Review: If You Are Looking For the Traditional Regency Historical Romance- You Won't Find it Here! A Very Absorbing Story!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 01 22, 2014
Loving Lady Lazuli is a January 2014 Etopia publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Goddess Fish Promotions in exchange for an honest review.Ten years ago, the sixteen year Sapphire, the most notorious jewel thief in England, escapes and leaves Lord Hawley holding the bag, so to speak. It ruined his life. Estranged from his family for these ten years, he has finally come home. Now he intends to take hold of what is rightfully his and will take great pleasure in kicking a few people to the curb in the process.But, once he walks through the door, a young widow commands his attention. He is nearly positive she is Sapphire. Now she uses the name Cassidy and he can't prove she is the girl that he encountered ten years ago.Cassidy has buried Sapphire and wants to prove she is not the the type of woman people believe she is. She is trying to locate some important papers that will prove her heritage. Lord Hawley's arrival throws her plans to the wind as she is now in danger of being found out and arrested. Lord Hawley has a proposition for Cass. She can become his mistress and he will help her with the papers and keep from turning her in as a jewel thief.Cass was robbed of her title and inheritance. Lord Hawley was cast out of his family all because of Sapphire. He seeks revenge and she seeks legitimacy. It never crossed Hawley's mind that her claim might be real. It disturbs him greatly that he has such a feeling for her that he has never had for any woman before. He fights, and I mean he fights hard, to keep from admitting his feelings for her. He is mean to her, insults her, uses her, and demeans her at every opportunity.He finds her responses to his treatment of her puzzling. She behaves as though she isn't the whore and thief he believes her to be. Could he have been wrong about her?If you are looking for the traditional regency period historical romance, you won't find it here. This was one of the darkest historical romances I've read in good long while. Being a little dark and twisty myself, I like this change of pace. Both characters are flawed. Both need love and forgiveness and a new start in life and who better to start over with than each other?There was even a touch of dark humor in here and this entire plot was "outside the box" making it an absorbing story.Overall this one is a B+