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Dartmouth Brides #3
The Danger of Desire
An Unlikely Partnership and an Uncontrollable Desire. . .
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden is accustomed to taking on deadly, high-stakes assignments--and being rewarded handsomely for his success at them. But to accomplish his latest mission, he'll need someone more inconspicuous among his own ranks. Someone like the larcenous beauty who just relieved him of his pocket watch under his very nose. . .
Meggs Tanner's livelihood--as one of London's stealthiest thieves--depends on her remaining un-tethered and unnoticed. But when she is caught by an icy-eyed Scottish officer with an unusual proposition, she sees a chance to escape her life of crime forever. Ever wary, she accepts the job even as she plots her exit strategy, ready to cut and run at a moment's notice.
But as Meggs and Hugh come nearer to the danger of their shared mission, thoughts of betrayal and distrust begin to dissolve. . .overshadowed by a passion worth any risk. . .
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden is accustomed to taking on deadly, high-stakes assignments--and being rewarded handsomely for his success at them. But to accomplish his latest mission, he'll need someone more inconspicuous among his own ranks. Someone like the larcenous beauty who just relieved him of his pocket watch under his very nose. . .
Meggs Tanner's livelihood--as one of London's stealthiest thieves--depends on her remaining un-tethered and unnoticed. But when she is caught by an icy-eyed Scottish officer with an unusual proposition, she sees a chance to escape her life of crime forever. Ever wary, she accepts the job even as she plots her exit strategy, ready to cut and run at a moment's notice.
But as Meggs and Hugh come nearer to the danger of their shared mission, thoughts of betrayal and distrust begin to dissolve. . .overshadowed by a passion worth any risk. . .
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
13 people are currently reading
403 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Essex
45 books332 followersWhen not re-reading Jane Austen, sipping tea or mucking about her garden, Elizabeth Essex can be found at her computer, making up wonderful stories about people who live far more interesting lives than she.
Elizabeth Essex
It wasn’t always so. Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classical Studies and Art History, and then earned her MA from Texas A&M University in Nautical Archaeology, also known as the archaeology of shipwrecks. While Elizabeth loved the life of a working archaeologist, after writing and reading all those dry, dusty reports on ship construction, she would daydream about how lovely it would have been if only someone had fallen in love on just one of those ships. And so now she writes stories about just that.
Elizabeth lives in Texas with her family, in a house filled to the brim with books.
Elizabeth Essex
It wasn’t always so. Elizabeth graduated from Hollins College with a BA in Classical Studies and Art History, and then earned her MA from Texas A&M University in Nautical Archaeology, also known as the archaeology of shipwrecks. While Elizabeth loved the life of a working archaeologist, after writing and reading all those dry, dusty reports on ship construction, she would daydream about how lovely it would have been if only someone had fallen in love on just one of those ships. And so now she writes stories about just that.
Elizabeth lives in Texas with her family, in a house filled to the brim with books.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
July 22, 2013
2.75 Stars..."I coulda been a contender!"
What happens when you meet a very nice author who impresses you with her knowledge of history, lively conversation, and shares her favorite authors are Laura Kinsale and Joanna Bourne? You might decide to try this author's work if you share the same favorite authors, which is what I did. Although I did not try the book Ms. Essex recommended as her 'best.' The Danger of Desire pushed my happy buttons, so it was off to the digital library then a quick download.
This had the makings of a good book - espionage, pickpocket turned swan, and British sea captain - but it had plot holes. (It really depends on the reader. In the spy business, I thought the captain should be advanced in intelligence gathering.) Captain Hugh McAlden failed to impress and was the weakest link for me. Meggs, the heroine, was the most impressive. Her skills, speech, behavior, and emotions all matched. She was also the main source for the plot's espionage storyline that fizzled out too early. This was not like Joanna Bourne! The potential is there, so I will try again.
I love strong, intelligent heroines! I hope Ms. Essex delivers another one in Almost a Scandal; unfortunately, I failed to understand the chemistry (or initial spark)between Hugh and Meggs. The romance felt rushed. Their attraction settles they acknowlege a mutual attraction, but there has to be more than seeing a starved guttersnipe reeking of the streets naked before the physical arousal begins. Others readers may not have the same problem and fill in the plot holes without issue.
Buddy read with Searock, who was immensely enjoying the book, but absolutely has to read Joanna Bourne, starting with The Forbidden Rose, The Spymaster's Lady, and The Black Hawk!
What happens when you meet a very nice author who impresses you with her knowledge of history, lively conversation, and shares her favorite authors are Laura Kinsale and Joanna Bourne? You might decide to try this author's work if you share the same favorite authors, which is what I did. Although I did not try the book Ms. Essex recommended as her 'best.' The Danger of Desire pushed my happy buttons, so it was off to the digital library then a quick download.
This had the makings of a good book - espionage, pickpocket turned swan, and British sea captain - but it had plot holes. (It really depends on the reader. In the spy business, I thought the captain should be advanced in intelligence gathering.) Captain Hugh McAlden failed to impress and was the weakest link for me. Meggs, the heroine, was the most impressive. Her skills, speech, behavior, and emotions all matched. She was also the main source for the plot's espionage storyline that fizzled out too early. This was not like Joanna Bourne! The potential is there, so I will try again.
I love strong, intelligent heroines! I hope Ms. Essex delivers another one in Almost a Scandal; unfortunately, I failed to understand the chemistry (or initial spark)between Hugh and Meggs. The romance felt rushed. Their attraction settles they acknowlege a mutual attraction, but there has to be more than seeing a starved guttersnipe reeking of the streets naked before the physical arousal begins. Others readers may not have the same problem and fill in the plot holes without issue.
Buddy read with Searock, who was immensely enjoying the book, but absolutely has to read Joanna Bourne, starting with The Forbidden Rose, The Spymaster's Lady, and The Black Hawk!
April 20, 2022
Captain Hugh McAlden hires pickpocket Meggs Tanner to help him get a treasonous spy plot out of the way—which she does, 60% of the way into this thing. They spend the next 40% of this thing banging it out, revealing secrets, and further banging it out before Megg's Tragic Backstory© and an outstanding plot device wrap things up.
1. Sectioning The Danger of Desire into "spy games" and "sex games" is...one way to do it, I guess?
2. And while the characterization of Meggs was decently done—prickly and hard; proud of her accomplishments and full of secret agendas; dedicated and ready to fight like hell—the handling of the actual treasonous subplot was just so-so upon reflection: there's some mention of Hugh and Meggs's little brother trailing and investigating the seven potential baddies, and then the first time Meggs is put on the case she immediately names the first candidate she sees as the likely culprit. And of course she's right so then she goes undercover and finds enough evidence to put that dude and his accomplice away—except it's all kind of ... floppy.
3. So that ends the spy games portion of the book: after the arrest of the treasonous official, Hugh and Meggs get down to business: fucking. Which they do, several times, several ways (Merry Christmas).
4. The final third of this thing gets tangled in ridiculous backstory bullshit. Like, Meggs has got secrets, and the revelation of her true identity is. A thing. I didn't despise it entirely but neither was I entirely pleased by it. Especially because it immediately erases Hugh's shitty "can I polish this dull penny into a shiny wife?" approach because a Quirk of Birth Makes Everything Okay.
Which is not okay.
5. And the final chapter is silly.
6. I'm still going to give this like 3.5 stars though because I still found this thing more compelling then most of the stuff I've read lately—like I was frustrated by a vast majority of it, but I enjoyed it in the moment (and wanted to know what happened next), and because I can see the glimmers of something neat-o-burrito in Essex's approach.
1. Sectioning The Danger of Desire into "spy games" and "sex games" is...one way to do it, I guess?
2. And while the characterization of Meggs was decently done—prickly and hard; proud of her accomplishments and full of secret agendas; dedicated and ready to fight like hell—the handling of the actual treasonous subplot was just so-so upon reflection: there's some mention of Hugh and Meggs's little brother trailing and investigating the seven potential baddies, and then the first time Meggs is put on the case she immediately names the first candidate she sees as the likely culprit. And of course she's right so then she goes undercover and finds enough evidence to put that dude and his accomplice away—except it's all kind of ... floppy.
3. So that ends the spy games portion of the book: after the arrest of the treasonous official, Hugh and Meggs get down to business: fucking. Which they do, several times, several ways (Merry Christmas).
4. The final third of this thing gets tangled in ridiculous backstory bullshit. Like, Meggs has got secrets, and the revelation of her true identity is. A thing. I didn't despise it entirely but neither was I entirely pleased by it. Especially because it immediately erases Hugh's shitty "can I polish this dull penny into a shiny wife?" approach because a Quirk of Birth Makes Everything Okay.
Which is not okay.
5. And the final chapter is silly.
6. I'm still going to give this like 3.5 stars though because I still found this thing more compelling then most of the stuff I've read lately—like I was frustrated by a vast majority of it, but I enjoyed it in the moment (and wanted to know what happened next), and because I can see the glimmers of something neat-o-burrito in Essex's approach.
February 15, 2012
I can tell you what’s in a book, what I think works, and what doesn’t. It’s much harder to convey the experience of reading that same book. So let me say Elizabeth Essex’s The Danger of Desire has its strengths and flaws. It is also a transcendently pleasurable book to read. There is something distinctive and gorgeous about Ms. Essex’s writing — I really can’t think of any other writer whose prose is as languorously specific as hers. She’s become one of my very favorite writers; I’d looked forward to The Danger of Desire and it did not disappoint.
Ms. Essex has thus far published three loosely linked books. In the first, The Pursuit of Pleasure, she investigates the way secrets compromise love. In the second, A Sense of Sin, she illuminates how passion transforms its lovers. In The Danger of Desire, she plaits those two leitmotifs. This passionate love story between Meggs, a woman who trusts no one, and Hugh, the man who wants to know all of her - heart, body, and soul - is touching, riveting, and well-crafted.
Meggs is, as she says, “a prime filching mort.” She hates being a thief, hates “the insidious cold, the incessant rain, the petty larceny — but hunger had a way of sorting out priorities.” Meggs steals because it was the only option for her — other than whoring - when she and her younger brother Timmy found themselves abandoned on the streets of London years ago. Meggs and Timmy are very good at what they do, and early one morning, they strip a watch and purse from an unsuspecting toff. Although the oblivious mark has no idea the pretty housemaid who bowls him over on Cockspur Street has just relieved him of his “portable chattels,” Naval Captain Hugh McAlden watches Meggs’s “smartly done” theft with "appreciation.”
Hugh, currently recovering from a bad leg wound, wants nothing more than to regain his command of his ship, Dangerous. Hugh went to sea at age twelve; sixteen years later, it’s the life he craves. Vexingly, his injury has made him currently “not fit for command.” On the morning he sees Meggs, he’s just come from the Admiralty where his mentor, Admiral Middleton, offered him a job which, if successfully rendered, will lead to a knighthood for Hugh. The Admiralty Board has a traitor somewhere in its highest level, a treasonous spy sharing highly secret information with the French. The Admiral wants Hugh, within the space of two weeks, to “rout out this traitor and serve him up… trussed and ready for hanging.”
Hugh leaves the meeting, catches Meggs in her act of deft larceny, and decides she is exactly what he needs — he’ll use a thief to catch a thief. He chases her through the London streets, and when he finally has her trapped in a dead-end lane, makes her an offer he thinks she can’t refuse. He tells her he’ll pay her a hundred pounds to steal for him. If she declines, he’ll turn her in to the law. She, suspicious, wary, and afraid, tosses her laundry basket at Hugh, kicks him hard in his wounded thigh, and runs away from him — and, as she does, steals his gold watch. As she escapes, however, she badly injures her hand vaulting over a wall topped with shards of broken glass. When her wound turns septic, she, unable to thieve and thus feed herself and Timmy, seeks out Hugh and agrees to take him up on his offer...for 750 pounds. Hugh, persuaded she’s perfect for his professional needs, agrees to her price. Meggs and Timmy move into Hugh’s home and she and Hugh begin to work together to identify and entrap the traitor.....
This is a partial review. To read the entire review, please visit All About Romance (likesbooks.com):
http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
Ms. Essex has thus far published three loosely linked books. In the first, The Pursuit of Pleasure, she investigates the way secrets compromise love. In the second, A Sense of Sin, she illuminates how passion transforms its lovers. In The Danger of Desire, she plaits those two leitmotifs. This passionate love story between Meggs, a woman who trusts no one, and Hugh, the man who wants to know all of her - heart, body, and soul - is touching, riveting, and well-crafted.
Meggs is, as she says, “a prime filching mort.” She hates being a thief, hates “the insidious cold, the incessant rain, the petty larceny — but hunger had a way of sorting out priorities.” Meggs steals because it was the only option for her — other than whoring - when she and her younger brother Timmy found themselves abandoned on the streets of London years ago. Meggs and Timmy are very good at what they do, and early one morning, they strip a watch and purse from an unsuspecting toff. Although the oblivious mark has no idea the pretty housemaid who bowls him over on Cockspur Street has just relieved him of his “portable chattels,” Naval Captain Hugh McAlden watches Meggs’s “smartly done” theft with "appreciation.”
Hugh, currently recovering from a bad leg wound, wants nothing more than to regain his command of his ship, Dangerous. Hugh went to sea at age twelve; sixteen years later, it’s the life he craves. Vexingly, his injury has made him currently “not fit for command.” On the morning he sees Meggs, he’s just come from the Admiralty where his mentor, Admiral Middleton, offered him a job which, if successfully rendered, will lead to a knighthood for Hugh. The Admiralty Board has a traitor somewhere in its highest level, a treasonous spy sharing highly secret information with the French. The Admiral wants Hugh, within the space of two weeks, to “rout out this traitor and serve him up… trussed and ready for hanging.”
Hugh leaves the meeting, catches Meggs in her act of deft larceny, and decides she is exactly what he needs — he’ll use a thief to catch a thief. He chases her through the London streets, and when he finally has her trapped in a dead-end lane, makes her an offer he thinks she can’t refuse. He tells her he’ll pay her a hundred pounds to steal for him. If she declines, he’ll turn her in to the law. She, suspicious, wary, and afraid, tosses her laundry basket at Hugh, kicks him hard in his wounded thigh, and runs away from him — and, as she does, steals his gold watch. As she escapes, however, she badly injures her hand vaulting over a wall topped with shards of broken glass. When her wound turns septic, she, unable to thieve and thus feed herself and Timmy, seeks out Hugh and agrees to take him up on his offer...for 750 pounds. Hugh, persuaded she’s perfect for his professional needs, agrees to her price. Meggs and Timmy move into Hugh’s home and she and Hugh begin to work together to identify and entrap the traitor.....
This is a partial review. To read the entire review, please visit All About Romance (likesbooks.com):
http://likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/bookRev...
May 11, 2013
3.5 stars.
My experience with this one was really odd because I adored it while simultaneously feeling disappointed. The heroine is a street thief, and street thieves are my favorite. I think I love regency street thieves even more than I love regency spies, and that is saying something. So Meggs is amazing and I love love love her. I love that she outsmarts/outfights the hero at least two times, I love that she's not afraid to say, "You are wrong and should really listen to my expertise in this matter." I love that she stands up for herself when the hero says something insulting. I love that she's constantly revealing some new facet of her character for the hero to gape at.
I also really liked that there was a plot with an element of danger. Plots and danger are also my favorite!
I didn't love the hero. I've read worse, but overall I thought he didn't treat Meggs with enough respect. He was too cagey and paternalistic. I dislike a lot of romantic heroes, and it makes me think that I must just have very different taste in men from the majority of romance readers and writers. Sigh.
So this was yet another romance novel where an extremely excellent heroine was paired with a hero who, in my opinion, didn't deserve her. Oh well.
My experience with this one was really odd because I adored it while simultaneously feeling disappointed. The heroine is a street thief, and street thieves are my favorite. I think I love regency street thieves even more than I love regency spies, and that is saying something. So Meggs is amazing and I love love love her. I love that she outsmarts/outfights the hero at least two times, I love that she's not afraid to say, "You are wrong and should really listen to my expertise in this matter." I love that she stands up for herself when the hero says something insulting. I love that she's constantly revealing some new facet of her character for the hero to gape at.
I also really liked that there was a plot with an element of danger. Plots and danger are also my favorite!
I didn't love the hero. I've read worse, but overall I thought he didn't treat Meggs with enough respect. He was too cagey and paternalistic. I dislike a lot of romantic heroes, and it makes me think that I must just have very different taste in men from the majority of romance readers and writers. Sigh.
So this was yet another romance novel where an extremely excellent heroine was paired with a hero who, in my opinion, didn't deserve her. Oh well.
September 1, 2016
DNF at 30%
Found this on a Virgin Hero list on GR.
It is Not. Hero has been celibate for an unknown amount of time (at least at this point it is unsaid).
This is not the sole reason for me not finishing. The reasons are :
1. The story is dragging, uninteresting and well..boring.
2. I dislike intensly the "street" accent of the heroine. This also makes me not very fond of her as well.
3. Believablility.. very little to believe as to how a handsome navy aristocrat is attracted to a "smelly" dirty street urchin, who speaks with a gutter mouth.
Had the hero in fact been a virgin, I might have stuck it out a little longer. But now I find no need to continue the torture.
Glad I got it for free.
Removed it from my Kindle. Not going to waste more of my time.
Found this on a Virgin Hero list on GR.
It is Not. Hero has been celibate for an unknown amount of time (at least at this point it is unsaid).
This is not the sole reason for me not finishing. The reasons are :
1. The story is dragging, uninteresting and well..boring.
2. I dislike intensly the "street" accent of the heroine. This also makes me not very fond of her as well.
3. Believablility.. very little to believe as to how a handsome navy aristocrat is attracted to a "smelly" dirty street urchin, who speaks with a gutter mouth.
Had the hero in fact been a virgin, I might have stuck it out a little longer. But now I find no need to continue the torture.
Glad I got it for free.
Removed it from my Kindle. Not going to waste more of my time.
June 19, 2017
Please Note: This review is for the 2017 revised/reissued version.
I read the original version of this book years ago and I loved it - the changes in this new version are slight, but for all those who were upset that the hero was not a virgin in the original - you will be very happy with the revisions!
Captain Hugh McAlden has been recuperating from an injury that almost cost him his leg and is at loose ends. He has been asked by the admiralty to look into a delicate matter. His reward for a successful mission will be a knighthood and reinstatement of his command. Eager to get back on his ship, he accepts the mission and finds the perfect person to help him as he is leaving the admiralty building.
Meggs is a thief, she has been working the streets as a pickpocket for years to support herself and her younger brother. She is "working" outside the admiralty when she catches Hugh's eye - shocked that she has been caught, she runs without hearing Hugh's proposition. Hugh chases her through the streets and alleys of London and finally corners her. He tells Meggs what he needs from her and gives her his card. Meggs takes his watch and manages to escape - but in the process, badly injuries her hand.
Intrigued by Hugh and worried for her brother, Meggs seeks Hugh out by taking his watch to the watchmaker and pretends to be trying to return it the owner. The watchmaker sends a note to Hugh
and when he comes to claim the watch, he meets with Meggs again. This time he gives her more information about what he wants to hire her for and gives her his direction.
Meggs decides that if Hugh is really willing to pay her, it would mean security for her and her brother, so she seeks out Hugh to make a deal and then collapses from complications of her injury.
Hugh nurses Meggs back to health and brings her brother to his house as well. When Meggs wakes, he tells her what he needs her to do and puts her to work in his house. As the days pass, the attraction between them grows and they dance around each other. Meggs is confused by her feelings for Hugh and can't imagine a future with him, so when she is finally healed enough to go on the mission, she sets out determined to succeed and then set out on her new life.
When Meggs is nearly caught, Hugh realizes that Meggs means more to him than the mission and doesn't want things to end between them. He enlists his mother to help him acclimate Meggs to society and makes provisions for her brother to train for the navy with his friend James Marlowe. At this point it appears that it will be smooth sailing to a HEA, but a surprising twist that leads to the truth about Meggs identity threatens to tear our lovers apart.
This book is well written, has funny moments, some very steamy love scenes, some intrigue, a lot of twists and turns and finally a very hard earned HEA. The book is the third in the trilogy, but it is loosely connected and could easily be read as a stand alone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a Revised copy of this book that was provided to me by the author*
I read the original version of this book years ago and I loved it - the changes in this new version are slight, but for all those who were upset that the hero was not a virgin in the original - you will be very happy with the revisions!
Captain Hugh McAlden has been recuperating from an injury that almost cost him his leg and is at loose ends. He has been asked by the admiralty to look into a delicate matter. His reward for a successful mission will be a knighthood and reinstatement of his command. Eager to get back on his ship, he accepts the mission and finds the perfect person to help him as he is leaving the admiralty building.
Meggs is a thief, she has been working the streets as a pickpocket for years to support herself and her younger brother. She is "working" outside the admiralty when she catches Hugh's eye - shocked that she has been caught, she runs without hearing Hugh's proposition. Hugh chases her through the streets and alleys of London and finally corners her. He tells Meggs what he needs from her and gives her his card. Meggs takes his watch and manages to escape - but in the process, badly injuries her hand.
Intrigued by Hugh and worried for her brother, Meggs seeks Hugh out by taking his watch to the watchmaker and pretends to be trying to return it the owner. The watchmaker sends a note to Hugh
and when he comes to claim the watch, he meets with Meggs again. This time he gives her more information about what he wants to hire her for and gives her his direction.
Meggs decides that if Hugh is really willing to pay her, it would mean security for her and her brother, so she seeks out Hugh to make a deal and then collapses from complications of her injury.
Hugh nurses Meggs back to health and brings her brother to his house as well. When Meggs wakes, he tells her what he needs her to do and puts her to work in his house. As the days pass, the attraction between them grows and they dance around each other. Meggs is confused by her feelings for Hugh and can't imagine a future with him, so when she is finally healed enough to go on the mission, she sets out determined to succeed and then set out on her new life.
When Meggs is nearly caught, Hugh realizes that Meggs means more to him than the mission and doesn't want things to end between them. He enlists his mother to help him acclimate Meggs to society and makes provisions for her brother to train for the navy with his friend James Marlowe. At this point it appears that it will be smooth sailing to a HEA, but a surprising twist that leads to the truth about Meggs identity threatens to tear our lovers apart.
This book is well written, has funny moments, some very steamy love scenes, some intrigue, a lot of twists and turns and finally a very hard earned HEA. The book is the third in the trilogy, but it is loosely connected and could easily be read as a stand alone title.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for a Revised copy of this book that was provided to me by the author*
May 2, 2017
THE DANGER OF DESIRE by Elizabeth Essex is an amazing historical romance set in 1799 London. It is easy to follow,well written with details and depth. The characters will carry the reader away into their world. This is the story of Naval Captain Hugh McAlden and Meggs Tanner. With intrigue, passion, romance, danger, a traitor, betrayal,distrust,and a sweet sensuality, you can't go wrong with "The Danger of Desire". It is fast paced,with strong characters and a well laid out plot. When a wounded Naval Captain meets a pickpocket who is so much more, what takes place is not only heart rendering but is delicous and sexy. Meggs, will do anything to protect and save her younger brother. Hugh will do anything to find a traitor including getting the help of a thief. Together,they find what they are both looking for and so much more. A must read for any historical romance reader,who enjoys the Georgian period,and family.Received for an honest review from the publisher. Details can be found at Brava, published by Kensinton Publishing and My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: Mild
REVIEWED BY: AprilR,My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
_____
**Please note UPDATED VERSION**
As I read this story a few years back, this was a re-read for me. And I absolutely still love this story! Ms. Essex is a fantastic storyteller. Her characters are well rounded and well-developed. The plot is as intriguing, if not more so today, as all those years ago. It is still full of intrigue, passion, romance, danger,a traitor, betrayal, distrust,and a sweet sensuality, you just can't go wrong with "The Danger of Desire".
If you are one of those readers who enjoy the Georgian period, and the value of family, then definitely pick up "The Danger of Desire". I adore Ms. Essex's writing, she is such a talented author, one who pulls her readers into her stories and holds them in complete and utter awe. What a great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this version.
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: Mild
REVIEWED BY: AprilR,My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
_____
**Please note UPDATED VERSION**
As I read this story a few years back, this was a re-read for me. And I absolutely still love this story! Ms. Essex is a fantastic storyteller. Her characters are well rounded and well-developed. The plot is as intriguing, if not more so today, as all those years ago. It is still full of intrigue, passion, romance, danger,a traitor, betrayal, distrust,and a sweet sensuality, you just can't go wrong with "The Danger of Desire".
If you are one of those readers who enjoy the Georgian period, and the value of family, then definitely pick up "The Danger of Desire". I adore Ms. Essex's writing, she is such a talented author, one who pulls her readers into her stories and holds them in complete and utter awe. What a great read!
I received a complimentary copy of this version.
Rating: 4
Heat rating: Mild
Reviewed by: AprilR
November 8, 2015
trop long, trop rébarbatif... le héros a beau être un bourru écossais aux yeux bleus, il fait que des mauvais choix et semble même pas les regretter (sauf un peu à la fin, faut bien...).
la résolution du passé de la fille arrive sans prévenir, "pouf tu n'es plus une enfant des rues ma fille mais une héritière voici ta vieille grand-mère qui débarque et qui te reconnais après 8 ans"... ouais ok xD
non pis leur histoire est pas du tout romantique, c'est très très mal écrit (parfois on se demande comment ils se retrouvent dans certaines positions alors que le début de la scène était totalement différent - je veux dire ya un enchaînement de mouvements improbables xD)
la résolution du passé de la fille arrive sans prévenir, "pouf tu n'es plus une enfant des rues ma fille mais une héritière voici ta vieille grand-mère qui débarque et qui te reconnais après 8 ans"... ouais ok xD
non pis leur histoire est pas du tout romantique, c'est très très mal écrit (parfois on se demande comment ils se retrouvent dans certaines positions alors que le début de la scène était totalement différent - je veux dire ya un enchaînement de mouvements improbables xD)
March 2, 2012
Captain Hugh McAlden is on a top secret mission to uncover a traitor in England's war with France, and he has enlisted the help of pickpocket Meggs to get the evidence he needs. But Meggs is no ordinary thief, and amidst the danger they face and the secrets they keep an explosive attraction is about to develop.
This was my first taste of Essex, and while I found it to be rather rough and unpolished in some ways, there was an undeniable sense of adventure and passion that drew the reader solidly in and made for a pretty satisfying read overall.
Meggs' sometimes intense cockney accent was a bit overplayed at times (see: "'Ow do I know you won't turn me in to the traps, when yer done wiff me?" and "Don't know you well e-nuff to take your word. I wanna contract.") which was kind of painful to read, and made it harder to see her as a sexy heroine. She also tended to use terminology unfamiliar to the average reader ('darkmen's budge', 'whole gill is safe at rug', 'toff', etc) which took away from the story as the reader had to stop and puzzle out what she meant.
As for Hugh, he was occasionally rough and crude in a way that seemed at odds with his character, like referring to Meggs as a 'little bitch' after an altercation with her, treating her roughly in both the way he talked to her and the way he had sex with her, and using f*ck frequently but without any finesse. I'm actually a fan of that word when used well, but most of the time here it just seemed... off. Like Essex wanted Hugh to be a little rough but had to force it in. It would have been more organic, smooth and satisfying if he'd been intense and hot but also more sweet and gentle.
As for the heat, there was a curious imbalance between the first half or so of the book and the second. In the beginning Meggs and Hugh dance around each other but don't go very far physically. When they finally do have sex, it's all engines full throttle after that. Very uneven and jolting to the story. There's also the unfortunate use of terms like 'erect rod' and 'yard' to contend with - two of the unsexiest words in existence.
Probably Desire's biggest downfall is that it's so dang unbelievable. From the basic premise to the sudden clunkily handled way Hugh believes he's been betrayed at a certain point to the way Meggs' mysterious past resolves itself to the coincidence of a certain meet-up at the very end, and even more. I'm really good at suspending disbelief, but Essex left a lot of plot points just hanging in the wind here when an editor really should have stepped in and said, look, this just doesn't work.
Despite its problems, Essex's enthusiastic writing did its job pretty well in drawing the reader in and making them care about the players, and the heat, while imperfect, is there. I just wish more work had gone into polishing this story up. I am certainly looking forward to trying out more of Essex's work and seeing if she hits the mark more often elsewhere.
This was my first taste of Essex, and while I found it to be rather rough and unpolished in some ways, there was an undeniable sense of adventure and passion that drew the reader solidly in and made for a pretty satisfying read overall.
Meggs' sometimes intense cockney accent was a bit overplayed at times (see: "'Ow do I know you won't turn me in to the traps, when yer done wiff me?" and "Don't know you well e-nuff to take your word. I wanna contract.") which was kind of painful to read, and made it harder to see her as a sexy heroine. She also tended to use terminology unfamiliar to the average reader ('darkmen's budge', 'whole gill is safe at rug', 'toff', etc) which took away from the story as the reader had to stop and puzzle out what she meant.
As for Hugh, he was occasionally rough and crude in a way that seemed at odds with his character, like referring to Meggs as a 'little bitch' after an altercation with her, treating her roughly in both the way he talked to her and the way he had sex with her, and using f*ck frequently but without any finesse. I'm actually a fan of that word when used well, but most of the time here it just seemed... off. Like Essex wanted Hugh to be a little rough but had to force it in. It would have been more organic, smooth and satisfying if he'd been intense and hot but also more sweet and gentle.
As for the heat, there was a curious imbalance between the first half or so of the book and the second. In the beginning Meggs and Hugh dance around each other but don't go very far physically. When they finally do have sex, it's all engines full throttle after that. Very uneven and jolting to the story. There's also the unfortunate use of terms like 'erect rod' and 'yard' to contend with - two of the unsexiest words in existence.
Probably Desire's biggest downfall is that it's so dang unbelievable. From the basic premise to the sudden clunkily handled way Hugh believes he's been betrayed at a certain point to the way Meggs' mysterious past resolves itself to the coincidence of a certain meet-up at the very end, and even more. I'm really good at suspending disbelief, but Essex left a lot of plot points just hanging in the wind here when an editor really should have stepped in and said, look, this just doesn't work.
Despite its problems, Essex's enthusiastic writing did its job pretty well in drawing the reader in and making them care about the players, and the heat, while imperfect, is there. I just wish more work had gone into polishing this story up. I am certainly looking forward to trying out more of Essex's work and seeing if she hits the mark more often elsewhere.
February 9, 2013
The Danger of Desire, Elizabeth Essex - This is my first book by Elizabeth Essex but most definitely won't be my last. I really like her writing style and found her characters very engaging and authentic. They were individuals and not at all stereotypes that too often happens in romance fiction. The romance itself is an emotional and sometimes tense one. I worried just a bit toward the end as there may have been one too many heated arguments between h and H, but other than that I really enjoyed the book. There is a genuine conflict between the protagonists that takes time to resolve, though in the end I think it is. The novel is on the steamy side, though even that element is explained well as both h and H reflect on the passion between them, the absence of it before they met, and even the unlikelihood of it ever existing again in a different relationship. So happy to have found this author.
May 6, 2017
Publisher's Description:
THE OFFICER IS A GENTLEMAN
Royal Navy Captain Hugh McAlden will do anything to stop the treasonous flow of information out of the Admiralty, even if it means taking in a slyly attractive street thief to steal those secrets back.
BUT THE LADY IS A TRAMP
Circumstances might have forced Meggs Evans into a life of crime, but she's bound and determined to lift herself out of the gutters even if it means stealing for the wickedly handsome captain.
On the trail of a traitor, the undeniable attraction between Meggs and her captain explodes. But when danger ignites their desire, the only thing in danger of being stolen is her heart.
The Danger of Desire was originally published in 2011 and was nominated for a RITA Award. This new edition has been revised and reedited.
My Thoughts:
This is the third and final book of the Dartmouth Brides series. I loved this book. I never read the original which was published in 2011 and was a RITA Awards Nominee but it could not have been better than this 2017 revised edition.
The characters are quite well developed and loveable. The storyline is unique in that we start out believing the heroine is a gutter snipe and a thief and near the end of the story we discover something quite different. Our hero has a surprising side to his character. He is the male version of a virgin.
This story is both intriguing and sometimes comically amusing.
This is the second book I have read in the Dartmouth Brides series. I missed reading book #1 but read and reviewed book #2 as well as this one. They seemed to get better with each addition to this series.
This book does not need to be read as part of the series as it does quite well as a standalone title.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. There are some really heated scenes in this book, but they are strategically placed nearer to the end. The build up, though is quite the interesting read.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher thru NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I have reviewed voluntarily.
THE OFFICER IS A GENTLEMAN
Royal Navy Captain Hugh McAlden will do anything to stop the treasonous flow of information out of the Admiralty, even if it means taking in a slyly attractive street thief to steal those secrets back.
BUT THE LADY IS A TRAMP
Circumstances might have forced Meggs Evans into a life of crime, but she's bound and determined to lift herself out of the gutters even if it means stealing for the wickedly handsome captain.
On the trail of a traitor, the undeniable attraction between Meggs and her captain explodes. But when danger ignites their desire, the only thing in danger of being stolen is her heart.
The Danger of Desire was originally published in 2011 and was nominated for a RITA Award. This new edition has been revised and reedited.
My Thoughts:
This is the third and final book of the Dartmouth Brides series. I loved this book. I never read the original which was published in 2011 and was a RITA Awards Nominee but it could not have been better than this 2017 revised edition.
The characters are quite well developed and loveable. The storyline is unique in that we start out believing the heroine is a gutter snipe and a thief and near the end of the story we discover something quite different. Our hero has a surprising side to his character. He is the male version of a virgin.
This story is both intriguing and sometimes comically amusing.
This is the second book I have read in the Dartmouth Brides series. I missed reading book #1 but read and reviewed book #2 as well as this one. They seemed to get better with each addition to this series.
This book does not need to be read as part of the series as it does quite well as a standalone title.
I gave this book 4.75 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 4 of 5 flames. There are some really heated scenes in this book, but they are strategically placed nearer to the end. The build up, though is quite the interesting read.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher thru NetGalley to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I have reviewed voluntarily.
May 16, 2017
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The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Megg is a thief but she hates it. She hates everything about it. She hates her life but she must steal to fill her belly. This is her life. PERIOD. She refuses to be a prostitute so theft is her only option left. Meggs and her brother are very good at stealing on the streets and have grown very accomplished at it since they have been living in despair. One day they steal from the wrong person. They stole a purse and watch and it changed everything!!
Hugh has lived on a ship for a long time. He is hoping to gain a knighthood from Admiral Middleton if he can successfully catch a thief. Well luck was on Hugh’s side. He catches Megg stealing and decided that she will be the perfect person to catch the thief on his ship.
I loved the story because who doesn’t love a good romance between a soon to be knight and a thief right?? I love how sassy Megg is and tells Hugh pretty much what he can do at times in the novel. I love how feisty Megg is!! #GirlPower
Hugh was a good guy but at times I did want to hit him with a brick. But that is why we love alpha’s right?? They are super annoying but loveable too.
The story was a good one and if you like historical you will not be disappointed in it.
www.Twinsietalk.com
www.Facebook.com/Twinsietalk
www.Twitter.com/Twinsietalk
www.Tsu.co/Twinsietalk
Newsletter : http://eepurl.com/brwkPv
The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
Megg is a thief but she hates it. She hates everything about it. She hates her life but she must steal to fill her belly. This is her life. PERIOD. She refuses to be a prostitute so theft is her only option left. Meggs and her brother are very good at stealing on the streets and have grown very accomplished at it since they have been living in despair. One day they steal from the wrong person. They stole a purse and watch and it changed everything!!
Hugh has lived on a ship for a long time. He is hoping to gain a knighthood from Admiral Middleton if he can successfully catch a thief. Well luck was on Hugh’s side. He catches Megg stealing and decided that she will be the perfect person to catch the thief on his ship.
I loved the story because who doesn’t love a good romance between a soon to be knight and a thief right?? I love how sassy Megg is and tells Hugh pretty much what he can do at times in the novel. I love how feisty Megg is!! #GirlPower
Hugh was a good guy but at times I did want to hit him with a brick. But that is why we love alpha’s right?? They are super annoying but loveable too.
The story was a good one and if you like historical you will not be disappointed in it.
May 28, 2017
* I received a copy from the author in exchange for my honest review of this newly revised edition.
You will not see anything coming in this one! I was hooked from the start with the mission and how he decided to do it. I loved instant connection that they both fought in different ways and how they had to learn to understand and trust each other. Just when I thought everything was perfect something else was thrown at me that I didn't see coming. I loved her brother and how they both wanted to take care of him. The ending was perfect and different, especially with her grandmother and cousin.
Meggs is not your typical heroine and I love that! Her past really changed her and she struggles to trust, but she has amazing fighting skills and can steal anything without you knowing. I did not see the twist with her past coming at all, but it really explained things. I loved when she realized what her grandmother did in the end.
Hugh is definitely a man on a mission. Being in the Navy has made him a gentleman that is all about honor, but he still is a bit wicked. His mother understood him more than he thought and he didn't always say things the way he wanted. I loved what he admitted to Meggs and didn't see it coming at all.
You will not see anything coming in this one! I was hooked from the start with the mission and how he decided to do it. I loved instant connection that they both fought in different ways and how they had to learn to understand and trust each other. Just when I thought everything was perfect something else was thrown at me that I didn't see coming. I loved her brother and how they both wanted to take care of him. The ending was perfect and different, especially with her grandmother and cousin.
Meggs is not your typical heroine and I love that! Her past really changed her and she struggles to trust, but she has amazing fighting skills and can steal anything without you knowing. I did not see the twist with her past coming at all, but it really explained things. I loved when she realized what her grandmother did in the end.
Hugh is definitely a man on a mission. Being in the Navy has made him a gentleman that is all about honor, but he still is a bit wicked. His mother understood him more than he thought and he didn't always say things the way he wanted. I loved what he admitted to Meggs and didn't see it coming at all.
July 9, 2018
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this story of ship captain Hugh McAlden and pickpocket Meggs Tanner. Hugh is recovering from an injury and is enlisted for a secret investigation for the navy. He needs the services of an excellent pickpocket and is happy to discover Meggs and her brother. Meggs is surviving on the streets using her wits and skills, but she also has a mysterious past. As Hugh and Meggs pursue the investigation they fight their attraction to each other and seek to overcome the situations that block their HEA.
Excellent writing and engaging characters made The Danger of Desire a quick read for me. I loved Hugh and Meggs - they complimented each other in wonderful ways. A few tears were shed before the story ended. Very good book.
Excellent writing and engaging characters made The Danger of Desire a quick read for me. I loved Hugh and Meggs - they complimented each other in wonderful ways. A few tears were shed before the story ended. Very good book.
August 18, 2017
I loved this installment of Essex's Dartmouth Brides series. Meggs and Tanner have been employed by Captain Hugh McAlden to steal the evidence he needs to arrest a traitor at the Admiralty. However, he doesn't know that Meggs is the long lost granddaughter of the Duchess of Fenmore and little Tanner is the Duke. Things get interesting as Hugh falls head over heels in love with his little thief Meggs. Who would believe how hot and steamy the love scenes between two virgins can be? The story was really good and there was plenty of action to be had.
August 28, 2017
Well I listen to this as a audio book and I'm found my kind wondering a lot and still did not miss much. The sec Scenes were not as drawn out in this book which was nice but very predictable and monotonous. I am glad it's over and will be avoiding this type of book in the future. Afro those who like this type of book it's probably a good read
May 5, 2017
This is the third book of the Dartmouth brides with Hugh and Megg's story with intrigue and trust. Am enjoying this series and settings of the books . Like the author's style of writing.
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks Opinions are entirely my own
Ebook from Netgalley and publishers with thanks Opinions are entirely my own
May 19, 2017
I can always count on Elizabeth Essex to deliver a fantastic read. I especially like her characters who are not the typical Regency fare. For lots of excitement and a view of the seedier side of Regency London don't miss The Danger of Desire.
July 12, 2017
Always enjoy books by this author, this book being no exception. Her characters are different from usual regencies, and this story shows them to perfection in a London that is grittier than usual.
Copy of book from Netgalley with thanks.
Copy of book from Netgalley with thanks.
September 5, 2018
I don't know if i want to read a whole other Elizabeth Essex series, but I after finishing the Reckless Brides, I wanted to read the love story of all the side characters! I was not disappointed. Still, I'm curious how she ends up in the West Indies.
May 13, 2017
I had the pleasure of meeting the author at a charity event, and find her books as delightful as she was. I adored the heroine, Meggs! I look forward to reading more of Essex's work.
June 14, 2017
Even though this is rougher than I usually read, it was a good story.
Read
July 19, 2019Boring
October 21, 2012
Setting:
Streets and alleys of London; rented townhouse in London; country estate outside London.
Theme:
Survival; passion; love; hope
Characters:
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden – of Scottish, gentleman farmer descent, joined the English navy at a young age and rose to Captain, a virgin (but shows himself to be a creative lover) – he loves the ocean, the navy, the life… he has spied when asked… and after a victory on the sea, he is injured on land – his leg damaged in an explosion. Healing, feeling ready to get back to his ship, the Admiral requests his help in determining who on the Naval Board is selling secrets to the French. And when is distracted by Megg’s pretty ankle, she pickpockets his friend… and he follows her, finally cornering her in an alley – and almost believes he didn’t see her pick a pocket when she shows her laundry basket empty of any taken, but not quite – and he offers her a job – and then she gets away from him, with his pocket watch. And he really wants her skills to help him.
Trinity Margurite Evans aka Meggs Tanner – daughter of a duke’s 2nd son who became a vicar, and when is older brother dies, he refuses to become duke in favor of his vicarage, and his father disowned him… and when she’s 12, and her brother 5 their parents die suddenly… and they go to his mother’s house in London (unknowingly passing her going to their house to retrieve them), and the butler at the grandmother’s house refuses to let them in… and Meggs takes up stealing, they end up under the tutelage of Nan, an ex-governess who schools a group of children in pickpocketing, house breaking, gambling, costuming to enhance their jobs, etc… (until Nan was hung when caught breaking into a home). Meggs and Timmy are on their own now… she is carefully saving money, and they dream of going to the country to live. Meggs is a mix of proud of how she has adjusted and made the best of things, how she has cared for her brother, of her skills and kept her virginity – and she is also ashamed. She cut her hand when escaping from Hugh, and it becomes infected… she is worried that she can’t keep her end of the pickpocketing, and Hugh’s offer of 100 pounds sounds attractive – so she deduces where he bought the watch, and leaves it with the shop, asking them to return it to him… and she waits.
Timmy Tanner – Meggs’ brother, now 12 years old … the two make an excellent team. Meggs worries for him as at his age he thinks he can’t be caught… He easily fits in with Captain Hugh…
Viscountess Balfour – Hugh’s mother – 2nd husband (much to her surprise) was a Viscount… she keeps in touch with Hugh… she tries to matchmake him… Hugh stays out of her way.
Anne, Dowager Duchess of Fenmore – Meggs and Timmy’s grandmother – who had disagreed with her husband disowning his 2nd son… who wanted her grandchildren with her, and did her best to find them… and towards the end… at a Balfour ball, she recognizes Meggs.
Summary: -
The overlaying plot – Hugh is asked to investigate and determine who on the Naval Board of 7 is giving secrets to the French… so he takes in Timmy and Meggs into his home and they track down the culprits.
The real story is Hugh and Meggs – how they each grow, how they each come to love, need, and depend on one another. When Hugh gets to the watch shop, he immediately steps outside and sees Meggs before she hides from him… then she goes to his home, and passes out from her fever – and Timmy shows and stakes his claim.
Hugh is puzzled by Meggs, her pride, her part truths, her inconsistencies – he trains her in code writing/deciphering – he has her learn housekeeping – anticipating planting her in a household to find the papers they need… all the time fighting his attraction to her ( a touch makes her very skittery)… and she starts to feel attracted to him… he recognizes in her one of passion and toughness and borderline violence – and once they have solved the mystery, he find he can’t let her go… he goes to her in her bath… he takes her virginity, but pulls away as soon as he realizes it… and then he is determined to keep her, with only nebulous ideas of how to keep her… he arranges for Timmy to join the navy as an apprentice – he arranges for his mother to teach her to be a lady… he flirts with the idea of marriage and her accompanying him on his ship…
Streets and alleys of London; rented townhouse in London; country estate outside London.
Theme:
Survival; passion; love; hope
Characters:
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden – of Scottish, gentleman farmer descent, joined the English navy at a young age and rose to Captain, a virgin (but shows himself to be a creative lover) – he loves the ocean, the navy, the life… he has spied when asked… and after a victory on the sea, he is injured on land – his leg damaged in an explosion. Healing, feeling ready to get back to his ship, the Admiral requests his help in determining who on the Naval Board is selling secrets to the French. And when is distracted by Megg’s pretty ankle, she pickpockets his friend… and he follows her, finally cornering her in an alley – and almost believes he didn’t see her pick a pocket when she shows her laundry basket empty of any taken, but not quite – and he offers her a job – and then she gets away from him, with his pocket watch. And he really wants her skills to help him.
Trinity Margurite Evans aka Meggs Tanner – daughter of a duke’s 2nd son who became a vicar, and when is older brother dies, he refuses to become duke in favor of his vicarage, and his father disowned him… and when she’s 12, and her brother 5 their parents die suddenly… and they go to his mother’s house in London (unknowingly passing her going to their house to retrieve them), and the butler at the grandmother’s house refuses to let them in… and Meggs takes up stealing, they end up under the tutelage of Nan, an ex-governess who schools a group of children in pickpocketing, house breaking, gambling, costuming to enhance their jobs, etc… (until Nan was hung when caught breaking into a home). Meggs and Timmy are on their own now… she is carefully saving money, and they dream of going to the country to live. Meggs is a mix of proud of how she has adjusted and made the best of things, how she has cared for her brother, of her skills and kept her virginity – and she is also ashamed. She cut her hand when escaping from Hugh, and it becomes infected… she is worried that she can’t keep her end of the pickpocketing, and Hugh’s offer of 100 pounds sounds attractive – so she deduces where he bought the watch, and leaves it with the shop, asking them to return it to him… and she waits.
Timmy Tanner – Meggs’ brother, now 12 years old … the two make an excellent team. Meggs worries for him as at his age he thinks he can’t be caught… He easily fits in with Captain Hugh…
Viscountess Balfour – Hugh’s mother – 2nd husband (much to her surprise) was a Viscount… she keeps in touch with Hugh… she tries to matchmake him… Hugh stays out of her way.
Anne, Dowager Duchess of Fenmore – Meggs and Timmy’s grandmother – who had disagreed with her husband disowning his 2nd son… who wanted her grandchildren with her, and did her best to find them… and towards the end… at a Balfour ball, she recognizes Meggs.
Summary: -
The overlaying plot – Hugh is asked to investigate and determine who on the Naval Board of 7 is giving secrets to the French… so he takes in Timmy and Meggs into his home and they track down the culprits.
The real story is Hugh and Meggs – how they each grow, how they each come to love, need, and depend on one another. When Hugh gets to the watch shop, he immediately steps outside and sees Meggs before she hides from him… then she goes to his home, and passes out from her fever – and Timmy shows and stakes his claim.
Hugh is puzzled by Meggs, her pride, her part truths, her inconsistencies – he trains her in code writing/deciphering – he has her learn housekeeping – anticipating planting her in a household to find the papers they need… all the time fighting his attraction to her ( a touch makes her very skittery)… and she starts to feel attracted to him… he recognizes in her one of passion and toughness and borderline violence – and once they have solved the mystery, he find he can’t let her go… he goes to her in her bath… he takes her virginity, but pulls away as soon as he realizes it… and then he is determined to keep her, with only nebulous ideas of how to keep her… he arranges for Timmy to join the navy as an apprentice – he arranges for his mother to teach her to be a lady… he flirts with the idea of marriage and her accompanying him on his ship…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2011
The Danger of Desire by Elizabeth Essex is an entertaining, stunning and sexy novel. Witty characters, plenty of intrigue and stunning passion make this a fabulous read!
Meggs has spent most of her life stealing from the wealthy on the harsh streets of London in order to support herself and her brother Timmy. She hopes to one day save enough money to start a quiet life for them in country. One night Captain Hugh McAlden spots Meggs in the middle of a job and decides this talented young lady would be the perfect to help him in his next assignment. Hugh has been assigned to find traitors against England and this slippery little thief is just the ticket he needs to succeed. Convincing her to help him is one problem, but trying not to fall in love with her may be a bigger issue.
This book really had two great lead characters. Meggs was bold, brassy and always on her guard. She was doing what she had to do in order to survive, by her terms, and not giving in to anyone. She had a tough exterior, but was a troubled young woman on the inside. This made the dynamic between her and Hugh that much more interesting because he wanted nothing more than to save her and she could do nothing less than push him away. Hugh was the intelligent, compassionate captain who worked hard to get what he wanted out of life. Which was interesting, because Meggs threw him completely off balance. Both characters are novices when it comes to relationships or love, so reading about their adventure as they stumble along this path of uncertainty was refreshing.
Essex establishes great secondary characters that really complete the story and add plenty of flare. While I enjoyed the main focus of the story concerning Meggs and Hugh, it was still a treat to get to know Megg’s brother and Hugh’s acquaintances. Not only are the characters fantastic, but the story has a compelling plot as well. Danger of Desire delivers an intriguing and entertaining story that is sure to please. When it’s not following the drama, you will find a very heartfelt romance. Elizabeth Essex writes smoldering love scenes that are passionate and emotional. It’s just another element that makes this novel stand out among the rest.
Here’s the one hiccup I found in the novel...and that’s the first love scene. To put it bluntly, I almost quit reading the novel altogether I was so upset. Why? Well, I can’t go into too much detail without giving the book away, but I felt Essex completely lost sight of her hero for a brief chapter. In the blink of literally a few paragraphs she took him from gentleman to beast. It was completely out of character and overwhelmingly disappointing. So disappointing, even I didn’t know if I could forgive our previously stunning hero. Yet I had become so invested in their story, I simply refused to give up on it that easily. While I was immensely glad I continued, there was still that lingering taint that I eventually pretended I did not read that chapter altogether.
I was glad I continued on to finish the book, and overall, I did enjoy it very much. It was a well written historical romance with great dialogue that easily captured the large social gaps between these two characters. It was intensely sexy and passionate for the most part, and really overall enjoyable. Had it not been for the one disappointing moment, this easily would have been a five star novel for me. Very easily. Danger of Desire is a great romance with plenty of delightful moments. Despite my slight issue with the novel, which was honestly a personal objection, I would still highly recommend this novel. The Danger of Desire is an intriguing and glorious novel with dazzling characters that solidifies Elizabeth Essex in a great talent.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa Jo @ Once Upon A Chapter
Meggs has spent most of her life stealing from the wealthy on the harsh streets of London in order to support herself and her brother Timmy. She hopes to one day save enough money to start a quiet life for them in country. One night Captain Hugh McAlden spots Meggs in the middle of a job and decides this talented young lady would be the perfect to help him in his next assignment. Hugh has been assigned to find traitors against England and this slippery little thief is just the ticket he needs to succeed. Convincing her to help him is one problem, but trying not to fall in love with her may be a bigger issue.
This book really had two great lead characters. Meggs was bold, brassy and always on her guard. She was doing what she had to do in order to survive, by her terms, and not giving in to anyone. She had a tough exterior, but was a troubled young woman on the inside. This made the dynamic between her and Hugh that much more interesting because he wanted nothing more than to save her and she could do nothing less than push him away. Hugh was the intelligent, compassionate captain who worked hard to get what he wanted out of life. Which was interesting, because Meggs threw him completely off balance. Both characters are novices when it comes to relationships or love, so reading about their adventure as they stumble along this path of uncertainty was refreshing.
Essex establishes great secondary characters that really complete the story and add plenty of flare. While I enjoyed the main focus of the story concerning Meggs and Hugh, it was still a treat to get to know Megg’s brother and Hugh’s acquaintances. Not only are the characters fantastic, but the story has a compelling plot as well. Danger of Desire delivers an intriguing and entertaining story that is sure to please. When it’s not following the drama, you will find a very heartfelt romance. Elizabeth Essex writes smoldering love scenes that are passionate and emotional. It’s just another element that makes this novel stand out among the rest.
Here’s the one hiccup I found in the novel...and that’s the first love scene. To put it bluntly, I almost quit reading the novel altogether I was so upset. Why? Well, I can’t go into too much detail without giving the book away, but I felt Essex completely lost sight of her hero for a brief chapter. In the blink of literally a few paragraphs she took him from gentleman to beast. It was completely out of character and overwhelmingly disappointing. So disappointing, even I didn’t know if I could forgive our previously stunning hero. Yet I had become so invested in their story, I simply refused to give up on it that easily. While I was immensely glad I continued, there was still that lingering taint that I eventually pretended I did not read that chapter altogether.
I was glad I continued on to finish the book, and overall, I did enjoy it very much. It was a well written historical romance with great dialogue that easily captured the large social gaps between these two characters. It was intensely sexy and passionate for the most part, and really overall enjoyable. Had it not been for the one disappointing moment, this easily would have been a five star novel for me. Very easily. Danger of Desire is a great romance with plenty of delightful moments. Despite my slight issue with the novel, which was honestly a personal objection, I would still highly recommend this novel. The Danger of Desire is an intriguing and glorious novel with dazzling characters that solidifies Elizabeth Essex in a great talent.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Heat Level: 4/5
Lisa Jo @ Once Upon A Chapter
October 24, 2014
I read and enjoyed two books in Elizabeth Essex’s Reckless Brides series, and figured I should read all of them. But then I balked at the $6.83 price tag. I know. I swear to you that, on the day I looked this up, the other books were listed as free in the Kindle Unlimited subscription. I didn’t have a subscription but figured I could try it for a month and read all the books and save a whopping $10.50. Huh, now that I write it out, it’s not an impressive discount.
Anyway, the other books in the series were not on KU, but this book was. The hero of this book later shows up as a captain in the first Reckless Brides book, so I thought, why not? For backstory.
Captain Hugh McAlden’s leg was injured on a recent mission, and he’s been recovering in London, hoping to get back to his ship and maybe get promoted to knighthood. While he rests, he’s recruited for a Secret Naval Mission. Someone in the Naval Office has been leaking secrets to the French, and Hugh is tasked with finding out who the traitor is. Secretly. He’s experienced in espionage (this book is the third in another series where we probably saw some of those missions), and particularly good at recruiting street rats to do some stealthy stealing for him.
Meggs Tanner is a prime filcher from Seven Dials with the accent and slang to go with it. She and her younger brother Timmy can steal from a drunk Lord in five seconds. They’ve run all manner of schemes trying to stay alive, and Meggs is stashing away their laundered money in a real bank so that someday they can escape to the country.
One afternoon, Hugh notices Meggs bump into a wealthy gent, and he just has a feeling about her. He chases her through the slums, finally cornering her in an alley, where she denies being a thief. Then she throws a basket at him and does some kind of parkour up the wall of a building and through a broken window. She does not want to be caught.
Hugh is smart, though, and eventually tracks her down again. He offers her a job and immunity from the hangman’s noose, and Meggs thinks about it. When the cut from that blasted broken window turns septic and nearly kills her, she decides that working for a gent for a while will be better than dying on the street, so she heads to Hugh’s house. After they play cat and mouse, ending with some wrestling and Meggs passed out on the floor, the job begins. And Hugh is in lust.
I didn’t like Hugh’s insta-lust. He sees Meggs as an uneducated desperate woman whose arms are too tan and whose hands are too rough to be a real lady, and somehow that turns him on. “Only God knew why he was attracted physically to the dirty ragamuffin that Jinks had shown into the study.” To me, it kind of felt like he wanted to go slumming. He also seemed pushy. He believed Meggs to be a loose woman, and believed that she wanted him, so he wasn’t exactly patient or waiting for a lot of consent when they first hooked up, which, no.
Meggs is a tough girl, always looking out for herself, stealing a few things here and there just to “keep her hand in,” as she tells Hugh. She knows everything about everything — picking pockets, picking locks, changing clothes to blend into the background, changing her accent to match, plus she reads and plays piano. Of course Hugh wants her forever. She doesn’t trust him, but eventually he wins her over.
To my dismay, there was no ship action in this book. There was spying and subterfuge and hijinks, though. The story was good, but the characters weren’t romantic enough for my taste.
Rating: C+
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2014/10/review...
Anyway, the other books in the series were not on KU, but this book was. The hero of this book later shows up as a captain in the first Reckless Brides book, so I thought, why not? For backstory.
Captain Hugh McAlden’s leg was injured on a recent mission, and he’s been recovering in London, hoping to get back to his ship and maybe get promoted to knighthood. While he rests, he’s recruited for a Secret Naval Mission. Someone in the Naval Office has been leaking secrets to the French, and Hugh is tasked with finding out who the traitor is. Secretly. He’s experienced in espionage (this book is the third in another series where we probably saw some of those missions), and particularly good at recruiting street rats to do some stealthy stealing for him.
Meggs Tanner is a prime filcher from Seven Dials with the accent and slang to go with it. She and her younger brother Timmy can steal from a drunk Lord in five seconds. They’ve run all manner of schemes trying to stay alive, and Meggs is stashing away their laundered money in a real bank so that someday they can escape to the country.
One afternoon, Hugh notices Meggs bump into a wealthy gent, and he just has a feeling about her. He chases her through the slums, finally cornering her in an alley, where she denies being a thief. Then she throws a basket at him and does some kind of parkour up the wall of a building and through a broken window. She does not want to be caught.
Hugh is smart, though, and eventually tracks her down again. He offers her a job and immunity from the hangman’s noose, and Meggs thinks about it. When the cut from that blasted broken window turns septic and nearly kills her, she decides that working for a gent for a while will be better than dying on the street, so she heads to Hugh’s house. After they play cat and mouse, ending with some wrestling and Meggs passed out on the floor, the job begins. And Hugh is in lust.
I didn’t like Hugh’s insta-lust. He sees Meggs as an uneducated desperate woman whose arms are too tan and whose hands are too rough to be a real lady, and somehow that turns him on. “Only God knew why he was attracted physically to the dirty ragamuffin that Jinks had shown into the study.” To me, it kind of felt like he wanted to go slumming. He also seemed pushy. He believed Meggs to be a loose woman, and believed that she wanted him, so he wasn’t exactly patient or waiting for a lot of consent when they first hooked up, which, no.
Meggs is a tough girl, always looking out for herself, stealing a few things here and there just to “keep her hand in,” as she tells Hugh. She knows everything about everything — picking pockets, picking locks, changing clothes to blend into the background, changing her accent to match, plus she reads and plays piano. Of course Hugh wants her forever. She doesn’t trust him, but eventually he wins her over.
To my dismay, there was no ship action in this book. There was spying and subterfuge and hijinks, though. The story was good, but the characters weren’t romantic enough for my taste.
Rating: C+
This review was originally posted on Red Hot Books at: http://redhotbooks.com/2014/10/review...
May 10, 2025
Subgenre:
Regency Romantic Adventure / Spy Romance
Goodreads Tags (10 Suggested Tags):
Historical Romance
Regency Romance
Spy Romance
Thief Heroine
Naval Hero
Enemies to Lovers
Adventure Romance
Redemption Arc
Steamy Romance
High-Stakes Mission
Regency Romantic Adventure / Spy Romance
Goodreads Tags (10 Suggested Tags):
Historical Romance
Regency Romance
Spy Romance
Thief Heroine
Naval Hero
Enemies to Lovers
Adventure Romance
Redemption Arc
Steamy Romance
High-Stakes Mission
December 8, 2013
This book starts out good, starts being amazing about a quarter of the the way through, and then just kind of... fizzles.
First, the bad points.
1) The whole spy/traitor plot. In the beginning it seems a little rushed, it could be explained in a bit more depth, but that's forgivable. What's not so forgivable is that it never gets any less confusing. There are seven suspects, and . What are the odds? Also, he gives her some training as a scullery maid (so that a job will be her first resort to get into their houses, even though she has experience with B and Es)and in code breaking (just in case, I guess?), and they both turn out to be very useful. It's like he knew the plot beforehand.
2) There's a secondary plot- and by 'secondary,' I mean it doesn't even start until after the plot that started the whole book is over- that feels really tacked-on and unnecessary.
3) The Big Misunderstanding between Hugh and Meggs isn't even so much a misunderstanding as her jumping to conclusions that make no sense whatsoever and him rolling with them for some reason. Two consecutive chapters end with Meggs dramatically closing doors. It's pretty bad.
Now, the good points!
1) Up until the Big Misunderstanding, Meggs is badass. She's funny, she's crude, she's got tricks for days and she does some parkour wall-jumping stuff. Her POV sections are written in a lot of London street slang, which just makes her seem all the more awesome, and she's the smart, independent heroine I always hoped to find in a historical. She's one of the few romance novel heroines who's more likable than the hero, and she is the main reason to read this book.
2) There's a sequence where Meggs sneaks out of the servants' quarters to a suspect's study and picks a series of locks that is beyond fantastic. It's very suspenseful, each lock is anthropomorphized in an interesting way, and it's the best part of the entire book. If you don't like the story, read at least until that point. You won't be sorry.
3) Hugh is okay and the sex scenes are alright, but there are two sexual-without-sex scenes (sensual scenes?) that are pretty fab. In the first one, Hugh helps Meggs bathe because her hand is injured, and in the second, Meggs rubs Hugh's shoulders and back. They might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm a sucker for both bathing and backrub scenes. They're adorable.
At the end of the day, I would give this book a weak recommendation. It's a nice change of pace from historical romances that involve only nobility, and it has a truly wonderful, unique heroine. I'd say the first three-quarters or so are much better than the end, but opinions may vary.
First, the bad points.
1) The whole spy/traitor plot. In the beginning it seems a little rushed, it could be explained in a bit more depth, but that's forgivable. What's not so forgivable is that it never gets any less confusing. There are seven suspects, and . What are the odds? Also, he gives her some training as a scullery maid (so that a job will be her first resort to get into their houses, even though she has experience with B and Es)and in code breaking (just in case, I guess?), and they both turn out to be very useful. It's like he knew the plot beforehand.
2) There's a secondary plot- and by 'secondary,' I mean it doesn't even start until after the plot that started the whole book is over- that feels really tacked-on and unnecessary.
3) The Big Misunderstanding between Hugh and Meggs isn't even so much a misunderstanding as her jumping to conclusions that make no sense whatsoever and him rolling with them for some reason. Two consecutive chapters end with Meggs dramatically closing doors. It's pretty bad.
Now, the good points!
1) Up until the Big Misunderstanding, Meggs is badass. She's funny, she's crude, she's got tricks for days and she does some parkour wall-jumping stuff. Her POV sections are written in a lot of London street slang, which just makes her seem all the more awesome, and she's the smart, independent heroine I always hoped to find in a historical. She's one of the few romance novel heroines who's more likable than the hero, and she is the main reason to read this book.
2) There's a sequence where Meggs sneaks out of the servants' quarters to a suspect's study and picks a series of locks that is beyond fantastic. It's very suspenseful, each lock is anthropomorphized in an interesting way, and it's the best part of the entire book. If you don't like the story, read at least until that point. You won't be sorry.
3) Hugh is okay and the sex scenes are alright, but there are two sexual-without-sex scenes (sensual scenes?) that are pretty fab. In the first one, Hugh helps Meggs bathe because her hand is injured, and in the second, Meggs rubs Hugh's shoulders and back. They might not be everyone's cup of tea, but I'm a sucker for both bathing and backrub scenes. They're adorable.
At the end of the day, I would give this book a weak recommendation. It's a nice change of pace from historical romances that involve only nobility, and it has a truly wonderful, unique heroine. I'd say the first three-quarters or so are much better than the end, but opinions may vary.
June 16, 2016
Troisième tome de la série Dartmouth brides, cette Lady Dangereuse offre une nouvelle exploration des faux-semblants et des apparences trompeuses.
Hugh McAlden, capitaine dans la Royal Navy, se retrouve cloué à terre suite à une blessure de guerre. Il exerce désormais ses fonctions en tant qu'enquêteur discret, et se voit chargé de démasquer une "taupe" au sein de la Marine. Il va engager Meggs, petite voleuse crasseuse et à demi-sauvage pour l'aider à mener à bien cette mission.
Mais voilà, sous sa couche de crasse, ses haillons et son franc-parler, Meggs se révèle être une femme qui va le troubler, l'intriguer, éveiller son désir, lui qui a toujours vécu en retrait des femmes, du fait de sa vie passée sur les mers.
Entre les deux c'est le choc des cultures, d'autant que le langage coloré employé par l'héroine est à mille lieues de ce dont on a l'habitude dans nos romances historiques ! Des bas-fonds de Londres aux belles maisons des quartiers chics en passant par la campagne anglaise, Hugh et Meggs vont apprendre à se connaître, à s'approcher, à s'apprivoiser. La romance est très longue à démarrer, elle n'a rien d'exceptionnelle. Ce n'est pas un couple qui m'a fait vibrer ou rêver, et certains rebondissements sont beaucoup trop tirés par les cheveux.
Comme dans les tomes précédents, le roman nous offre un rebondissement final qui arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe, toutefois atténué ici par un épilogue qui offre un écho au titre VF du livre.
Les personnages secondaires sont plutôt intéressants, que ce soit les employés bougons au coeur d'or de Hugh, le petit Timmy ou encore la mère du héros. J'ai pris plaisir à retrouver les Tupper, Mme Tupper étant une matronne à la fois drôle, bourrue et pleine de douceur, la version féminine de l'ours mal léché, en somme ! :)
Cette lecture ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable, mais l'originalité du thème et du personnage principal féminin apporte une touche d'originalité et de fantaisie.
Hugh McAlden, capitaine dans la Royal Navy, se retrouve cloué à terre suite à une blessure de guerre. Il exerce désormais ses fonctions en tant qu'enquêteur discret, et se voit chargé de démasquer une "taupe" au sein de la Marine. Il va engager Meggs, petite voleuse crasseuse et à demi-sauvage pour l'aider à mener à bien cette mission.
Mais voilà, sous sa couche de crasse, ses haillons et son franc-parler, Meggs se révèle être une femme qui va le troubler, l'intriguer, éveiller son désir, lui qui a toujours vécu en retrait des femmes, du fait de sa vie passée sur les mers.
Entre les deux c'est le choc des cultures, d'autant que le langage coloré employé par l'héroine est à mille lieues de ce dont on a l'habitude dans nos romances historiques ! Des bas-fonds de Londres aux belles maisons des quartiers chics en passant par la campagne anglaise, Hugh et Meggs vont apprendre à se connaître, à s'approcher, à s'apprivoiser. La romance est très longue à démarrer, elle n'a rien d'exceptionnelle. Ce n'est pas un couple qui m'a fait vibrer ou rêver, et certains rebondissements sont beaucoup trop tirés par les cheveux.
Comme dans les tomes précédents, le roman nous offre un rebondissement final qui arrive comme un cheveu sur la soupe, toutefois atténué ici par un épilogue qui offre un écho au titre VF du livre.
Les personnages secondaires sont plutôt intéressants, que ce soit les employés bougons au coeur d'or de Hugh, le petit Timmy ou encore la mère du héros. J'ai pris plaisir à retrouver les Tupper, Mme Tupper étant une matronne à la fois drôle, bourrue et pleine de douceur, la version féminine de l'ours mal léché, en somme ! :)
Cette lecture ne me laissera pas un souvenir impérissable, mais l'originalité du thème et du personnage principal féminin apporte une touche d'originalité et de fantaisie.
June 26, 2012
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden is accustomed to taking on deadly, high-stakes assignments--and being rewarded handsomely for his success at them. But to accomplish his latest mission, he'll need someone more inconspicuous among his own ranks. Someone like the larcenous beauty who just relieved him of his pocket watch under his very nose. . .
Meggs Tanner's livelihood--as one of London's stealthiest thieves--depends on her remaining un-tethered and unnoticed. But when she is caught by an icy-eyed Scottish officer with an unusual proposition, she sees a chance to escape her life of crime forever. Ever wary, she accepts the job even as she plots her exit strategy, ready to cut and run at a moment's notice.
But as Meggs and Hugh come nearer to the danger of their shared mission, thoughts of betrayal and distrust begin to dissolve. . .overshadowed by a passion worth any risk. . .
REVIEW:
So I fell in love with Ms. Essex in reader her “Almost a Scandal,” a book that I couldn’t put down and jumped into this one head strong, thinking it would be the same.
Now, while Ms. Essex has a true and talented gift, and while this book was great, I wasn’t as into it as I had been with the previous read.
Not that that’s bad….Almost A Scandal is just THAT good.
This book was a fast and intriguing read. I liked the way he pulled Meggs in from the streets, loved the drama and mystery standing behind her and found that Ms. Essex wrapped it all up very nicely. The characters were easy to get along with and I found myself basically panting when Ms. Essex FINALLY got these two together. *grin*
If you are looking for a read to get lost away in, one that holds a military presence, and one with a heroine that will truly shock you – in a good way, then this is for you.
Four out of five stars for a job well done!
Naval Captain Hugh McAlden is accustomed to taking on deadly, high-stakes assignments--and being rewarded handsomely for his success at them. But to accomplish his latest mission, he'll need someone more inconspicuous among his own ranks. Someone like the larcenous beauty who just relieved him of his pocket watch under his very nose. . .
Meggs Tanner's livelihood--as one of London's stealthiest thieves--depends on her remaining un-tethered and unnoticed. But when she is caught by an icy-eyed Scottish officer with an unusual proposition, she sees a chance to escape her life of crime forever. Ever wary, she accepts the job even as she plots her exit strategy, ready to cut and run at a moment's notice.
But as Meggs and Hugh come nearer to the danger of their shared mission, thoughts of betrayal and distrust begin to dissolve. . .overshadowed by a passion worth any risk. . .
REVIEW:
So I fell in love with Ms. Essex in reader her “Almost a Scandal,” a book that I couldn’t put down and jumped into this one head strong, thinking it would be the same.
Now, while Ms. Essex has a true and talented gift, and while this book was great, I wasn’t as into it as I had been with the previous read.
Not that that’s bad….Almost A Scandal is just THAT good.
This book was a fast and intriguing read. I liked the way he pulled Meggs in from the streets, loved the drama and mystery standing behind her and found that Ms. Essex wrapped it all up very nicely. The characters were easy to get along with and I found myself basically panting when Ms. Essex FINALLY got these two together. *grin*
If you are looking for a read to get lost away in, one that holds a military presence, and one with a heroine that will truly shock you – in a good way, then this is for you.
Four out of five stars for a job well done!
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