REVIEW: LORD OF WICKED INTENTIONS BY LORRAINE HEATH

(Lost Lords of Pembrook, #3)

Genre:  Historical Romance (Victorian)

Cover Blurb

Only one woman can break through his heart of stone…

Three young heirs, imprisoned by an unscrupulous uncle, escaped—to the sea, to the streets, to faraway battle—awaiting the day when they would return to reclaim their birthright…

Lord Rafe Easton may be of noble blood, but survival taught him to rely only on himself and to love no one. Yet when he sets his eyes on Miss Evelyn Chambers, and earl’s illegitimate daughter, he is determined to have her, if only as his mistress.

After her father’s death, Evelyn Chambers never imagined she would be sold to the highest bidder, yet circumstances give her little choice except to accept the lord’s indecent proposal. Rafe is wealthy, as well as ruthless. Yet his coldness belies deep passion and deeper secrets. If she must be his, Evelyn intends to lay bare everything the Lord of Pembrook is hiding. But dark discoveries threaten to destroy them both until unexpected love guides the last lost lord home.

♥♥♥♥♥♥

Lorraine Heath brings her Lost Lords of Pembrook series to a satisfying conclusion with this emotive, romantic and passionate story.

How I imagine Lord Rafe Easton….

Nothing touched him, nothing bothered him. Nothing mattered.

I have been waiting for Rafe’s story and I knew it would be angsty. He was only ten years old, the youngest and most vulnerable of the three brothers who escaped that night and the one with the deepest emotional scars. His experiences have left him reclusive, cold and cynical; a man who cares for nothing or no one; a man with dark secrets he has never shared with anyone.

He’d been unable to stop thinking about her since he’d first seen her. She invaded his dreams, inhabited his thoughts, occupied his mind.

I loved watching Rafe trying so hard to deny his feelings for Eve when everything he does reveals just how much he really cares. He takes steps to return to her the sapphire necklace that her father bought for her nineteenth birthday and her father’s portrait. He always refuses to use his title but refers to himself as Lord Rafe Easton to get the respect Eve deserves from Madame Charmaine, the dressmaker. He never attends balls but is willing to take Eve to his brother’s ball simply because she wants to dance. Hardly the actions of a man who doesn’t care!

How I imagine Evelyn (Eve) Chambers…

She possessed a determination, a strength of will that would have had her finding a way to avoid the rookeries.

Eve was so naïve and vulnerable at first having been protected from the harsher realities of life by her father. After her initial distress, I admired her for coming to terms with the reality of her situation and it was satisfying to watch her grow in strength, confidence and determination.

“Mistresses are supposed to take what they’re given and not question it.”
“Is that the law? Is there a law of mistresses somewhere, a book that solicitors study?”

I smiled everytime she stood up to Rafe and particularly when she flaunted his rules for being a mistress.

I loved her determination to make Geoffrey pay for what he did to her and I positively cheered when she confronted him with her head held high. Better still was the scene where she ploughed her fist into his face!

Ms Heath built the sexual tension so well. When Rafe agreed to allow Eve time to adjust to him, it created a delicious sense of anticipation, particularly as Rafe has difficulty keeping his hands off her. My favourite scene is where Rafe finally allows Eve to touch him. There is something so beautiful and sensual about it.

He held her, just held her, while she held him.
Marveled at the wonder of it. So much skin against skin. Silk to satin. Velvety warmth.

Rafe has always struggled with feelings of anger and resentment towards his brothers for abandoning him. It was satisfying to finally see the seeds of reconciliation between Rafe, Sebastian and Tristan and, when Rafe is in danger, his brothers are prepared to do anything to find him. There is a lovely moment in the Epilogue when I knew that Rafe had finally come home.

Lord of Wicked Temptations delivered everything I look for in historical romance… emotional, sensual and romantic; the perfect end to this wonderful series.  Highly recommended!

REVIEW RATING:   5/5 STARS

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT

Read May 2014

The Lost Lords of Pembrook series(click on the covers for more details):

    

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A NEW REVIEW OF THE TEMPTATION OF YOUR TOUCH BY TERESA MEDEIROS

Burke Brothers #2

(Sequel to The Pleasure of Your Kiss

Maximillian Burke has always prided himself on being the man every mother would want her daughter to marry. But after his scoundrel of a brother makes off with Max’s bride, Max discovers it’s more satisfying to be a rogue than the perfect gentleman. Forced to flee London after a duel gone wrong, he seeks refuge at Cadgwyck Manor on the lonely coast of Cornwall, a place as wild and savage as his current temper. The tumbledown manor comes complete with its own ghost, but oddly enough, it’s not the White Lady of Cadgwyck who haunts Max’s heated dreams—but his no-nonsense housekeeper.

The last thing housekeeper Anne Spencer needs is a new master, especially one as brooding and gorgeous as the Earl of Dravenwood. Even as she schemes to be rid of her new employer, she finds herself irresistibly drawn into his strong, muscular arms. When Max vows to solve the mystery of Cadgwyck’s ghost, he doesn’t realize it will put both of their hearts at risk and tempt them to surrender to a pleasure as delicious as it is dangerous.

★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩★✩

The Pleasure of Your Kiss was one of my top reads of 2012 and I couldn’t wait to read Max’s story in The Temptation of Your Touch. The wait was definitely worth it because I loved every moment. It had everything I want from a romance; an intriguing plot, unforgettable characters, lush sensuality and delightful humour.

Teresa Medeiros’s writing is so evocative, emotive and passionate…

A pale splinter of a moon materialised from behind a a wisp of cloud, and there it was, perched at the edge of the towering cliffs like some great hulking dragon.

One of her stray curls ticked the back of his fingers as his thumb strayed into even more dangerous territory, grazing the velvety warmth of lips no longer pressed together, but parted in invitation.

I loved Max and Anne. They are both strong yet vulnerable. Both live with the burden of their past mistakes and I enjoyed watching them gradually emerge from the shadows and fully embrace their new found love.

I love their heated exchanges and the obvious attraction simmering just beneath the surface. Those fond of copious amounts of sex in their romances might be disappointed because there’s only one love scene. But I found there was enough heat generated between Max and Anne and lots of luscious kisses to satisfy me.

What I love about Teresa Medeiros’s books is the humour she brings to them. I adore the motley crew of servants; Hodges, the crazy butler, Dickon, the surly footman, the assorted, giggling housemaids and not forgetting Mr Fluffytoes and Piddles. All the schemes perpetrated to get Max to hightail it back to London provide some of the funniest moments in the book. This is my favourite…

““I do hope you’ll forgive my shocking state of undress, Mrs Spencer,” he said with scathing courtesy. “I had to use my coat to fan the smoke out of my study before it choked me to death.” His eyes narrowed in an accusing gaze. “When you informed me that the study would be a pleasant place to enjoy an after-dinner brandy, you neglected to mention it would turn into a death trap the minute I lit the fire that had been laid upon the hearth.
“Oh, dear.” Ann touched a hand to her throat in what she hoped was a convincing display of dismay. “Are you quite alright.”
“Fortunately, I was able to smother the flames and wrestle the window open before being overcome by smoke. When the last time was that chimney was cleaned? Seventeen ninety-eight?”

There are some taut and poignant moments when Ash and Clarinda arrive with their daughter, Charlotte, but I was so pleased that the brothers are finally reconciled.

I didn’t find it too difficult to figure out the mystery surrounding the White Lady of Cadgwyck but I still wanted to know all the whys and wherefores. There were even a few surprises I hadn’t anticipated.

The Temptation of Your Touch is a wonderful, emotional, often funny book which I can definitely recommend.

How I imagine Max…

How I imagine Anne…

RATING: ★★★★★

SENSUALITY RATING: HOT

Read January 2013

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