Series: Mayhem in Mayfair Series
Book No.: 1
This series is my latest discovery in the world of historical romance. Please note that I have done no scholarly searches about how people are during the Victorian Era. I read because I love romance novels. I just finished reading this book a few hours ago. I will start reading the second book sometime this week.
Summary (from Amazon)
Not Quite a Wife...
After a disastrous wedding night, proper Lady Helena Harteford fears for the fate of her new marriage. Disguised as a doxy, she tracks her husband down at a bawdy house to reason with him . . . and instead discovers the thrill of forbidden passion. An innocent ruse turns into a risky deception; how far will this wallflower go to win her husband's love?
Unfit to be a Husband...
Orphaned at an early age, Nicholas Morgan escapes his violent beginnings to become a successful merchant--only to discover that he is the legitimate heir of the Marquess of Harteford. His transition to the ton is rocky and made rockier when he marries above him. Torn between guilt and lust, he tries to protect his sweet, innocent wife from the demons of his past. But can he safeguard her from his own raging desires?
Caught between Past and Present...
When a dangerous nemesis rises from Nicholas' past, husband and wife must work together in order to survive. From the drawing rooms to the stews of Regency London, they find themselves caught in a game of passion and seduction. Will true love prevail? Or is Helena destined to remain . . . Her Husband's Harlot?
Review (Spoilers):
WHOA! It was a good start for a book series. The story is about Helena, a prim and proper lady, who recently married Nicholas (a Marquess who was raised in the streets). Because of his origins, Nicholas placed Helena in a pedestal. Helena cried in pain on their wedding night which led Nicholas to believe that he was a brute. Since then, he did not make love to Helena (note: deep inside both are madly in love with each other). After a few months, they drifted apart. After seeing an invitation to a bawdy house on Nicholas' study, Helena decides to sneak into the said establishment disguised as a red-haired harlot. There, she somehow found herself in a room where a threesome was happening. Perplexed by everything she was seeing, she tried to get out of the room and BAM! She bumped into her husband (note: she was in disguise). The husband had an attraction to the disguised Helena and began releasing his sexual frustration on her. He regrets it afterward thinking that he cheated with Helena. He left her a fifty pound note for her services.
So that's the premise of the story. Helena became more curious about her husband. With her best friend, she began dressing provocatively to entice Nicholas to her bed. This was really funny because in the middle of the story, Nicholas demanded her seamstress to stop making dresses that showed too much skin. Anyway.... of course, like any romance novels, there should be an evil villain:
Nicholas grew up on the streets. Her mother, an actress, was the legitimate, albeit secret, wife of the previous marquess. The marquess got fed up with his mother so they threw them out. The mother blamed Nicholas for all the crap that happened. She sold (? I forgot if she gave him up or sold) him to a gang in the rookeries. His job was to clean chimneys. Unfortunately, the leader of the gang was into young boys. Fearing of being subjected to those atrocious acts again, Nicholas stabbed the leader in the chest. A young boy was with him during this time. The young boy begged him to take him too, but Nicholas threatened the boy with the knife. He made him unconscious before running away. Later, he figured that the house that he left was burned to the ground.
A shipping merchant adopted Nicholas after trying to steal from him. He grew up with the Fines family and when the merchant died; he made Nicholas the boss. Later, he found out that he was the legitimate son of the marquess, so he took the title after being advised by his foster father.
That awful backstory brought about the villain. Someone found out about his past sins and began blackmailing Nicholas. Fearing for his wife's safety, he then plans for a divorce (good luck with that). Helena was fed up with their situation and so came clean that she was the 'harlot.' Things became spicy between the two of them. They had this "let's stop and talk awhile" phase and began understanding one another.
The climax was when the blackmailer's identity was brought to light. Nicholas was confronted by the blackmailer with the intent to kill him. But la! Helena (husband's sense was tingling) came in to save the day!
In the end, they had twins!
It also ended with some unanswered questions though. The blackmailer was not someone from Nicholas' past. Instead, a mastermind told the blackmailer about Nicholas' past.
Comment: Nicholas' family was also quite cute. The Fines were so rowdy and funny. There is also mention about their family dog who does what he wants whenever he wants (DOG POWER!)
I rate this 4/5. Everything could have been solved if these two couples were honest to each other from the start. But the frustration from knowing that they loved each other from the start was a one reason to turn the page!
Mayhem in Mayfair Series:
Book 1: Her Husband's Harlot
Book 2: Her Wanton Wager
Book 3: Her Protector's Pleasure
Book 4: Her Prodigal Passion
No comments:
Post a Comment