TITLE: A Rogue Meets A Scandalous Lady
SERIES: Mackenzie’s & McBrides #11
AUTHOR: Jennifer Ashley
RATING:
STEAM:
THE SYNOPSIS
David Fleming, Hart Mackenzie’s right-hand man, seeks refuge with an old mentor only to find the mentor’s beautiful niece, Sophie, has sought sanctuary as well. In the quiet spaces of the countryside, David finds some peace from his reprobate existence but now faces a new problem–he’s falling for Sophie, Lady Devonport, a lady with a scandalous secret.
THE PLOT
David Fleming and Sophie Whitfield are escaping their problems when they end up at Uncle Pierson’s country house. David is hiding while he is being charged with attempted murder and Sophie’s husband is filing for divorce. They help Uncle Pierson with an archaeological dig on his property while there while they start to develop feelings for each other. They help each other with their legal problems and slowly fall in love.
The plot felt like more of a clean up of a previous storyline. The drama of Sophie’s failed marriage and David's duel, which resulted in attempted murder charges, has already happened, so the plot is more the resolution of their struggles and them finding their “ happy ever after.” There are little side bumps to the plot for both characters: romantic jealousy, mild deception, and anger for it.
He raised his head—carefully. And beheld the most beautiful woman in the world. She sat across the table from him, surrounded by a halo of light, and gazed at him with unblinking green eyes.
THE HEROINE
Sophie Whitfield’s husband is divorcing her on the grounds of infidelity and infertility, none of which is true. Sophie is a sweet, innocent hero and, although I did like her, I was bummed that she just resigned herself to the fate her jerky husband dealt her. I understand that she was meant to be quiet, innocent, and sheltered to contrast David’s worldly, rakish ways, but I kept waiting for her to get mad about the card she’d been dealt!
The way he looked at Sophie, truly looked at her, as though she was a person, not a female in attractive clothes meant to impress her husband’s cronies. David listened to her when she spoke, argued with her or agreed with her, as though her opinion on a subject mattered.
THE HERO
David Fleming is the right hand man to the Duke of Kilmorgan. In fact. He was in love with Eleanor and proposed to her in past books. Although David is whitty and made me laugh, he annoyed me a little with the constant self-flagellation. I wish he’d been a little more confident and, for all he has accomplished politically with Hart, he has every reason to be!
THE STEAM
There was some heavy kissing, a great, but brief scene with cream from a profiterole that was hot! But the good stuff didn’t happen till the very end, all in one night and not in great detail. Some books you enjoy for the steam and others you simply enjoy the romance!
David’s stare held fire, intensity, fierce desire. Sophie clutched the profiterole, cream oozing to her fingers. She absently put her forefinger to her lips and sucked the fingertip clean.
STAND OUT MOMENT
Since, for me this was more a romantic read than a steamy read, one of my favorite scenes was when they finally come together at the end at the ruins. So many sweet, romantic words exchanged! Swoon!
No, I am a man in love.” David let the naked truth come. “When I think of life without you, Sophie, I feel … empty.
WHO WOULD LIKE THIS
Anyone looking for a sweet romance with two people who deserve a happy ending!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Although I did enjoy this book, it didn’t hold a candle to the previous books in the Mackenzie-McBride storyline.
TROPES
Historical Romance, Victorian Era, Rake Hero, Titled Hero, Country Life, Forced Proximity, Class Difference, Archaeology, Two Flame, Three Star
HistoricalRomance, VictorianEra, RakeHero, TitledHero, CountryLife, ForcedProximity, ClassDifference, Archaeology, TwoFlame, ThreeStar
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