha de que Eduard tomó los fondos para la guerra. Sin ello no le devolverán su puesto.
Lily descubre información importante y al tratar de escapar es secuestrada. Luego le hacen tender una trampa a Derek. Ella acuerda que no lo maten, sólo lo envíen a India y ella lo atraerá.
Deberán enfrentar también a su madre que la tiene sometida a Lily, a su tía y a su prima escritora de novelas góticas.
January 14, 2019
In this book we get to know better Derek Knight, major of the cavalry in India8 and a younger son. Derek is back in England and in a really sweet scene he meets the heroine, Lily Balfour. She's all but engaged, but you know how this goes: they fall in love. But the thing is, Derek is trying to discovery a corruption scheme with Indian funds. The couple has a sweet chemestry, not explosive but that kind of fit that works. After Georgiana's book, with all action and fights and murder, this one was slightly slow paced, but enjoyable! Derek and Gabriel are really similar to Lucien and Damien, even if they were not twins. The dynamic of the brotherhood is the same (even in looks and manners, Derek has a longish hair and a charming way; Gabriel has short cropped hair and is brooding). Its lovely, but in the end I feel like it was much ado about anothing with Balfour Manor (Lily was marrying to try to save the place). It has a sweet ending for a loveçy couple.
February 12, 2022
Me gusto mucho esta relectura
Derek Knight es un militar de la India que por razones personales se tiene que embarcar a Londres con sus hermanos y una misión de que sea embiado el dinero para pagar a las tropas que ya lleva tiempo de retraso.
Pero no es tan fácil como creyó en un principio el mayor Derek y descubre que el dinero fue robado, así que tendrá que investigar quien es el responsable.
Lily Balfour es una dama con un secreto y su familia esta en la ruina. Asi que deside encontrar un marido rico que ayude a su familia.
Pero sus planes se ven amenazados cuando conoce a Derek y surge entre ellos una pasión desenfrenada.
Tendrás que luchar para estar juntos y un enemigo que trabaja en las sombras esta a punto de cavar con ellos.
Derek Knight es un militar de la India que por razones personales se tiene que embarcar a Londres con sus hermanos y una misión de que sea embiado el dinero para pagar a las tropas que ya lleva tiempo de retraso.
Pero no es tan fácil como creyó en un principio el mayor Derek y descubre que el dinero fue robado, así que tendrá que investigar quien es el responsable.
Lily Balfour es una dama con un secreto y su familia esta en la ruina. Asi que deside encontrar un marido rico que ayude a su familia.
Pero sus planes se ven amenazados cuando conoce a Derek y surge entre ellos una pasión desenfrenada.
Tendrás que luchar para estar juntos y un enemigo que trabaja en las sombras esta a punto de cavar con ellos.
June 27, 2017
para mi esta escritora ha mejorado muchísimo, este libro me atrapo y casi no lo suelto
Lily es una cazafortunas, y no en el mal sentido de la palabra, porque aunque si busca a un esposo con plata lo busca busca para ayudar a su familia y no porque sea derrochadora, además no lo son en cierta medida todos los matrimonio de es época, alguno se casaban por plata y otros por títulos y tierras
Me parecio de Dereck se comporto divino, porque sabia que no podia darle lo que ella queria pero se fue enamorando y la ayudo hasta que se dieron cuenta que eran el uno para el otro
muy recomendado
Lily es una cazafortunas, y no en el mal sentido de la palabra, porque aunque si busca a un esposo con plata lo busca busca para ayudar a su familia y no porque sea derrochadora, además no lo son en cierta medida todos los matrimonio de es época, alguno se casaban por plata y otros por títulos y tierras
Me parecio de Dereck se comporto divino, porque sabia que no podia darle lo que ella queria pero se fue enamorando y la ayudo hasta que se dieron cuenta que eran el uno para el otro
muy recomendado
March 10, 2021
Once again, another hit. I swear, if I weren’t so headstrong, I would say I was born in the wrong time period ‘cause these men... swoon. Derek was a favorite of mine in book one and I’m so thrilled we got his story. Charming, kind, protective... he just checked all the boxes. Nothing like a man falling in love and on a mission. But poor Lily also had a mission: to find a rich man. And as much as she may want Derek, he can’t fix her problems. I really felt for her the whole story. So when she starts to see that Derek is all she needs, it’s so much sweeter.
March 7, 2023
Maybe 3.5. It was a pleasant enough tale, with just enough spice and intrigue and romance and drama … but it didn’t quite grip or wrench my heart … ?
I must say, though … that last exchange between Derek & older brother Gabriel has made me curious about how the latter’s romance will come to be. (Hint: abdication … but no throne involved. A hermit at peace, not a grump who has turned his back on the world, thankfully.)
Thank you, Ms. Foley, for another entertaining story.
I must say, though … that last exchange between Derek & older brother Gabriel has made me curious about how the latter’s romance will come to be. (Hint: abdication … but no throne involved. A hermit at peace, not a grump who has turned his back on the world, thankfully.)
Thank you, Ms. Foley, for another entertaining story.
July 7, 2025
I was a little worried after Ian & Georgie’s book but Derek did not disappoint 💕.. Lily and Derek’s love story was fun with a few perils along the way! I loved the underlying how they do anything for the love of the other..her earrings …jump in a burning building.. Loved their happily ever after and can’t wait to see what is in store for older brother Gabriel…
March 22, 2017
Autorke sa opäť podarilo napísať čarovný príbeh lásky. A hoci som sa spočiatku na Derekov príbeh veľmi netešila (skôr mi učaroval Gabriel), Gaelen ma milo prekvapila.
Hlavný hrdina prišiel z Indie do Anglicka, aby zistil, prečo meškajú sľúbené peniaze pre armádu, potrebné na ďalšie boje. S financiami to však nie je také jednoduché. Zo sľúbeného miliónu chýba tristotisíc. Otázkou je, kto tie peniaze spreneveril? Derek sa púšťa do pátrania, nechce svojho nadriadeného sklamať v úlohe, ktorou ho poveril po tom, ako ho odvolal z veliteľskej služby vojenskej jednotky po ostatnom incidente. Svojej úlohy sa chytá svedomite. Podozrivým sa stáva každý z rady a Derek si ich všetkých "preklepne". Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.sk/201...
Hlavný hrdina prišiel z Indie do Anglicka, aby zistil, prečo meškajú sľúbené peniaze pre armádu, potrebné na ďalšie boje. S financiami to však nie je také jednoduché. Zo sľúbeného miliónu chýba tristotisíc. Otázkou je, kto tie peniaze spreneveril? Derek sa púšťa do pátrania, nechce svojho nadriadeného sklamať v úlohe, ktorou ho poveril po tom, ako ho odvolal z veliteľskej služby vojenskej jednotky po ostatnom incidente. Svojej úlohy sa chytá svedomite. Podozrivým sa stáva každý z rady a Derek si ich všetkých "preklepne". Zvyšok recenzie nájdete tu: http://kokinakniznica.blogspot.sk/201...
June 21, 2017
I didn't expect much, yet I'm dissapointed. It started well, however the closer to the end the more often I was rolling my eyes...
September 9, 2018
nada memorable,
February 1, 2020
A must read if you loved her other series.
October 19, 2020
Review to come!
March 16, 2017
Derek Knight's story. Derek has been sent to England to make sure the money is sent to India for the war he helped start. There he is drawn to Lily, who has set her sights on Edward to restore her family's fortune.
I did like the defense of the victim of underage rape.
I did like the defense of the victim of underage rape.
January 24, 2016
Bintang 3
Keasyikanku membaca tergangu dengan kata kata 'metampakkan' yg aneh itu. Belum lagi banyak sekali partikel 'nya' yg hilang dan tidak pada tempatnya. Untung lumayan suka dengan kisah yg ada intriknya seperti buku ini. Jadi ya... terus dibaca sampai selesai.
Mayor derek Knight putra kedua Lord Arthur Knight yg tinggal di India adalah seorang prajurit. Antara hidup dan mati keluar dari India, dikejar kejar oleh pembunuh yg menginginkan nyawa dirinya dan saudara saudaranya karena insiden yg hampir merenggut nyawa saudara perempuannya saat tugas terakhirnya di India mendampingi seorang diplomat inggris untuk suatu kesepakatan dengan seorang Maharaja. Keharusannya kembali ke Inggris ini merupakan hukuman dari atasannya karena kegagalan dalam tugas dan juga karena luka luka Gabriel, saudara tertuanya yg cukup serius. Tidak hanya itu Derek juga mendapat tugas dari sang atasan untuk meyakinkan komite yg memegang dana prajurit untuk mengalirkan dana perang yg segera akan terjadi di Maratha, India.
Mengisi waktu luang menunggu komite mencairkan dana (tanpa alasan yg jelas dari sang ketua komite Lord Sinclair), Derek menikmati kehidupan sosial para bangsawan di London. Tentu saja dengan merayu wanita wanita cantik yg mengelukan dirinya sebagai prajurit yg gagah dan tampan. Dan pada satu malam bertemulah Derek dengan seorang gadis yg tidak terpengaruh dengan ketampanannya disebuah acara pesta topeng. Bak cerita Cinderela, Derek tidak mengetahui identitas gadis tersebut. Hanya sebuah anting berlian yg tertinggal milik gadis misterius yg menjadi petunjuk bagi Derek untuk menemukan gadis yg menarik hatinya. Perjalanan Derek mencari gadis inilah yg akhirnya membantunya membuka rahasia dan intrik kenapa pencairan dana perang terhambat.
Liliana Balfour gadis keturunan Balfour yg malang. Pada usia 10 tahun ditinggal mati ayahnya yg berniat mengejar Gold dan Glory di India sebagai prajurit atas desakan ayah dan istri. Saat berusia 15 tahun Liliana dimanfaatkan oleh seorang bangsawan terhormat sehingga menyerahkan keperawanannya. Bukannya mendapat perlindungan dan pembelaan dari sang ibu, lily bahkan mendapat celaan karena tingkah lakunya yg dianggap mencemarkan nama baik keluarga. Untung sang kakek yg bijak membela dan menyelesaikan permasalahan itu dan mewariskan kastil Balfour untuk Lily sebagai tempat berlindung saat sang kakek wafat. Diusianya yg ke 23, berniat menghindari kehancuran keluarga lebih lanjut Lily memutuskan untuk berburu suami di London. Dan suami idaman Lily haruslah orang dapat dikelabui dan dapat menerima Lily dengan keadaannya yg dihadapinya (menikah karena harta). Dan pria itu adalah Edward Clearwell salah satu anggota komite dana prajurit. Keterkaitan Lily dengan Edwardlah yg memertemukan kembali Lily dengan Derek, pria yg sempat memberikan mimpi akan pria sempurna yg diinginkannya. Namun kebutuhan Lily untuk menikahi pria kaya dan status Derek yg hanya putra kedua y g menjadi penghalang hubungan Lily dan Derek.
Interaksi antara Derek dan Lily sedikit demi sedikit membuka kedok Edward dan juga menyadarkan Derek maupun Lily bhwa mereka diciptakan untuk bersama tanpa embel embel harta. Dan saat kedok Edward terbuka, terbongkar pula intrik yg dilakukan oleh ketua komite yg memanfaatkan Edward untuk menggunakan dana untuk kemudian mencurinya kembali tanpa sepengetahuan Edward. Dan menaruh dana tersebut dengan nama seseorang, sehingga Lord Sinclair dapat menyakiti seseorang yg selama ini sangat dibencinya (benci dengan orang yg seperti ini. Susah lihat orang senang, senang lihat orang susah).
Disaat saat kritis, Lily lebih memilih untuk mati bersama Derek. Yg memantapkan Derek untuk menikahi dan melindungi Lily lahir dan bathin. Dan tujuan Derek tercapai saat niat Gabriel saudaranya yg melepaskan hak warisnya kepada Derek di pesta pernikahan Lily dan Derek. Derek berhasil memecahkan masalah seluruh anggota keluarga Balfour terutama permasalahan antara Lily dan ibunya yg sering menyakiti hati Lily dengan cara menjual kastil Balfour yg banyak menyimpan kenangan buruk bagi Lily.
Keasyikanku membaca tergangu dengan kata kata 'metampakkan' yg aneh itu. Belum lagi banyak sekali partikel 'nya' yg hilang dan tidak pada tempatnya. Untung lumayan suka dengan kisah yg ada intriknya seperti buku ini. Jadi ya... terus dibaca sampai selesai.
Mayor derek Knight putra kedua Lord Arthur Knight yg tinggal di India adalah seorang prajurit. Antara hidup dan mati keluar dari India, dikejar kejar oleh pembunuh yg menginginkan nyawa dirinya dan saudara saudaranya karena insiden yg hampir merenggut nyawa saudara perempuannya saat tugas terakhirnya di India mendampingi seorang diplomat inggris untuk suatu kesepakatan dengan seorang Maharaja. Keharusannya kembali ke Inggris ini merupakan hukuman dari atasannya karena kegagalan dalam tugas dan juga karena luka luka Gabriel, saudara tertuanya yg cukup serius. Tidak hanya itu Derek juga mendapat tugas dari sang atasan untuk meyakinkan komite yg memegang dana prajurit untuk mengalirkan dana perang yg segera akan terjadi di Maratha, India.
Mengisi waktu luang menunggu komite mencairkan dana (tanpa alasan yg jelas dari sang ketua komite Lord Sinclair), Derek menikmati kehidupan sosial para bangsawan di London. Tentu saja dengan merayu wanita wanita cantik yg mengelukan dirinya sebagai prajurit yg gagah dan tampan. Dan pada satu malam bertemulah Derek dengan seorang gadis yg tidak terpengaruh dengan ketampanannya disebuah acara pesta topeng. Bak cerita Cinderela, Derek tidak mengetahui identitas gadis tersebut. Hanya sebuah anting berlian yg tertinggal milik gadis misterius yg menjadi petunjuk bagi Derek untuk menemukan gadis yg menarik hatinya. Perjalanan Derek mencari gadis inilah yg akhirnya membantunya membuka rahasia dan intrik kenapa pencairan dana perang terhambat.
Liliana Balfour gadis keturunan Balfour yg malang. Pada usia 10 tahun ditinggal mati ayahnya yg berniat mengejar Gold dan Glory di India sebagai prajurit atas desakan ayah dan istri. Saat berusia 15 tahun Liliana dimanfaatkan oleh seorang bangsawan terhormat sehingga menyerahkan keperawanannya. Bukannya mendapat perlindungan dan pembelaan dari sang ibu, lily bahkan mendapat celaan karena tingkah lakunya yg dianggap mencemarkan nama baik keluarga. Untung sang kakek yg bijak membela dan menyelesaikan permasalahan itu dan mewariskan kastil Balfour untuk Lily sebagai tempat berlindung saat sang kakek wafat. Diusianya yg ke 23, berniat menghindari kehancuran keluarga lebih lanjut Lily memutuskan untuk berburu suami di London. Dan suami idaman Lily haruslah orang dapat dikelabui dan dapat menerima Lily dengan keadaannya yg dihadapinya (menikah karena harta). Dan pria itu adalah Edward Clearwell salah satu anggota komite dana prajurit. Keterkaitan Lily dengan Edwardlah yg memertemukan kembali Lily dengan Derek, pria yg sempat memberikan mimpi akan pria sempurna yg diinginkannya. Namun kebutuhan Lily untuk menikahi pria kaya dan status Derek yg hanya putra kedua y g menjadi penghalang hubungan Lily dan Derek.
Interaksi antara Derek dan Lily sedikit demi sedikit membuka kedok Edward dan juga menyadarkan Derek maupun Lily bhwa mereka diciptakan untuk bersama tanpa embel embel harta. Dan saat kedok Edward terbuka, terbongkar pula intrik yg dilakukan oleh ketua komite yg memanfaatkan Edward untuk menggunakan dana untuk kemudian mencurinya kembali tanpa sepengetahuan Edward. Dan menaruh dana tersebut dengan nama seseorang, sehingga Lord Sinclair dapat menyakiti seseorang yg selama ini sangat dibencinya (benci dengan orang yg seperti ini. Susah lihat orang senang, senang lihat orang susah).
Disaat saat kritis, Lily lebih memilih untuk mati bersama Derek. Yg memantapkan Derek untuk menikahi dan melindungi Lily lahir dan bathin. Dan tujuan Derek tercapai saat niat Gabriel saudaranya yg melepaskan hak warisnya kepada Derek di pesta pernikahan Lily dan Derek. Derek berhasil memecahkan masalah seluruh anggota keluarga Balfour terutama permasalahan antara Lily dan ibunya yg sering menyakiti hati Lily dengan cara menjual kastil Balfour yg banyak menyimpan kenangan buruk bagi Lily.
June 16, 2014
This is Derek Knight’s story and it is a roller coaster ride. I like Derek he is one of those men that is driven to be better than others. He is honorable, loyal, and longing to find a woman to love him for whom he is. I think that his mother did him a great disservice by always telling him that he would have to be better than anyone else and earn more money than others if he ever wanted to marry. I am sure that he could have found anyone if that was what he truly wanted and they could have lived well on whatever profession Derek wanted to take up. Derek is a little bit of a daredevil and he loves horses so I guess it is no surprise that he became a cavalry officer in India. India is where so many Englishman made their fortunes. I also like that Derek is conservative with his spending. He is responsible and levelheaded about finances which were rare for the upper class during this time. Derek is a very caring and compassionate person. It shows in the way he deals with Matthew, his nephew by marriage. It was interesting to which Derek work out the problem of the missing money for the Army’s funding. Ms. Foley also did a good job of keeping the reader guessing about who the real bad guy was.
Lily Balfour is a different kind of heroine. She isn't the virginal miss that so many stories are written about. She has been betrayed and ruined by an unscrupulous man, a married man at that. She was still just a child and I would love to take her mother out and read her the riot act for the way she treated Lily over the incident. In fact Lily’s mother is one of the women that is miserable with her lot in life and is determined to make everyone else miserable as well. I didn't like Lily’s mother in the least. Back to Lily though, it was enjoyable watching the change Lily goes through with Derek. She becomes and confident and loving young woman as they grow closer and closer. She takes chances she probably never contemplated before. Her breaking into Edward’s, her suitor at the beginning of the story, house trying to find proof of what Derek has told her is quite brave, a little stupid but brave none the less. She also shows her ingenuity when she escapes her prison in Edward’s house, fools the guard dog set to watch and then saves Derek from a burning stable. I had to cheer when she finally stood up to her mother and told her off. I like Lily a great deal.
This is a wonderful story of two people wanting to find love and thinking that they never will. Neither is prepared for the attraction they have for each other and the stumble along trying to find their footing. There are funny parts of this story and there are sad parts. Both of these people have been through a great deal. They are both emotionally wounded. It was nice seeing Derek being so patient with Lily when she gets upset. It was great to see Lily understand Derek enough to be able to read his emotions and needs instead of flying off the handle when he bumbles along at times. This is a great read and a great example of the historical romance genre.
Lily Balfour is a different kind of heroine. She isn't the virginal miss that so many stories are written about. She has been betrayed and ruined by an unscrupulous man, a married man at that. She was still just a child and I would love to take her mother out and read her the riot act for the way she treated Lily over the incident. In fact Lily’s mother is one of the women that is miserable with her lot in life and is determined to make everyone else miserable as well. I didn't like Lily’s mother in the least. Back to Lily though, it was enjoyable watching the change Lily goes through with Derek. She becomes and confident and loving young woman as they grow closer and closer. She takes chances she probably never contemplated before. Her breaking into Edward’s, her suitor at the beginning of the story, house trying to find proof of what Derek has told her is quite brave, a little stupid but brave none the less. She also shows her ingenuity when she escapes her prison in Edward’s house, fools the guard dog set to watch and then saves Derek from a burning stable. I had to cheer when she finally stood up to her mother and told her off. I like Lily a great deal.
This is a wonderful story of two people wanting to find love and thinking that they never will. Neither is prepared for the attraction they have for each other and the stumble along trying to find their footing. There are funny parts of this story and there are sad parts. Both of these people have been through a great deal. They are both emotionally wounded. It was nice seeing Derek being so patient with Lily when she gets upset. It was great to see Lily understand Derek enough to be able to read his emotions and needs instead of flying off the handle when he bumbles along at times. This is a great read and a great example of the historical romance genre.
April 28, 2013
A decent read, but it really begins to drag after a while. It could probably be a good 60 pages shorter without losing much.
Lily and Derek fall in love relatively early, but spend a really long interval thinking about how they can never be together. Lily sticks to her maybe-fiance, Derek sticks to a couple random women. They smolder at each other from a distance. I got a bit tired of it. And then they finally decide they'll be together at the absolute, most inconvenient, To Stupid To Live moment.
Once you get past the "we can never be together!" and wrap up the mystery of what happened to the money, there is what seems like an epilogue. It goes through every character and every plot line to sum it up. It's like at the end of a "based on a true story" move where there's a brief on-screen blurb about what happened to each person after the end of the move. But no, it's still not finished! Now you have to get through the resolution of the fate of Balfour manor and the aftermath. And after that, there's another epilogue.
The sex scenes also have some laugh out loud, ridiculous lines. I don't believe I've seen another romance where the hero actually thinks that he would really like to "jam himself into" the heroine, but he's concerned about hurting her due to the "epic size of his arousal." Nor have I seen a heroine taken with "the force of a battering ram."
Lily and Derek fall in love relatively early, but spend a really long interval thinking about how they can never be together. Lily sticks to her maybe-fiance, Derek sticks to a couple random women. They smolder at each other from a distance. I got a bit tired of it. And then they finally decide they'll be together at the absolute, most inconvenient, To Stupid To Live moment.
Once you get past the "we can never be together!" and wrap up the mystery of what happened to the money, there is what seems like an epilogue. It goes through every character and every plot line to sum it up. It's like at the end of a "based on a true story" move where there's a brief on-screen blurb about what happened to each person after the end of the move. But no, it's still not finished! Now you have to get through the resolution of the fate of Balfour manor and the aftermath. And after that, there's another epilogue.
The sex scenes also have some laugh out loud, ridiculous lines. I don't believe I've seen another romance where the hero actually thinks that he would really like to "jam himself into" the heroine, but he's concerned about hurting her due to the "epic size of his arousal." Nor have I seen a heroine taken with "the force of a battering ram."
October 23, 2016
Sebagai penggemar karya-karya Gaelen Foley tentu saja saya selalu menyukai semua bukunya. Bukunya memang layak untuk dibaca dan selalu memberikan kejutan besar. Kekekekeke.
Begitu juga dengan buku yang satu ini. Buku kedua dari seri Spice Trilogy. Secara keseluruhan buku ini memang bagus, dikemas dengan alur yang rapi, serta karakter-karakter cerdas dengan dialog-dialog pintarnya. Tapi aku masih tetap pilih seri Inferno Club. Bukan Gaelen Foley kalau bukunya gak penuh intrik dan konflik. Dari awal buku ini sudah sangat rumit karena kasus hilangnya dana tentara itu, membuat aku ikut mumet bacanya. Jadi di awal-awal buku ini benar-benar membosankan.
Tapi kisah cinta Derek dan Lily bisa menutupi itu, kemistri mereka sangat dapet, emosi dari yang tadinya saling gak kenal sampe sama-sama jatuh cinta itu terasa banget. Belum lagi scene-scene nakal mereka bisa menumbuhkan semangat aku untuk menyelesaikan buku ini.
Setelah banyak menskip halaman di bab awal, di pertengahan bab aku sama sekali gak mau ketinggalan satu halaman pun. Buku-buku Gaelen Foley memang selalu seperti itu sih, diawal membosankan tapi dipertengahan GF selalu bisa memberikan kejutan dan kejutan itu gak pernah gagal.
Scene kipas-kipasnya juga sangat sopan. Aku suka karakter Derek yang penuh kendali, serta karakter Lily yang tegas dan penuh pertimbangan. Bener-bener kombinasi yang sempurna.
Ditutup dengan ending yang sangat manis, serta cerita-cerita yang bener-bener selesai. Dari segi kisah Derek dan Lilu sih. Tapi meski pun begitu aku masih bertanya-tanya, ada apa gerangan dengan Gabriel? Kenapa dia menyerahkan gelarnya kepada Derek tiba-tiba? Hmm rasanya ini hanya bisa dijawab dengan baca buku selanjutnya. Kayaknya bakal lebih rumit, karena lebih mengedepankan konflik batin Gabriel, kekekekekeke. Duhhh.
Dan untuk buku ini saya kasih 4,5 bintang.
Begitu juga dengan buku yang satu ini. Buku kedua dari seri Spice Trilogy. Secara keseluruhan buku ini memang bagus, dikemas dengan alur yang rapi, serta karakter-karakter cerdas dengan dialog-dialog pintarnya. Tapi aku masih tetap pilih seri Inferno Club. Bukan Gaelen Foley kalau bukunya gak penuh intrik dan konflik. Dari awal buku ini sudah sangat rumit karena kasus hilangnya dana tentara itu, membuat aku ikut mumet bacanya. Jadi di awal-awal buku ini benar-benar membosankan.
Tapi kisah cinta Derek dan Lily bisa menutupi itu, kemistri mereka sangat dapet, emosi dari yang tadinya saling gak kenal sampe sama-sama jatuh cinta itu terasa banget. Belum lagi scene-scene nakal mereka bisa menumbuhkan semangat aku untuk menyelesaikan buku ini.
Setelah banyak menskip halaman di bab awal, di pertengahan bab aku sama sekali gak mau ketinggalan satu halaman pun. Buku-buku Gaelen Foley memang selalu seperti itu sih, diawal membosankan tapi dipertengahan GF selalu bisa memberikan kejutan dan kejutan itu gak pernah gagal.
Scene kipas-kipasnya juga sangat sopan. Aku suka karakter Derek yang penuh kendali, serta karakter Lily yang tegas dan penuh pertimbangan. Bener-bener kombinasi yang sempurna.
Ditutup dengan ending yang sangat manis, serta cerita-cerita yang bener-bener selesai. Dari segi kisah Derek dan Lilu sih. Tapi meski pun begitu aku masih bertanya-tanya, ada apa gerangan dengan Gabriel? Kenapa dia menyerahkan gelarnya kepada Derek tiba-tiba? Hmm rasanya ini hanya bisa dijawab dengan baca buku selanjutnya. Kayaknya bakal lebih rumit, karena lebih mengedepankan konflik batin Gabriel, kekekekekeke. Duhhh.
Dan untuk buku ini saya kasih 4,5 bintang.
November 8, 2017
This Spice Trilogy series only gets better with the second book here. Derek is a passionate hero, determined and distracted by Lily. At times it's hard to follow his strong attraction to her, and it's hard to follow her stubbornness to see her duty through as her betrothed is so awful. But the attraction between Derek and Lily is strong. Derek is an ideal hero - so thoughtful, caring and more than his image would portray. I recommend reading this to keep in sync with the series as some things in this book set up for the third which is a definite read.
May 10, 2010
This is not exactly one of her best works, but good all the same.
I gave it only 3 stars because of the way the story dragged. There were a lot of sub-stories, but I liked the way all loose ends were tied.
Derek was sent to London to request for army funds and just when he thought he could have it in a trice, he had another thing coming. Lily Balfour was looking for someone "rich and stupid" to save her and her family's depleted fortune, and Derek wasn't exactly the solution.
As with all her novels, politics abound in this book. There's corruption everywhere, family ties, and I was really intrigued how they would end up together. I know they would but the question was where. India or England?
The characters didn't really touch me to the core, both of them have their own ghosts - Derek and his battles in India, and Lily's dwindling self in the Balfour manor. She's too proud for my own taste, sticking to the dilapidated manor due to sentimental reasons, where she could've just thought about the people who relied on her and acted on the best solution.
I really didn't like the part where Lily stood up to her mother but they really didn't patch things up. I was expecting a more confrontational dialogue but I think the author didn't want to prolong the story further.
The love scenes were few but what they lack for quantity, they made up for quality. If you're looking for something touching, riveting, and entertaining, this book doesn't deliver.
I gave it only 3 stars because of the way the story dragged. There were a lot of sub-stories, but I liked the way all loose ends were tied.
Derek was sent to London to request for army funds and just when he thought he could have it in a trice, he had another thing coming. Lily Balfour was looking for someone "rich and stupid" to save her and her family's depleted fortune, and Derek wasn't exactly the solution.
As with all her novels, politics abound in this book. There's corruption everywhere, family ties, and I was really intrigued how they would end up together. I know they would but the question was where. India or England?
The characters didn't really touch me to the core, both of them have their own ghosts - Derek and his battles in India, and Lily's dwindling self in the Balfour manor. She's too proud for my own taste, sticking to the dilapidated manor due to sentimental reasons, where she could've just thought about the people who relied on her and acted on the best solution.
I really didn't like the part where Lily stood up to her mother but they really didn't patch things up. I was expecting a more confrontational dialogue but I think the author didn't want to prolong the story further.
The love scenes were few but what they lack for quantity, they made up for quality. If you're looking for something touching, riveting, and entertaining, this book doesn't deliver.
July 14, 2013
Review written on my Blog (Post #95) in March 2011, after borrowing book from library.
It's really rather lovely to get back to a Gaelen Foley novel ... and this one was no different from all the others ..... full of very lovely romance and a bit of naughtiness thrown in.
Featuring one of the Knight Cousins, Major Derek and the reserved and ladylike Lily Balfour.
Infamous rake and hardened warrior Derek has come to England from his posting in India to chase up the money the government which has been put aside for the war against the Marantha. Also to allow his elder brother to recovery from a terrible injury when he got in the away of an arrow meant for Derek.
Following the death of her Grandfather Lily's aristocratic coffers are empty and she needs to find an extremely rich, and extremely stupid husband (there is a reason that her future spouse should not be too bright) to ensure that she can literally keep the bats from the belfry of her ancestral home.
It seems some of the funds are war chest funds are missing, and that is where the paths cross for these two. What will be the attraction between them? Will they solve the mystery of the missing money? Will the highly intelligent Derek care about her secret? Will a second son have enough money in the bank to repair the ancient pile?
It's really rather lovely to get back to a Gaelen Foley novel ... and this one was no different from all the others ..... full of very lovely romance and a bit of naughtiness thrown in.
Featuring one of the Knight Cousins, Major Derek and the reserved and ladylike Lily Balfour.
Infamous rake and hardened warrior Derek has come to England from his posting in India to chase up the money the government which has been put aside for the war against the Marantha. Also to allow his elder brother to recovery from a terrible injury when he got in the away of an arrow meant for Derek.
Following the death of her Grandfather Lily's aristocratic coffers are empty and she needs to find an extremely rich, and extremely stupid husband (there is a reason that her future spouse should not be too bright) to ensure that she can literally keep the bats from the belfry of her ancestral home.
It seems some of the funds are war chest funds are missing, and that is where the paths cross for these two. What will be the attraction between them? Will they solve the mystery of the missing money? Will the highly intelligent Derek care about her secret? Will a second son have enough money in the bank to repair the ancient pile?
April 21, 2012
3.5 stars if I could have...
I thought the story was great, the characters were definitely likable and I love love LOVE that they were in love before they got down and dirty. I don't like it when things go all the way between the hero and heroine and THEN they realize they love the other person, I want love before sex dang it and I'm glad I got to see it here finally.
I would have enjoyed this much more had there been less inner dialogue. It seemed like pages and pages went by without anyone speaking a word. It just seemed like there was too many explanations to things, it got kinda tedious after a while. The ending definitely could have been shortened-- way too much background information given that I couldn't get myself to care much for so it felt like I just skimmed through to see what else will be added to the mix before the happy ending.
I do love these two though! You really do understand why they are so well made for each other and not just on a superficial level. He doesn't get stubborn or arrogant and bossy and she doesn't get annoying or stupid so that's always a plus in my book. The fact that these two were perfect for each other saved this book-- they really were soul mates so watching them find each other was a lovely thing to read.
I thought the story was great, the characters were definitely likable and I love love LOVE that they were in love before they got down and dirty. I don't like it when things go all the way between the hero and heroine and THEN they realize they love the other person, I want love before sex dang it and I'm glad I got to see it here finally.
I would have enjoyed this much more had there been less inner dialogue. It seemed like pages and pages went by without anyone speaking a word. It just seemed like there was too many explanations to things, it got kinda tedious after a while. The ending definitely could have been shortened-- way too much background information given that I couldn't get myself to care much for so it felt like I just skimmed through to see what else will be added to the mix before the happy ending.
I do love these two though! You really do understand why they are so well made for each other and not just on a superficial level. He doesn't get stubborn or arrogant and bossy and she doesn't get annoying or stupid so that's always a plus in my book. The fact that these two were perfect for each other saved this book-- they really were soul mates so watching them find each other was a lovely thing to read.
February 8, 2013
Dashing and sexy officer meets beautiful and secretive lady. They fall in love/lust at first kiss. Said officer finds out that beautiful lady is to be married to man he dislikes and which he is investigating for fraud. The lady has to marry the rich man to save ancestral home and family. But they cannot keep away from each other…Great formula!
I enjoyed every little morsel of it! Gaelen Foley has the ability to suck me right in and forget about what is happening around me. I lost track of time. I’m not complaining, it was great way to spend an afternoon.
The characters were amazing; you knew from the start that their feelings were deeper than either one of them imagined. Their willingness to help each other, and not fearing for their safety touched me. It was also nice to see familiar faces. And the new faces were quite an experience, there’s a mother from hell, a chaperone with a heart of gold, another mother that only wants the best for child, a young woman who has no problem in hurting people around her to get what/who she wants. Is there any wonder I lost myself in this book?
4.5/5
I enjoyed every little morsel of it! Gaelen Foley has the ability to suck me right in and forget about what is happening around me. I lost track of time. I’m not complaining, it was great way to spend an afternoon.
The characters were amazing; you knew from the start that their feelings were deeper than either one of them imagined. Their willingness to help each other, and not fearing for their safety touched me. It was also nice to see familiar faces. And the new faces were quite an experience, there’s a mother from hell, a chaperone with a heart of gold, another mother that only wants the best for child, a young woman who has no problem in hurting people around her to get what/who she wants. Is there any wonder I lost myself in this book?
4.5/5
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