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The Brethren Guardians #2
Pride & Passion
Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarified society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game; flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when and who she's supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can at least give her a family, a home of her own, and a place to belong. But when her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried.
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published November 15, 2011
43 people are currently reading
1821 people want to read
About the author
Charlotte Featherstone
58 books822 followersHi I write erotic historical romance for Harlequin Spice, as well as erotic paranormal romance under the name Sophie Renwick. In 2011, I'll be debuting my mainstream, Victorian set historicals through HQN.
I love talking about books, and have found some new friends, and really good book recommends here on Goodreads. I really love this community.
I love talking about books, and have found some new friends, and really good book recommends here on Goodreads. I really love this community.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
November 19, 2015
“BEYOND THE MIST, the darkness and shadow, he waits, reaching out through a veil of gossamer threads—‘your future,’ he whispers, ‘your destiny.’”There really is something magical about Charlotte Featherstone’s writing. Her stories are truly romantic, erotic, passionate, exciting…and definitely captivating. I find myself feeling as though I’ve been swept away to another time and place, and once I’m there, I never want to leave. Her characters are exciting, complex people whose stories I can’t wait to learn - people who I care about and cheer for.
Pride & Passion is the second book in the Brethren Guardians series, continuing mere weeks after book one, Seduction & Scandal ends, and we follow Adrian, Black and Alynwick as the need to find the villain known as Orpheus reaches a near fevered pitch. Kidnapping, threats and murder… Orpheus will stop at nothing to bring down the Brethren!
I absolutely adore Adrian, the Duke of Sussex. I found him to be both physically and mentally strong, mysterious and oh, so very sexy.
“I haven’t forgotten the chalice. I would take care to fill it,” he whispered wickedly, “to put my lips to it and savor what flows from it.”Indeed, there’s nothing like a tortured hero with a hidden past to get me all tingly, and Adrian is definitely that! From the first page to the last, I couldn’t get enough of him and would gladly bring him home and love him until his painful past is forgotten.
It aroused her, at the same time it made her laugh. “That is a very naughty analogy, your grace.”
“I’m a gutter rat,” he whispered against her lips.“We’re known to be crass and licentious. Shall I show you?”
Lucy, on the other hand, is a heroine that I just couldn’t connect with, and it took me some time to get into the story because of her.
She was afraid. So damn afraid of the feelings inside her. Conflicting thoughts and emotions. Passion. That was all she had wanted. But this… What she was feeling had nothing to do with passion, and she wanted to run from it, to hide behind the veneer she had erected.In Seduction & Scandal, I found her to be annoyingly selfish and immature, and in fact, I didn’t like her then, and I'm only slightly fonder of her now. Her seemingly haughty behavior kept me from being pulled in right away and it wasn’t until the final chapters of this book that she had a sudden transformation which, in the context of the story was okay, but for me, it came too late. For Pride & Passion to have been a solid 5 star read, I needed this to happen much sooner than it did so that I could have had more time to adjust to and accept the “new and improved” Lucy. But still, since Adrian is perfection incarnate, and his choice is Lucy, how can I possibly hold a grudge against her?
Empty, soulless creature. You want only passion because it’s all you can feel. Because it makes you forget that inside you there is nothing.
The bottom line - While there were a few moments that had me feeling like I had missed something somewhere, overall Pride & Passion is a very sexy, emotional, exciting story that had me on the edge of my seat and dying for the next installment! I don’t often read books with cliffhangers, so I don’t know how you people do it! What do you do to make the time pass faster? I need to know!!
Pride & Passion was provided by netgalley.com in behalf of the publisher, HQN Books.This had no influence on my rating or my review.
4.5/5 stars
September 1, 2012
4.5++ Oh, I loooooove a good 'unrequited love' romance book, and this one had that big time. Sigh. This was one of the better ones too. And it was the HERO who was unrequited!! How often do we get to read this kind of romance?!
This is a book I would call low to mid on the angsty scale, which means the story focuses on the very pleasant and oh-so-romantic aspect of the H/h. There is some angst and drama though, it just doesn't hit you over the head. Not at all.
Why not 5-stars? (Cause at times this was a big 6++ stars) I will say that his dialogue got a bit 'syrupy sweet' or flowery' for my personal taste when he started to gush his love and devotion toward the end, but I totally understood and believed this character would do/act/say just this way. He was in love with a person for years (and believably so!), who thought him a prig and rejected him. Oh man, did I route for him!!
The intimate scenes were really well done, I think, but I'll be really honest - they came at points where the story was SO INTERESTING that I skimmed the sex scenes just to get back to the story. I know what most of you are thinking , and it's one crazy complaint to say 'hey, your REALLY hot sex scenes interrupted a great part of the story!!' but for me, that's what it was.
I didn't read book 1 of this series, but it wasn't necessary. This book stood very well on it's own.
Lastly, I have to say this book has a HUGE HOOK to get you to read the next book. There is a secondary story, obviously the H/h of the next book, and the ending(ish) had me on pins and needles to read more. Well done.
This was my first book by Charlotte Featherstone, and DEFINITELY not the last.
This is a book I would call low to mid on the angsty scale, which means the story focuses on the very pleasant and oh-so-romantic aspect of the H/h. There is some angst and drama though, it just doesn't hit you over the head. Not at all.
Why not 5-stars? (Cause at times this was a big 6++ stars) I will say that his dialogue got a bit 'syrupy sweet' or flowery' for my personal taste when he started to gush his love and devotion toward the end, but I totally understood and believed this character would do/act/say just this way. He was in love with a person for years (and believably so!), who thought him a prig and rejected him. Oh man, did I route for him!!
The intimate scenes were really well done, I think, but I'll be really honest - they came at points where the story was SO INTERESTING that I skimmed the sex scenes just to get back to the story. I know what most of you are thinking , and it's one crazy complaint to say 'hey, your REALLY hot sex scenes interrupted a great part of the story!!' but for me, that's what it was.
I didn't read book 1 of this series, but it wasn't necessary. This book stood very well on it's own.
Lastly, I have to say this book has a HUGE HOOK to get you to read the next book. There is a secondary story, obviously the H/h of the next book, and the ending(ish) had me on pins and needles to read more. Well done.
This was my first book by Charlotte Featherstone, and DEFINITELY not the last.
April 15, 2014
4.25 Passionate Stars
"How do you feel about me?"
"My dearest Lucy," he said, his gaze never wavering from hers, "I would die for you."
The Duke of Sussex can't keep his eyes off of Lucy. With all that red hair and eyes that sparkle like emeralds, he is a slave to passion. But Lucy hates the Duke and refuses to marry him. Her heart belonged to another, before he died in a fire, and the Duke feels as if he may never be able to win her affections. After all, how does one compete with a dead man.
She has accused him of being passionless, cold, and of kissing like a dead fish.
But the Duke is persistent and his desire for Lucy is so intense, it will not be denied.
Lucy is the daughter of the Marquis of Stonebrook. She has been bred to be a blue blood wife and to marry above her station. Her only problem is that she wants to mary for love. She does not want a stale, emotionless institution of marriage like her father had with her mom. She wants earth shattering passion.
I loved the seduction in this book. I loved that the author also caught me off guard with a well kept secret that I did not see coming. Just like book one of this series, this couple didn't seal the deal until the 86% mark. It was a tab bit frustrating, when I was beyond ready for them to stop dry humping and just fuck already…but their make out sessions were quite steamy.
This was a wonderful love story built on total honesty on the Duke's part. I loved his approach, in how he laid his heart on the line and kept nothing from Lucy. This book ends with a mild cliffhanger that sets up book three in this series. The nemesis of the Brethern Guardians is still on the rampage. I hope that he is discovered and disposed of soon. He is a horrid villain.
"How do you feel about me?"
"My dearest Lucy," he said, his gaze never wavering from hers, "I would die for you."
The Duke of Sussex can't keep his eyes off of Lucy. With all that red hair and eyes that sparkle like emeralds, he is a slave to passion. But Lucy hates the Duke and refuses to marry him. Her heart belonged to another, before he died in a fire, and the Duke feels as if he may never be able to win her affections. After all, how does one compete with a dead man.
She has accused him of being passionless, cold, and of kissing like a dead fish.
But the Duke is persistent and his desire for Lucy is so intense, it will not be denied.
Lucy is the daughter of the Marquis of Stonebrook. She has been bred to be a blue blood wife and to marry above her station. Her only problem is that she wants to mary for love. She does not want a stale, emotionless institution of marriage like her father had with her mom. She wants earth shattering passion.
I loved the seduction in this book. I loved that the author also caught me off guard with a well kept secret that I did not see coming. Just like book one of this series, this couple didn't seal the deal until the 86% mark. It was a tab bit frustrating, when I was beyond ready for them to stop dry humping and just fuck already…but their make out sessions were quite steamy.
This was a wonderful love story built on total honesty on the Duke's part. I loved his approach, in how he laid his heart on the line and kept nothing from Lucy. This book ends with a mild cliffhanger that sets up book three in this series. The nemesis of the Brethern Guardians is still on the rampage. I hope that he is discovered and disposed of soon. He is a horrid villain.
December 22, 2011
Narration: A- (I feel a bit like I just drove a Ferrari to the corner mini-mart during rush-hour to buy a Twinkie)
Story: B-/C+ (I heard three distinct stories and was mildly dissatisfied with all of them rather than getting one cohesive story with multiple intriguing plot lines)
I’ve been feeling a bit disaffected with my usual run of reading material and I’m afraid this audiobook was unable to lift me out my slump. While the narration was very good and there were aspects of the story that snagged my interest, I struggled to pick out single and fully-developed plot line to follow and felt there was a lot of potential in this book that wasn’t reached. I’m not sorry to have listened to it and on a good day, in a cheerful mood, without having recently read a book that did very well what this book only partially succeeded at with a few of its character/plot threads, the stumbling blocks I encountered might have seemed less obvious. Bianca Amato/Rebecca de Leeuw’s (Both the same person - the former name being given at the start of the audio, the latter being what Audible shows) narration was excellent. She has a lovely voice and delivered a nice range of rich character voices that covered the emotional spectrum.
For me, the book read kind of like this (huge apology to Goodreads user Lilli Perspice for kiping one of her review styles… only applying it much less effectively):
Book: “Cross my palm with silver and I’ll tell you a tale…”
Me: *hands over money*
Book: “Meet Lucy Ashton as she visits a fortune-teller in an effort to connect with her first lover who has gone missing after murder, mayhem, and fire in the previous book.”
Me: . o 0(OK, nicely mysterious set-up. It seems to go with the “Brethren Guardians” subtitle the book has…sort of a semi-paranormal feel…) “Keep talking.”
Book: “Here’s the heroine’s emotionally remote father who wants her to marry Adrian York, the Duke of Sussex. Here’s all the characters from the previous book. Here’s Adrian, the manly yet tortured love interest who pines for Lucy behind a stoic facade.”
Me: “Alright. They seem to be an interesting group. Go on.”
Book: “Check it: small info dump on Lucy and what happened to her lover and how she still yearns for him and thinks Sussex is a stiff prig.”
Me: “Info-dumpling consumed, can we move on now?”
Book: “Meet the other women who are/will be part of this trilogy of books. See what good friends they are?”
Me: *tapping fingers on desk impatiently* “Is this going somewhere?”
Book: “Hey, I know, let’s have a musicale!”
Me: *yawns*
Book: “How about some more verbal wrangling between Lucy and Adrian? I’ll even throw in another woman in case I want to add a Big Misunderstanding later!”
Me: “I hate the Big Misunderstanding.”
Book: “Don’t worry, that will never develop into anything.”
Me: “Well, what will develop? I’m getting restless.”
Book: “Hmmm, Lucy appears to be attracted to bad boys.”
Me: “That could be interesting.”
Book: “Naw, that won’t be much of a factor in this story. Hmmm, Lucy appears to have shut down emotionally as a response to being ignored as a child.”
Me: “That could be… wait, isn’t she so madly passionate for her first lover that she goes to a mystic to try to find her true love? How is that emotionally closed-off?”
Book: “Don’t worry about that disconnect, the whole thing won’t really matter. Moving on…hmmm, look at this, some role reversals: Lucy is the selfish and bratty character who disparages the one who loves her and Adrian is the idiot who follows her around until she realizes what she has.”
Me: “Yeah, sorry, that’s just not working for me. Lucy is a self-involved and immature child.”
Book: “Here, try this on for size: Lucy gets a note from her missing lover. She goes to meet him but is intercepted in a dark alley by the Duke.”
Me: “Now you’re talking.”
Book: *Sexy Hijinks ensue*
Me: “Wait! What is it with the ‘best sex evah! with free orgasms for all involved the first time our romantic duo rub up...literally just rub... against each other’ scenario? *rolls eyes* And enough with the ‘I will do this to you and I’ll take this from you and you never had this from your previous lover’ stuff. Can we have a little mutual cooperation please?”
Book: “OK” *flips pages while muttering* “The next morning... Lucy cries over the urchin boy who was her only friend as a child. It turns out her father chased him away for being a gutter snipe. Lucy goes to Adrian’s after getting a letter. There’s a dead body at Adrian’s. Lucy’s father shows up and Lucy accuses Adrian of trying to maneuver her into a compromising position so they are forced to marry but fortunately the whole Brethren gang was there to give the appearance of respectability. Lucy runs off to visit the fortune-teller again and goes missing. Oooh, look, mysterious Templars to catch your interest.” *waves Templars in your face then tosses them over its shoulder before you get a good look*
Me: “What was that?”
Book: “Nothing, never-mind.” *keeps flipping pages rapidly and muttering* Lucy and Adrian both end up at a masked ball at the club owned by the mysterious Orpheus. They find themselves in the same room, separated by a sheer curtain, and under the influence of some strange combination of ether, absinthe, and opium smoke. Seduction begins but is interrupted by Lucy’s father. Now they really are compromised and have to get married.”
Me: “That whole scene was just weird.”
Book: *Stretches, rubs spine, and sighs* “I’m tired of the mystic, the secret guardians of artifacts, and the psuedo-paranormal vibe. Here, have a traditional historical romance.”
Me: “Uh, what?! Wait, all that took up 4/5ths of the book and now they’re married and finding love over the labor pains of a whelping spaniel?”
Book: “Roll with it!”
Me: *gazes wistfully out the window as original Major Plot(s) run alongside the carriage, rapidly loosing ground*
Book: “Oh fine! Here, have a wacky plot-twist!”
Me: “That’s just a bunch of b…aloney! That could never happen!”
Book: “Oh no! Now there’s danger, kidnapping, false-trails and one of the Brethren Guardians is framed - all in the last chapter. Whatever will be the fate of the most interesting character in the book?”
Me: “Now this is good stuff! What happens next?”
Book: “Sorry, that’s all for now. Come back in six months or so.”
Me: “WHAT!?”
Book: *exasperated* “Was there anything you liked about me?”
Me: “I hope you don’t think I’m shallow when I say you have a lovely cover and your voice is amazing.”
Story: B-/C+ (I heard three distinct stories and was mildly dissatisfied with all of them rather than getting one cohesive story with multiple intriguing plot lines)
I’ve been feeling a bit disaffected with my usual run of reading material and I’m afraid this audiobook was unable to lift me out my slump. While the narration was very good and there were aspects of the story that snagged my interest, I struggled to pick out single and fully-developed plot line to follow and felt there was a lot of potential in this book that wasn’t reached. I’m not sorry to have listened to it and on a good day, in a cheerful mood, without having recently read a book that did very well what this book only partially succeeded at with a few of its character/plot threads, the stumbling blocks I encountered might have seemed less obvious. Bianca Amato/Rebecca de Leeuw’s (Both the same person - the former name being given at the start of the audio, the latter being what Audible shows) narration was excellent. She has a lovely voice and delivered a nice range of rich character voices that covered the emotional spectrum.
For me, the book read kind of like this (huge apology to Goodreads user Lilli Perspice for kiping one of her review styles… only applying it much less effectively):
Book: “Cross my palm with silver and I’ll tell you a tale…”
Me: *hands over money*
Book: “Meet Lucy Ashton as she visits a fortune-teller in an effort to connect with her first lover who has gone missing after murder, mayhem, and fire in the previous book.”
Me: . o 0(OK, nicely mysterious set-up. It seems to go with the “Brethren Guardians” subtitle the book has…sort of a semi-paranormal feel…) “Keep talking.”
Book: “Here’s the heroine’s emotionally remote father who wants her to marry Adrian York, the Duke of Sussex. Here’s all the characters from the previous book. Here’s Adrian, the manly yet tortured love interest who pines for Lucy behind a stoic facade.”
Me: “Alright. They seem to be an interesting group. Go on.”
Book: “Check it: small info dump on Lucy and what happened to her lover and how she still yearns for him and thinks Sussex is a stiff prig.”
Me: “Info-dumpling consumed, can we move on now?”
Book: “Meet the other women who are/will be part of this trilogy of books. See what good friends they are?”
Me: *tapping fingers on desk impatiently* “Is this going somewhere?”
Book: “Hey, I know, let’s have a musicale!”
Me: *yawns*
Book: “How about some more verbal wrangling between Lucy and Adrian? I’ll even throw in another woman in case I want to add a Big Misunderstanding later!”
Me: “I hate the Big Misunderstanding.”
Book: “Don’t worry, that will never develop into anything.”
Me: “Well, what will develop? I’m getting restless.”
Book: “Hmmm, Lucy appears to be attracted to bad boys.”
Me: “That could be interesting.”
Book: “Naw, that won’t be much of a factor in this story. Hmmm, Lucy appears to have shut down emotionally as a response to being ignored as a child.”
Me: “That could be… wait, isn’t she so madly passionate for her first lover that she goes to a mystic to try to find her true love? How is that emotionally closed-off?”
Book: “Don’t worry about that disconnect, the whole thing won’t really matter. Moving on…hmmm, look at this, some role reversals: Lucy is the selfish and bratty character who disparages the one who loves her and Adrian is the idiot who follows her around until she realizes what she has.”
Me: “Yeah, sorry, that’s just not working for me. Lucy is a self-involved and immature child.”
Book: “Here, try this on for size: Lucy gets a note from her missing lover. She goes to meet him but is intercepted in a dark alley by the Duke.”
Me: “Now you’re talking.”
Book: *Sexy Hijinks ensue*
Me: “Wait! What is it with the ‘best sex evah! with free orgasms for all involved the first time our romantic duo rub up...literally just rub... against each other’ scenario? *rolls eyes* And enough with the ‘I will do this to you and I’ll take this from you and you never had this from your previous lover’ stuff. Can we have a little mutual cooperation please?”
Book: “OK” *flips pages while muttering* “The next morning... Lucy cries over the urchin boy who was her only friend as a child. It turns out her father chased him away for being a gutter snipe. Lucy goes to Adrian’s after getting a letter. There’s a dead body at Adrian’s. Lucy’s father shows up and Lucy accuses Adrian of trying to maneuver her into a compromising position so they are forced to marry but fortunately the whole Brethren gang was there to give the appearance of respectability. Lucy runs off to visit the fortune-teller again and goes missing. Oooh, look, mysterious Templars to catch your interest.” *waves Templars in your face then tosses them over its shoulder before you get a good look*
Me: “What was that?”
Book: “Nothing, never-mind.” *keeps flipping pages rapidly and muttering* Lucy and Adrian both end up at a masked ball at the club owned by the mysterious Orpheus. They find themselves in the same room, separated by a sheer curtain, and under the influence of some strange combination of ether, absinthe, and opium smoke. Seduction begins but is interrupted by Lucy’s father. Now they really are compromised and have to get married.”
Me: “That whole scene was just weird.”
Book: *Stretches, rubs spine, and sighs* “I’m tired of the mystic, the secret guardians of artifacts, and the psuedo-paranormal vibe. Here, have a traditional historical romance.”
Me: “Uh, what?! Wait, all that took up 4/5ths of the book and now they’re married and finding love over the labor pains of a whelping spaniel?”
Book: “Roll with it!”
Me: *gazes wistfully out the window as original Major Plot(s) run alongside the carriage, rapidly loosing ground*
Book: “Oh fine! Here, have a wacky plot-twist!”
Me: “That’s just a bunch of b…aloney! That could never happen!”
Book: “Oh no! Now there’s danger, kidnapping, false-trails and one of the Brethren Guardians is framed - all in the last chapter. Whatever will be the fate of the most interesting character in the book?”
Me: “Now this is good stuff! What happens next?”
Book: “Sorry, that’s all for now. Come back in six months or so.”
Me: “WHAT!?”
Book: *exasperated* “Was there anything you liked about me?”
Me: “I hope you don’t think I’m shallow when I say you have a lovely cover and your voice is amazing.”
September 27, 2012
Pride & Passion is the second book in the Brethren Guardian series and, although I found the first book Seduction & Scandal quite disappointing, I really enjoyed this one. Ms Featherstone has penned a richly textured romance full of mysticism, secrets, conflict, passion, mystery and suspense.
”I’m not who you think I am.”
I have a fascination with tormented heroes. That’s why I loved Adrian, with his deep, dark secrets, his unrequited love for Lucy and those red hot passions simmering just under his staid exterior. .
Wow! Was he determined and single-minded in his pursuit of Lucy; so crazy about her that she never really stood a chance. I liked that he was open and honest about his feelings. But what woman could resist such a strong, intense, sexy, protective man when he tells you:
”I would die for you.”
His obvious love for his sister, Elizabeth, and his work with those less fortunate than himself made me love him even more.
Lucy was a heroine I found difficult to warm to. Perhaps, if I had learnt earlier in the book just how much Lucy’s lonely childhood, so devoid of parental love and affection, had shaped the person she had become, I think it would have been possible to understand her. I might then have regarded her as a more sympathetic character. Instead, for three quarters of the book, her seemingly unreasonable attitude towards Adrian really drove me crazy. I wanted to shake some sense into her and make her see the real Adrian beyond his stuffy façade. It was only in the last quarter of the book that I started to like her and came to understand her. What she had so desperately wanted from life and finally found with Adrian.
“I wanted that sense of belonging, of warmth and acceptance.
”You thought me passionless,” he growled, “but you’re wrong. I’m full of it. Bursting with it. My gut has ached with it, and it’s all for you.”
The sexual tension Ms Featherstone creates between Adrian and Lucy was palpable and I loved how Adrian seduces her with his deliciously erotic words.
”Damn, you’re hotter than hell itself like this, “he murmured over her breast. “Come for me, little Lucy, show me the fire that burns in you.”
The loves scenes are intense and passionate, positively toe-curling.
And the Brethren Guardians…well, they were wrapping themselves into the delicate silken weaves, just as he he had planned. Soon, they would be cocooned, and their little group and the ancient artifacts they hid from the world would be his.
There are some shocking twists and turns in the plot as Orpheus manipulates everyone in his plans for revenge and ultimate power. We are left on quite a cliff-hanger and I can’t wait to read Temptation & Twilight. Not only do we get Lizzy’s and Alynwick’s angsty story but also Orpheus’s identity will finally be revealed.
VERDICT: WORTH READING FOR THE HERO ALONE
RATING: ★★★★½
”I’m not who you think I am.”
I have a fascination with tormented heroes. That’s why I loved Adrian, with his deep, dark secrets, his unrequited love for Lucy and those red hot passions simmering just under his staid exterior. .
Wow! Was he determined and single-minded in his pursuit of Lucy; so crazy about her that she never really stood a chance. I liked that he was open and honest about his feelings. But what woman could resist such a strong, intense, sexy, protective man when he tells you:
”I would die for you.”
His obvious love for his sister, Elizabeth, and his work with those less fortunate than himself made me love him even more.
Lucy was a heroine I found difficult to warm to. Perhaps, if I had learnt earlier in the book just how much Lucy’s lonely childhood, so devoid of parental love and affection, had shaped the person she had become, I think it would have been possible to understand her. I might then have regarded her as a more sympathetic character. Instead, for three quarters of the book, her seemingly unreasonable attitude towards Adrian really drove me crazy. I wanted to shake some sense into her and make her see the real Adrian beyond his stuffy façade. It was only in the last quarter of the book that I started to like her and came to understand her. What she had so desperately wanted from life and finally found with Adrian.
“I wanted that sense of belonging, of warmth and acceptance.
”You thought me passionless,” he growled, “but you’re wrong. I’m full of it. Bursting with it. My gut has ached with it, and it’s all for you.”
The sexual tension Ms Featherstone creates between Adrian and Lucy was palpable and I loved how Adrian seduces her with his deliciously erotic words.
”Damn, you’re hotter than hell itself like this, “he murmured over her breast. “Come for me, little Lucy, show me the fire that burns in you.”
The loves scenes are intense and passionate, positively toe-curling.
And the Brethren Guardians…well, they were wrapping themselves into the delicate silken weaves, just as he he had planned. Soon, they would be cocooned, and their little group and the ancient artifacts they hid from the world would be his.
There are some shocking twists and turns in the plot as Orpheus manipulates everyone in his plans for revenge and ultimate power. We are left on quite a cliff-hanger and I can’t wait to read Temptation & Twilight. Not only do we get Lizzy’s and Alynwick’s angsty story but also Orpheus’s identity will finally be revealed.
VERDICT: WORTH READING FOR THE HERO ALONE
RATING: ★★★★½
September 20, 2018
um. THIS COVER IS BEAUTIFUL.
That is all.
Update! Just finished this. It's really cheap on Amazon kindle rn. So here's the deal. I liked it. I was however, rather confused at some points when the plot had some holes in it. For example
Read that if you have read the book^
I was also disappointed by the amount of drama I didn't care about. This book was a little dark and somber and I'm the light hearted kinda gal. You can add mystery without making it too angsty lol. But still, really beautiful writing, and enough plot and romance to keep me satisfied. Not to mention the hero's devotion to the heroine was admirable, even if the heroine was really annoying at points
That is all.
Update! Just finished this. It's really cheap on Amazon kindle rn. So here's the deal. I liked it. I was however, rather confused at some points when the plot had some holes in it. For example
Read that if you have read the book^
I was also disappointed by the amount of drama I didn't care about. This book was a little dark and somber and I'm the light hearted kinda gal. You can add mystery without making it too angsty lol. But still, really beautiful writing, and enough plot and romance to keep me satisfied. Not to mention the hero's devotion to the heroine was admirable, even if the heroine was really annoying at points
![Profile Image for ᑭᑌᑎƳᗩ [Punya Reviews...].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1572968006i%2F3840999._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 27, 2012
My review contains spoilers and they're mostly my thoughts as I went with the book...
This book in CF’s Brethren Guardians series was much better than book #1, where the h Isabella drove me bonkers. Lucy was succeeding in doing that too... almost that is. Many a times, I was tempted to slap her or shake her to see reasons. How could she think that a handsome Duke, who wants her so much, isn’t good enough for her? Sometimes she would go a bit overboard with her rebellions and since Adrian was so sweet, passionate and a veritable gentleman, I felt pissed that she would not consider giving him a little benefit of doubt. Fortunately, she didn’t drag those for long like Isabella. Anyway, I’ll try to put my thoughts about their relationship and also what’s going on in the BG business with the other two guardians along with the notorious Orpheus himself.
1st a little recap. This series is about the descendents of three Brethren Guardians- Drake Sheldon, Sinjin York and Sinclair (name still unknown), who were the Templar Knights, given the responsibility to guard the pendant, the chalice and the magical scroll. Their descendents carried on with the responsibilities but recently, the club called the Masonic Club has become a general Gothic style club with Ton members vying to get an entry. Though there are other members or Masons, the real descendents- Jude Sheldon, the Earl of Black, Adrian York, the Duke of Sussex and Iain Sinclair, the Marquis of Alynwick have had their ‘initiations’ just the way their fathers did at their mid-teens, a process Jude long ago decided that his own son would never go through. Adrian, for his part, wasn’t too happy with it as well, the whys of which become clearer as the relationship he had with his father is revealed. Jude’s family guarded the pendant, Adrian’s the chalice and Iain’s guarded the scroll. Now, there is also a fourth guardian, who was thought to be dead but probably not and causing troubles for the real BGs. I’m still not sure who the Orpheus is; was he the fourth Knight Templar? It seems like there was a House of Orpheus, which caused troubles for Jude, Adrian and Iain’s fathers and was shut down by them. In this story, the new Orpheus is still causing troubles for them. He’s still bent on destroying the guardians and take his ‘rightful’ place in the world. Have to say, in the course of the story, some of this info was still hazy to me and I still don’t know why Orpheus is so hell-bent on destroying them. At this point, it’s not about the worldly power through the chalice, scroll and pendant because I sense something personal too. He is playing with the BGs and thinking he’s the boss. But he’s a cold and vile man for sure; I give examples as the go with my review. In the 1st book Seduction & Scandal, the trouble was about the pendant. And then there was Jude and Isabella’s shaky relationship where Isabella did almost everything to hurt and deny Jude ‘til the end and in the process made me want to scream in frustration. Jude was always amazing to her, even if a bit forward about his desire for her. Isabella was not a strong heroine and she didn’t have the confidence to deal with Jude’s attentions. She also had some past troubles that included her mother so she made a mess of things with him. But Jude never gave up his perusal of her because of another past incident between them that created a strange atmosphere for the story. I liked Jude a lot but Adrian was better. He had this complete devotion towards Lucy that I, for god’s sake, couldn’t understand why- until the end of the book that is. Lucy has been quite cranky and rude to Adrian for the most part but thankfully, some of her vulnerabilities I could understand so I wasn’t totally put off by her. This book doesn’t spend a lot of time recapping the past incidents but getting into the matter of Lucy and Adrian and starts from where book #1 left off.
In S&S, we were introduced to Lucy and Adrian so if you’ve read it, you’ll know a lot about the state of their relationship, if one can call it that. Lucy’s father is the Earl of Stonebrook, who has been a very callous and cold parent, as was her deceased mother. Lucy was always ignored by them, mostly because she wasn’t the most coveted ‘heir’ for her father and she had no other siblings. But she was always reminded of her station in life, along with the fact that someday she has to marry accordingly to keep up that station. Needless to say, a passionate and head-strong Lucy never liked those dictates. She grew up craving affection and acceptance, to be ‘something’ to her parents, which never came to pass. It seems like there was only one person she ever called a friend and had a crush on. This Gabriel, the butcher’s protégé was about 3/4 years older than her when she met him at 12. He was not someone her father would ever accept as her friend or anything else, so this little friendship and the crush she had on him was cut off in a very short time by Stonebrook. For a long time, I was not sure why Gabriel is such a part of Lucy’s thoughts, as we’ve never had any idea about him in S&S. Lucy never saw him again since the day when her father threw away a piece of wood carving Gabriel gave her and threw him out of their house. She missed him still and kept that gift still and cherished it. She grew up to be a flirtatious young woman but she keeps her façade so that no one delves inside and looks at her hurt and confused inner self. She took a lover too, some months ago but he died in a fire, or so she thought. Lucy was very vocal about Jude’s attraction to Isabella because as she’d seen in her parent’s passionless marriage, Lucy was scared that she’d never feel the passion she’d known with Thomas with another man again. And she was scared her life would be a copy of her parent’s. So Jude’s passionate perusal of Isabella found a good support from Lucy. Now that these two married (not sure when since I don’t think it’s been a long while since S&S), Lucy is happy for Isabella. But she’s also envious of her marital bliss and still despaired of never having such union. Then Lucy formed an addiction to séances and so on to communicate with Thomas’s spirit. In S&S, she was still rude to Adrian and ignoring him vehemently because she thought he saw her as a prize, a broodmare and yes, she was very convinced that Adrian is a prig. Lucy has no business with a prig, even though the said prig is a Duke; a very handsome and all powerful one at that! So yes, I was scared that she’d drive me bonkers too.
In S&S, in the end when the villain was killed, Adrian gave a chase to the murderer and found a piece of lace he immediately knew was Lucy’s. And the truth about Thomas was clarified to him. Adrian was hurt that Lucy had a lover and it got worse when she vowed to help her lover at all cost, even if that makes him her enemy. Note that I was still thinking why the f*ck does he care about her so much? WHY tolerate her churlish behavior? But there he was, still pining away for a woman who didn’t give a s*it about him. But, that didn’t make Adrian any less endearing to me. I love a hero who is very devoted to his heroine and Adrian was in love; it was plain from his actions when it concerned Lucy. But he didn’t give up on her. Lucy was still reeling from all the information about the Brethren Guardian business along with the fact that her dead lover came alive all of a sudden and might be on the wrong track, working with Orpheus. She can’t believe a thing Adrian told her. But it did bring her attentions to him and she begins to see him in different light, though she’d deny it with everything that’s of worth to her. We also see Adrian’s older sister Elizabeth, who’s blind from genetic problems but is as vivacious as a woman can be. She’s very beautiful, smart and graceful. Her blindness, it seems, has no grip on her bearing. But we also know from S&S that there’s something between her and Iain, Lord Alynwick; a past, about which we learn a great deal as well.
So, Adrian asks Elizabeth to help him with Lucy and information about her lover. Elizabeth knows Adrian’s obsession of her and supports wholeheartedly since she likes Lucy too. Here, we get to learn that she and Iain has been lovers a long time back, one night thing because she believed in his honeyed words, was swayed and had given her virginity to him. It was a painful read and I’m not at all impressed with Iain. He was a notorious rake to begin with, though he believes he does all this to ‘help’ the BGs. My arse! Anyway, there are a few scenes with Adrian and Lucy were quite beautiful; one was the scene in the same visit in the Sussex townhouse, in their orangery. Adrian was already making it a point to make his presence known to her with his words or maybe, as I said before, Lucy was only just taking notes of the depth of his interest in her so she’d be quite flustered by things he said. So in that scene, Adrian kisses her again and finally shows her the depth of his desire:
“Everywhere you are, I will be. Everywhere you go, I will go. I will follow you into your dreams, stay while you sleep, watch while you eat.”
That sinful bottom lip touched hers, then played with it, brushing it, tugging on it, parting her mouth as if he had all the time in the world to play and coax. “I will be the very air you breathe.”
Needless to say, it left Lucy with more conflicting thoughts. She wasn’t sure what to make of the Duke. Her father, of course, is up for this match and wants her to marry Adrian. So, she’s intrigued and yet she still kept on telling others, including Isabella that she doesn’t care a whit. Then the old Scottish fortuneteller told her that her destiny is with a man with a pair of gray eyes, eyes that Thomas does not possess. Eyes that the Duke certainly possesses (and she absolutely would not think it’s the Duke *shudder*) but those eyes look much different than that of his. Lucy, though she berates the fortuneteller as a two-timer, is very interested to know who this person is. And sometimes, even though she still won’t give into the thought, the Duke’s eyes give her the shivers too. Yah I know, it was very confusing lol. But she also would get jealous of a woman, a courtesan who came to a ball and very boldly talked to Adrian and touched him. She was positively fuming (with me giggling) thinking this is his paramour. But unbeknownst to her, Adrian hasn’t been with a woman for a long time, more than a year, since he’d set his eyes on Lucy. How can I not adore this man? Poor guy, burning inside with all the horny feelings for her and she thinks him a cold fish! That night, Adrian goes to meet with the woman named Anastasia. I was scared that he might give into his lust but he didn’t disappoint. More interesting information comes out of this meeting, revelations of Adrian’s past. He has a darker past that only his father and Anastasia know of. No, she’s not his mistress, has never been but not because she doesn’t want to be. She was actually his father’s mistress, coldly used by him. It was proved over and over again in the story that how emotionless and coldly calculating Adrian’s father was, who used anyone and everyone for his own gains. Anastasia was a poor girl of the East End and beautiful, caught his father’s eyes and served him for as long as the man lived. But if you read this scene, I actually came off respecting the woman a lot. She wasn’t graspy or greedy and she genuinely cared for Adrian’s father. Adrian took care of her ever since, more so since the woman knew about the BG business. In here, she tells him that she’s gotten an entrance to the House of Orpheus through one of her current paramours. It wasn’t revealed who this man was but from some clues I thought this might be Thomas. Adrian asks her to be careful and so on.
Lucy was also getting messages from Thomas to meet with him and come away. She already thought she saw him once in a shadowy corner while coming home from Sussex’s townhouse. Yah, I was scared that a love triangle is going to form here. But thankfully, it didn’t. From his meetings with Orpheus, it was already known that Thomas is indeed involved with him, though the guy doesn’t yet know that he’s also only a pawn to Orpheus’s nefarious plotting and would be gotten rid of when he’s done playing his part. Lucy came home from that ball enraged and a bit put off by Adrian’s ‘flaunting of his paramour’ when she gets Thomas’s latest message. She gives into the temptation of meeting with him, mostly because she wanted answers. And she wanted to know why he’d left her like that, kept her in the dark about the fact that he’s still living. But before she could, Adrian gets a hold of her and Thomas runs away. After that, Adrian takes her to the same house where he just met with Anastasia and starts interrogating her. The interrogation turned to something more intimate, of course. Adrian was a bit foxed so he didn’t hesitate to give her a little taste of the depth of his passion. It was hot! Lucy was left speechless because in her meetings with Thomas, she never experienced an orgasm. Yah! I was clucking, poor girl! And she thought that was a big passion? This definitely leaves her shocked. The next day, she gets a letter about something that Adrian has done which makes her mad again so she decides to pay him a visit. On her visit, she also sees Iain and Jude. In that same ball, Iain behaved abominably with Elizabeth, seeing her strolling and laughing with some earl. Adrian is mad about his reckless behavior because one of the BG code is that they are not supposed to show any sign of recognition in the public places, as he reminds Iain of this. Iain is reckless; he drinks a lot and is troubled no doubt. And his behavior, though harsh, spoke volume of his possessiveness about Elizabeth. But after what he’d done, he deserves a kick on his arse. Another thing that bugged me was how everyone was always calling him something like brutish or barbaric because he’s a highlander and so on. I don’t know because I LOVE Scottish/Highlander heroes so I couldn’t help but think he was being stigmatized for being a Highlander whenever he was careless. Anyway, back to the story, soon when Stonebrook also comes to this little gathering along with Elizabeth and Isabella, it’s known that all the letters were a game from Orpheus. I’m still quite hazy about what he wanted though. And then, Anastasia turns up dead in Adrian’s door with a note that warns him that ‘this could’ve been the red head’- Lucy. Adrian is very concerned for Lucy’s safety now and asks her to listen to his instructions.
Even though Adrian asked her not to go out alone, Lucy still goes to meet with that Scottish fortuneteller and got abducted later. It was Thomas. Funny thing is, they never actually saw each-other as they reunite. There was only one scene between them, in the carriage in which she was being abducted. Lucy was under drug-induced vapor. When Adrian hears of this, he goes insane. He, Jude and Iain venture into Orpheus’s club to rescue her. A few weird things happen here, as Thomas leads Lucy to a room. She was still a bit foggy from absinthe when she sees this man and it was the vision she saw when the fortuneteller hypnotized her. And she sees the pair of eyes too... Of course, it was Adrian and now, his eyes were full of passion. They kiss and fondle, I’m not sure what happened when suddenly Stonebrook, again, is upon them and catches them. Lucy is enraged when her father asks her to marry the duke posthaste. I thought this is going to lead to another of her obnoxious rebellions so I was telling myself if she does that even after all of Adrian’s demonstrations, I’ll kill her for sure! But she doesn’t. Though she was still pouting, she gives in. At some point, when Adrian meets with her, Lucy talks about her friend Gabriel to him and that she still misses him a lot and so on. They marry hastily and were on their way to Sussex country house. The weather was bad so they were forced to retire in some inn on the way.
This journey of theirs was full of revelations. In a few chapters we get to know what Adrian’s dark past holds, that he has a part Scottish heritage, that he was a bastard... there were more explosive ones of course which transformed Lucy’s total reproach of Adrian into such total affection and so soon that it was quite unbelievable for me. I know the reason can be termed as a good one but still, I was going like, is that really her talking to him? Even though they didn’t consummate the marriage at first but it was done soon. The love scene was also a bit hasty. I can only say it was hot but I wasn’t really expecting a love scene there. lol Then Orpheus does what he does best, kills Thomas... He is still planning something nefarious though I’m still not sure about his plans. As I said, hazy, these chapters were. Elizabeth was kidnapped in the end. Adrian and Jude thought Iain is a betrayer because he also disappeared with Elizabeth. But then, he shows up on their doorstep, all beaten up and begging them to help him find Elizabeth, confessing his love for her. So, things are definitely heating up for the final showdown. I don’t think Stonebrook was/is involved with Orpheus. There was a little hint of a man who might be Orpheus. He could be but we have to wait for Temptation & Twilight to reveal that to us. I can’t wait for that book! For Pride & Passion, 4 stars.
This book in CF’s Brethren Guardians series was much better than book #1, where the h Isabella drove me bonkers. Lucy was succeeding in doing that too... almost that is. Many a times, I was tempted to slap her or shake her to see reasons. How could she think that a handsome Duke, who wants her so much, isn’t good enough for her? Sometimes she would go a bit overboard with her rebellions and since Adrian was so sweet, passionate and a veritable gentleman, I felt pissed that she would not consider giving him a little benefit of doubt. Fortunately, she didn’t drag those for long like Isabella. Anyway, I’ll try to put my thoughts about their relationship and also what’s going on in the BG business with the other two guardians along with the notorious Orpheus himself.
1st a little recap. This series is about the descendents of three Brethren Guardians- Drake Sheldon, Sinjin York and Sinclair (name still unknown), who were the Templar Knights, given the responsibility to guard the pendant, the chalice and the magical scroll. Their descendents carried on with the responsibilities but recently, the club called the Masonic Club has become a general Gothic style club with Ton members vying to get an entry. Though there are other members or Masons, the real descendents- Jude Sheldon, the Earl of Black, Adrian York, the Duke of Sussex and Iain Sinclair, the Marquis of Alynwick have had their ‘initiations’ just the way their fathers did at their mid-teens, a process Jude long ago decided that his own son would never go through. Adrian, for his part, wasn’t too happy with it as well, the whys of which become clearer as the relationship he had with his father is revealed. Jude’s family guarded the pendant, Adrian’s the chalice and Iain’s guarded the scroll. Now, there is also a fourth guardian, who was thought to be dead but probably not and causing troubles for the real BGs. I’m still not sure who the Orpheus is; was he the fourth Knight Templar? It seems like there was a House of Orpheus, which caused troubles for Jude, Adrian and Iain’s fathers and was shut down by them. In this story, the new Orpheus is still causing troubles for them. He’s still bent on destroying the guardians and take his ‘rightful’ place in the world. Have to say, in the course of the story, some of this info was still hazy to me and I still don’t know why Orpheus is so hell-bent on destroying them. At this point, it’s not about the worldly power through the chalice, scroll and pendant because I sense something personal too. He is playing with the BGs and thinking he’s the boss. But he’s a cold and vile man for sure; I give examples as the go with my review. In the 1st book Seduction & Scandal, the trouble was about the pendant. And then there was Jude and Isabella’s shaky relationship where Isabella did almost everything to hurt and deny Jude ‘til the end and in the process made me want to scream in frustration. Jude was always amazing to her, even if a bit forward about his desire for her. Isabella was not a strong heroine and she didn’t have the confidence to deal with Jude’s attentions. She also had some past troubles that included her mother so she made a mess of things with him. But Jude never gave up his perusal of her because of another past incident between them that created a strange atmosphere for the story. I liked Jude a lot but Adrian was better. He had this complete devotion towards Lucy that I, for god’s sake, couldn’t understand why- until the end of the book that is. Lucy has been quite cranky and rude to Adrian for the most part but thankfully, some of her vulnerabilities I could understand so I wasn’t totally put off by her. This book doesn’t spend a lot of time recapping the past incidents but getting into the matter of Lucy and Adrian and starts from where book #1 left off.
In S&S, we were introduced to Lucy and Adrian so if you’ve read it, you’ll know a lot about the state of their relationship, if one can call it that. Lucy’s father is the Earl of Stonebrook, who has been a very callous and cold parent, as was her deceased mother. Lucy was always ignored by them, mostly because she wasn’t the most coveted ‘heir’ for her father and she had no other siblings. But she was always reminded of her station in life, along with the fact that someday she has to marry accordingly to keep up that station. Needless to say, a passionate and head-strong Lucy never liked those dictates. She grew up craving affection and acceptance, to be ‘something’ to her parents, which never came to pass. It seems like there was only one person she ever called a friend and had a crush on. This Gabriel, the butcher’s protégé was about 3/4 years older than her when she met him at 12. He was not someone her father would ever accept as her friend or anything else, so this little friendship and the crush she had on him was cut off in a very short time by Stonebrook. For a long time, I was not sure why Gabriel is such a part of Lucy’s thoughts, as we’ve never had any idea about him in S&S. Lucy never saw him again since the day when her father threw away a piece of wood carving Gabriel gave her and threw him out of their house. She missed him still and kept that gift still and cherished it. She grew up to be a flirtatious young woman but she keeps her façade so that no one delves inside and looks at her hurt and confused inner self. She took a lover too, some months ago but he died in a fire, or so she thought. Lucy was very vocal about Jude’s attraction to Isabella because as she’d seen in her parent’s passionless marriage, Lucy was scared that she’d never feel the passion she’d known with Thomas with another man again. And she was scared her life would be a copy of her parent’s. So Jude’s passionate perusal of Isabella found a good support from Lucy. Now that these two married (not sure when since I don’t think it’s been a long while since S&S), Lucy is happy for Isabella. But she’s also envious of her marital bliss and still despaired of never having such union. Then Lucy formed an addiction to séances and so on to communicate with Thomas’s spirit. In S&S, she was still rude to Adrian and ignoring him vehemently because she thought he saw her as a prize, a broodmare and yes, she was very convinced that Adrian is a prig. Lucy has no business with a prig, even though the said prig is a Duke; a very handsome and all powerful one at that! So yes, I was scared that she’d drive me bonkers too.
In S&S, in the end when the villain was killed, Adrian gave a chase to the murderer and found a piece of lace he immediately knew was Lucy’s. And the truth about Thomas was clarified to him. Adrian was hurt that Lucy had a lover and it got worse when she vowed to help her lover at all cost, even if that makes him her enemy. Note that I was still thinking why the f*ck does he care about her so much? WHY tolerate her churlish behavior? But there he was, still pining away for a woman who didn’t give a s*it about him. But, that didn’t make Adrian any less endearing to me. I love a hero who is very devoted to his heroine and Adrian was in love; it was plain from his actions when it concerned Lucy. But he didn’t give up on her. Lucy was still reeling from all the information about the Brethren Guardian business along with the fact that her dead lover came alive all of a sudden and might be on the wrong track, working with Orpheus. She can’t believe a thing Adrian told her. But it did bring her attentions to him and she begins to see him in different light, though she’d deny it with everything that’s of worth to her. We also see Adrian’s older sister Elizabeth, who’s blind from genetic problems but is as vivacious as a woman can be. She’s very beautiful, smart and graceful. Her blindness, it seems, has no grip on her bearing. But we also know from S&S that there’s something between her and Iain, Lord Alynwick; a past, about which we learn a great deal as well.
So, Adrian asks Elizabeth to help him with Lucy and information about her lover. Elizabeth knows Adrian’s obsession of her and supports wholeheartedly since she likes Lucy too. Here, we get to learn that she and Iain has been lovers a long time back, one night thing because she believed in his honeyed words, was swayed and had given her virginity to him. It was a painful read and I’m not at all impressed with Iain. He was a notorious rake to begin with, though he believes he does all this to ‘help’ the BGs. My arse! Anyway, there are a few scenes with Adrian and Lucy were quite beautiful; one was the scene in the same visit in the Sussex townhouse, in their orangery. Adrian was already making it a point to make his presence known to her with his words or maybe, as I said before, Lucy was only just taking notes of the depth of his interest in her so she’d be quite flustered by things he said. So in that scene, Adrian kisses her again and finally shows her the depth of his desire:
“Everywhere you are, I will be. Everywhere you go, I will go. I will follow you into your dreams, stay while you sleep, watch while you eat.”
That sinful bottom lip touched hers, then played with it, brushing it, tugging on it, parting her mouth as if he had all the time in the world to play and coax. “I will be the very air you breathe.”
Needless to say, it left Lucy with more conflicting thoughts. She wasn’t sure what to make of the Duke. Her father, of course, is up for this match and wants her to marry Adrian. So, she’s intrigued and yet she still kept on telling others, including Isabella that she doesn’t care a whit. Then the old Scottish fortuneteller told her that her destiny is with a man with a pair of gray eyes, eyes that Thomas does not possess. Eyes that the Duke certainly possesses (and she absolutely would not think it’s the Duke *shudder*) but those eyes look much different than that of his. Lucy, though she berates the fortuneteller as a two-timer, is very interested to know who this person is. And sometimes, even though she still won’t give into the thought, the Duke’s eyes give her the shivers too. Yah I know, it was very confusing lol. But she also would get jealous of a woman, a courtesan who came to a ball and very boldly talked to Adrian and touched him. She was positively fuming (with me giggling) thinking this is his paramour. But unbeknownst to her, Adrian hasn’t been with a woman for a long time, more than a year, since he’d set his eyes on Lucy. How can I not adore this man? Poor guy, burning inside with all the horny feelings for her and she thinks him a cold fish! That night, Adrian goes to meet with the woman named Anastasia. I was scared that he might give into his lust but he didn’t disappoint. More interesting information comes out of this meeting, revelations of Adrian’s past. He has a darker past that only his father and Anastasia know of. No, she’s not his mistress, has never been but not because she doesn’t want to be. She was actually his father’s mistress, coldly used by him. It was proved over and over again in the story that how emotionless and coldly calculating Adrian’s father was, who used anyone and everyone for his own gains. Anastasia was a poor girl of the East End and beautiful, caught his father’s eyes and served him for as long as the man lived. But if you read this scene, I actually came off respecting the woman a lot. She wasn’t graspy or greedy and she genuinely cared for Adrian’s father. Adrian took care of her ever since, more so since the woman knew about the BG business. In here, she tells him that she’s gotten an entrance to the House of Orpheus through one of her current paramours. It wasn’t revealed who this man was but from some clues I thought this might be Thomas. Adrian asks her to be careful and so on.
Lucy was also getting messages from Thomas to meet with him and come away. She already thought she saw him once in a shadowy corner while coming home from Sussex’s townhouse. Yah, I was scared that a love triangle is going to form here. But thankfully, it didn’t. From his meetings with Orpheus, it was already known that Thomas is indeed involved with him, though the guy doesn’t yet know that he’s also only a pawn to Orpheus’s nefarious plotting and would be gotten rid of when he’s done playing his part. Lucy came home from that ball enraged and a bit put off by Adrian’s ‘flaunting of his paramour’ when she gets Thomas’s latest message. She gives into the temptation of meeting with him, mostly because she wanted answers. And she wanted to know why he’d left her like that, kept her in the dark about the fact that he’s still living. But before she could, Adrian gets a hold of her and Thomas runs away. After that, Adrian takes her to the same house where he just met with Anastasia and starts interrogating her. The interrogation turned to something more intimate, of course. Adrian was a bit foxed so he didn’t hesitate to give her a little taste of the depth of his passion. It was hot! Lucy was left speechless because in her meetings with Thomas, she never experienced an orgasm. Yah! I was clucking, poor girl! And she thought that was a big passion? This definitely leaves her shocked. The next day, she gets a letter about something that Adrian has done which makes her mad again so she decides to pay him a visit. On her visit, she also sees Iain and Jude. In that same ball, Iain behaved abominably with Elizabeth, seeing her strolling and laughing with some earl. Adrian is mad about his reckless behavior because one of the BG code is that they are not supposed to show any sign of recognition in the public places, as he reminds Iain of this. Iain is reckless; he drinks a lot and is troubled no doubt. And his behavior, though harsh, spoke volume of his possessiveness about Elizabeth. But after what he’d done, he deserves a kick on his arse. Another thing that bugged me was how everyone was always calling him something like brutish or barbaric because he’s a highlander and so on. I don’t know because I LOVE Scottish/Highlander heroes so I couldn’t help but think he was being stigmatized for being a Highlander whenever he was careless. Anyway, back to the story, soon when Stonebrook also comes to this little gathering along with Elizabeth and Isabella, it’s known that all the letters were a game from Orpheus. I’m still quite hazy about what he wanted though. And then, Anastasia turns up dead in Adrian’s door with a note that warns him that ‘this could’ve been the red head’- Lucy. Adrian is very concerned for Lucy’s safety now and asks her to listen to his instructions.
Even though Adrian asked her not to go out alone, Lucy still goes to meet with that Scottish fortuneteller and got abducted later. It was Thomas. Funny thing is, they never actually saw each-other as they reunite. There was only one scene between them, in the carriage in which she was being abducted. Lucy was under drug-induced vapor. When Adrian hears of this, he goes insane. He, Jude and Iain venture into Orpheus’s club to rescue her. A few weird things happen here, as Thomas leads Lucy to a room. She was still a bit foggy from absinthe when she sees this man and it was the vision she saw when the fortuneteller hypnotized her. And she sees the pair of eyes too... Of course, it was Adrian and now, his eyes were full of passion. They kiss and fondle, I’m not sure what happened when suddenly Stonebrook, again, is upon them and catches them. Lucy is enraged when her father asks her to marry the duke posthaste. I thought this is going to lead to another of her obnoxious rebellions so I was telling myself if she does that even after all of Adrian’s demonstrations, I’ll kill her for sure! But she doesn’t. Though she was still pouting, she gives in. At some point, when Adrian meets with her, Lucy talks about her friend Gabriel to him and that she still misses him a lot and so on. They marry hastily and were on their way to Sussex country house. The weather was bad so they were forced to retire in some inn on the way.
This journey of theirs was full of revelations. In a few chapters we get to know what Adrian’s dark past holds, that he has a part Scottish heritage, that he was a bastard... there were more explosive ones of course which transformed Lucy’s total reproach of Adrian into such total affection and so soon that it was quite unbelievable for me. I know the reason can be termed as a good one but still, I was going like, is that really her talking to him? Even though they didn’t consummate the marriage at first but it was done soon. The love scene was also a bit hasty. I can only say it was hot but I wasn’t really expecting a love scene there. lol Then Orpheus does what he does best, kills Thomas... He is still planning something nefarious though I’m still not sure about his plans. As I said, hazy, these chapters were. Elizabeth was kidnapped in the end. Adrian and Jude thought Iain is a betrayer because he also disappeared with Elizabeth. But then, he shows up on their doorstep, all beaten up and begging them to help him find Elizabeth, confessing his love for her. So, things are definitely heating up for the final showdown. I don’t think Stonebrook was/is involved with Orpheus. There was a little hint of a man who might be Orpheus. He could be but we have to wait for Temptation & Twilight to reveal that to us. I can’t wait for that book! For Pride & Passion, 4 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 21, 2020
2.75 out of 5 stars.
Way better than the first book! It ended on a cliff hanger which is a first time experience for me. Definitely looking forward to the last book. I suspect I know who the villain is.
Way better than the first book! It ended on a cliff hanger which is a first time experience for me. Definitely looking forward to the last book. I suspect I know who the villain is.
October 24, 2013
”I would die for you.”
Lady Lucy Ashton once thought herself in love, but then she was betrayed and hurt and has decided that she may never be able to have it, even though her dream is to find a man to love and have a small cottage in the country and never have to worry about society or the Ton or expectations. When her father informs her that she must marry, and she will marry the Duke of Sussex, she refuses. But her father is insistent that Adrian will be the man she will marry. Lucy thinks of Adrian as cold and unfeeling and passionless. She knows that a life with him, will be a life without love or passion or tenderness. She isn't willing to give up her dream yet. When her old lover Thomas, thought dead, is very much alive, she is desperate to find him. She has grieved for him, but there is a part of her that loves him. Sussex informs her that it is forbidden to even look for Thomas, for Adrian believes him to be a danger to her. Adrian, has always loved Lucy, and she is everything he could want for a wife. For so many years, the Dukedom has been drilled into him, he puts off the impression that he is cold and unfeeling, but he burns and aches for Lucy. As a Guardian, he has certain responsibilities, but when he sees a connection between Lucy and her ex lover, whom he believes is his enemy, he must find the truth about Lucy, and protect her at all costs. But a danger surfaces, a danger that could threaten all that he holds dear.
This is the second book that I have been able to read by this author, and I have to say that she has scored high again. I decided to try this one through Audible, so was able to listen to it. I have always loved audio books, but don't listen to them too often. So at first I was a bit nervous when I started this, since I had to get used to the accent and the voice of the narrator. However I found I quite enjoyed the accent, and the way she displayed the emotion in the story. It took me about a week to get this listened to, since I would just listen to it at bed, or on my way to work. I found many positive elements to the story and the way Charlotte Featherstone weaves a story together. I would say she is at the top of my list of favorites. I love the way she puts a story together, there is much more to it than a simple regency romance. It has a bit of a darker side to it, but not too dark, but mysterious and exciting and perfect for this time of the year. From the first book, I could hardly wait to read Adrian and Lucy's story. You see the connection they have in the beginning and frankly I was on Adrian's side the whole time!! You see both sides, but I would say I have adored Adrian for quite some time, and you see from the first chapter, how much he genuinely cares for her, and only wants her to feel as he does. I did understand Lucy's dilemma, she has been hurt in the past, and doesn't want to settle. I loved how stubborn she is, and stands up to Adrian. But I thought she was too stubborn and too pigheaded to see what was in front of her.
The plot was exciting and definitely had some shocks, and I loved seeing the suspense and mystery side to the story. It seemed to me that it had such depth and such captivating scenes that instantly draw you into the book, and you can't seem to pull yourself away. There is a certain magical quality I seem to think, to the authors writing, that keeps the reader engaged until the end, and even then keeps you thirsty for more. The danger aspect was quite thrilling, and there were times I was on tender hooks wondering what was going to happen next. Many a time, there was a moment or two that I was a bit tempted to skip ahead, but I wanted to stick with the story, no matter how tense it became. There was quite a few things I liked about the romance in the story. One is that it is more the heroine that has to learn more about love and devotion. I could help but fall in love with Adrian, sexy and handsome, tender and sweet, but beyond possessive, it will curl your toes. Lucy, even though I had a couple issues with her, I felt like there was much more to her than meets the eye. She has a will of iron, and I enjoyed seeing how she stands up to her father and to Adrian. She is willing to wait for love no matter the consequences. The relationship between Adrian and Lucy was full of tension especially in the beginning, but toward the end, there was such a beautiful complexity to it, that just made me green with envy.
Overall I felt like Pride & Passion was packed full with every positive element that makes a romance like this one intimate and heart wrenching. There was quite a certain sensual passion to the love story, and with more than enough suspense and danger to satisfy any thrill craving you may have. A tantalizing read that will satisfy your craving for a sizzling and passion filled romance.
Lady Lucy Ashton once thought herself in love, but then she was betrayed and hurt and has decided that she may never be able to have it, even though her dream is to find a man to love and have a small cottage in the country and never have to worry about society or the Ton or expectations. When her father informs her that she must marry, and she will marry the Duke of Sussex, she refuses. But her father is insistent that Adrian will be the man she will marry. Lucy thinks of Adrian as cold and unfeeling and passionless. She knows that a life with him, will be a life without love or passion or tenderness. She isn't willing to give up her dream yet. When her old lover Thomas, thought dead, is very much alive, she is desperate to find him. She has grieved for him, but there is a part of her that loves him. Sussex informs her that it is forbidden to even look for Thomas, for Adrian believes him to be a danger to her. Adrian, has always loved Lucy, and she is everything he could want for a wife. For so many years, the Dukedom has been drilled into him, he puts off the impression that he is cold and unfeeling, but he burns and aches for Lucy. As a Guardian, he has certain responsibilities, but when he sees a connection between Lucy and her ex lover, whom he believes is his enemy, he must find the truth about Lucy, and protect her at all costs. But a danger surfaces, a danger that could threaten all that he holds dear.
This is the second book that I have been able to read by this author, and I have to say that she has scored high again. I decided to try this one through Audible, so was able to listen to it. I have always loved audio books, but don't listen to them too often. So at first I was a bit nervous when I started this, since I had to get used to the accent and the voice of the narrator. However I found I quite enjoyed the accent, and the way she displayed the emotion in the story. It took me about a week to get this listened to, since I would just listen to it at bed, or on my way to work. I found many positive elements to the story and the way Charlotte Featherstone weaves a story together. I would say she is at the top of my list of favorites. I love the way she puts a story together, there is much more to it than a simple regency romance. It has a bit of a darker side to it, but not too dark, but mysterious and exciting and perfect for this time of the year. From the first book, I could hardly wait to read Adrian and Lucy's story. You see the connection they have in the beginning and frankly I was on Adrian's side the whole time!! You see both sides, but I would say I have adored Adrian for quite some time, and you see from the first chapter, how much he genuinely cares for her, and only wants her to feel as he does. I did understand Lucy's dilemma, she has been hurt in the past, and doesn't want to settle. I loved how stubborn she is, and stands up to Adrian. But I thought she was too stubborn and too pigheaded to see what was in front of her.
The plot was exciting and definitely had some shocks, and I loved seeing the suspense and mystery side to the story. It seemed to me that it had such depth and such captivating scenes that instantly draw you into the book, and you can't seem to pull yourself away. There is a certain magical quality I seem to think, to the authors writing, that keeps the reader engaged until the end, and even then keeps you thirsty for more. The danger aspect was quite thrilling, and there were times I was on tender hooks wondering what was going to happen next. Many a time, there was a moment or two that I was a bit tempted to skip ahead, but I wanted to stick with the story, no matter how tense it became. There was quite a few things I liked about the romance in the story. One is that it is more the heroine that has to learn more about love and devotion. I could help but fall in love with Adrian, sexy and handsome, tender and sweet, but beyond possessive, it will curl your toes. Lucy, even though I had a couple issues with her, I felt like there was much more to her than meets the eye. She has a will of iron, and I enjoyed seeing how she stands up to her father and to Adrian. She is willing to wait for love no matter the consequences. The relationship between Adrian and Lucy was full of tension especially in the beginning, but toward the end, there was such a beautiful complexity to it, that just made me green with envy.
Overall I felt like Pride & Passion was packed full with every positive element that makes a romance like this one intimate and heart wrenching. There was quite a certain sensual passion to the love story, and with more than enough suspense and danger to satisfy any thrill craving you may have. A tantalizing read that will satisfy your craving for a sizzling and passion filled romance.
December 9, 2011
Story Rating 5 star
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance Rating 5 stars
Heat Level 3 stars
Overall Rating 4.5 stars
I loved the way this book just flowed for me. The story grabbed me from the start.
I really liked all the characters in this book and absolutely LOVED the hero Adrian, he was soo passionate.
This story also had some angst to it and I thought that part of the story really well done.
What made me rate this book 4.5 and not 5 was the fact that the heat level was not quite where I wanted it to be. I did not mind waiting until 85% for the H&h to make love and the first scene was marvelous but the next two just paled in comparison and I'm not use to that coming from Charlotte. Maybe I should take into consideration that this book was published by HQN but I remembered that in book one in this series I was happy with the overall heat level.
The only other negative thing I have to say is that this is a 3 book series that tell's a continuous story. I absolutely HATE that they have been released 6 months apart because I forget some of the story. This was book 2 and man did it leave us hanging and wanting to know what is going to happen next. Now I have to wait 6 month's and I want it NOW! Those of you out there thinking about reading this series, I'd say wait until Temptation & Twilight comes out 6-1-2012 and read them so you don't have to wait to find out how the story will ends.
Character Rating 5 stars
Romance Rating 5 stars
Heat Level 3 stars
Overall Rating 4.5 stars
I loved the way this book just flowed for me. The story grabbed me from the start.
I really liked all the characters in this book and absolutely LOVED the hero Adrian, he was soo passionate.
This story also had some angst to it and I thought that part of the story really well done.
What made me rate this book 4.5 and not 5 was the fact that the heat level was not quite where I wanted it to be. I did not mind waiting until 85% for the H&h to make love and the first scene was marvelous but the next two just paled in comparison and I'm not use to that coming from Charlotte. Maybe I should take into consideration that this book was published by HQN but I remembered that in book one in this series I was happy with the overall heat level.
The only other negative thing I have to say is that this is a 3 book series that tell's a continuous story. I absolutely HATE that they have been released 6 months apart because I forget some of the story. This was book 2 and man did it leave us hanging and wanting to know what is going to happen next. Now I have to wait 6 month's and I want it NOW! Those of you out there thinking about reading this series, I'd say wait until Temptation & Twilight comes out 6-1-2012 and read them so you don't have to wait to find out how the story will ends.
April 7, 2016
Puno bolje od prvog dela trilogije. Neke tajne su otkrivene, a ja već naslućujem ko je ludak koji sebe naziva Orfejem.
Jedva čekam da pročitam treći deo i saznam da li sam pogodila.
Jedva čekam da pročitam treći deo i saznam da li sam pogodila.
May 11, 2012
WONDERFULLY AMAZING!!!!
They each have their secrets but what they share is passion.
Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarefied society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game - flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when - and who - she's supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can as least give her a family, a home of her own, and a place to belong. When her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried.
Let me just start by saying that the moment that I finished Seduction & Scandal I have been just itching for Pride Passion the second installment in The Brethren Guardians Series and OMG, I was NOT disappointed!! Sussex intrigued me from the very moment we met him but I was not so sure about Lucy, she seemed a little prickly and fought Sussex at every turn but boy was I wrong!! I can't give too much away in my review, especially since this book has not even been released yet. I am basically only writing this to rave about how fantastic this book was and if you are a lover of a really good historical this series is a must read!! There is mystery, scandal, intrigue, great sex, and a fantastic twist that actually had me reading the page a second time to make sure I read what I thought I read!! :) - I am anxiously awaiting the third installment of this series, Temptation & Twilight, as I am hopelessly in love with the Marquis of Alynwick, well that, and I can't wait to see how this all ends!! Way to go Charlotte, I loved every minute!!!!
Duke of Sussex...
****This book was provided to me as an ARC by Netgalley
They each have their secrets but what they share is passion.
Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarefied society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game - flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when - and who - she's supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can as least give her a family, a home of her own, and a place to belong. When her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried.
Let me just start by saying that the moment that I finished Seduction & Scandal I have been just itching for Pride Passion the second installment in The Brethren Guardians Series and OMG, I was NOT disappointed!! Sussex intrigued me from the very moment we met him but I was not so sure about Lucy, she seemed a little prickly and fought Sussex at every turn but boy was I wrong!! I can't give too much away in my review, especially since this book has not even been released yet. I am basically only writing this to rave about how fantastic this book was and if you are a lover of a really good historical this series is a must read!! There is mystery, scandal, intrigue, great sex, and a fantastic twist that actually had me reading the page a second time to make sure I read what I thought I read!! :) - I am anxiously awaiting the third installment of this series, Temptation & Twilight, as I am hopelessly in love with the Marquis of Alynwick, well that, and I can't wait to see how this all ends!! Way to go Charlotte, I loved every minute!!!!
Duke of Sussex...
****This book was provided to me as an ARC by Netgalley
November 23, 2011
Let me start out by saying how much I enjoyed this book. It spared me many of the frustrating tropes I usually find in historicals. The heroine isn't a ninny or a virgin. The love isn't instantatious. And there is no great misunderstanding. It was a solid romance, with good sex, and enough danger to kick it all up a notch.
We first met Lucy back in Seduction & Scandal. She is desperately trying to find her former lover Thomas, who she had thought died in a fire. But not only is he alive, but he is somehow wrapped up in a nefarious group, trying to obtain ancient artifacts of the Templar Knights. Adrian, the Duke of Sussex, even claims he saw Thomas kill a man. But Lucy holds out hope she'll be reunited with the man she thought she loved.
Sussex is on a mission to make Lucy his own. It's made very, very obvious from the beginning that he is hiding a secret. (And it doesn't take a rocket science to determine his true identity.) But no matter how much he pines for Lucy, she doesn't return his affections. It's really kind of sad, but the thing is... she can't love him because he hides who he really is. He presents himself with a mask of propriety, but once he begins to allow his mask to fall and his passion to shine through, Lucy doesn't stand a chance.
Even though the "big reveal" of Sussex's secret was no surprise, it was still very poignant. I just wanted to step inside the book and give him a great big hug. How could it take Lucy so long to see what was right before her eyes?? The love story is good... and the sex is hooooot. All this with the backdrop of the mystery set up in the last book. Who is trying to steal the ancient artifacts? And how far will he go to get what he wants? I feel very certain I know the identity of the villain's lover, but I change my mind every five minutes about who the big bad really is.
I really liked the b-plot story surrounding Elizabeth and Alynwick. I'm already in a tizzy waiting for their book to come out! Especially since this one ended on a cliffhanger. How am I supposed to wait until July to find out what happens??
4 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
We first met Lucy back in Seduction & Scandal. She is desperately trying to find her former lover Thomas, who she had thought died in a fire. But not only is he alive, but he is somehow wrapped up in a nefarious group, trying to obtain ancient artifacts of the Templar Knights. Adrian, the Duke of Sussex, even claims he saw Thomas kill a man. But Lucy holds out hope she'll be reunited with the man she thought she loved.
Sussex is on a mission to make Lucy his own. It's made very, very obvious from the beginning that he is hiding a secret. (And it doesn't take a rocket science to determine his true identity.) But no matter how much he pines for Lucy, she doesn't return his affections. It's really kind of sad, but the thing is... she can't love him because he hides who he really is. He presents himself with a mask of propriety, but once he begins to allow his mask to fall and his passion to shine through, Lucy doesn't stand a chance.
Even though the "big reveal" of Sussex's secret was no surprise, it was still very poignant. I just wanted to step inside the book and give him a great big hug. How could it take Lucy so long to see what was right before her eyes?? The love story is good... and the sex is hooooot. All this with the backdrop of the mystery set up in the last book. Who is trying to steal the ancient artifacts? And how far will he go to get what he wants? I feel very certain I know the identity of the villain's lover, but I change my mind every five minutes about who the big bad really is.
I really liked the b-plot story surrounding Elizabeth and Alynwick. I'm already in a tizzy waiting for their book to come out! Especially since this one ended on a cliffhanger. How am I supposed to wait until July to find out what happens??
4 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
August 16, 2020
“Let us be enemies, as we had mutually agreed upon a fortnight ago.”
Better than Seduction & Scandal because the mystery was about the identity of Orpheus rather than vaguely magical objects, and although Lucy resisted Adrian, they had their fair share of spicy scenes. Adrian’s secret past was obvious but really satisfying -I am a sucker for OTP backstories. Even without it, I love heroes like Adrian - the priggish duke with secret layers like an onion archetype. Couple B once again stole the show. If you've been reading the series chronologically, you may understand what I mean when I say Lucy and Adrian are the interesting couple in Seduction & Scandal. In their own story, however, Iain and Lizzy prove to be the showstoppers in Pride & Passion because they simply have some of the most fun and dramatic scenes. Overall, liked this more than the first one. Also ends in a cliffhanger too.
Better than Seduction & Scandal because the mystery was about the identity of Orpheus rather than vaguely magical objects, and although Lucy resisted Adrian, they had their fair share of spicy scenes. Adrian’s secret past was obvious but really satisfying -I am a sucker for OTP backstories. Even without it, I love heroes like Adrian - the priggish duke with secret layers like an onion archetype. Couple B once again stole the show. If you've been reading the series chronologically, you may understand what I mean when I say Lucy and Adrian are the interesting couple in Seduction & Scandal. In their own story, however, Iain and Lizzy prove to be the showstoppers in Pride & Passion because they simply have some of the most fun and dramatic scenes. Overall, liked this more than the first one. Also ends in a cliffhanger too.
August 30, 2011
Where is the six star option when you need it?? Absolutely fantastic! I have experienced every emotion possible while reading this book and I am left wanting the next book in this series RIGHT NOW!! Brilliantly written in such an erotic and sensual way, I may have to read it again. AMAZING! Full review to come closer to release date.
November 19, 2011
This is the second book in Charlotte Featherstone's series, The Brethren Guardians. I haven't read the first or the third books (this was the only one available in NetGalley), and I never will.
Our main characters are Lucy (who, in a novel twist, is not a virgin and actually has a lover that she can't stop talking about how "passionately" she feels for him) and Adrian (who, of course, is in the I-can't-breathe-for-lusting over Lucy stage). In the first couple of chapters, I was excited where this story was going. We had an interesting love triangle:
Lucy loves Thomas, her lover, who might be a murderer, hell-bent on destroying the Brethren Guardians (I'm not going to explain who/what the Guardians are because, honestly, I'm not really sure myself and I read four hundred pages about it. It has something to do with, I think, the Knights Templar and chalices and things like that. But don't worry--it honestly doesn't matter). Thomas died in a fire (OR DID HE?), leaving Lucy alone and heartbroken. Adrian, the duke, loves Lucy to pieces and is eaten up by Lucy's dalliance with Thomas, who he saw murder a Brethren member in cold blood. Adrian is scared that Lucy is in danger, and is also frustrated that Lucy cannot see how much he loves her. She keeps accusing him of being "passionless" which is, according to Adrian, so not true. He's full of passion for her.
Interesting, yeah? I was very excited to unravel the complications... but then I started reading. And things went downhill from there.
Featherstone can write. I'll give her that. It's the only reason why I gave this book two stars. It's her characters and pacing I have a problem with.
This book is nearly four hundred pages, and I knew I was in trouble when I got bored near the 120-page mark. But I powered through and finished it--only for it to end on a cliffhanger. Not okay, Charlotte. Not okay at all. I get that you want your readers to be excited for the next installment of your series. I get that you want them foaming at the mouth and camping outside their local Barnes and Noble on the release date, but seriously. Could you at least tie a few things up? Three pages from the end, you tell us the identity of the villain.
Speaking of, yes, let's talk about your pacing. Literally nothing other than character introductions happens in the first one hundred pages. Nothing. I have a note that says, "Nothing happens in the first 100 pgs. Nothing but simmering lust on Adrian end and hatred (for Adrian) and longing (for Thomas) on Lucy's."
I was hoping it was just a slow start and the action would start to pick up once I hit halfway. But, alas... Nothing happens. I'm trying to think of a way I can describe the plot, but I can't, because there really isn't one. So I'll describe the characters and their "problems."
Lucy-- Was a disappointment to her father because she was born a girl. Her dad is not the nice kind. He's the kind that tries to manipulate her and uses her as a pawn in his powerplays. He's the kind that looks at the non-aristocracy and calls them "gutter rats" and things like that. He's the kind that takes a woman from the seedy alleys of St. Giles and makes her into a prime courtesan so he can feel superior and prideful that he created this diamond from the rough. He's, in a word, unpleasant. Lucy was very lonely growing up and the only friendship she had was with a boy, Gabriel, who worked for the butcher. When Lucy's father heard about this, he threw Gabriel out, called him names, and told him he'd never be good enough for Lucy. Lucy was devastated. She only wants to find someone who will love her for her, not for what her money and blue blood can do for them.
She constantly talks about how important "passion" is for her. She rejects love in favor of passion, because love can hurt.
It was then, after the tears had been shed and dried, that Lucy had somehow allowed her fanciful dreams of love to die, only to be resurrected as something harder, and less painful. It became a pursuit not of love, but of passion.
Adrian-- Loves Lucy. Had a hard childhood with a father who tried to mold him into "the perfect duke." That kind of thing. Feels heavily the weight of his dukedom and his responsibilities to the Brethren. This is why he comes off as cold to Lucy.
That being said, on page 144, I wrote, "I don't believe the attraction."Because I don't. Lucy is a selfish, spoiled brat. She's annoying, and it frustrates me when she's so mean to Adrian. Adrian, on the other hand, what the hell do you see in her? She's not nice to you, and she has nothing to offer. She's... blah. All she does is whine about her lost love, Thomas, and she didn't even love him that much. She's not funny, she's not brave, she's... unremarkable.
When Adrian shows Lucy how passionate he is about her, her only problem with him, really, she still doesn't like him. Adrian is more passionate than Lucy's Thomas, and I don't get why she hates Adrian so much.
Anyway. Things happen, they hook up, Lucy dislikes him (again? still?), something "dangerous" occurs, a threat against Lucy happens (nothing really comes of it), and through a misunderstanding, Lucy and Adrian wind up hitched. Lucy is none too pleased.
"This is not how I wanted it to be, but I'm too ruthless and determined to regret it. I wanted you, and now I have you. I intend to keep you, Lucy. And I will do anything to make certain that you stay where you belong--by my side."
"Is that all that matters to you? Am I some prize to be won?"
"No. But Lucy? You are my most treasured possession, and I will keep you just as safe as you have kept that little piece of carved wood."
-pg 297
Guh.
With 78 pages left, they decide they can finally "get to know one another." This is when Featherstone goes, "Oh, MAN! I have less than 100 pages to wrap this relationship up! Let's rush!"
...Or so I assume, because I (A) don't buy it and (B) don't understand it.
They hook up again in a country inn during a snowstorm (of course), and, again, the milestones gained in this relationship make no sense. Lucy somehow falls in love with Adrian during sex, but when she wakes up, Adrian's just as cold and frosty to her as she assumed he was in the beginning of the story. Why? I don't know.
Then The Twist comes along. Ohhhh, The Twist. I did not see it coming, to be honest. It was... unbelievable, and by that I mean I didn't believe it at all. I wrote "WTF?!" in the margins. It was unnecessary, dumb, and completely out of left field. I think The Twist was supposed to make Lucy's change of heart understandable, but instead I was just taken aback. When Adrian defrosts and declares his utmost love for Lucy, my eyebrow rose to Everest heights and I couldn't help but read the passage extremely critically and in disbelief. This is not how you want your reader to feel about your main character's outpouring of love.
OH. And then--puppy birthing brings them together?!
Yeah. Okay.
Best part though? When Lucy had a moment of self-discovery, and I, for once, completely agreed with her.
This was self-reflection, a moment of discovery, when one looks deeply within and realizes that one was a horrible human being who cared only about her own wishes.
-pg 313
You think?
Two stars. Only reason why I'm not giving it one? Because it was well-written. The pacing, the characterization, the cliffhanger, the nothing-happens...? Well, at least it didn't have any run-ons, and it was easy to read.
Pass, Charlotte Featherstone. Pass.
Read more reviews at maggiehasabookproblem.blogspot.com
Our main characters are Lucy (who, in a novel twist, is not a virgin and actually has a lover that she can't stop talking about how "passionately" she feels for him) and Adrian (who, of course, is in the I-can't-breathe-for-lusting over Lucy stage). In the first couple of chapters, I was excited where this story was going. We had an interesting love triangle:
Lucy loves Thomas, her lover, who might be a murderer, hell-bent on destroying the Brethren Guardians (I'm not going to explain who/what the Guardians are because, honestly, I'm not really sure myself and I read four hundred pages about it. It has something to do with, I think, the Knights Templar and chalices and things like that. But don't worry--it honestly doesn't matter). Thomas died in a fire (OR DID HE?), leaving Lucy alone and heartbroken. Adrian, the duke, loves Lucy to pieces and is eaten up by Lucy's dalliance with Thomas, who he saw murder a Brethren member in cold blood. Adrian is scared that Lucy is in danger, and is also frustrated that Lucy cannot see how much he loves her. She keeps accusing him of being "passionless" which is, according to Adrian, so not true. He's full of passion for her.
Interesting, yeah? I was very excited to unravel the complications... but then I started reading. And things went downhill from there.
Featherstone can write. I'll give her that. It's the only reason why I gave this book two stars. It's her characters and pacing I have a problem with.
This book is nearly four hundred pages, and I knew I was in trouble when I got bored near the 120-page mark. But I powered through and finished it--only for it to end on a cliffhanger. Not okay, Charlotte. Not okay at all. I get that you want your readers to be excited for the next installment of your series. I get that you want them foaming at the mouth and camping outside their local Barnes and Noble on the release date, but seriously. Could you at least tie a few things up? Three pages from the end, you tell us the identity of the villain.
Speaking of, yes, let's talk about your pacing. Literally nothing other than character introductions happens in the first one hundred pages. Nothing. I have a note that says, "Nothing happens in the first 100 pgs. Nothing but simmering lust on Adrian end and hatred (for Adrian) and longing (for Thomas) on Lucy's."
I was hoping it was just a slow start and the action would start to pick up once I hit halfway. But, alas... Nothing happens. I'm trying to think of a way I can describe the plot, but I can't, because there really isn't one. So I'll describe the characters and their "problems."
Lucy-- Was a disappointment to her father because she was born a girl. Her dad is not the nice kind. He's the kind that tries to manipulate her and uses her as a pawn in his powerplays. He's the kind that looks at the non-aristocracy and calls them "gutter rats" and things like that. He's the kind that takes a woman from the seedy alleys of St. Giles and makes her into a prime courtesan so he can feel superior and prideful that he created this diamond from the rough. He's, in a word, unpleasant. Lucy was very lonely growing up and the only friendship she had was with a boy, Gabriel, who worked for the butcher. When Lucy's father heard about this, he threw Gabriel out, called him names, and told him he'd never be good enough for Lucy. Lucy was devastated. She only wants to find someone who will love her for her, not for what her money and blue blood can do for them.
She constantly talks about how important "passion" is for her. She rejects love in favor of passion, because love can hurt.
It was then, after the tears had been shed and dried, that Lucy had somehow allowed her fanciful dreams of love to die, only to be resurrected as something harder, and less painful. It became a pursuit not of love, but of passion.
Adrian-- Loves Lucy. Had a hard childhood with a father who tried to mold him into "the perfect duke." That kind of thing. Feels heavily the weight of his dukedom and his responsibilities to the Brethren. This is why he comes off as cold to Lucy.
That being said, on page 144, I wrote, "I don't believe the attraction."Because I don't. Lucy is a selfish, spoiled brat. She's annoying, and it frustrates me when she's so mean to Adrian. Adrian, on the other hand, what the hell do you see in her? She's not nice to you, and she has nothing to offer. She's... blah. All she does is whine about her lost love, Thomas, and she didn't even love him that much. She's not funny, she's not brave, she's... unremarkable.
When Adrian shows Lucy how passionate he is about her, her only problem with him, really, she still doesn't like him. Adrian is more passionate than Lucy's Thomas, and I don't get why she hates Adrian so much.
Anyway. Things happen, they hook up, Lucy dislikes him (again? still?), something "dangerous" occurs, a threat against Lucy happens (nothing really comes of it), and through a misunderstanding, Lucy and Adrian wind up hitched. Lucy is none too pleased.
"This is not how I wanted it to be, but I'm too ruthless and determined to regret it. I wanted you, and now I have you. I intend to keep you, Lucy. And I will do anything to make certain that you stay where you belong--by my side."
"Is that all that matters to you? Am I some prize to be won?"
"No. But Lucy? You are my most treasured possession, and I will keep you just as safe as you have kept that little piece of carved wood."
-pg 297
Guh.
With 78 pages left, they decide they can finally "get to know one another." This is when Featherstone goes, "Oh, MAN! I have less than 100 pages to wrap this relationship up! Let's rush!"
...Or so I assume, because I (A) don't buy it and (B) don't understand it.
They hook up again in a country inn during a snowstorm (of course), and, again, the milestones gained in this relationship make no sense. Lucy somehow falls in love with Adrian during sex, but when she wakes up, Adrian's just as cold and frosty to her as she assumed he was in the beginning of the story. Why? I don't know.
Then The Twist comes along. Ohhhh, The Twist. I did not see it coming, to be honest. It was... unbelievable, and by that I mean I didn't believe it at all. I wrote "WTF?!" in the margins. It was unnecessary, dumb, and completely out of left field. I think The Twist was supposed to make Lucy's change of heart understandable, but instead I was just taken aback. When Adrian defrosts and declares his utmost love for Lucy, my eyebrow rose to Everest heights and I couldn't help but read the passage extremely critically and in disbelief. This is not how you want your reader to feel about your main character's outpouring of love.
OH. And then--puppy birthing brings them together?!
Yeah. Okay.
Best part though? When Lucy had a moment of self-discovery, and I, for once, completely agreed with her.
This was self-reflection, a moment of discovery, when one looks deeply within and realizes that one was a horrible human being who cared only about her own wishes.
-pg 313
You think?
Two stars. Only reason why I'm not giving it one? Because it was well-written. The pacing, the characterization, the cliffhanger, the nothing-happens...? Well, at least it didn't have any run-ons, and it was easy to read.
Pass, Charlotte Featherstone. Pass.
Read more reviews at maggiehasabookproblem.blogspot.com
October 29, 2011
This one is really hard for me to review. I really struggled with the first 25-30% of it. I had to force myself to pick it up, and then I essentially gave up and read a few other books. The first book in the series Seduction & Scandal was OK for me, but I found the writing style really heavy at the beginning, until the story had developed enough to have momentum. This book was exactly the same, but with some additional issues.
- At the start of this book, the heroine, Lucy, appears to have had a personality transplant from Seduction & Scandal, from a despairing, bordering on unpleasant, but resolute lost soul, to a wet dish cloth, and it doesn't do her any favors. I really liked her in the previous book. It was refreshing to have a heroine who wasn't nice all the time and was a real mixture of the bitchy and the guilty. She was full of passion, full of despair, full of pain and constantly switching between venom and unadulterated, caring love for Isabel. She seemed unique and interesting, but at the start of this book she seems rather uninspiring and bland.
- There were references to the heroine feeling something when the Duke is around, but not knowing what the feeling is. I really don't like it when protagonists get these feelings. It's just plain silly. Is it love? Is it indigestion? Should I really have had that third helping of jellied eels? Oh please!
- Now, this one is a bit odd of me, but I really don't like the names of the heroines. Now, I'll concede that some authors give their historical heroines completely unlikely names like Chelsea or Florentina or something similar, but come on, Lucy, Issy and Lizzy?? Say that quickly, and with a lisp...
- On every page in the first half, we're told how dull the poor hero is, how driven by duty and responsibility, how upright and uptight he is. Yet, the whole narrative concerning him, his inner dialogue and his dialogue is full of passion, emotion and barely restrained control. I don't believe he's cold, and, more importantly, unless I'd read the first book, I would struggle to believe that anyone else could consider him cold. In short, we're told one thing, but led to believe another. Now, in Seduction & Scandal, Sussex is a cold fish, but why should you have to read the first book to know that?
- There were some places where I just got lost. I couldn't quite figure out where the protagonists were, or what they were doing.
Now, having said all this, about half-way through, this book turns into a fabulous, rich, well-written story, with two incredibly sympathetic and interesting characters. The writing became incredibly sensuous, and passion between the hero and heroine was just beautiful and it felt like a different story altogether. That's why I'm giving this 3 stars. After going back to it for a second time, I was totally pulled into this book. I just wish it could have been like that the whole way through...
3 stars. I liked it (overall). I received this book through netgalley.
- At the start of this book, the heroine, Lucy, appears to have had a personality transplant from Seduction & Scandal, from a despairing, bordering on unpleasant, but resolute lost soul, to a wet dish cloth, and it doesn't do her any favors. I really liked her in the previous book. It was refreshing to have a heroine who wasn't nice all the time and was a real mixture of the bitchy and the guilty. She was full of passion, full of despair, full of pain and constantly switching between venom and unadulterated, caring love for Isabel. She seemed unique and interesting, but at the start of this book she seems rather uninspiring and bland.
- There were references to the heroine feeling something when the Duke is around, but not knowing what the feeling is. I really don't like it when protagonists get these feelings. It's just plain silly. Is it love? Is it indigestion? Should I really have had that third helping of jellied eels? Oh please!
- Now, this one is a bit odd of me, but I really don't like the names of the heroines. Now, I'll concede that some authors give their historical heroines completely unlikely names like Chelsea or Florentina or something similar, but come on, Lucy, Issy and Lizzy?? Say that quickly, and with a lisp...
- On every page in the first half, we're told how dull the poor hero is, how driven by duty and responsibility, how upright and uptight he is. Yet, the whole narrative concerning him, his inner dialogue and his dialogue is full of passion, emotion and barely restrained control. I don't believe he's cold, and, more importantly, unless I'd read the first book, I would struggle to believe that anyone else could consider him cold. In short, we're told one thing, but led to believe another. Now, in Seduction & Scandal, Sussex is a cold fish, but why should you have to read the first book to know that?
- There were some places where I just got lost. I couldn't quite figure out where the protagonists were, or what they were doing.
Now, having said all this, about half-way through, this book turns into a fabulous, rich, well-written story, with two incredibly sympathetic and interesting characters. The writing became incredibly sensuous, and passion between the hero and heroine was just beautiful and it felt like a different story altogether. That's why I'm giving this 3 stars. After going back to it for a second time, I was totally pulled into this book. I just wish it could have been like that the whole way through...
3 stars. I liked it (overall). I received this book through netgalley.
November 1, 2011
Grade: B+
Let me start off by saying that Historicals are just not my favorite genre to read. The chaperones, the sweltering clothes, the heaving bosoms and the “OMG I will die and be burned at the stake if someone sees us within 3 feet of each other!’ drive me insane. I could never have lived back when woman were treated as objects to be owned, and were forced to marry in order to better their station in ‘life’, if that is what you call what they are living. But I am digressing and this is a review of the Brethren Guardians, Book number Two, “Pride and Passion” by Charlotte Featherstone.
It really is imperative to read book one, “Seduction and Scandal”, before embarking on this latest Charlotte Featherstone Journey. Of course, she gives you enough information that you won’t be lost, but you will lose a lot of Lucy and Sussex interactions that were in “Seduction and Scandal” and further the story ARC of “Pride and Passion”.
Lucy Ashton has been searching for her lover for over Eight months. He took her innocence, and was presumed dead after a fire at his home. In those Eight months Lucy has been grieving, and looking for answers in the swanky new occults that have popped up. Seances, fortune telling, and ghost hunting. So far, she had found nothing. Until the Climax of Book One that is which has her lover giving her handkerchief to Sussex to return to Lucy, thereby proving that Thomas lives…and leaving Sussex in a Rage.
Lord Adrian Sussex, Duke, has been in love with Lucy since we start reading of the Brethren. Though the readers aren’t privy to why, until the latter half of his book. And what a story that revelation was, with major consequences, which gears up for the final climax of the Trilogy in book three “Temptation and Twilight” {Due out July 2012—OMG I have to wait that long to find out about Alynwick and Lizzy? Say it isn’t so!}
Digressing again. Sorry about that.
Most of Pride and Passion {For Lucy} revolves around trying to find out whether Thomas is part of Orpheus and has anything to do with the killing and attempted stealing of the Brethren artifacts for world domination. This novel had less action, but more tension than Seduction and Scandal.
I LOVED Adrian, Lord Sussex. He was such a great, brooding, Alpha—dirty talking and full of passion he keeps leashed, until finally, he can’t hold it in anymore and shows Lucy who he really is. It was delicious.
Part of me really likes Lucy, but most of me is frustrated by her character. I get that she has an ingrained loyalty to her first lover, and is unwilling to see past the exterior that the Duke portrays to the TON, to the inside, but I think most of her just refuses to see him, because she is conflicted and in love with two other men from her past. One, a boy, and the other, her lover. Where does Adrian fit in to the equation? You’ll have to witness for yourself, I don’t think you would believe me if I told you =)
I know who Orpheus is now, and I cannot wait to see how things resolve.
The last thing I want to talk about is Mr. Rake himself– Iian Alynwick, and her Grace, Elizabeth York. They have a history, and it’s sordid and cruel. It makes me really angry at Alynwick. If you are a fan of Rakish Hero’s who {hopefully} Redeem themselves, then stay tuned for book Three featuring a Bad boy and an Angel.
Badass Book Reviews
Let me start off by saying that Historicals are just not my favorite genre to read. The chaperones, the sweltering clothes, the heaving bosoms and the “OMG I will die and be burned at the stake if someone sees us within 3 feet of each other!’ drive me insane. I could never have lived back when woman were treated as objects to be owned, and were forced to marry in order to better their station in ‘life’, if that is what you call what they are living. But I am digressing and this is a review of the Brethren Guardians, Book number Two, “Pride and Passion” by Charlotte Featherstone.
It really is imperative to read book one, “Seduction and Scandal”, before embarking on this latest Charlotte Featherstone Journey. Of course, she gives you enough information that you won’t be lost, but you will lose a lot of Lucy and Sussex interactions that were in “Seduction and Scandal” and further the story ARC of “Pride and Passion”.
Lucy Ashton has been searching for her lover for over Eight months. He took her innocence, and was presumed dead after a fire at his home. In those Eight months Lucy has been grieving, and looking for answers in the swanky new occults that have popped up. Seances, fortune telling, and ghost hunting. So far, she had found nothing. Until the Climax of Book One that is which has her lover giving her handkerchief to Sussex to return to Lucy, thereby proving that Thomas lives…and leaving Sussex in a Rage.
Lord Adrian Sussex, Duke, has been in love with Lucy since we start reading of the Brethren. Though the readers aren’t privy to why, until the latter half of his book. And what a story that revelation was, with major consequences, which gears up for the final climax of the Trilogy in book three “Temptation and Twilight” {Due out July 2012—OMG I have to wait that long to find out about Alynwick and Lizzy? Say it isn’t so!}
Digressing again. Sorry about that.
Most of Pride and Passion {For Lucy} revolves around trying to find out whether Thomas is part of Orpheus and has anything to do with the killing and attempted stealing of the Brethren artifacts for world domination. This novel had less action, but more tension than Seduction and Scandal.
I LOVED Adrian, Lord Sussex. He was such a great, brooding, Alpha—dirty talking and full of passion he keeps leashed, until finally, he can’t hold it in anymore and shows Lucy who he really is. It was delicious.
Part of me really likes Lucy, but most of me is frustrated by her character. I get that she has an ingrained loyalty to her first lover, and is unwilling to see past the exterior that the Duke portrays to the TON, to the inside, but I think most of her just refuses to see him, because she is conflicted and in love with two other men from her past. One, a boy, and the other, her lover. Where does Adrian fit in to the equation? You’ll have to witness for yourself, I don’t think you would believe me if I told you =)
I know who Orpheus is now, and I cannot wait to see how things resolve.
The last thing I want to talk about is Mr. Rake himself– Iian Alynwick, and her Grace, Elizabeth York. They have a history, and it’s sordid and cruel. It makes me really angry at Alynwick. If you are a fan of Rakish Hero’s who {hopefully} Redeem themselves, then stay tuned for book Three featuring a Bad boy and an Angel.
Badass Book Reviews
January 21, 2019
"They had become enemies that morning, but it was a strange sort of opposition, one that seemed to be drawing them closer to one another, not pulling them apart."To those who want to read this book: the blurb talks about a marriage of convenience (of sorts) between Adrian and Lucy. Please bear in mind that they don't get married until 73% of the book. The blurb is kind of wrong about Lucy's motivation for the marriage as well and there's a mystery arc that started in the previous book and will conclude in the final book of the trilogy.
I've been intrigued about Lucy and Adrian's relationship since book 1 of the series. Adrian is in love with Lucy, but she thinks he's priggish and stuffy. She's very antagonistic towards him, while he is 110% pining for her. I'm not the biggest Lucy fan to be honest, although she did improve by the end of the book (character development). At first, I felt for her and could understand why she was so reluctant to see Adrian's feelings for what they were. I could understand her aching loneliness because I've been there myself. There is understandably a lot of tension between Adrian and Lucy, a lot of pining and unresolved lust on Adrian's part, and a body and mind awakening on Lucy's part as she starts to see Adrian more clearly. Things between them start improving and the scene where Adrian finally snaps is a thing of beauty, phew. I really enjoyed the relationship development. There are so many tropes here that I enjoy. But something happens in the last third of the book that leads to a minor misunderstanding between Lucy and Adrian. This misunderstanding was unnecessary and it was used as a plot device to exacerbate the angst. But thankfully, it didn't last too long. The pacing was also a little weird, but not weird enough to throw me off my game.
The romance was a HOT and steamy AF slow burn. The chemistry. The tension. The PINING. When Adrian FINALLY snaps and acts. Absolute romance perfection. Ms. Featherstone is a master at writing sexual tension. It's exactly what I was looking for. This series is gothic in nature, with a few paranormal elements thrown in there to accentuate the mystery surrounding the man who is out to get the Brethren Guardians. The supernatural elements were much more obvious in the first book. In this book, the supernatural more or less has to do with psychics and destiny. There is also a mystery surrounding Adrian that I figured out at the very beginning, but that was nevertheless exciting to read about. The mysteries in this book were much more engaging and less confusing than in book 1, where I was just confused with all the death nonsense.
About the secret identities of Orpheus and the woman helping him...I HAVE NO CLUE. Well, okay, I have no clue about the woman's identity. But I think Orpheus's identity was revealed? But who knows? I have an inkling that it's a red herring. I think Orpheus is someone else...tied to Adrian's past. Man, I'm 110% invested in this mystery!!! Lizzy's fate hangs in the balance and I CAN'T WAIT TO READ THE NEXT BOOK!!!!!!!!!!
October 29, 2011
Lucy Ashton has basically brought herself up after her mildly selfish parents only paid her some attention when it was beneficial to them. Now with her mother gone and having been all but ignored by her father, she is loathe to accept his decision that she marry Adrian, the stuffy Duke of Sussex. Lucy has been brought up to know her duty but she just can not bear it to be to Sussex. After basically telling her he would curb her impulsive, bold nature she dislikes him even more. But the final straw comes when Sussex hands Lucy a handkerchief, a handkerchief that came from the man Lucy loves and is part of her shameful secret, a man that killed another in front of Sussex and is an enemy of the Brethren Guardians. Lucy refuses to believe that Thomas would kill anyone and be an enemy to Sussex and his two friends, who are the Brethren Guardians and trusted with keeping an evil from surfacing.
Adrian is at a bit of a crossroads. He knows and believes what he saw but convincing Lucy of that is proving to be difficult and dangerous. Plus his past comes back to haunt and devastate him as well. Adrian has quite a secret that he is uncertain that he wants anyone, especially Lucy, to find out. But when circumstances force Lucy and Adrian to spend time together, feelings explode and secrets slowly tumble out.
Overall, this is another beautifully written book by the obviously very talented Charlotte Featherstone!. She has quite a way of writing a beautiful, haunting story that will grab you from the start and keep you enthralled until the end. Adrian is portrayed as a stuffy Duke but he is a very passionate, even a bit sensitive, man that loves with his whole heart and will stop at nothing to guard what he loves the most. Lucy took a bit of warming up too for me. She comes off a bit childish and spoiled because of her childhood but once the walls around her are broken down, she becomes a fascinating woman who holds on to her sharp, smart tongue while giving with her whole heart. The secondary characters are excellent as well. We get to see a bit more of Lord and Lady Black (from Seduction & Scandal) but the ones that almost stole this book was Adrians blind sister, Elizabeth and the third member of the Brethren Guardian, the rakish Marquis of Alynwick. Fair warning, this book ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you clamoring for their story, Temptaion & Twilight, right now! The only thing that sort of bothered me about this book was the ending. I know it is to lead you up to the next book but it seemed a little much for this book, but I still enjoyed it. If you are looking for a mysterious, sexy hero who wants what he wants and won't bend until her gets it paired with a feisty but scared heroine with some heart-pounding action, this one will fill that request! 4 stars
Adrian is at a bit of a crossroads. He knows and believes what he saw but convincing Lucy of that is proving to be difficult and dangerous. Plus his past comes back to haunt and devastate him as well. Adrian has quite a secret that he is uncertain that he wants anyone, especially Lucy, to find out. But when circumstances force Lucy and Adrian to spend time together, feelings explode and secrets slowly tumble out.
Overall, this is another beautifully written book by the obviously very talented Charlotte Featherstone!. She has quite a way of writing a beautiful, haunting story that will grab you from the start and keep you enthralled until the end. Adrian is portrayed as a stuffy Duke but he is a very passionate, even a bit sensitive, man that loves with his whole heart and will stop at nothing to guard what he loves the most. Lucy took a bit of warming up too for me. She comes off a bit childish and spoiled because of her childhood but once the walls around her are broken down, she becomes a fascinating woman who holds on to her sharp, smart tongue while giving with her whole heart. The secondary characters are excellent as well. We get to see a bit more of Lord and Lady Black (from Seduction & Scandal) but the ones that almost stole this book was Adrians blind sister, Elizabeth and the third member of the Brethren Guardian, the rakish Marquis of Alynwick. Fair warning, this book ends with a cliffhanger that will leave you clamoring for their story, Temptaion & Twilight, right now! The only thing that sort of bothered me about this book was the ending. I know it is to lead you up to the next book but it seemed a little much for this book, but I still enjoyed it. If you are looking for a mysterious, sexy hero who wants what he wants and won't bend until her gets it paired with a feisty but scared heroine with some heart-pounding action, this one will fill that request! 4 stars
September 21, 2011
4.5 Stars
First off, I absolutely LOVE the cover for this book! I adore the colours and the womans pose of complete abandon, it definitely caught my eye and has made me want to read this book more then I already did!
I have been looking forward to reading Lucy, the heroines cousin from Seduction & Scandal, and the Duke of Sussex, Adrian's book since the end of the first book. In this book we see Adrian isn't quite the man he seems and certainly isn't the passionless and boring man that Lucy believes him to be. As well as the secrets of the Brethren Guardian he has many of him own secrets, one of which is that he has loved Lucy for a long time, longer then anyone could possibly know. He is now determined to make her his wife; however, Lucy is vehemently against the match seeing only the steely eyes Duke and not the man beneath.
I really enjoyed this book! There were aspects of it that I think were a little better then the first book Seduction & Scandal, such as the pacing of Adrian and Lucy's relationship, it unfurled at a good rate with out it coming out all at once, which stretched out the tension between them. And they definitely had tension and lots of chemistry between them, it made me want to shake Lucy and tell her to stop being such a ninny, how could she possibly think the man was boring!? That was my only real problem with the book, was that Lucy annoyed me at times as much as I could understand her frustration...it still bugged me.
What I also liked about this book was the continuation of the Brethren Guardian storyline, I really can't wait to see Orpheus and his mysterious lover is, I think I know who it might be, but I love that this book keeps me guessing!
What I found frustrating though was the ending, a cliffhanger *pulls hair out* so unfair, the next book isn't due out for ages and I want to know what happens now! I am also looking forwadr to it as I want to know more about Alynwick and Elizabeth you could see the sparks fly between them in this book and I only imagine it will be just as good in the next one.
This is a great book, exciting, romantic and erotic if you haven't started this series yet I highly recommend it!
*ebook supplied by netGalley.
First off, I absolutely LOVE the cover for this book! I adore the colours and the womans pose of complete abandon, it definitely caught my eye and has made me want to read this book more then I already did!
I have been looking forward to reading Lucy, the heroines cousin from Seduction & Scandal, and the Duke of Sussex, Adrian's book since the end of the first book. In this book we see Adrian isn't quite the man he seems and certainly isn't the passionless and boring man that Lucy believes him to be. As well as the secrets of the Brethren Guardian he has many of him own secrets, one of which is that he has loved Lucy for a long time, longer then anyone could possibly know. He is now determined to make her his wife; however, Lucy is vehemently against the match seeing only the steely eyes Duke and not the man beneath.
I really enjoyed this book! There were aspects of it that I think were a little better then the first book Seduction & Scandal, such as the pacing of Adrian and Lucy's relationship, it unfurled at a good rate with out it coming out all at once, which stretched out the tension between them. And they definitely had tension and lots of chemistry between them, it made me want to shake Lucy and tell her to stop being such a ninny, how could she possibly think the man was boring!? That was my only real problem with the book, was that Lucy annoyed me at times as much as I could understand her frustration...it still bugged me.
What I also liked about this book was the continuation of the Brethren Guardian storyline, I really can't wait to see Orpheus and his mysterious lover is, I think I know who it might be, but I love that this book keeps me guessing!
What I found frustrating though was the ending, a cliffhanger *pulls hair out* so unfair, the next book isn't due out for ages and I want to know what happens now! I am also looking forwadr to it as I want to know more about Alynwick and Elizabeth you could see the sparks fly between them in this book and I only imagine it will be just as good in the next one.
This is a great book, exciting, romantic and erotic if you haven't started this series yet I highly recommend it!
*ebook supplied by netGalley.
July 26, 2012
I loved this book, simply because of the Duke of Sussex. It's always the quiet ones, you know? Publicly he is all about rigid control and propriety and being the staid, boring Englishman. Privately, though, he is (and has been for years and years) on fire for Lucy. He has wanted her, and loved her, since he first saw her. She saw their connection as an advantageous match her father kept thrusting upon her. He saw it as destiny - the means to an end of getting what he's always wanted.
Lucy was a hard heroine to like. She was prickly and mouthy and so, so blind when it came to really seeing who Adrian (Duke of Sussex) was. She was so hung up on her past dreams being shattered and building a past relationship up so high in her memories, despite realizing that it wasn't all that. All it takes is one stolen moment with Adrian and she realizes what she felt before wasn't everything she thought it was.
When Adrian sets his mind to winning Lucy over, there was no resisting him. She tried. She could hold a grudge and be in a snit with the best of them, but eventually his kindness, thoughtfulness, genuine emotion and oh so sexy ways caved in the walls around her heart.
I loved how steadfast he was. He loved her and wanted her above all, and he didn't care who knew it. She despised him and blamed him for betraying her and was hung up on another man. He didn't care. He was there for her and never wavered in his desire to make her his.
There is only one reason I didn't give this five stars. As in the first book, I found the parts about the Brethren and the Templars a bit boring... or maybe just too much information? I understand that that is the storyline arc for these books, but sometimes it gets too wordy and I skim over, just to get back to the interaction between the characters. The author has created such terrific ones, and the dialogue and friendships and romances are so wonderful that I don't really care about anything else!
I'm very much looking forward to the next book. Alynwick's story should be great!
Lucy was a hard heroine to like. She was prickly and mouthy and so, so blind when it came to really seeing who Adrian (Duke of Sussex) was. She was so hung up on her past dreams being shattered and building a past relationship up so high in her memories, despite realizing that it wasn't all that. All it takes is one stolen moment with Adrian and she realizes what she felt before wasn't everything she thought it was.
When Adrian sets his mind to winning Lucy over, there was no resisting him. She tried. She could hold a grudge and be in a snit with the best of them, but eventually his kindness, thoughtfulness, genuine emotion and oh so sexy ways caved in the walls around her heart.
I loved how steadfast he was. He loved her and wanted her above all, and he didn't care who knew it. She despised him and blamed him for betraying her and was hung up on another man. He didn't care. He was there for her and never wavered in his desire to make her his.
There is only one reason I didn't give this five stars. As in the first book, I found the parts about the Brethren and the Templars a bit boring... or maybe just too much information? I understand that that is the storyline arc for these books, but sometimes it gets too wordy and I skim over, just to get back to the interaction between the characters. The author has created such terrific ones, and the dialogue and friendships and romances are so wonderful that I don't really care about anything else!
I'm very much looking forward to the next book. Alynwick's story should be great!
July 15, 2012
Adrian’s steamy passion and deep seeded love and Lucy’s reluctance to see it and him for the man he is are engaging and keep you reading. However, this is the only thing that keeps you reading.
The plot is disjointed and implausible, even for a historical romance (which I love). The plot line seems to take disjointed leaps that make no sense, particularly the kidnapping and consummation of the marriage. Why are Lucy and Adrian having a tryst at the club where she has been kidnapped? The other characters just show up incensed over Lucy being compromised, but no one seems to care about the kidnapping. What? Why does Adrian commit to waiting to consummate the marriage until Lucy is ready to be a wife and companion in all ways, then do the deed with her the same night with no further development of Lucy's character or feelings?
What is Orpheus's end goal and plan and how do Lucy & Adrian fit into it? Will the first and last book in the series clear this up? I haven't read them, but the plot of the villain in this book can't stand alone.
This book started with a spectacular hero that was instantly likable, a heroine that could grow and develop and a plot concept that had the potential to be interesting and come full circle with Gabriel and Adrian, but just unraveled fell apart.
The plot is disjointed and implausible, even for a historical romance (which I love). The plot line seems to take disjointed leaps that make no sense, particularly the kidnapping and consummation of the marriage. Why are Lucy and Adrian having a tryst at the club where she has been kidnapped? The other characters just show up incensed over Lucy being compromised, but no one seems to care about the kidnapping. What? Why does Adrian commit to waiting to consummate the marriage until Lucy is ready to be a wife and companion in all ways, then do the deed with her the same night with no further development of Lucy's character or feelings?
What is Orpheus's end goal and plan and how do Lucy & Adrian fit into it? Will the first and last book in the series clear this up? I haven't read them, but the plot of the villain in this book can't stand alone.
This book started with a spectacular hero that was instantly likable, a heroine that could grow and develop and a plot concept that had the potential to be interesting and come full circle with Gabriel and Adrian, but just unraveled fell apart.
October 3, 2011
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh Adrian. What a man. I fell totally in love with him. Lucy, not so much. I thought she was spoiled, selfish and too stubborn for words. I kept thinking, what in the hell does Sussex see in her. He could certainly find someone more worthy than her. It wasn't until near the end that it was revealed why he loved her so. I must say that at the end, I started to finally like Lucy, but she still isn't good enough for him.LOL
Charlotte Featherstone never fails to provide the sexiest hero's and some of the most drool-worthy love scenes. Thanks for all the cold showers Charlotte.
WOW, the ending. I won't say what happened but Jesus, I didn't see that coming. Crap, now I have to wait for the next book. And speaking of Alynwick, OMG, could he be the hottest of them all? AND, he is a HIGHLANDER. 'nuf said.
***an ARC of this book was provided by NetGalley***
Charlotte Featherstone never fails to provide the sexiest hero's and some of the most drool-worthy love scenes. Thanks for all the cold showers Charlotte.
WOW, the ending. I won't say what happened but Jesus, I didn't see that coming. Crap, now I have to wait for the next book. And speaking of Alynwick, OMG, could he be the hottest of them all? AND, he is a HIGHLANDER. 'nuf said.
***an ARC of this book was provided by NetGalley***
September 11, 2011
This is one of those stories that will make you froth at the mouth like a rabid dog. It's action packed, luscious, deliciously intimate and just such a wondrous shivering treat that you won't be able to set it down for the life of you. This is the second book of the series and in my very high opinion it is a must have series. OMG!!!
Lucy Ashton is in love with a dead man. She witnessed the fire but can't bring her mind to the finality and reality of the fact that the man she loved was consumed in this horrendous accident. She is in love with the man who was a killer amongst other things. A man that no decent lady of the ton should ever be involved with. But will the man she loves stay dead? Do ghosts exist and can she face a reality that this man is not whom he says he is even with faced with undeniable truths?
Lord Sussex is tall and handsome but to the woman he loves he is anything but. He is a man of perfection, rigid and passionless and doesn't have a romantic bone in his body if what is whispering on the wind of the waggling tongues of the ton can make one believe. Ah and this irks him like nothing else he's ever heard. Will it irk him enough to show his true colors to the woman he loves or will he continue with the mask of what the ton believes.
This is a high action story and is second book of the series. Charlotte Featherstone is a wonderfully fantastic storyteller that will make you swoon with delight and moon for more. I really am at a loss as to what to say because this book and series soooooooooo speaks for itself from page one to the last word.
I feel this is a story that has a bit of Indiana Jones pumped up with electric sexuality that you can't help but feel the sparks of eroticism with mere little words. I think the word Delicious is just too mild for this sparkling treat.
Lucy Ashton is in love with a dead man. She witnessed the fire but can't bring her mind to the finality and reality of the fact that the man she loved was consumed in this horrendous accident. She is in love with the man who was a killer amongst other things. A man that no decent lady of the ton should ever be involved with. But will the man she loves stay dead? Do ghosts exist and can she face a reality that this man is not whom he says he is even with faced with undeniable truths?
Lord Sussex is tall and handsome but to the woman he loves he is anything but. He is a man of perfection, rigid and passionless and doesn't have a romantic bone in his body if what is whispering on the wind of the waggling tongues of the ton can make one believe. Ah and this irks him like nothing else he's ever heard. Will it irk him enough to show his true colors to the woman he loves or will he continue with the mask of what the ton believes.
This is a high action story and is second book of the series. Charlotte Featherstone is a wonderfully fantastic storyteller that will make you swoon with delight and moon for more. I really am at a loss as to what to say because this book and series soooooooooo speaks for itself from page one to the last word.
I feel this is a story that has a bit of Indiana Jones pumped up with electric sexuality that you can't help but feel the sparks of eroticism with mere little words. I think the word Delicious is just too mild for this sparkling treat.
August 30, 2025
Pride & Passion is the second book in The Brethren Guardians series by Charlotte Featherstone. We met both characters in the previous book, Seduction & Scandal. Adrian, Duke of Sussex, is one of the Brethren Guardians. He appears to be no more than a stuff shirt, rigid and passionless. But appearances can be deceiving. He longs for Lucy Ashton, the daughter of the Marquis of Stonebrook. A woman who longs for another and can't see the true man before her.
Well, truthfully this book was a hard read for me. Mainly, I think, because I despised Lucy. I did like Adrian but I wasn't totally in love with him. It was difficult to convince myself to continue on in hopes that it would grab me at some point. Towards the end it picked up some and we got a few surprises. But there are unresolved issues and I guess I will have to read the next one to find out the answers.
Well, truthfully this book was a hard read for me. Mainly, I think, because I despised Lucy. I did like Adrian but I wasn't totally in love with him. It was difficult to convince myself to continue on in hopes that it would grab me at some point. Towards the end it picked up some and we got a few surprises. But there are unresolved issues and I guess I will have to read the next one to find out the answers.
January 9, 2012
This is more along the lines of 3.5 stars. I loved the couple and adored the Hero, the Duke of Sussex (totally in love with him). However, I thought the mystery aspect of the story was a little weak. I did like the romance but the dialogue & some of the scenes did get a tad melodramatic towards the end. Overall though, I really enjoyed the book. It is beautifully written and the author has a talent for painting a scene.
As a side note, I think the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful.
As a side note, I think the cover of this book is absolutely beautiful.
December 6, 2011
Absolutely a wonderful book! I loved the story and the characters. And I am so happy that Lucy accepted the Duke. I truly loved him the most. I also cannot wait for book 3, Temptation & Twilight. I am sure it will be emotional and scorching. I also think I may know who the villain truly is, some information was revealed at the end of this story. I think part of the past has come back and seeks revenge on Sussex and Elizabeth.
February 10, 2016
Despite Lucy, this turned out to be a fabulous read. Adrian killed me with his sexy talk! I wanted to gobble him up, especially the curtain scene at the Orpheus Club...WOWZA!! It ended in a cliff hanger so I had to go grab the other one and start it.
June 30, 2021
The beginning was too slow.. I waited patiently because I was sucked at Adrian's love and lust for Lucy and the blurb was what I wanted in a story. It was something , but then I got confused on Lucy's reason of anger towards Adrian because she thought she was being manipulated into marrying him then after marriage, the story was too fast
I was frowning like what the hell had happened.
Secrets were out suddenly, the progress of the story was jumping from nowhere..
The promised of hot scenes died and almost give up. Skimmed it a little in the end.
I dropped Book 1 also prior to this and I don't know if I will give the author another chance.
I was frowning like what the hell had happened.
Secrets were out suddenly, the progress of the story was jumping from nowhere..
The promised of hot scenes died and almost give up. Skimmed it a little in the end.
I dropped Book 1 also prior to this and I don't know if I will give the author another chance.
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