Review: Great book! Two explicit scenes can be easily skipped
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 10 30, 2013
Some of the reviews for this book make it sound like there are numerous sex scenes to wade through. There are a couple kissing scenes, but there's only one explicit sex scene after marriage (if that makes a difference to you) and there's no essential dialogue in it so it can be completely skipped.  There's a second brief scene (maybe a paragraph) which has an important turning point in the relationship, but could be quickly skimmed to get to the dialogue. I suppose some reviewers are incensed because the summary doesn't mention anything, but it doesn't seem fair to paint the book as erotica either. It seems very comparable (and maybe tamer) to other popular Regency authors like Tessa Dare, Caroline Linden, Grace Burrows, etc...And I thought the writing was excellent. There were some issues with proper titles (should have been Lady Amber, not Miss Amber and I think the duke should always be your grace instead of my lord), but otherwise the editing and prose were excellent. Some of the dialogue was funny and witty and I laughed out loud several times.The majority of the story takes place at the country estate of Ambersley where we see the everday life of the servants, and how the new duke settles in to set things right.  The duke's stepmom is the villain of this book and she keeps popping up with evil plans.  The latter part of the story takes place in London and Bath with several balls and elegant secondary characters. I liked and admired the heroine and the hero was trustworthy and appealing in a brooding sort of way. The HEA made me smile and overall the book is charming and satisfying.  I'm looking forward to reading the sequel.