Lady of Intrigue by Sabrina Darby – a Review

Lady of Intrigue by Sabrina Darby – a Review

 

Lady of IntrigueAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Lady Jane Langley values logic and reason over passion and emotion. Her intellect has given her value in the eyes of both her father and society. Logic gives way to terrible, icy fear when Jane finds herself in a devastating carriage accident… an accident in which she is helpless to do anything but watch as her aristocratic companion is murdered.

But this was no mere accident. This was an assassination. Spy and grandson of Lord Landsdowne, Gerard Badeau is methodic in his dark, shadowy work, knowing that any display of emotion could get him killed. Something about the mysterious woman and her cool blue eyes stays Gerard’s lethal hand. Now he has both a witness and a hostage.

And if he doesn’t kill Lady Jane Langley, he risks a fate that is far, far worse…falling in love with her.

 

Review;

Lady of Intrigue by Sabrina Darby is the sequel to her first historical romance Lord of Regrets. I have not had the chance to read Lord of Regrets or anything else by Sabrina for that matter, but found it quite easy to follow along and figure out all that was going on throughout the story. For that matter, I have to say that I really enjoyed Lady of Intrigue. From the first chapter Sabrina had me under Gerard and Lady Jane’s spell and found it very hard to put the book down.

The story is written in such a way that you can’t help but want to find out what’s going to happen next. The book is titled Lady of Intrigue, but for me I’d call it Man of Intrigue because Gerard was one very intriguing and captivating male character for me. He lives his life in the shadows and cloaks himself in mystery, that in the words of Shrek, he’s like an onion, onions have layers, lots of layers (I crack myself up sometimes) and Ms. Darby slowly peels back each and every layer, laying Gerard bare and open to Lady Jane Langley to see the real person who’s been hiding away in the shadows.I really enjoyed getting to know Gerard and who he really is, why he’s lived in mystery and shadows for so long, and then realizing that it doesn’t have to be like that anymore thanks to his Jane.

As for Jane, she’s quite the female lead and holds her own beside Gerard. If I were in her position, a prisoner in the hands of an assassin, not knowing if he’s going to let me live or not, I don’t think I’d have handled it as well as she did. Given the time period of the book, Jane doesn’t act like the typical female of the time. She’s quite brave, feisty, stands up to Gerard and pretty much tells him like it is. I like that she didn’t shy away from him, but instead slowly and steadily manages to get under Gerard’s skin, and break down that wall he’s been hiding behind. She brings out the real Gerard, and with it a love that builds strong and true.

Watching Gerard transform and want to become someone better and worthy of Jane is very satisfying and commendable. You can’t help but pull for this couple, especially Gerard. I don’t know how many times I was worried for him because of his ‘jobs’ that he had to carry out. I was sitting on the edge of my seat hoping and praying that all his ‘jobs’ weren’t going to catch up to him at the end and he’d be the one lying on a road with a gunshot in him or a broken neck. Thankfully this one ends with a very satisfying HEA for me.

Lady of Intrigue by Sabrina Darby is a fast paced read, filled with mystery, suspense, danger, intrigue, angst and love. Gerard and Lady Jane are two very strong and compatible lead characters who had no problem carrying the story, and bringing you along on their adventure. The secondary characters are well written as well, and play the part of supporting cast to help further Gerard and Jane’s story along. For anyone who’s a fan of historical romance I feel this one will be right up your alley.

Until next time, happy reading!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith – Review & Giveaway

Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith – Review & Giveaway

Tempted by a Rogue Banner

Tempted by a RogueAmazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

DESCRIPTION

The rogue’s temptation would be her undoing…

Gemma Haverford knows exactly who she will marry: James Randolph, the man she’s had a secret understanding with for the last eleven years. With every letter written between them while he’s been off at sea, their love has grown. Now they will be reunited with his return to England.

There’s just one problem. The man whose words she’d fallen in love with isn’t James at all…

Jasper Holland, a gentleman rogue of the first order, is trapped. Talked into a scheme by his best friend, he pretended to be James for eleven years as he wrote to Gemma, even though he’d promised James he’d break it off. But now with his return to England, his secret will come out—and he’ll lose the one woman he can’t live without.

What began as a game of words, now becomes a game of hearts, and Jasper will pay any price to call Gemma his.

 

 

 

REVIEW

4 out of 5 for this reader folks!

Tempted by a Rogue by Lauren Smith is a quick (less that 100 pages) historical romance that reminds us there are times when a wrong certainly can make a right.  WINK

Gemma Haverford has been waiting for her true love to return from a career at sea so they can start there life together.  Through 11 years of exchanging letters full of hope, honour and love she is ready to get married to the man she has treasured for so long.

Jasper Holland is NOT the man that Gemma is expecting to be reunited with in the secret gardens.  Having a blindfold on fires all the senses though and a smoking hot moment seals Gemma’s heart.  The only problem is, she believes these stolen caresses are from Jasper’s best friend James.  

James wrote to Gemma for the first year apart but decided a life as a rogue was much more satisfying than settling down with one woman.  Jasper takes over the correspondence (pretending to be James) and before he knows it, he is in so deep and completely captivated by this amazing woman.  All Jasper has to do now, if watch his beloved get duped by his best friend and then sweep her off her feet and convince her that he is the man she wants.  

At a welcome home party all begins to fall in place .. and when temper flares and passion awakens, Gemma and Jasper are both in for a turbulent journey full of yummy encounters, verbal jabs and truth that sets them both free.

Before I get into my personal thoughts on this book, I just wanted to share something that I have trouble with when reviewing short reads.  I have read many reviews (for books that are 100 pages or less and I am speaking generally here not about this book) complaining that the story is too short.  Well I tend to get annoyed with that comment because the author doesn’t hide how short the story is and purposely designs it to be a quick read.  So what happens when you are left at the end of a short read feeling like something is missing??  How do you critique without the comment “that was too short and I wanted more!”?  It’s tough!

I did feel like something was missing here and I do believe it was the escalation of tension between our two leads.  I love the build up, the verbal back and forth, the scheming, the passion driven stolen moments and the inevitable happily ever after, but there was just not enough time for me to cherish all of this.  That being said, Lauren Smith can stuff a whole lot of story in a small amount of pages.  I was absolutely smitten with Jasper and I loved that Gemma didn’t hold back where he was concerned.  II also thought James was a jackass and didn’t deserve Gemma.

I have to say it was the not so sweet old lady that stole this book for me.  I love it when crusty personalities cut to the quick and tell it like it is … LOL  This was a great book, and I adore Lauren’s writing style.  I look forward to reading more from her soon!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel

Copy provided by Author

About the authorLauren_Smith_2014
Lauren Smith is an attorney by day, author by night, who pens adventurous and edgy romance stories by the light of her smart phone flashlight app. She’s a native Oklahoman who lives with her three pets: a feisty chinchilla, sophisticated cat and dapper little schnauzer. She’s won multiple awards in several romance subgenres including being an Amazon.com Breakthrough Novel Award Quarter-Finalist and a Semi-Finalist for the Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley Award.

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

 

 

giveaway

Lauren is graciously offering an e-copy of the winner’s choice of her books to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and Follow Lauren Smith on Facebook

4. LIKE us on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

5. LIKE us on Twitter for an additional entry.

6. Please FOLLOW us on GOODREADS for an additional entry.

7. Please FOLLOW us on TSU for an additional entry.

8. Giveaway open Internationally

9. Giveaway runs from September 22 – September 25, 2015

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