Review: Don't Miss It
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 20, 2013
Don't miss this one if you are a fan of erotic historical romance. Ms Callaway did a great job. The thing that struck me so much was how it rang so true of a time in history when well brought up young ladies were kept completely in the dark on matters of sex; and the physical side of marriage was regarded as something to be endured not enjoyed by proper young ladies. When Lady Helena Harteford's wedding night ends in a disaster because of her naivety she sets out to win her husband's love. With the help of her more worldly friend she disguises herself as a prostitute and follows him to a bawdy house in hopes of reasoning with him. Plans go awry when she accidentally enters the wrong room and witnesses thrilling,forbidden sexual passion. She subsequently,in her disguise, engages in a passionate sexual encounter with her husband Nicholas. The charade continues when he asks to see her again she complies. He is unaware that the woman he is with is his wife. Her dilemma is whether or not to reveal to him that the doxy and his wife are the same person.Nicholas Morgan the hero of the story is a man who has risen from a lowly beginning to a place as a wealthy and astute merchant. He learns that he is the legitimate heir of a Marquess. He is insecure with his new status. Understandable because the class system in that day was very stringent and unforgiving if one was considered not of the aristocracy. He actually loves his wife but is not sure of how to treat a "lady" and is sure that his boorishness was the cause of the wedding night disaster. Poor guy can't understand why he is so drawn to this woman of the night and yet loves his wife. He is also having problems with his shipping business because someone is not only stealing from him but also out to destroy his business.I found both the hero and the heroine very likeable  and I could really understand how the societal values of the day could really jeopardize their marriage. The secondary characters were interesting and I was glad to see that Helena's friend will have a book of her own to explain some of the mystery surrounding her.Of course Nicholas and Helena had their HEA and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them getting there. I also had fun trying to figure out who the bad guys were.In Summary:The Story: Five stars for good writing and an interesting plotThe Characters Five stars for being representative of how people of their class and status would be in that historical period.Sex: Five stars it sizzles