Review: His father was a drunkard and opium addicted and loved to gamble
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 07 8, 2014
One determined golf crazy lady tempts a Dark Duke with tingling and passionate kisses and ROCKS his universe of kilter!Devlin Ravensdale, Duke of Wharncliffe, is called the Mad Duke of Kenley Manor by the Ton. His father was a drunkard and opium addicted and loved to gamble, giving and going to wild parties and loved to chase women. His mother was unhappy wife due to her husband's many crappy habits and died by her own hand. So madness must run in his family or so they say. Devlin loving mother made him feel extraordinary special, but only by day. At night as he screamed and terrorized by the darkness, his father would laugh and scare him, by saying the shadows were monsters wanting to eat him. After is parent's deaths, he was loving raised by his Aunt Min and by the nurturing servants of Kenley Manor. He has nightly episodes of unspeakable fear and torment, but his trusting Reester, his butler/pseudo father, always there to help. It is not unusual for him to play his velvet or Reester a game of chess or even have dinner with table full of servants because they are his FAMILY! Devlin has one true friend, Phineas Betcham, and Phin's sister, Lady Julia, also comes to call, but she in love with him.Lady Alexandra fleed her Father's home because he wanted her to marry a man that he choose for her. Why that man do you ask? Because her father wanted a great hunting partner and Henry was the son he always wanted, but had Alexandra instead. Alex will only marry for love, so she ends up at The Willows and becomes Aunt Min's companion. For 2 years, Alex was the daughter that Min never had, they live as 2 peas in the same pod and Alex's life is filled with Min's love and acceptance. When Min dies, she is devastated and truly morns the mother she never had. Now she must find another position, but first she must wait and give her condolences to Min's relative.Devlin is sadden by the death of his Aunt Min and is confused by becoming a guardian to this Alex and tasked with marry him off. Devlin will go meet this lad, welcome him into Kenley Manor, teach him some chess and not be as lonely, as his is now. As he goes to collect Alex, he is floored to see this lad is a gorgeous and vibrant woman with golden and starlight hair! Alex sees this yummy man of darkness and sensuality and is shocked to learn she is his WARD because HELLO, she is 21! They both think Aunt Min lost her ever loving mind. Alex, Lexis as Devlin calls her, challenges him to a game of chess for her future and he agrees. Needless to say, she was packed with her dog, Just Henry, and bound for Kenley Manor the next morning, due to her losing the match. She fell in love with his home and the warming and caring servants. When Phin and Julia come to call, the hubby hunting begins and Devlin is torn by the thought of his Lexis married to another, but he must get her out of his house. Since he is gossiped about and supposedly mad, Julia takes over the with Alex's new wardrobe, making the "just right husband" list, without Devlin on it, and plans a ball for her Father's Bday, so Alex can have a mini coming out. One night Alex hears a voice of despair and enters Devlin's room and gently lays her hand on his cheek, and he calms down. When he awakes, the passion between they is like live electricity and he lowers his head for the forlorn kiss, but Reester calls out, and the moment is gone!So many near kisses before the ball make Devlin distance himself and Alex is so disappointed and frustrated. When the ball arrives, Devlin gives her a beautiful simple gold chain with a teardrop diamond and she wears it with pride. The ball opens Alex's eyes about the hateful untrue rumors about Devlin and all the gossip about his many ladies and his passionate stamina. Slowly, Alex brings sunshine and laughter into Devlin world and his episodes decrease, but his desires for Lexis increase and come to a head one night with a passionate kisses. Alex is so frustrated that Devlin always pulls back and denies them both the sensual abandonment. Devlin didn't think he is good enough for Alex and she would be a society outcast like him. These two can't keep their hands and lips apart, but Devlin believes he will destroy her life. With the a mysterious suitor, Julia's scheming ways, a meddling household, tummy tingling kisses, an unwanted suitor, Phin's great heartfelt talks, 2 amazing and troublesome dogs, a made up suitor and Fairy Godmothers aplenty these two fell in love and Devlin fights it with everything he has. Will Devlin realizes that he deserves love? Will Alex's love heal her Dark Duke? Will society ever accept Devlin and his Lexis? Will Reester or Phin kick Devlin in the bootie, if he lets Alex go? Where can I get one of Devlin's kisses?This is my second Anabelle Bryant book and DANG, they just keep getting better and better. I have noticed that she uses very original and totally quirky Fairy Godmothers in her stories, which I absolutely love. She gifted this tale with two, one unseen and one right in Devlin's face. Aunt Min was grooming Alex for Devlin with golf, which was totally Devlin's game. The trusty Reester was always around when Devlin needs a good kick in the bootie. Poor Devlin was such a wounded on the inside hero, but he had a loving and caring family that were there for HIM, not wages! Alex was a heroine with a gooey heart covered in dark chocolate and only the right man could melt away the shell! Ms. Bryant can write a kiss like nobodies business. I love all her steamy, sensual, spicy and world changing scene, but her kisses made me melt, hot under the collar, crank up my A/C and worse yet, I feel depraved of those straight down to my pleasure center kisses. In case you don't understand me, I WANT them for MYSELF and I am NOT sharing! Ms. Bryant is a new voice to romance, but she is an unique one with her passionate, creative, out of this world and getting better each time tales, full of a cast of motley crew of loveable folks, that make you want to have an impromptu dinner party! WOW, that was a mouthful! I must give the tingling kisses paradise story my top score of 5 finger up and 10 toes!Copy given for my honest review.