Review: Ups and downs
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 09 12, 2013
The writing was very uneven in this story.  Sometimes it wasn't too bad and other times it was like a high school freshman was writing.Jillian is a young woman whose uncle is trying to marry her off,  that is when he isn't thinking about seducing her himself.  She runs away but due to a loose remark by a duke she is discovered and brought back.  Her uncle beats her, demands she submits to his advances and threatens the servants who helped her if she doesn't comply.Slade, our hero and the duke, realizes he is at fault for what has happened.  He had helped Jillian earlier while she was hiding from her uncle and he was attracted to her.He offers for her and takes her away from the despicable uncle.  They are married by special license, and they go to his estate.  Slade tells her they will take time to know each other before consumating their marriage.The heroine is supposed to be shy and unused to the ways of the world, but I think that approach got way too carried away by the author.  The heroine was about to die of embarrassment just seeing her husband in his shirt!  Or from scrubbing his lower legs when he had been hurt --  this was after they had begun sexual relations for crying out loud.  The modesty bit went way overboard.There was a ridiculous misunderstanding.  He overhears a conversation and thinks Jillian is speaking of him when she is actually talking about a horse.  He avoids her for something like two months.  Things finally get sorted out.There are some lingering kisses and the general idea they have a physical relationship is hinted at.  If something more explicit bothers you, you are safe.  If you like your stories warmer you are out of luck.Definitely needs some editing.  Wasn't a bad story.  I think it could have used some more work.