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The Disgraced Lords #1
Un beso de mentiras
En el debut de Bronwen Evans en el USA Today Bestseller, un par de almas heridas encienden las más profundas pasiones del otro, incluso cuando tientan al destino engañando al mundo. Desesperada por escapar de su pasado de malos tratos, Sarah Cooper se disfraza de institutriz al servicio de Christian Trent, Conde de Markham, el hombre con el que, tiempo atrás, fantaseó casarse. A pesar de las cicatrices de batalla que marcan su rostro, Sarah descubre que estar cerca de Christian vuelve a encender su pasión. Sin embargo, una institutriz no tiene nada que hacer en los brazos de un Conde, cuando acompaña a Christian en su viaje de regreso a casa, Sarah debe resistirse a sus intensos deseos o arriesgarse a revelar sus peligrosos secretos. Christian Trent, uno de los más célebres eruditos amante del libertinaje, disfrutaba de la compañía de cualquier mujer. Pero eso fue antes de los horrores de Waterloo, su Condena injusta por un horrible crimen y su expulsión forzada de Inglaterra. Lejos de su hogar y de las riquezas que una vez tuvo, Christian cree que la vida que conoció —y cualquier posibilidad de ser feliz— ha terminado... hasta que la institutriz de su pupilo le devuelve a la vida y le hace recordar el hombre que solía ser. Ahora Christian está decidido a regresar a Inglaterra, recuperar su honor y conquistar el Corazón de la mujer que ha aprendido a amar.
358 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 14, 2014
157 people are currently reading
1118 people want to read
About the author
Bronwen Evans
164 books972 followersUSA Today bestselling author, Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Evans is a three-time winner of the RomCon Readers’ Crown and has been nominated for an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award. She lives in Hawkes Bay, New Zealand with her dogs Brandy and Duke.
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Join my book club newsletter and receive a FREE eBook.
https://landing.mailerlite.com/webfor...
Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at Bronwen@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com
Or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwenevans...
Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/bronwenevans_NZ
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
June 29, 2024
Actual rating: 1.5
This was one of those books that look good on paper, and could have worked in the hands of another more careful and more imaginative writer, but it is ruined in the execution. Ms Evans is neither in possession of an ear for the 19th c., nor does she have the slightest interest in imagining what a 19th c. setting could be (references to carriages, gowns and cravats actually reveal how painfully incapable the writer is of conveying some sense of the past. All these are mere props among which her contemporary characters and their mores and ideals circulate). No minimally informed imagination guides her pen into a 19th c. world of earls and dukes, abused wives and scarred heroes of Waterloo. Not once was I allowed to think of this couple as anything other than a contemporary one. A couple who threw the book of proper relationship etiquette at me, at every single turn. Never once did they miss the opportunity to explain their feelings (or muse about them), or express their demands in the cliched language of YouTube couples therapy sessions. One fears that the distance between writing a romance and an amateur relationships manual is now being systematically eliminated, and this book is a prime example of it. And If you thought to find respite in the sex scenes, think again. They are at once tediously overlong and un-erotically short, probably the result of some clumsy editing.
The sad thing is that this book had a good idea which the style of writing (especially the woeful dialogues) went on thoroughly to ruin. Everything was drowned in a flood of contemporary terms, expressions, sensibilities and issues, gender and class relationships, that the whole thing felt like a caricature of the present (forget the past, it does not figure at all), where everybody gave their ten bob's worth psychobabble on respect between lovers. I gave up after about halfway, for I couldn't care for these two 21st c. loudspeakers dressed in 19th c. garb miming and mouthing contemporary cliches about relationships.
P.S. Don't be deceived by references to traumatic experiences and expect something harrowing and interesting. The MCs never really bear the scars of trauma, even the physical scars do not convey any sense of real misery (for they are merely stage make-up, not affecting the hero's character at all). Both hero and heroine are what they have always been, no matter what life threw at them, compassionate, affectionate, loving, honourable, sexy (sexy is a word the characters use as well!!!) and have healthy personalities. All the references to sexual abuse and humiliation, canon fire and burning flesh are simply plot filler. This is fluff of the worst kind, one that lies about trauma.
This was one of those books that look good on paper, and could have worked in the hands of another more careful and more imaginative writer, but it is ruined in the execution. Ms Evans is neither in possession of an ear for the 19th c., nor does she have the slightest interest in imagining what a 19th c. setting could be (references to carriages, gowns and cravats actually reveal how painfully incapable the writer is of conveying some sense of the past. All these are mere props among which her contemporary characters and their mores and ideals circulate). No minimally informed imagination guides her pen into a 19th c. world of earls and dukes, abused wives and scarred heroes of Waterloo. Not once was I allowed to think of this couple as anything other than a contemporary one. A couple who threw the book of proper relationship etiquette at me, at every single turn. Never once did they miss the opportunity to explain their feelings (or muse about them), or express their demands in the cliched language of YouTube couples therapy sessions. One fears that the distance between writing a romance and an amateur relationships manual is now being systematically eliminated, and this book is a prime example of it. And If you thought to find respite in the sex scenes, think again. They are at once tediously overlong and un-erotically short, probably the result of some clumsy editing.
The sad thing is that this book had a good idea which the style of writing (especially the woeful dialogues) went on thoroughly to ruin. Everything was drowned in a flood of contemporary terms, expressions, sensibilities and issues, gender and class relationships, that the whole thing felt like a caricature of the present (forget the past, it does not figure at all), where everybody gave their ten bob's worth psychobabble on respect between lovers. I gave up after about halfway, for I couldn't care for these two 21st c. loudspeakers dressed in 19th c. garb miming and mouthing contemporary cliches about relationships.
P.S. Don't be deceived by references to traumatic experiences and expect something harrowing and interesting. The MCs never really bear the scars of trauma, even the physical scars do not convey any sense of real misery (for they are merely stage make-up, not affecting the hero's character at all). Both hero and heroine are what they have always been, no matter what life threw at them, compassionate, affectionate, loving, honourable, sexy (sexy is a word the characters use as well!!!) and have healthy personalities. All the references to sexual abuse and humiliation, canon fire and burning flesh are simply plot filler. This is fluff of the worst kind, one that lies about trauma.
January 7, 2014
Having read just one of Bronwen Evans's books in the past, I came to this book without expectations. And it surprised me, in a very good way. There is an overlying mystery coursing through her Disgraced Lords series, and while the plot of this book introduces that overarching mystery, it never strays from telling a moving love story between two people in need or redemption and love.
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, was wrongly accused or raping the daughter of the duke, and forced to flee from England upon the latter's threats. Christian survived his migration to Canada with the aid of a kind Mr. Pearson, who later died leaving his daughter, Lily, to be Christian's ward. Now, as Christian is making plans for his return to England and needs a governess for Lily...in comes the mysterious Mrs. Cooper for the position.
Sarah Cooper is a false name that never existed. Lady Serena Castleton, however, is seeking escape from an abusive man and a horrifying past. Sensing an escape through taking refuge on Christian's ship, she dons the disguise of a governess only to find herself closer to her fears than ever before as they got closer to England, yet she finds an unexpected champion at her side.
In a story heavily governed by the actions of the culprit who repeatedly tries to destroy Christian, I was surprised with how neatly the plot moved concurrently with the development of Christian and Serena's relationship. The two are inverses of each other; Christian with his physical disfigurement from the war believe himself to be too disgusting to deserve love, and Serena, whose internal sufferings are far worse than the scars on her back. In each other they saw a more beautiful version of themselves reflected, the pure, unblemished soul underneath the ravages of war and cruelty, and that transformed their love into hope. In temperament, gentleness, and passion they matched each other, and the force of their love is both a testament of their inner strength as well as their beauty, for even as the world shied away from their tormented selves, those two found something lovely within each other.
Plot-wise, I am deeply intrigued with the central mystery of the series, and the next five books will surely unravel the strands of treachery that surrounded the events of this book. All in all, the flow of the story is magnificent, as are the characters, who have admirable depths of complexity. Christian and Serena are resilient, courageous people who have suffered but found hope with each other. Their interactions with each other are sizzling, real, and undeniably lovely. I will be anxiously awaiting the next books in the series, to see more of Bronwen Evans's fantastic crafting as well as the resolution of this intrigue.
*Review copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, was wrongly accused or raping the daughter of the duke, and forced to flee from England upon the latter's threats. Christian survived his migration to Canada with the aid of a kind Mr. Pearson, who later died leaving his daughter, Lily, to be Christian's ward. Now, as Christian is making plans for his return to England and needs a governess for Lily...in comes the mysterious Mrs. Cooper for the position.
Sarah Cooper is a false name that never existed. Lady Serena Castleton, however, is seeking escape from an abusive man and a horrifying past. Sensing an escape through taking refuge on Christian's ship, she dons the disguise of a governess only to find herself closer to her fears than ever before as they got closer to England, yet she finds an unexpected champion at her side.
In a story heavily governed by the actions of the culprit who repeatedly tries to destroy Christian, I was surprised with how neatly the plot moved concurrently with the development of Christian and Serena's relationship. The two are inverses of each other; Christian with his physical disfigurement from the war believe himself to be too disgusting to deserve love, and Serena, whose internal sufferings are far worse than the scars on her back. In each other they saw a more beautiful version of themselves reflected, the pure, unblemished soul underneath the ravages of war and cruelty, and that transformed their love into hope. In temperament, gentleness, and passion they matched each other, and the force of their love is both a testament of their inner strength as well as their beauty, for even as the world shied away from their tormented selves, those two found something lovely within each other.
Plot-wise, I am deeply intrigued with the central mystery of the series, and the next five books will surely unravel the strands of treachery that surrounded the events of this book. All in all, the flow of the story is magnificent, as are the characters, who have admirable depths of complexity. Christian and Serena are resilient, courageous people who have suffered but found hope with each other. Their interactions with each other are sizzling, real, and undeniably lovely. I will be anxiously awaiting the next books in the series, to see more of Bronwen Evans's fantastic crafting as well as the resolution of this intrigue.
*Review copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
January 25, 2014
Where do I begin *sigh* You know that feeling when you read the entire book with a dreamy look on your face, your visual brain is so active ,you actually start believing like you're watching a movie and these are real people in front of you not just fictional characters!! Well that and much more was what I felt!
I have been a BIG fan of Bronwen Evans, ever since I read "To wager the marquis of Wolverstone" and now with "A kiss of lies", she's my new fav HR author on the block!!
I don't want to give away anything here, so will simply say, it was the story of two wounded souls (but not angsty*thank god*),how they were wronged and how kismet got them together, the characters were lovable ,strong, good plot ,great flow of story, AND the start of a very promising series,all the other "Lords" have been introduced and they all sound appealing, the mystery aspect is very interesting how it has been left hanging to be continued in the upcoming books,it kinda reminded me of Renee Bernard's "Jaded gentlemen" series.
I have such a strong visual, imprinted in my mind of the beach scene in Jamaica,between Sebastian & Serena while Christian behind the bushes that I can almost hear the sound of waves and feel the breeze and hear their voices!!
And now I'm suffering from a book hangover;
I have been a BIG fan of Bronwen Evans, ever since I read "To wager the marquis of Wolverstone" and now with "A kiss of lies", she's my new fav HR author on the block!!
I don't want to give away anything here, so will simply say, it was the story of two wounded souls (but not angsty*thank god*),how they were wronged and how kismet got them together, the characters were lovable ,strong, good plot ,great flow of story, AND the start of a very promising series,all the other "Lords" have been introduced and they all sound appealing, the mystery aspect is very interesting how it has been left hanging to be continued in the upcoming books,it kinda reminded me of Renee Bernard's "Jaded gentlemen" series.
I have such a strong visual, imprinted in my mind of the beach scene in Jamaica,between Sebastian & Serena while Christian behind the bushes that I can almost hear the sound of waves and feel the breeze and hear their voices!!
And now I'm suffering from a book hangover;
September 6, 2019
2.75 Tepid Stars
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, was wrongly accused of raping the daughter of a Duke, he was forced to leave England, only surviving his migration to Canada due to the help of Mr. Pearson, a stranger, who later died leaving his daughter, Lily, to be Christian's ward. Now, as Christian is making plans for his return to England, he requires a governess for Lily – and in comes the mysterious Mrs. Cooper. Sarah Cooper is a false name used by Lady Serena Castleton, who is seeking to escape the hangman’s noose. In Christian (her youthful crush) she finds unexpected desire and a champion who will never abandon her.
The bare bones of this story and the main characters had the potential to be delectably enticing and engaging, but sadly the book missed the mark. At times the words used were a tad too contemporary and the romance between the main characters and their acceptance of their feelings felt too quick, epsspically given all that they had suffered/endured.
There is one moment in this book, where the hero's words made me want to snarl in displeasure – Within the context of the heroine having revealed that she had been raped and brutalized by her husband – this wasn’t well done. Plus, the PTSD component of the plot line was not dealt with well.
The trauma the hero and heroine have suffered like the theme of slavery in this book, felt a little like a light coat of paint used to make the book/plot look good, but the depth and complexity such trauma should have added to the characters didn’t manifest. In turn, I would have much preferred it if the author had showed us events rather than telling us what had happened. There were some sweet moments in this but overall the romance felt off, there were overly corny moments, and the characters and themes were used superficially.
Potential Triggers:
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, was wrongly accused of raping the daughter of a Duke, he was forced to leave England, only surviving his migration to Canada due to the help of Mr. Pearson, a stranger, who later died leaving his daughter, Lily, to be Christian's ward. Now, as Christian is making plans for his return to England, he requires a governess for Lily – and in comes the mysterious Mrs. Cooper. Sarah Cooper is a false name used by Lady Serena Castleton, who is seeking to escape the hangman’s noose. In Christian (her youthful crush) she finds unexpected desire and a champion who will never abandon her.
The bare bones of this story and the main characters had the potential to be delectably enticing and engaging, but sadly the book missed the mark. At times the words used were a tad too contemporary and the romance between the main characters and their acceptance of their feelings felt too quick, epsspically given all that they had suffered/endured.
There is one moment in this book, where the hero's words made me want to snarl in displeasure – Within the context of the heroine having revealed that she had been raped and brutalized by her husband – this wasn’t well done. Plus, the PTSD component of the plot line was not dealt with well.
The trauma the hero and heroine have suffered like the theme of slavery in this book, felt a little like a light coat of paint used to make the book/plot look good, but the depth and complexity such trauma should have added to the characters didn’t manifest. In turn, I would have much preferred it if the author had showed us events rather than telling us what had happened. There were some sweet moments in this but overall the romance felt off, there were overly corny moments, and the characters and themes were used superficially.
Potential Triggers:
March 22, 2014
This one, provided by the publisher through netgalley, was OK for me, and had some redeeming features, but felt too much like a contemporary transplanted into the Regency era for me to feel completely comfortable with it.
What did I like?
- When I think of a "Loveswept" historical, this is exactly the kind of story I'd think of. If you know you want to read a Loveswept then you could comfortably choose this book and not be disappointed, and this is incredibly useful for readers when they are selecting which book to read next. I hate feeling I'm wasting my time reading something which turns out not to be what I wanted to read at all.
- The plot actually has some elements in it which are not on your usual Regency romance menu. There is quite serious abuse, the aftermath of dreadful injuries inflicted during battle, and the hint of more heinous crimes to come in future books. I was impressed that this book dealt with some very serious issues and yet still managed to fit it well into a romance. It worked.
What did I not like so much?
- There were too many instances of contemporary idioms, expectations and attitudes creeping into the book from the very start. I admit I really go for historical accuracy, but I can live with the odd mistake as long as it "feels right" overall. Well, there was so much of it that it felt uncomfortable for me to read, to be honest, and is one of the reasons I couldn't score it more than "OK". When the hero calls his ward "sweetie", and the heroine, in the guise of a governess, calls his ward "honey", and both express a very post-1970s concern for the elephants culled for their ivory, I'm afraid you've lost my interest, and that's not even counting the errors in forms of address, implying that winters in the early 1800s were mild, or that an aristocratic virtuous woman would help herself to a drink of brandy. Add that to the sweeping generalizations along the line of the horrifically injured hero was "still the best shot in England" and I'm afraid I rolled my eyes on more than one occasion.
- The hero and heroine "just know" that the other is the answer to their dreams straight away. I hate this. It's totally unbelievable. Likewise, the relationship between the hero and heroine jars slightly at the beginning. It appears to be a case of two people using each other to fulfill their individual selfish agendas, with nothing soulful, romantic or self-sacrificing about it. It does develop as the story progresses, but it didn't engage me.
There was other stuff which irritated me, but generally, I'd rate this as a 2 star "It was OK" type of story, although if you want a predictable Loveswept, then honestly, don't let me put you off and go for it.
What did I like?
- When I think of a "Loveswept" historical, this is exactly the kind of story I'd think of. If you know you want to read a Loveswept then you could comfortably choose this book and not be disappointed, and this is incredibly useful for readers when they are selecting which book to read next. I hate feeling I'm wasting my time reading something which turns out not to be what I wanted to read at all.
- The plot actually has some elements in it which are not on your usual Regency romance menu. There is quite serious abuse, the aftermath of dreadful injuries inflicted during battle, and the hint of more heinous crimes to come in future books. I was impressed that this book dealt with some very serious issues and yet still managed to fit it well into a romance. It worked.
What did I not like so much?
- There were too many instances of contemporary idioms, expectations and attitudes creeping into the book from the very start. I admit I really go for historical accuracy, but I can live with the odd mistake as long as it "feels right" overall. Well, there was so much of it that it felt uncomfortable for me to read, to be honest, and is one of the reasons I couldn't score it more than "OK". When the hero calls his ward "sweetie", and the heroine, in the guise of a governess, calls his ward "honey", and both express a very post-1970s concern for the elephants culled for their ivory, I'm afraid you've lost my interest, and that's not even counting the errors in forms of address, implying that winters in the early 1800s were mild, or that an aristocratic virtuous woman would help herself to a drink of brandy. Add that to the sweeping generalizations along the line of the horrifically injured hero was "still the best shot in England" and I'm afraid I rolled my eyes on more than one occasion.
- The hero and heroine "just know" that the other is the answer to their dreams straight away. I hate this. It's totally unbelievable. Likewise, the relationship between the hero and heroine jars slightly at the beginning. It appears to be a case of two people using each other to fulfill their individual selfish agendas, with nothing soulful, romantic or self-sacrificing about it. It does develop as the story progresses, but it didn't engage me.
There was other stuff which irritated me, but generally, I'd rate this as a 2 star "It was OK" type of story, although if you want a predictable Loveswept, then honestly, don't let me put you off and go for it.
January 12, 2014
I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
HOLY. FUCKING. SHITBALLS!!! My entire body is coursing with adrenaline, happiness, and impatience as I finish this book! I NEED MORE!!! I NEED to know what happens next, how this story will play out!!! It's not often a story grips me pretty much from the very first page and never loosens its grip! The only reason I gave the story 4 stars instead of 5 (GOD! I wanted SO BADLY to give it 5 stars as it TRULY is FUCKING AMAZING!!!), is because there were some minor story inconsistencies that irritated me. And while they were minor, I can't even go into them in this review because they could spoil the story! But they weren't MAJOR, so I just cut it down a tiny bit. If there were 1/2 stars available, I would gladly give it 4.5 stars!!!
The gist: Lady Serena was sold into marriage by her father, a duke. Her father needed money, so the reputation of the man he sold his daughter too wasn't all that relevant to him as long as his financial situation was kept quiet. So anyway, he sells her to this sadist beast of a man, the younger son of a Marquis, known throughout the ton for his brutal and sadist bedsport. The husband quickly whisks her off to a slave plantation in Virginia where he doesn't treat her any better than his negro slaves. She finally manages to escape to Canada and fortuitously finds an opening for a governess. Christian, the Earl of Markham, is a war hero, but he was badly scarred in battle. He was always a very handsome rake and women all but threw themselves at him, but after he became scarred, the women look at him with repulsion. He has been falsely accused of the heinous rape of a duke's daughter and exiled to Canada. He arrives penniless and befriends a merchant there. The merchant and his wife soon die, however, and Christian is left with the custody of their young daughter. He needs a governess for her. Serena always admired Christian from afar. She wasn't out in society yet before he left for war and she was married before he returned, but she'd had a young girl's romantic fantasy about him. Imagine her delight when she finds out he's looking for a governess to take with him to England. She uses an alias to obtain the position and they set off for England so he can defend himself against the rape allegations and clear his name. A romance doesn't take long to ignite between Serena and Christian. When they arrive in England, however, they quickly have more than one battle to fight. It doesn't take too long, however, before the fight becomes one for their lives against an unknown assailant dead set on an elaborate revenge plot.
Serena has been seriously damaged by her husband. Not just emotionally and mentally, but she has the physical scares to proves is sadism. She spent her youth being nothing but a commodity for her father and then spent the early part of her adulthood been a sex slave to her sadist husband. She, understandably, has zero desire to be owned by a man ever again. Even though she’s been deeply wounded by the men in her life, she is still an extremely loving and compassionate person. The first time she sees Christian’s scars, she’s horrified that someone could intentionally deface such a beautiful man. The scars don’t repulse her, in fact she hardly notices them unless she allows herself to, because she sees the beautiful man inside instead of the marred outer casing. Even though she knows, instinctively, that Christian wouldn’t harm her, she can’t help but be cautious. But then she quickly realizes that she could hurt him, his reputation, if her true identity is ever discovered and the scandal could ultimately harm his young ward’s chances at a happy marriage. She’s truly a selfless creature and you can’t help but love her even more because of it. She’s not weak, by any means, even though by all rights she should be. She’s been through Hell, literally, and come out the other side. You can’t help but root for her.
Christian. Ah, Christian! Where to start with him? He was a dashingly handsome rake in his younger days. Unbelievably handsome. He was a war hero in the fight against Bonaparte. He was heinously injured, intentionally set on fire, in battle. Now he’s madly scared on one side of his face and upper body. The only way he can get a woman to let him touch her is to pay her, so he’s a frequent at the high end brothels of London. When he’s accused of brutally beating and raping the daughter of a duke, he doesn’t even have a chance to defend himself before he’s shipped off, with only the clothes on his back. When he meets Serena, he is skeptical of her. She doesn’t seem remotely phased by his gruesome appearance, but he can’t really trust that because she seems to be hiding a great deal of secrets. Even after they begin their very passionate affair and she never shrinks away from him in repulsion, and in fact caresses and kisses his scars, he has his doubts about the purity of her feelings. How can she NOT be repulsed by him? When he finally learns her true identity, he’s even more confused and totally crushed because he feels like he’s been played for a fool. At this point, my heart was literally aching for this man. (Well, for this fictitious character anyway…) His pain was my pain. He’s truly a beautiful, beautiful man to his very core. And he will do ANYTHING to keep Serena safe. And in his arms.
I think it’s the mark of a truly fantastic author when a story can invoke real feelings and physiological responses in the reader’s body. My heart raced, my adrenaline pumped, my stomach felt full of bats, my chest and throat tightened. This book was an emotional mind fuck, to a degree. It was all romance and hot, steamy sex until they got to England. Then it was so fast paced, my head is STILL spinning. So much shit comes at them from all different directions that I was dizzy from drama overload. But in a totally FANTASTIC way!!! This is the first in the Disgraced Lords series, so a lot of groundwork had to be laid down for the rest of the books in the series. And I have to say, I will be anxiously awaiting each new book. I can’t WAIT to see how this plays out and to find out who is behind this elaborate plot and what the true motive is. I also can’t wait to get to know the rest of the Libertine Scholars. What a truly intriguing group of rakes!
If you are a fan of Regency romances, or just a fan of a great, intense story with plenty of outside drama for the couple to contend with, you will LOVE this book! If you love a good mystery, you will likely love this book. If you love a hot, steamy sex scene, you’ll enjoy the ones in this book! I can’t say enough good things about this story! Unless hot, steamy sex scenes make you blush and feel scandalized in a bad way, you should DEFINITELY read this book! I promise, you won’t regret it!!!
HOLY. FUCKING. SHITBALLS!!! My entire body is coursing with adrenaline, happiness, and impatience as I finish this book! I NEED MORE!!! I NEED to know what happens next, how this story will play out!!! It's not often a story grips me pretty much from the very first page and never loosens its grip! The only reason I gave the story 4 stars instead of 5 (GOD! I wanted SO BADLY to give it 5 stars as it TRULY is FUCKING AMAZING!!!), is because there were some minor story inconsistencies that irritated me. And while they were minor, I can't even go into them in this review because they could spoil the story! But they weren't MAJOR, so I just cut it down a tiny bit. If there were 1/2 stars available, I would gladly give it 4.5 stars!!!
The gist: Lady Serena was sold into marriage by her father, a duke. Her father needed money, so the reputation of the man he sold his daughter too wasn't all that relevant to him as long as his financial situation was kept quiet. So anyway, he sells her to this sadist beast of a man, the younger son of a Marquis, known throughout the ton for his brutal and sadist bedsport. The husband quickly whisks her off to a slave plantation in Virginia where he doesn't treat her any better than his negro slaves. She finally manages to escape to Canada and fortuitously finds an opening for a governess. Christian, the Earl of Markham, is a war hero, but he was badly scarred in battle. He was always a very handsome rake and women all but threw themselves at him, but after he became scarred, the women look at him with repulsion. He has been falsely accused of the heinous rape of a duke's daughter and exiled to Canada. He arrives penniless and befriends a merchant there. The merchant and his wife soon die, however, and Christian is left with the custody of their young daughter. He needs a governess for her. Serena always admired Christian from afar. She wasn't out in society yet before he left for war and she was married before he returned, but she'd had a young girl's romantic fantasy about him. Imagine her delight when she finds out he's looking for a governess to take with him to England. She uses an alias to obtain the position and they set off for England so he can defend himself against the rape allegations and clear his name. A romance doesn't take long to ignite between Serena and Christian. When they arrive in England, however, they quickly have more than one battle to fight. It doesn't take too long, however, before the fight becomes one for their lives against an unknown assailant dead set on an elaborate revenge plot.
Serena has been seriously damaged by her husband. Not just emotionally and mentally, but she has the physical scares to proves is sadism. She spent her youth being nothing but a commodity for her father and then spent the early part of her adulthood been a sex slave to her sadist husband. She, understandably, has zero desire to be owned by a man ever again. Even though she’s been deeply wounded by the men in her life, she is still an extremely loving and compassionate person. The first time she sees Christian’s scars, she’s horrified that someone could intentionally deface such a beautiful man. The scars don’t repulse her, in fact she hardly notices them unless she allows herself to, because she sees the beautiful man inside instead of the marred outer casing. Even though she knows, instinctively, that Christian wouldn’t harm her, she can’t help but be cautious. But then she quickly realizes that she could hurt him, his reputation, if her true identity is ever discovered and the scandal could ultimately harm his young ward’s chances at a happy marriage. She’s truly a selfless creature and you can’t help but love her even more because of it. She’s not weak, by any means, even though by all rights she should be. She’s been through Hell, literally, and come out the other side. You can’t help but root for her.
Christian. Ah, Christian! Where to start with him? He was a dashingly handsome rake in his younger days. Unbelievably handsome. He was a war hero in the fight against Bonaparte. He was heinously injured, intentionally set on fire, in battle. Now he’s madly scared on one side of his face and upper body. The only way he can get a woman to let him touch her is to pay her, so he’s a frequent at the high end brothels of London. When he’s accused of brutally beating and raping the daughter of a duke, he doesn’t even have a chance to defend himself before he’s shipped off, with only the clothes on his back. When he meets Serena, he is skeptical of her. She doesn’t seem remotely phased by his gruesome appearance, but he can’t really trust that because she seems to be hiding a great deal of secrets. Even after they begin their very passionate affair and she never shrinks away from him in repulsion, and in fact caresses and kisses his scars, he has his doubts about the purity of her feelings. How can she NOT be repulsed by him? When he finally learns her true identity, he’s even more confused and totally crushed because he feels like he’s been played for a fool. At this point, my heart was literally aching for this man. (Well, for this fictitious character anyway…) His pain was my pain. He’s truly a beautiful, beautiful man to his very core. And he will do ANYTHING to keep Serena safe. And in his arms.
I think it’s the mark of a truly fantastic author when a story can invoke real feelings and physiological responses in the reader’s body. My heart raced, my adrenaline pumped, my stomach felt full of bats, my chest and throat tightened. This book was an emotional mind fuck, to a degree. It was all romance and hot, steamy sex until they got to England. Then it was so fast paced, my head is STILL spinning. So much shit comes at them from all different directions that I was dizzy from drama overload. But in a totally FANTASTIC way!!! This is the first in the Disgraced Lords series, so a lot of groundwork had to be laid down for the rest of the books in the series. And I have to say, I will be anxiously awaiting each new book. I can’t WAIT to see how this plays out and to find out who is behind this elaborate plot and what the true motive is. I also can’t wait to get to know the rest of the Libertine Scholars. What a truly intriguing group of rakes!
If you are a fan of Regency romances, or just a fan of a great, intense story with plenty of outside drama for the couple to contend with, you will LOVE this book! If you love a good mystery, you will likely love this book. If you love a hot, steamy sex scene, you’ll enjoy the ones in this book! I can’t say enough good things about this story! Unless hot, steamy sex scenes make you blush and feel scandalized in a bad way, you should DEFINITELY read this book! I promise, you won’t regret it!!!
July 7, 2015
I picked up this book because it came up during my own research on divorce and annulment during Regency times. Somebody cited it in a blog post about domestic violence and the set-up seemed to have some potential--after all, our hero saw his own mother killed by DV, so there was reason to think that his character would be sensitive to this.
Sadly, halfway into this book, AFTER our hero has been presented with evidence of the abuse our heroine suffered at the hands of her husband, he has an incipient attack of Assholery. The heroine believes she has killed her husband and has been on the run, since she can't prove it was self-defense. Her reasons for not divulging her name would be obvious to anybody with a speck of sense and an ounce of compassion, but Asshole Hero basically rips her to shreds emotionally, gaslights her, and turns her hidden identity into a Trust Issue. And then, in the icing on the cake, and the page that made me decide I wasn't going to read this author any further, the Hero tells the Heroine that before, he never understood how his father could beat his mother, but oh, he does now, and oh, if she lies to him, that violence simmering under the surface might come out. Keep in mind that this is in the context of her TALKING about being beaten and raped by her husband. Later in the chapter the author has the Heroine feel REALLY BAD that she couldn't tell the Hero. He's been so hurt, she thinks. Sigh.
This book does poorly by survivors of Domestic Violence. It frames an act of survival as an act of deceit. It puts our heroine in the position of apologising to our hero for keeping something that was NONE OF HIS DAMN BUSINESS from him.
The Hero has his own traumas. They keep on piling up and they are all inflicted at the hands of a woman, or women. Turns out that the uber-plot for the series (this is book #1) has some lady seeking vengeance of six dudes who are these lovable (sarcasm) libertines. You see, even though their dads may have engaged in pedophilia, these loveable scamps did nothing...except womanise their way through college, be upper-class douches, treat women shitty until they find The One woman, lie to each other, not blink an eye at slavery, and more. This is the sort of book that makes me wonder why I ever want to read Regencies.
Speaking of slavery, two runaway slaves help our Heroine escape. Of course, we never actually SEE these two in action. Our Heroine tells us after the fact that they all pitched in together, since she could be their cover story. Once they get to Canada, which is technically before the book starts, the two black folks are done, narratively speaking. They get referenced in flashbacks and when the Heroine explains her escape, but never is their fate discussed except for the fact that they are "safe in Canada." Later on, the Hero and Heroine visit a plantation in Jamaica, where all traces of slavery are elided from the story. It's not a very sensitive handling of the historical facts.
This book suffers from too many villains, too many Assholes, and too much stock-trauma-as-characterisation. A book could have been heavy enough dealing with DV, PTSD in soldiers, AND slavery as separate themes, but this book has all three and glosses over them in a perfunctory, hit-the-plot-points manner. The writing quality varies as well. There's rampant head-hopping with no scene breaks to indicate a change in PoV. The dialog becomes painfully modern at times--our Heroine talking about her sexy man makes me wince--and the settings never feel grounded. Generic studies, generic mansions, generic boat, generic dueling green, generic opera. Check, check, check. I couldn't tell you anything about any single setting in this book. And except for the first scene where our Hero has a PTSD nightmare, I couldn't differentiate one love scene from the next.
Books that did PTSD better: The Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers.
Books that did gaslighting and abusive marriages better: Komarr by Lois Bujold
The Book-killer scene for me in this book: Hero assholing it up to the Heroine while she's talking about her beatings and not only making it about his feelings, but practically threatening to unleash his own temper.
Sadly, halfway into this book, AFTER our hero has been presented with evidence of the abuse our heroine suffered at the hands of her husband, he has an incipient attack of Assholery. The heroine believes she has killed her husband and has been on the run, since she can't prove it was self-defense. Her reasons for not divulging her name would be obvious to anybody with a speck of sense and an ounce of compassion, but Asshole Hero basically rips her to shreds emotionally, gaslights her, and turns her hidden identity into a Trust Issue. And then, in the icing on the cake, and the page that made me decide I wasn't going to read this author any further, the Hero tells the Heroine that before, he never understood how his father could beat his mother, but oh, he does now, and oh, if she lies to him, that violence simmering under the surface might come out. Keep in mind that this is in the context of her TALKING about being beaten and raped by her husband. Later in the chapter the author has the Heroine feel REALLY BAD that she couldn't tell the Hero. He's been so hurt, she thinks. Sigh.
This book does poorly by survivors of Domestic Violence. It frames an act of survival as an act of deceit. It puts our heroine in the position of apologising to our hero for keeping something that was NONE OF HIS DAMN BUSINESS from him.
The Hero has his own traumas. They keep on piling up and they are all inflicted at the hands of a woman, or women. Turns out that the uber-plot for the series (this is book #1) has some lady seeking vengeance of six dudes who are these lovable (sarcasm) libertines. You see, even though their dads may have engaged in pedophilia, these loveable scamps did nothing...except womanise their way through college, be upper-class douches, treat women shitty until they find The One woman, lie to each other, not blink an eye at slavery, and more. This is the sort of book that makes me wonder why I ever want to read Regencies.
Speaking of slavery, two runaway slaves help our Heroine escape. Of course, we never actually SEE these two in action. Our Heroine tells us after the fact that they all pitched in together, since she could be their cover story. Once they get to Canada, which is technically before the book starts, the two black folks are done, narratively speaking. They get referenced in flashbacks and when the Heroine explains her escape, but never is their fate discussed except for the fact that they are "safe in Canada." Later on, the Hero and Heroine visit a plantation in Jamaica, where all traces of slavery are elided from the story. It's not a very sensitive handling of the historical facts.
This book suffers from too many villains, too many Assholes, and too much stock-trauma-as-characterisation. A book could have been heavy enough dealing with DV, PTSD in soldiers, AND slavery as separate themes, but this book has all three and glosses over them in a perfunctory, hit-the-plot-points manner. The writing quality varies as well. There's rampant head-hopping with no scene breaks to indicate a change in PoV. The dialog becomes painfully modern at times--our Heroine talking about her sexy man makes me wince--and the settings never feel grounded. Generic studies, generic mansions, generic boat, generic dueling green, generic opera. Check, check, check. I couldn't tell you anything about any single setting in this book. And except for the first scene where our Hero has a PTSD nightmare, I couldn't differentiate one love scene from the next.
Books that did PTSD better: The Peter Wimsey mysteries by Dorothy Sayers.
Books that did gaslighting and abusive marriages better: Komarr by Lois Bujold
The Book-killer scene for me in this book: Hero assholing it up to the Heroine while she's talking about her beatings and not only making it about his feelings, but practically threatening to unleash his own temper.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2014
An absolutely brilliant historical romance, full of secrets and dark pasts, A Kiss of Lies was a fantastic read. I completely and totally loved this book! Every bit of it, from start to finish, was wonderful. Loved it, just loved it!
Sarah was a lovely heroine. She had been through horrors in her marriage, but she survived and kept her strength. She definitely proved herself a worthy heroine in that regard. But, she was also kind and genuinely likable. I thought she was wonderful and I really liked her.
Christian was also amazing. This man was so sweet. He was determined to take care of his new ward and intent on protecting the woman he loved. The injuries he got during the war took away his confidence completely, but instead of being bitter, he stayed an honorable true gentleman. I adored him. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was wonderful. I thought it was so sweet how Sarah and Christian helped each other heal, and how both were willing to sacrifice for the other. And, the chemistry between them was sensuous and hot. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were tons of secrets buried in the characters' pasts that took me by surprise and kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was lovely. I can't wait to read more from this series, because it's off to a fantastic start!
A Kiss of Lies was a brilliant historical romance. I absolutely loved this book! From the romance, to the secrets, it was wonderful. Romance lovers, this book is a must read.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
Sarah was a lovely heroine. She had been through horrors in her marriage, but she survived and kept her strength. She definitely proved herself a worthy heroine in that regard. But, she was also kind and genuinely likable. I thought she was wonderful and I really liked her.
Christian was also amazing. This man was so sweet. He was determined to take care of his new ward and intent on protecting the woman he loved. The injuries he got during the war took away his confidence completely, but instead of being bitter, he stayed an honorable true gentleman. I adored him. I thought he was perfect.
The romance was wonderful. I thought it was so sweet how Sarah and Christian helped each other heal, and how both were willing to sacrifice for the other. And, the chemistry between them was sensuous and hot. I thought they were lovely together.
The plot was fast paced and I was hooked the entire way through. There were tons of secrets buried in the characters' pasts that took me by surprise and kept me on the edge of my seat. I really enjoyed the story and I thought the ending was lovely. I can't wait to read more from this series, because it's off to a fantastic start!
A Kiss of Lies was a brilliant historical romance. I absolutely loved this book! From the romance, to the secrets, it was wonderful. Romance lovers, this book is a must read.
*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
April 9, 2014
Repetitious (and then some)and boring. You thought with all that background and past experiences of the main characters, it would be angsty and exciting and dark, but it was none of those things. In fact, everything this book touched it triviliased. It is the kind of writing that merely goes through the motions of the formula without bringing anything to it. Utterly lazy writing, that does not take the trouble to create some sense of a 19th c. setting. Instead we get wall to wall contemporary platitudes.
I really wanted to find something nice to say about this book, but the writing has no redeeming qualities, the repetitious contemporary platitude ridden dialogues kill off the love affair and make you squirm, the uninspiring sex scenes fail to make you forget what you read before those two made it to the bedroom, the utterly stupid duelling scene (that should have been the central piece around which the final chapters were structured) is terribly written (it even features a 12 year old lecturing the villain), and, worst of all, the book's forced logic that makes no sense infects every single deduction, realisation, analysis of a feeling, friendship (your childhood friend -male bonding 19th c. style aside- suddenly sides with a woman he just met and withholds vital information from you!)and in the end makes one think why on earth was this ever published in the form it has. Had it been a film script, the producers would have changed writers after the first page.
Finally, as if the writer's complete lack of a sense of history, running through and structuring her book, was not enough to give you a headache, she had to commit one final clanger in the epilogue. It was not enough, it seems, that Lily was the hero's ward (as it would have been the case), no, the hero had to adopt her, to sign adoption papers. The problem is there would have been no adoption papers for him to sign (as there was no way that the wedding of the widowed daughter of a Duke, whose husband was killed in the way he was killed, marrying an Earl and celebrated war hero, would have been kept a secret, or indeed her living with him under the pretence of being a governess). For future info, Bronwen, there was no adoption procedure in England prior to 1901 -even those writing within the formula have come to know that, please do catch up!. Since you've already made Lily Christian's ward, why did you have to go and spoil it? Couldn't resist the ignorance itch?
I really wanted to find something nice to say about this book, but the writing has no redeeming qualities, the repetitious contemporary platitude ridden dialogues kill off the love affair and make you squirm, the uninspiring sex scenes fail to make you forget what you read before those two made it to the bedroom, the utterly stupid duelling scene (that should have been the central piece around which the final chapters were structured) is terribly written (it even features a 12 year old lecturing the villain), and, worst of all, the book's forced logic that makes no sense infects every single deduction, realisation, analysis of a feeling, friendship (your childhood friend -male bonding 19th c. style aside- suddenly sides with a woman he just met and withholds vital information from you!)and in the end makes one think why on earth was this ever published in the form it has. Had it been a film script, the producers would have changed writers after the first page.
Finally, as if the writer's complete lack of a sense of history, running through and structuring her book, was not enough to give you a headache, she had to commit one final clanger in the epilogue. It was not enough, it seems, that Lily was the hero's ward (as it would have been the case), no, the hero had to adopt her, to sign adoption papers. The problem is there would have been no adoption papers for him to sign (as there was no way that the wedding of the widowed daughter of a Duke, whose husband was killed in the way he was killed, marrying an Earl and celebrated war hero, would have been kept a secret, or indeed her living with him under the pretence of being a governess). For future info, Bronwen, there was no adoption procedure in England prior to 1901 -even those writing within the formula have come to know that, please do catch up!. Since you've already made Lily Christian's ward, why did you have to go and spoil it? Couldn't resist the ignorance itch?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2016
4.25 stars
I really enjoyed this story. I really felt the characters and I was strongly rooting for their happily ever after. There is so much to this book than romance. Both of our main characters have a lot of business to settle before they can be together so I enjoyed the thrill of watching them put their lives back together.
This book may be a little darker than I prefer. The topics of rape and abuse are used in relation to a couple of the characters. There is nothing wrong with these two topics in the book. It is just a personal preference.
I really love the Libertine Scholars who are a group of friends who enjoy being charming rakes and scholars. They reminded me of the League of Rogues from Lauren Smith's series. I love their strong friendships and enduring loyalty. At the end, they find out they all have a new common enemy who is willing to do whatever it takes to ruin and possibly kill these six libertines. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The only negative thing was Christian's pity party. He has suffered burns on his face and along his body so he is shunned and rejected by women who would have once found him attractive. He suffers from nightmares of the war and his ill-fated burning. I understand his suffering and he has suffered but I got a little annoyed with his constant self-pity. I get it I do but I don't need to be reminded of it constantly. He does have a moment when he realizes he needs to get over his pity party so once this happens all is well.
This book has a great balance of romance, thrill and danger. There is a full plot that some romance books lack so I definitely appreciated this. I am very excited about the next book.
I really enjoyed this story. I really felt the characters and I was strongly rooting for their happily ever after. There is so much to this book than romance. Both of our main characters have a lot of business to settle before they can be together so I enjoyed the thrill of watching them put their lives back together.
This book may be a little darker than I prefer. The topics of rape and abuse are used in relation to a couple of the characters. There is nothing wrong with these two topics in the book. It is just a personal preference.
I really love the Libertine Scholars who are a group of friends who enjoy being charming rakes and scholars. They reminded me of the League of Rogues from Lauren Smith's series. I love their strong friendships and enduring loyalty. At the end, they find out they all have a new common enemy who is willing to do whatever it takes to ruin and possibly kill these six libertines. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The only negative thing was Christian's pity party. He has suffered burns on his face and along his body so he is shunned and rejected by women who would have once found him attractive. He suffers from nightmares of the war and his ill-fated burning. I understand his suffering and he has suffered but I got a little annoyed with his constant self-pity. I get it I do but I don't need to be reminded of it constantly. He does have a moment when he realizes he needs to get over his pity party so once this happens all is well.
This book has a great balance of romance, thrill and danger. There is a full plot that some romance books lack so I definitely appreciated this. I am very excited about the next book.
October 10, 2022
My first book from this author and i really enjoyed it. The book was about two damaged souls, internally and externally coming together and falling for each other despite their scars. I liked both the hero and heroine and it was very heartwarming to see their romance blossom.
Only downside was that their love felt a little insta-lust. Nevertheless, it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a book this much and the love they have for each other. I’ve always had a soft spot for damaged heroes/heroines as it always make the bonding and acceptance much more rewarding and satisfying than other books.
Looking forward to reading more of this series and finding out the person responsible for all the murders and drama—as it was not stated in this book.
Only downside was that their love felt a little insta-lust. Nevertheless, it’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a book this much and the love they have for each other. I’ve always had a soft spot for damaged heroes/heroines as it always make the bonding and acceptance much more rewarding and satisfying than other books.
Looking forward to reading more of this series and finding out the person responsible for all the murders and drama—as it was not stated in this book.
January 25, 2014
Originally Reviewed For: Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy
While Regency Romance remains the favored genre for historical writers these days (ok their publishers) it seems the Regency World has gotten a whole lot darker. Instead of all is beautiful and light.. now we have dark and broody. Dangerous souls with tortured pasts and honestly that seems a bit more realistic. Sure there was an air of je ne sais quoi surrounding this era. After all it was a time of change, a golden era so to speak. BUT.. it was also a time of war.. or rather the end of a war. We all have lived through the horrors of returning veterans.. life is not always easy.
In A Kiss of Lies, author Bronwen Evans begins her Disgraced Lords Series.. and I absolutely adored it! A slow started that reeled me in without my even realizing it. The series is about six men who met in school and instantly bonded. NOT because they were randy rakes, which they were, but because they had brains and actually used them. Each of them comes from a position of wealth and power and are gloried by the ton. They became known as the Libertine Scholars and were adored by all. Although their lives were not as perfect as everyone thinks they do have it pretty darn good. Or they did, now things are starting to get a little interesting as someone somehow wants them dead..
Christian Trent had it all, the golden boy of the scholars. A gentle man with a heroes heart. He served well in the war and yet now that he has returned home a wounded hero, it seems he has been shunned. Enough so that the women who adored him have turned their backs, even his mistress has found someone knew. And Christian is forced to actually pay someone to suffer his attentions.. it wasn't much but it was his life. Until he woke up in bed with a knife at his throat and an angry father wielding it. Seems Christian the fair (my term) had battered and raped a young woman. Christian can not believe it, won't believe it of himself.. even drunk he would never. Only said father and brother want him dead. But since they can't do that they want him gone. Together they manage to Shanghai him and send him to the wilds of Canada. Where life surprisingly enough gets a whole lot better.
Sarah Cooper is on the run.. a bruised and battered wife she is in disguise and has one goal. To return to England and hide in the countryside. Amazingly enough, the man she had a crush on for years is hiring a governess for his young ward. Sarah knows if she can get him to hire her, she can escape. What she doesn't count on is once she gets to know her girlhood crush she discovers a man worth loving.
These two wounded souls have a long journey ahead of them. Together they must traverse the trials of both of their lives. Who hates Christian Trent so badly that they are willing to destroy him and everything about him. He didn't rape that young woman so the question is who did? And why does she insist that he did it? Sarah on the other hand.. is running from her demons.. both her inner ones and the real ones that come in the form of men. She has to discover who she can trust..
A strong romantic story.. two tortured souls who find strength in each other. Each is willing to sacrifice all so that the other can be free and happy. Both forgetting that without the other there is no happiness. A truly powerful story.
But fear not Ms Evans doesn't forget to tease us with stories of the rest of the Libertines.. they too are dark and deadly! They entice us each and every one of them! Also, the mystery of who wants Christian to suffer gets more and more intriguing as the book goes on. The story teeters on romantic suspense but remains a Regency Romance in all it's darkened glory.
Now's the time to get in on this fabulous series.. in the beginning.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of A Kiss of Lies, provided by netgalley.
While Regency Romance remains the favored genre for historical writers these days (ok their publishers) it seems the Regency World has gotten a whole lot darker. Instead of all is beautiful and light.. now we have dark and broody. Dangerous souls with tortured pasts and honestly that seems a bit more realistic. Sure there was an air of je ne sais quoi surrounding this era. After all it was a time of change, a golden era so to speak. BUT.. it was also a time of war.. or rather the end of a war. We all have lived through the horrors of returning veterans.. life is not always easy.
In A Kiss of Lies, author Bronwen Evans begins her Disgraced Lords Series.. and I absolutely adored it! A slow started that reeled me in without my even realizing it. The series is about six men who met in school and instantly bonded. NOT because they were randy rakes, which they were, but because they had brains and actually used them. Each of them comes from a position of wealth and power and are gloried by the ton. They became known as the Libertine Scholars and were adored by all. Although their lives were not as perfect as everyone thinks they do have it pretty darn good. Or they did, now things are starting to get a little interesting as someone somehow wants them dead..
Christian Trent had it all, the golden boy of the scholars. A gentle man with a heroes heart. He served well in the war and yet now that he has returned home a wounded hero, it seems he has been shunned. Enough so that the women who adored him have turned their backs, even his mistress has found someone knew. And Christian is forced to actually pay someone to suffer his attentions.. it wasn't much but it was his life. Until he woke up in bed with a knife at his throat and an angry father wielding it. Seems Christian the fair (my term) had battered and raped a young woman. Christian can not believe it, won't believe it of himself.. even drunk he would never. Only said father and brother want him dead. But since they can't do that they want him gone. Together they manage to Shanghai him and send him to the wilds of Canada. Where life surprisingly enough gets a whole lot better.
Sarah Cooper is on the run.. a bruised and battered wife she is in disguise and has one goal. To return to England and hide in the countryside. Amazingly enough, the man she had a crush on for years is hiring a governess for his young ward. Sarah knows if she can get him to hire her, she can escape. What she doesn't count on is once she gets to know her girlhood crush she discovers a man worth loving.
These two wounded souls have a long journey ahead of them. Together they must traverse the trials of both of their lives. Who hates Christian Trent so badly that they are willing to destroy him and everything about him. He didn't rape that young woman so the question is who did? And why does she insist that he did it? Sarah on the other hand.. is running from her demons.. both her inner ones and the real ones that come in the form of men. She has to discover who she can trust..
A strong romantic story.. two tortured souls who find strength in each other. Each is willing to sacrifice all so that the other can be free and happy. Both forgetting that without the other there is no happiness. A truly powerful story.
But fear not Ms Evans doesn't forget to tease us with stories of the rest of the Libertines.. they too are dark and deadly! They entice us each and every one of them! Also, the mystery of who wants Christian to suffer gets more and more intriguing as the book goes on. The story teeters on romantic suspense but remains a Regency Romance in all it's darkened glory.
Now's the time to get in on this fabulous series.. in the beginning.
Shauni
This review is based on the ARC of A Kiss of Lies, provided by netgalley.
January 29, 2014
Was it fate that interceded in the lives of two damaged souls, bringing them together just when they needed to be loved, protected and vindicated? A scarred war hero, once a rake of a man, is falsely accused of rape and is unceremoniously shipped off to Canada, picking up the pieces of his life and finding himself guardian to a young orphaned girl. A beautiful woman running from her brutal past becomes the young girl’s governess. Their lives have crossed before, among the wealthy in London, but Christian is unaware that this woman, Sarah has loved him from afar since she was a dreamy-eyed young girl. He is now used to being seen through eyes filled with pity or revulsion, but this mysterious woman never flinches at his damaged face. Her stoic beauty and countenance intrigues Christian, and he knows she is more than she claims. With an attraction that is magnetic, there is a connection that only comes when one finds that one special person, but with darkness haunting their pasts, can they learn to trust one another completely? They must be honest with each other, but is it worth the risk to their hearts?
A Kiss of Lies by Bronwen Evans, the first in her The Disgraced Lords series is a wonderful example of historical romance at its best! With a heroine who is far stronger than the angst-filled, swooning ladies of the ton, Sarah is a woman to be admired. Christian is a man before his time, never simply taking what he wanted, but ready to share in what was offered. With the introduction of several other lords, all part of the Libertine Scholars, a further mystery is introduced, paving the way for the next installments of this series as they most surely will each find the woman that will change their lives forever, finding a second chance at life and love. Ms. Evans takes her readers back through time to an era when passion could only rage behind closed doors, but rage, it does! Her writing flows smoothly while weaving romance, intrigue and redemption into the threads of an era long gone.
I received this copy from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Disgraced Lords - Book 1
Publication Date: January 14, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
ISBN: 9780345547286
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
A Kiss of Lies by Bronwen Evans, the first in her The Disgraced Lords series is a wonderful example of historical romance at its best! With a heroine who is far stronger than the angst-filled, swooning ladies of the ton, Sarah is a woman to be admired. Christian is a man before his time, never simply taking what he wanted, but ready to share in what was offered. With the introduction of several other lords, all part of the Libertine Scholars, a further mystery is introduced, paving the way for the next installments of this series as they most surely will each find the woman that will change their lives forever, finding a second chance at life and love. Ms. Evans takes her readers back through time to an era when passion could only rage behind closed doors, but rage, it does! Her writing flows smoothly while weaving romance, intrigue and redemption into the threads of an era long gone.
I received this copy from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for my honest review.
Series: The Disgraced Lords - Book 1
Publication Date: January 14, 2014
Publisher: Loveswept
ISBN: 9780345547286
Genre: Adult Historical Romance
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
January 24, 2014
OMG! I think I repeated this phrase several times will reading this book. This was my first time reading one of Bronwen’s books and I have now added all her books to my TBR pile! Kiss of Lies is a book that has everything you could want in a story…a tragic hero, a strong heroine and a story that just doesn’t stop.
Sarah Cooper (know to the ton as Lady Serena Castleton) is fleeing England and a truly horrible marriage. She hopes to hide away as a governess for the Earl of Markham. Christian, the Earl of Markham is in Canada after being forced out of England for a scandal that he was wrongly accused of. Hoping to restore his name he decides to head back to England. While in Canada he has been given guardianship of his friends young daughter and so the need for a governess arose. As Sarah and Christian journey to England they start to realize that they have feelings for one another. But upon arriving in England their journey towards a happily ever after is not an easy one. Now that they are together they have to navigate their past as someone is out to hurt them.
Christian is truly a tortured soul. He was severely injured in the war and has to live with the damage to his body. For a long time I felt he was just existing and it was until he met Sarah that he started to come out of his shell. He starts to live again. I felt so bad for him as he not only had to endure hardship from the war but also the scandal that sent him from home. Both of these events were cause by people out to do him harm. Sara is like Christian in many ways, wounded and alone. But I found her to be a strong woman as not many at that time would have left England and all she knew. She wants more out of her life and hopes to achieve it as a governess. Together Christian and Sara are just delightful. They both are attracted to each other and slowly begin to trust one another as they both have been so hurt in the past. But once they do get together it was beautiful! I got so happy when they did!
Kiss of Lies is a wonderful story by a truly talented author. The story is well written with characters that you can’t help cheer for. Kiss of Lies is the start of a new series and I can’t wait for the next one. I am now a total Bronwen Fan Girl!
Sarah Cooper (know to the ton as Lady Serena Castleton) is fleeing England and a truly horrible marriage. She hopes to hide away as a governess for the Earl of Markham. Christian, the Earl of Markham is in Canada after being forced out of England for a scandal that he was wrongly accused of. Hoping to restore his name he decides to head back to England. While in Canada he has been given guardianship of his friends young daughter and so the need for a governess arose. As Sarah and Christian journey to England they start to realize that they have feelings for one another. But upon arriving in England their journey towards a happily ever after is not an easy one. Now that they are together they have to navigate their past as someone is out to hurt them.
Christian is truly a tortured soul. He was severely injured in the war and has to live with the damage to his body. For a long time I felt he was just existing and it was until he met Sarah that he started to come out of his shell. He starts to live again. I felt so bad for him as he not only had to endure hardship from the war but also the scandal that sent him from home. Both of these events were cause by people out to do him harm. Sara is like Christian in many ways, wounded and alone. But I found her to be a strong woman as not many at that time would have left England and all she knew. She wants more out of her life and hopes to achieve it as a governess. Together Christian and Sara are just delightful. They both are attracted to each other and slowly begin to trust one another as they both have been so hurt in the past. But once they do get together it was beautiful! I got so happy when they did!
Kiss of Lies is a wonderful story by a truly talented author. The story is well written with characters that you can’t help cheer for. Kiss of Lies is the start of a new series and I can’t wait for the next one. I am now a total Bronwen Fan Girl!
June 12, 2015
This romance is amazing!
The story is surprisingly catching, I had to know how the plot would have been developed since the beginning and most definitely I NEED to know how the mystery (which I believe is going to be the common factor of all this series romances) is going to evolve.
Speaking of the mystery, I love it; it is so amazingly presented and orchestrated, I can't explain how much I want to know more about it!
This last aspect, the magnificent and touching love story and the protagonists' backgrounds, which are so moving that I cried more than once, are the strong points of this novel!
Christian's sorrow, regret, need and kindness are amazing, I've loved how the author lets us “see” his feeling inadequate of Sarah's beauty and affection but most of all I've loved how he seems and tries to be confident in wooing her.
Sarah is lovely. The two of them are so touchingly protective towards each other. She has always fantasised about marrying Christian, since when she wasn't even a debutante and used to hide and peek at the young handsome earl during balls and parties but now she has a dangerous secret that threaten their happy ending.
If you like a wounded, kind, passionate hero, who wants love so desperately, despite his terrible past, if you like a brave, extremely strong and lovely heroine, if you like romances with a good mystery and if you love splendid and touching love stories, this is the book!
IF YOU WANT TO READ THE REVIEW, take a look at my blog: http://ilprofumodellepergamene.blogsp...
** I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Grous (Loveswept) in exchange for an honest review, thank you for the opportunity.
The story is surprisingly catching, I had to know how the plot would have been developed since the beginning and most definitely I NEED to know how the mystery (which I believe is going to be the common factor of all this series romances) is going to evolve.
Speaking of the mystery, I love it; it is so amazingly presented and orchestrated, I can't explain how much I want to know more about it!
This last aspect, the magnificent and touching love story and the protagonists' backgrounds, which are so moving that I cried more than once, are the strong points of this novel!
Christian's sorrow, regret, need and kindness are amazing, I've loved how the author lets us “see” his feeling inadequate of Sarah's beauty and affection but most of all I've loved how he seems and tries to be confident in wooing her.
Sarah is lovely. The two of them are so touchingly protective towards each other. She has always fantasised about marrying Christian, since when she wasn't even a debutante and used to hide and peek at the young handsome earl during balls and parties but now she has a dangerous secret that threaten their happy ending.
If you like a wounded, kind, passionate hero, who wants love so desperately, despite his terrible past, if you like a brave, extremely strong and lovely heroine, if you like romances with a good mystery and if you love splendid and touching love stories, this is the book!
IF YOU WANT TO READ THE REVIEW, take a look at my blog: http://ilprofumodellepergamene.blogsp...
** I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book courtesy of NetGalley and Random House Publishing Grous (Loveswept) in exchange for an honest review, thank you for the opportunity.
December 26, 2020
**2.5 stars**
I ended up rounding up because the love scenes were sexy but so much happened in this book!! A scarred war hero as MC, falsely accused of rape while the heroine is running away from a bad relationship. Both meet in Canada and during the first meeting, they start lusting after each other. This wouldn't have been a surprise if these had been two normal people, but both had been deeply wounded both physically and emotionally by the opposite sex. Everything happened too fast. For a supposedly honorable man who's deeply insecure because of his scars, Christian was too eager to seduce his ward's governess and for an abused woman, Sarah was too eager to fall on his bed - both of them were thinking "bed" within hours of meeting each other. I think the story could have worked way better if this had happened a lot slower and there had been some hesitancy on both parts.
And let's not talk about the pseudo suspense plot and the hero belonging to the Regency's version of a boy band (but without singing.) Note to authors: If you're going to set a series around heroes that belong to a group with moniker, that should be in the present, not in the past. Having them refer themselves as the "Libertine Scholars" make them sound pathetic, like old people trying hard to relive their glory days.
Both issues the MCs were facing were daunting so the author should have chosen one or the other, not both. One of them wasn't even resolved as it turns out that it's part of the series set up. I'm not interested enough in the rest of the friends - who were really a bunch of lechers - to continue the series.
I ended up rounding up because the love scenes were sexy but so much happened in this book!! A scarred war hero as MC, falsely accused of rape while the heroine is running away from a bad relationship. Both meet in Canada and during the first meeting, they start lusting after each other. This wouldn't have been a surprise if these had been two normal people, but both had been deeply wounded both physically and emotionally by the opposite sex. Everything happened too fast. For a supposedly honorable man who's deeply insecure because of his scars, Christian was too eager to seduce his ward's governess and for an abused woman, Sarah was too eager to fall on his bed - both of them were thinking "bed" within hours of meeting each other. I think the story could have worked way better if this had happened a lot slower and there had been some hesitancy on both parts.
And let's not talk about the pseudo suspense plot and the hero belonging to the Regency's version of a boy band (but without singing.) Note to authors: If you're going to set a series around heroes that belong to a group with moniker, that should be in the present, not in the past. Having them refer themselves as the "Libertine Scholars" make them sound pathetic, like old people trying hard to relive their glory days.
Both issues the MCs were facing were daunting so the author should have chosen one or the other, not both. One of them wasn't even resolved as it turns out that it's part of the series set up. I'm not interested enough in the rest of the friends - who were really a bunch of lechers - to continue the series.
September 4, 2016
A brilliantly crafted romance set in a world historical fans can only dream of truly experiencing. With this read it is as close as it gets.
Whilst being taken from London to Jamaica and Canada, I was swept away by the authors very vivid descriptions on surroundings that today you can view with the click of a button and not even come close to how stunning it all is or how amazing it was back in 1815.
The romance in this read was blazing hot! The mystery of the thugs on Sarah's trail just made the read even more interesting and action packed.
Loved every minute and I highly recommend this read for all historical fans.
4.5 star review
" Caution : Stolen Kisses may lead to a web of lies "
Whilst being taken from London to Jamaica and Canada, I was swept away by the authors very vivid descriptions on surroundings that today you can view with the click of a button and not even come close to how stunning it all is or how amazing it was back in 1815.
The romance in this read was blazing hot! The mystery of the thugs on Sarah's trail just made the read even more interesting and action packed.
Loved every minute and I highly recommend this read for all historical fans.
4.5 star review
" Caution : Stolen Kisses may lead to a web of lies "
February 7, 2014
Beautiful!
May 30, 2014
Originally Posted on
Addicted To Romance
Christian Trent, was once well known as a scholar and a lover of women everywhere. Then he came back scarred from the war, and one fateful evening, was wrongfully condemned for a crime he would never commit, and was removed from England, and ended up in Canada, biding his time, to come back to England to have his name cleared and find the one that is behind it all. While in Canada, he takes in a ward, a young girl who recently just lost her parents, and having a fondness for her, decides to take her under his wing and treat her as one of his own. So he goes in search of a governess for her, and finds a Sarah Cooper, who has secrets of her own. Sarah is on the run, hides a painful secret, and all she desires is to make a new life for herself. But while in close proximity to Christian on their way to England, she finds herself giving into the desire she feels for him, for he is the first man to show her the true pleasure of passion, but their future is not guaranteed and she knows that they are in for a battle to a future, because both of their pasts are about to threaten to destroy them both.
A Kiss Of Lies is the first book in this series, and thus begins the never ending adventure of the disgraced lords. This is the first time I have read from this author, and after hearing so many high ratings and reviews, and I knew I had to read this one. So once I picked it up, I was completely immersed in the story line. It sets off at a quick pace though, with very obvious chemistry between Christian and Sarah. Christian is a tortured hero, and has many scars that keeps him from forming any real bond with any woman until he meets Sarah. Sarah doesn't see the scars, she sees the man she once knew, but hurt and damaged from the war, she senses he is the same man, honorable and loyal. We see how Christian and Sarah are completely lost in one another, even in the beginning when Sarah tends to fight him at every corner, even though she wants him more than anything. Sarah has a past herself, and she has both scars on the outside and inside. Your heart goes out to her, and we see how much inner strength she has, and she is a fighter, wanting a life of freedom and love. Christian and Sarah are wonderful together, and what a match. Not only are they emotionally fit for one another, the physical side of their relationship could light one hell of a fire. There is definitely quite a couple of conflicts involved in the story. You see how at the beginning it starts out as a calm connection to a relationship that makes you wonder if and how will they ever get their happily ever after. I really found that the story seemed to ever engaging, and never one dull moment, GUARANTEED. I felt through the whole story that I was constantly at the edge, and I couldn't keep reading fast enough. One of my favorite aspects of the story was how deep and intense the story tended to carry me into. Both of the characters have both been damaged in more ways than one, however you see throughout the whole story they help each other heal and believe in love again.
Overall a winner of romance! A story to take you from the land of Canada, across the ocean to London, with danger mixed with passion, zeal and tantalizing sensuality to capture you from the first page. Come prepared for a adventure of a lifetime, with deep entrenching emotion, enthralling characters, and a plot that never ends~~ I promise that you won't regret this ride that will stun you with its romantic tale to warm your heart.
Addicted To Romance
Christian Trent, was once well known as a scholar and a lover of women everywhere. Then he came back scarred from the war, and one fateful evening, was wrongfully condemned for a crime he would never commit, and was removed from England, and ended up in Canada, biding his time, to come back to England to have his name cleared and find the one that is behind it all. While in Canada, he takes in a ward, a young girl who recently just lost her parents, and having a fondness for her, decides to take her under his wing and treat her as one of his own. So he goes in search of a governess for her, and finds a Sarah Cooper, who has secrets of her own. Sarah is on the run, hides a painful secret, and all she desires is to make a new life for herself. But while in close proximity to Christian on their way to England, she finds herself giving into the desire she feels for him, for he is the first man to show her the true pleasure of passion, but their future is not guaranteed and she knows that they are in for a battle to a future, because both of their pasts are about to threaten to destroy them both.
A Kiss Of Lies is the first book in this series, and thus begins the never ending adventure of the disgraced lords. This is the first time I have read from this author, and after hearing so many high ratings and reviews, and I knew I had to read this one. So once I picked it up, I was completely immersed in the story line. It sets off at a quick pace though, with very obvious chemistry between Christian and Sarah. Christian is a tortured hero, and has many scars that keeps him from forming any real bond with any woman until he meets Sarah. Sarah doesn't see the scars, she sees the man she once knew, but hurt and damaged from the war, she senses he is the same man, honorable and loyal. We see how Christian and Sarah are completely lost in one another, even in the beginning when Sarah tends to fight him at every corner, even though she wants him more than anything. Sarah has a past herself, and she has both scars on the outside and inside. Your heart goes out to her, and we see how much inner strength she has, and she is a fighter, wanting a life of freedom and love. Christian and Sarah are wonderful together, and what a match. Not only are they emotionally fit for one another, the physical side of their relationship could light one hell of a fire. There is definitely quite a couple of conflicts involved in the story. You see how at the beginning it starts out as a calm connection to a relationship that makes you wonder if and how will they ever get their happily ever after. I really found that the story seemed to ever engaging, and never one dull moment, GUARANTEED. I felt through the whole story that I was constantly at the edge, and I couldn't keep reading fast enough. One of my favorite aspects of the story was how deep and intense the story tended to carry me into. Both of the characters have both been damaged in more ways than one, however you see throughout the whole story they help each other heal and believe in love again.
Overall a winner of romance! A story to take you from the land of Canada, across the ocean to London, with danger mixed with passion, zeal and tantalizing sensuality to capture you from the first page. Come prepared for a adventure of a lifetime, with deep entrenching emotion, enthralling characters, and a plot that never ends~~ I promise that you won't regret this ride that will stun you with its romantic tale to warm your heart.
January 3, 2014
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
Bronwen Evans is a contemporary and historical romance author I didn’t know yet, and A kiss of lies is the first volume in her new historical series The disgraced Lords, which will follow a group of friends nicknamed the Libertine Scholars.
Even if I wasn’t entirely thrilled, probably because of some points that seemed too fast, I had a good time with this book all the same.
Mrs. Sarah Cooper is a young widow who flees a possible arrest for the murder of her abusive husband. It was self-defense, but she’s afraid nobody will believe her, so she gets hired by the duke of Markham as a governess for his young ward, in order to leave America and go back to England. Christian Trent, the duke in question, wants to clear his name from the false accusation of rape which caused his exile. He’s surprised that the young woman is the only one not disturbed by the burn scars disfiguring him, and he decides to let the attraction which quickly blazes between them run free.
I really like the main characters; Sarah and Christian are endearing and touching. They both carry the burden of their pasts and have a long way to go before closure. However I thought Sarah overcame quite easily the trauma of two years with an abusive man. I wouldn’t have wanted her to tremble during the all book, but her change seemed too fast for me.
I found Christian’s lack of self confidence very realistic, his grief in front of the changes his burns brought to his life are well written, and his difficulties to believe a pretty woman could prefer him to an intact man are quite plausible. However his tendency to lose his temper first and think later annoyed me a little, even if it’s a relatively important point of the story.
The attraction between them is nearly immediate (which seemed difficult to believe from Sarah given her past). That leads to very sensual and well written seduction scenes.
In the secondary characters, we meet Christian’s friends who will probably be the heroes of the next books. They seemed interesting, and I look forward to know more about them in the second book, which should be out in April. Christian’s ward, as for her, brings some delicious comebacks and a little final twist but without being too intrusive in the story.
I must forewarn that if the plot about Sarah’s past is solved in the end of the book, the one about Christian and the Libertine Scholars hasn’t progressed a lot. For those who like a real end for a book even if it’s in a series, that could be frustrating. For me, even though I’m part of this category, that didn’t disturbed me much because I’m curious about the next hero, who is the one we know the most in the group of friends. But I hope it will progress a bit more in the second book.
This book broaches the women’s lack of recourse faced with an abusive husband during Regency, by comparing it with a slave’s lack of liberty. I wonder if the other books in the series will also be about on specific points of this time. In any case it brings a little extra to a story which, if not the book of the year, is pleasant and well written.
Reviewed by Rinou
Review Copy from the Publisher
Bronwen Evans is a contemporary and historical romance author I didn’t know yet, and A kiss of lies is the first volume in her new historical series The disgraced Lords, which will follow a group of friends nicknamed the Libertine Scholars.
Even if I wasn’t entirely thrilled, probably because of some points that seemed too fast, I had a good time with this book all the same.
Mrs. Sarah Cooper is a young widow who flees a possible arrest for the murder of her abusive husband. It was self-defense, but she’s afraid nobody will believe her, so she gets hired by the duke of Markham as a governess for his young ward, in order to leave America and go back to England. Christian Trent, the duke in question, wants to clear his name from the false accusation of rape which caused his exile. He’s surprised that the young woman is the only one not disturbed by the burn scars disfiguring him, and he decides to let the attraction which quickly blazes between them run free.
I really like the main characters; Sarah and Christian are endearing and touching. They both carry the burden of their pasts and have a long way to go before closure. However I thought Sarah overcame quite easily the trauma of two years with an abusive man. I wouldn’t have wanted her to tremble during the all book, but her change seemed too fast for me.
I found Christian’s lack of self confidence very realistic, his grief in front of the changes his burns brought to his life are well written, and his difficulties to believe a pretty woman could prefer him to an intact man are quite plausible. However his tendency to lose his temper first and think later annoyed me a little, even if it’s a relatively important point of the story.
The attraction between them is nearly immediate (which seemed difficult to believe from Sarah given her past). That leads to very sensual and well written seduction scenes.
In the secondary characters, we meet Christian’s friends who will probably be the heroes of the next books. They seemed interesting, and I look forward to know more about them in the second book, which should be out in April. Christian’s ward, as for her, brings some delicious comebacks and a little final twist but without being too intrusive in the story.
I must forewarn that if the plot about Sarah’s past is solved in the end of the book, the one about Christian and the Libertine Scholars hasn’t progressed a lot. For those who like a real end for a book even if it’s in a series, that could be frustrating. For me, even though I’m part of this category, that didn’t disturbed me much because I’m curious about the next hero, who is the one we know the most in the group of friends. But I hope it will progress a bit more in the second book.
This book broaches the women’s lack of recourse faced with an abusive husband during Regency, by comparing it with a slave’s lack of liberty. I wonder if the other books in the series will also be about on specific points of this time. In any case it brings a little extra to a story which, if not the book of the year, is pleasant and well written.
August 26, 2016
Originally reviewed for: Historical Romance Lover blog
This is book one in the Disgraced Lords series.
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, has been run out of England after being wrongly accused of a rape. In Canada, he suddenly finds himself the guardian of a young girl. Hoping to go back to England to clear his name, he need a governess for his young charge.
Sarah Cooper, running from an abusive marriage, disguises herself as a governess in hopes of finding a way out of the country and away from the men that are hunting her. When she sees the notice that the Earl has placed, she felt that someone was finally on her side. She has had a crush of the Earl of Markham since before she had her coming out and hopes that he is still the kind man she remembers.
Disfigured from his time in the army, Christian is surprised when Sarah shows no disgust when seeing the damage to his face. For this reason, he agrees to hire her if his ward also like her.
The attraction between Christian and Sarah is almost instantaneous. He can't stop thinking about her, but he doesn't know that she has come from a bad marriage and doesn't want to push too hard. He puts his renown seducing skills to work and Sarah quickly succumbs.
Finally making it back to England, Christian and Sarah work hard to solve both of their problems.
I don't want to give away too many more details of the plot and ruin the story so I'm stopping here with my summary.
I LOVED this story!!
Christian and Sarah are so broken from what they have been through that it took someone that was equally broken to get them to see their worth. It really showed what type of man Christian was when he allowed Sarah to come to him and set the pace of their relationship. Not that he didn't try his hardest to seduce her into it, but it was ultimately Sarah's decision.
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I know it will not be my last. I love series books and this one does not disappoint. We were able to meet most of the members of the Libertine Scholars and they have already intrigued me! An added bonus is the mystery that appears to connect to the whole group. The author is genius to include this. How can you not finish the series to find out the how the mystery is solved?? I know I will be coming back for each installment!
Thanks go out to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
This is book one in the Disgraced Lords series.
Christian Trent, the Earl of Markham, has been run out of England after being wrongly accused of a rape. In Canada, he suddenly finds himself the guardian of a young girl. Hoping to go back to England to clear his name, he need a governess for his young charge.
Sarah Cooper, running from an abusive marriage, disguises herself as a governess in hopes of finding a way out of the country and away from the men that are hunting her. When she sees the notice that the Earl has placed, she felt that someone was finally on her side. She has had a crush of the Earl of Markham since before she had her coming out and hopes that he is still the kind man she remembers.
Disfigured from his time in the army, Christian is surprised when Sarah shows no disgust when seeing the damage to his face. For this reason, he agrees to hire her if his ward also like her.
The attraction between Christian and Sarah is almost instantaneous. He can't stop thinking about her, but he doesn't know that she has come from a bad marriage and doesn't want to push too hard. He puts his renown seducing skills to work and Sarah quickly succumbs.
Finally making it back to England, Christian and Sarah work hard to solve both of their problems.
I don't want to give away too many more details of the plot and ruin the story so I'm stopping here with my summary.
I LOVED this story!!
Christian and Sarah are so broken from what they have been through that it took someone that was equally broken to get them to see their worth. It really showed what type of man Christian was when he allowed Sarah to come to him and set the pace of their relationship. Not that he didn't try his hardest to seduce her into it, but it was ultimately Sarah's decision.
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I know it will not be my last. I love series books and this one does not disappoint. We were able to meet most of the members of the Libertine Scholars and they have already intrigued me! An added bonus is the mystery that appears to connect to the whole group. The author is genius to include this. How can you not finish the series to find out the how the mystery is solved?? I know I will be coming back for each installment!
Thanks go out to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
December 13, 2013
A KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans is a fast paced Historical Romance. What an exciting beginning to a new series, "The Disgraced Lords" #1. I absolutely loved this title. It is fast paced and filled with passion, adventure, mystery, suspense, danger, and love. Although, it leaves you holding your breath for the next installment, what a story! The sins of the fathers are visited or forced upon the sons. Someone is trying to kill Christian and Sarah, as well as the other renowned Libertine Scholars, maybe for something their father's did years prior. Follow, Christian Trent, Earl of Markham and Sarah Cooper,both have secrets, both are in danger of not only losing their hearts but their lives. Oh, yeah, Christian's little ward is a hand full and one you can't help but fall in love with also. Christian, was scarred in war in more ways than one. Sarah, is running from an abusive past. Well written with engaging characters as well as a plot to literally die for, how can you go wrong with "A Kiss of Lies". You do not want to miss a moment of "A Kiss of Lies". Well done!! I can hardly wait for the next installment. Ms. Evans is an engaging, talented Historical Romance author. A must read! OMG! For readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, passion and romance, this is a must read! Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: HOT
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: HOT
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
January 9, 2014
Not for me. The author head hops every few paragraphs. That's really difficult for me to follow as a reader. A couple times I think the POV shift happened within the paragraph. I wasn't sure whose inner monologue I was reading. Also the heroine dances two steps forward and three backwards with the hero. That's another pet peeve of mine. I like a woman who knows her own mind and stands by her convictions from page to page.
The plot was intriguing though. Had it not been for the hopping about I would've finished the book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
The plot was intriguing though. Had it not been for the hopping about I would've finished the book.
ARC provided by NetGalley
May 16, 2023
Second chance Romance
Some scars are visible but some scars are invisible and those are the hardest to run from.
Christian was scarred in battle but he also suffers mentally from the memories of that and his childhood. The way everyone turned their back on him after him lost his good looks makes him just want to be by himself until this mysterious governess shows up and sees past his scars and sees as just a person.
Serena had the perfect childhood and she thought she had met a decent man when she got married however he turned out to be handsome on the outside but ugly and cruel on the inside. Now not only does she hide physical scars from but she's emotionally scarred. She wants to never be married ever again. But then she becomes a governess for her childhood crush and realizes not only is he scarred on the outside like she is but he is scarred on the inside.
They realize that they can help heal each other and find love together. It only takes a little patience and understanding to heal one another.
I loved this story from beginning to end.
I look forward to the next story in this series
Some scars are visible but some scars are invisible and those are the hardest to run from.
Christian was scarred in battle but he also suffers mentally from the memories of that and his childhood. The way everyone turned their back on him after him lost his good looks makes him just want to be by himself until this mysterious governess shows up and sees past his scars and sees as just a person.
Serena had the perfect childhood and she thought she had met a decent man when she got married however he turned out to be handsome on the outside but ugly and cruel on the inside. Now not only does she hide physical scars from but she's emotionally scarred. She wants to never be married ever again. But then she becomes a governess for her childhood crush and realizes not only is he scarred on the outside like she is but he is scarred on the inside.
They realize that they can help heal each other and find love together. It only takes a little patience and understanding to heal one another.
I loved this story from beginning to end.
I look forward to the next story in this series
January 22, 2014
As a fan of continuing story arcs in books, I found this first book in the Disgraced Lords series a fast-paced and compelling read that sets up an intriguing mystery of revenge amidst a group of immensely appealing and honorable men forced to suffer for the sins of their fathers. In this story two scarred souls come together under the guise of a lie but find love with the truth and ultimately heal each other's damaged souls.
Christian, Lord Markham, grew up the son of a violent and vile man whose rage killed his wife. Christian's tried to be nothing like him but fears the occasional blackouts and darkness he experiences since coming home from the war will bring out that familial blood. The outward scars left from the war and being accused of a rape he didn't commit have him hiding out in Canada where he meets a woman running from her own pain. His need to protect the underdog has him immediately drawn to her and the feelings of love she inspires in him. She accepts him scars and all and represents the chance for a life of happiness that he promised himself if he lived through his injuries. He's soon braving society's wrath to clear his name as well as the woman he wants to make his wife. His life, along with hers, is soon put in danger as a vengeful person from the past continues their plan to destroy the members of the Libertine Scholars. Christian is an admirable hero who's been through a lot of pain throughout his life and deserves a HEA. He's been wallowing in pity until the day Sarah enters his life and brings him back to the land of the living.
Sarah aka Serena was sold to the highest bidder in marriage and abused both mentally and physically by a vile husband. Believing herself a murderess she finds herself hired as Christian's ward's governess and on her way back home to where even more danger awaits from two souls bent on revenge. Serena is an admirable heroine who bravely lived through some truly horrible deeds. She's remained kind-hearted, and though cautious of Christian at first, is drawn to him immediately and seeks to soothe his damaged body and soul. She's strong-willed and will do anything to keep Christian safe as he keeps her safe too.
The romance between Christian and Serena crackles with sexual tension from the moment they meet and quickly builds from there with her setting the pace as he's desperate to earn her trust. The sexual interludes are super steamy as well as sweetly romantic as each believes themselves unworthy of love. Their connection is deep as each is willing to put their lives on the line for the other. The mystery revolving around the Libertine Scholars is intriguing with a well-plotted beginning depicted in this book to leave me clamoring for more. The other Libertine Scholars are equally compelling with their unique and brashly charming personalities and I look forward to their stories being told and getting another step closer to whodunit. This is my first book by Ms. Evans and with the talent seen here I'm adding her to my list of favorite historical authors and recommend you do too.
Christian, Lord Markham, grew up the son of a violent and vile man whose rage killed his wife. Christian's tried to be nothing like him but fears the occasional blackouts and darkness he experiences since coming home from the war will bring out that familial blood. The outward scars left from the war and being accused of a rape he didn't commit have him hiding out in Canada where he meets a woman running from her own pain. His need to protect the underdog has him immediately drawn to her and the feelings of love she inspires in him. She accepts him scars and all and represents the chance for a life of happiness that he promised himself if he lived through his injuries. He's soon braving society's wrath to clear his name as well as the woman he wants to make his wife. His life, along with hers, is soon put in danger as a vengeful person from the past continues their plan to destroy the members of the Libertine Scholars. Christian is an admirable hero who's been through a lot of pain throughout his life and deserves a HEA. He's been wallowing in pity until the day Sarah enters his life and brings him back to the land of the living.
Sarah aka Serena was sold to the highest bidder in marriage and abused both mentally and physically by a vile husband. Believing herself a murderess she finds herself hired as Christian's ward's governess and on her way back home to where even more danger awaits from two souls bent on revenge. Serena is an admirable heroine who bravely lived through some truly horrible deeds. She's remained kind-hearted, and though cautious of Christian at first, is drawn to him immediately and seeks to soothe his damaged body and soul. She's strong-willed and will do anything to keep Christian safe as he keeps her safe too.
The romance between Christian and Serena crackles with sexual tension from the moment they meet and quickly builds from there with her setting the pace as he's desperate to earn her trust. The sexual interludes are super steamy as well as sweetly romantic as each believes themselves unworthy of love. Their connection is deep as each is willing to put their lives on the line for the other. The mystery revolving around the Libertine Scholars is intriguing with a well-plotted beginning depicted in this book to leave me clamoring for more. The other Libertine Scholars are equally compelling with their unique and brashly charming personalities and I look forward to their stories being told and getting another step closer to whodunit. This is my first book by Ms. Evans and with the talent seen here I'm adding her to my list of favorite historical authors and recommend you do too.
January 13, 2016
Contains spoilers!
Right! Where to start?
I'm a sucker for tortured H/h. Their journey to happiness can be the most gratifying reads, a 'Go fuck yourselves' to all the baddies in the world, and 'Love conquers all'. In the hands of a talented author, I will ache for my H/h, cry, cheer, stomp and then just smile. In the hands of a talented author...
Now this book had all the prerequisites of a good angsty (angsty is fine with me) read. Let's begin with the easier issues I had with this book. The pacing. In the prologue we see our hero about to be shanghai'ed off to Canada, after being accused of raping the daughter of a Duke. The next chapter fast forwards us 4(??!) months to York, Canada where Christian has not only become the partner of a merchant, but also the ward of his partner's child as his partner and his wife died in a blizzard. He's ready to go back to England to prove his innocence. All I could think was 'That was quick.' Everything is being told, nothing shown. And this is a problem throughout the book. For example the rape accusation. Obviously it's a setup and it's a huge problem for Christian. But hey, why not solve this problem within one page? We don't find out who the rapist is, but within one page Christian is cleared. That's what matters, right? On to the next problem Christian and Sarah/Serena are facing.
My next issue: After the second chapter, it felt as if I was reading a contemporary. Almost every aspect of the book, the way the characters speak, how they handle their problems, their mannerisms, everything felt contemporary. The only reference to this book being a historical is the possible ruin of reputations by association of several characters. Replace the carriages and schooners with cars and planes and you have a contemporary.
However, the biggest problem I had with this book was the topic of rape and how it was brushed over. For someone who experienced extreme sexual abuse and rape, Sarah/Serena is surprisingly comfortable and easy with Christian's advances. Of course, we have the inner monologues about how horrible it was with her husband, how scared she was to be used and abused like that again, but Christian's one touch was all that was needed to have her panting and moaning in pleasure. And this extremely shortly after she escaped the clutches of her husband. Seriously? If the author wants to portray a tortured heroine, then stop taking the piss out of a topic as difficult and delicate as rape. Because, quite honestly, that's how I felt. Not once did I have the feeling that she suffered much once she was with Christian or truly had to struggle to overcome her horrific experiences. Christian and Serena do some psychobabbling and then it's off to bed. There was simply no development. And that's what killed the book for me.
Right! Where to start?
I'm a sucker for tortured H/h. Their journey to happiness can be the most gratifying reads, a 'Go fuck yourselves' to all the baddies in the world, and 'Love conquers all'. In the hands of a talented author, I will ache for my H/h, cry, cheer, stomp and then just smile. In the hands of a talented author...
Now this book had all the prerequisites of a good angsty (angsty is fine with me) read. Let's begin with the easier issues I had with this book. The pacing. In the prologue we see our hero about to be shanghai'ed off to Canada, after being accused of raping the daughter of a Duke. The next chapter fast forwards us 4(??!) months to York, Canada where Christian has not only become the partner of a merchant, but also the ward of his partner's child as his partner and his wife died in a blizzard. He's ready to go back to England to prove his innocence. All I could think was 'That was quick.' Everything is being told, nothing shown. And this is a problem throughout the book. For example the rape accusation. Obviously it's a setup and it's a huge problem for Christian. But hey, why not solve this problem within one page? We don't find out who the rapist is, but within one page Christian is cleared. That's what matters, right? On to the next problem Christian and Sarah/Serena are facing.
My next issue: After the second chapter, it felt as if I was reading a contemporary. Almost every aspect of the book, the way the characters speak, how they handle their problems, their mannerisms, everything felt contemporary. The only reference to this book being a historical is the possible ruin of reputations by association of several characters. Replace the carriages and schooners with cars and planes and you have a contemporary.
However, the biggest problem I had with this book was the topic of rape and how it was brushed over. For someone who experienced extreme sexual abuse and rape, Sarah/Serena is surprisingly comfortable and easy with Christian's advances. Of course, we have the inner monologues about how horrible it was with her husband, how scared she was to be used and abused like that again, but Christian's one touch was all that was needed to have her panting and moaning in pleasure. And this extremely shortly after she escaped the clutches of her husband. Seriously? If the author wants to portray a tortured heroine, then stop taking the piss out of a topic as difficult and delicate as rape. Because, quite honestly, that's how I felt. Not once did I have the feeling that she suffered much once she was with Christian or truly had to struggle to overcome her horrific experiences. Christian and Serena do some psychobabbling and then it's off to bed. There was simply no development. And that's what killed the book for me.
January 22, 2018
FINAL DECISION: Intriguing premise and I liked the characters, but I thought the execution of the story was uneven. Parts of the story did not hold my interest and the romance was resolved too quickly with only external things keeping them apart.
THE STORY: Christian Trent, Earl of Markham, is determined to return to England after having been shanghaied to Canada by a duke who accused Christian of raping his daughter. Christian will return to England and repair his name. While in Canada he acquired a ward after the death of the family that took him in. So Christian needs a governess to accompany them back to England. Sarah Cooper, a widow, is desperate to get the job as she runs from the darkness of her past. She once saw Christian when she was a young girl and had a crush on him. But Christian doesn't know who she is, which is good because she is disguising herself -- she is actually the daughter of a duke.
OPINION: I liked this book, but it has its weaknesses.
The positives: I liked Christian and Sarah as a couple. The story is very sexy and hot. I also enjoyed the premise of the story and the beginnings of the overarching storyline of the series. The other characters also make appearances here and I liked seeing how everything began.
The weaknesses: Too much needs to be explained in the beginning as everything is set up for the series. Too many new characters and stories mean that the momentum of the main storyline is stopped quite a bit. I also didn't always enjoy the resolution of the problems that Sarah and Christian have. Sometimes things were too neat and quickly fixed for what should be extended and dramatic.
Overall, I liked this book knowing that there are other stories coming that I liked better. This book acts as a setup.
WORTH MENTIONING: This series has a continuing overarching storyline even as each book follows a different couple. The series is really meant to be read together in order. (I actually read the last books first and I think it would have been better to read in order).
CONNECTED BOOKS: A KISS OF LIES is the first book in the Disgraced Lords series.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
THE STORY: Christian Trent, Earl of Markham, is determined to return to England after having been shanghaied to Canada by a duke who accused Christian of raping his daughter. Christian will return to England and repair his name. While in Canada he acquired a ward after the death of the family that took him in. So Christian needs a governess to accompany them back to England. Sarah Cooper, a widow, is desperate to get the job as she runs from the darkness of her past. She once saw Christian when she was a young girl and had a crush on him. But Christian doesn't know who she is, which is good because she is disguising herself -- she is actually the daughter of a duke.
OPINION: I liked this book, but it has its weaknesses.
The positives: I liked Christian and Sarah as a couple. The story is very sexy and hot. I also enjoyed the premise of the story and the beginnings of the overarching storyline of the series. The other characters also make appearances here and I liked seeing how everything began.
The weaknesses: Too much needs to be explained in the beginning as everything is set up for the series. Too many new characters and stories mean that the momentum of the main storyline is stopped quite a bit. I also didn't always enjoy the resolution of the problems that Sarah and Christian have. Sometimes things were too neat and quickly fixed for what should be extended and dramatic.
Overall, I liked this book knowing that there are other stories coming that I liked better. This book acts as a setup.
WORTH MENTIONING: This series has a continuing overarching storyline even as each book follows a different couple. The series is really meant to be read together in order. (I actually read the last books first and I think it would have been better to read in order).
CONNECTED BOOKS: A KISS OF LIES is the first book in the Disgraced Lords series.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.This review was originally posted on Top10RomanceBooks.com
March 13, 2014
ORIGINAL POST March 13, 2013 AT: http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...
KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind?
Disclosure: Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
I tore through KISS OF LIES; I had to know what would happen next in this complicated and suspenseful plot. But, even with a compelling story, I felt the writing in this book was uneven. Sometimes it was fine, but I found my self snorting through several of the love scenes. I also thought there was a little too much “telling.
What I did like is the way the heroine, Sarah, falls for the hero, Christian, despite his scars — it’s touching and noble without being condescending. She falls for him because of his character, and the beauty he still possesses despite his tragic burns. She isn’t ignoring them, but she doesn’t think he’s less because of them. That’s a lovely sentiment.
At the beginning she says that beauty is fleeting and intelligence is more important, but the character goes on to walk the walk as she falls in love with the hero.We live in a culture where we say that inner beauty is what counts but then we glorify appearance. But a pretty or handsome face opens doors and I see “pretty” women with “handsome” men, or rich ones. It seems the way of the world.
Do you think love is truly blind or does it overcome certain types of atypical appearance?
I had to remember that the character of Christian feels he has a violent streak, and he certainly has a tendency to act irrationally and out of proportion to the offense. Without this understanding, his reactions did seem out of proportion. But, it is helpful to remember that the character is drawn with a temper he worries about. He also has some very good friends who stick by each other and are all in a pickle — that’s what ties the series together. And they will need to stick together to overcome the threat in the rest of the series. This gets a “cautious recommend” for nobility of sentiment and complex plotting.
KISS OF LIES by Bronwen Evans: Is True Love Blind?
Disclosure: Book provided by author or publisher for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinions presented herein are my own except as noted.
I tore through KISS OF LIES; I had to know what would happen next in this complicated and suspenseful plot. But, even with a compelling story, I felt the writing in this book was uneven. Sometimes it was fine, but I found my self snorting through several of the love scenes. I also thought there was a little too much “telling.
What I did like is the way the heroine, Sarah, falls for the hero, Christian, despite his scars — it’s touching and noble without being condescending. She falls for him because of his character, and the beauty he still possesses despite his tragic burns. She isn’t ignoring them, but she doesn’t think he’s less because of them. That’s a lovely sentiment.
At the beginning she says that beauty is fleeting and intelligence is more important, but the character goes on to walk the walk as she falls in love with the hero.We live in a culture where we say that inner beauty is what counts but then we glorify appearance. But a pretty or handsome face opens doors and I see “pretty” women with “handsome” men, or rich ones. It seems the way of the world.
Do you think love is truly blind or does it overcome certain types of atypical appearance?
I had to remember that the character of Christian feels he has a violent streak, and he certainly has a tendency to act irrationally and out of proportion to the offense. Without this understanding, his reactions did seem out of proportion. But, it is helpful to remember that the character is drawn with a temper he worries about. He also has some very good friends who stick by each other and are all in a pickle — that’s what ties the series together. And they will need to stick together to overcome the threat in the rest of the series. This gets a “cautious recommend” for nobility of sentiment and complex plotting.
February 1, 2014
Christian Trent, Earl of Markham is scarred physically and emotionally. He was horribly burned fighting the war in France, and returns to England a very changed man. He is in unbearable pain and suffers the piteous and horrified looks of people he thought were his friends. He survives by burying himself in alcohol and women he can pay to ignore his scars. One night in his usual drunken state he is accused of a terrible crime he has no memory of committing. An argument with his accusers renders him unconscious from a blow to the head. He awakens on a ship heading to Canada, he has no money, and a ruined reputation. He arrives in Canada penniless, and is taken in by a family and befriended. Matthew Pearson, his benefactor, helps him prove his identity, and convinces the bank to release his funds. They then start a successful business together.
Mrs. Sarah Parker has applied for the duty of governess taking care of Lord Markham's ward. Lilly, his ward, is the daughter of Matthew and Pamela Pearson, who recently died in a blizzard. Mrs. Parker is a woman hiding her own scars and crimes. She is desperately hoping to join the Earl on his return trip to England, putting even more distance between her and her accusers. Christian is immediately attracted to her, and Sarah feels safe for the first time in a long time. Both have fears and secrets. Sarah has never known a kind or loving touch. Christian cannot believe that Sarah is not sickened by his horrible scars.
This is a compelling story of two damaged and heartbroken people, finding love, trust and loyalty. Lilly is a charming twelve year old, trying to get past the loss of her parents, moving to a new country, and trusting the people around her. There are many twists and turns to this story, but the burgeoning love between Christian and Sarah, and the loyalty of Christians true friends makes it a book hard to put down.
I received this novel from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review.
Pat Fordyce
March 27, 2014
This review also appears on Reading with Analysis.
You know how sometimes you’re reading a book, and you’re enjoying it, but these niggling little thoughts keep intruding on your enjoyment, poking you and causing you to doubt whether you really should be enjoying yourself, all things considered? Well, I felt that way when I read A Kiss of Lies. The story is sweeping, covers a lot of geography (York, Canada to Kingston, Jamaica, to London), uses some of my favorite tropes (injured/damaged hero, governess heroine, characters with issues, and secret childhood infatuation), and is well-paced and emotionally satisfying. So what was the problem?
A Kiss of Lies is pretty damn bold (not a bad thing), and part of its story involves a plantation, an abusive slave owner, and the white woman who’s caught in the crossfire. And part of me wants to praise the book for not shying away from such a loaded topic. But another part of me wonders what is the point of bringing up slavery if the story is going to be told from the perspective of the white woman who’s harmed by it. Maybe my reading approach was too nervous (or too American, maybe), but it felt like this giant, festering, definitely not resolved issue was used — was appropriated, perhaps — as a narrative crutch to demonstrate just how much the heroine suffered in her marriage. There are other ways to achieve that end without marginalizing people whose experiences were fifty thousand times worse than the heroine’s because she was, eventually, able to escape and hide because she’s white. I dunno… I liked so many things about the book, but all the parts that related to Sarah’s back story made me feel deeply uncomfortable.
You know how sometimes you’re reading a book, and you’re enjoying it, but these niggling little thoughts keep intruding on your enjoyment, poking you and causing you to doubt whether you really should be enjoying yourself, all things considered? Well, I felt that way when I read A Kiss of Lies. The story is sweeping, covers a lot of geography (York, Canada to Kingston, Jamaica, to London), uses some of my favorite tropes (injured/damaged hero, governess heroine, characters with issues, and secret childhood infatuation), and is well-paced and emotionally satisfying. So what was the problem?
A Kiss of Lies is pretty damn bold (not a bad thing), and part of its story involves a plantation, an abusive slave owner, and the white woman who’s caught in the crossfire. And part of me wants to praise the book for not shying away from such a loaded topic. But another part of me wonders what is the point of bringing up slavery if the story is going to be told from the perspective of the white woman who’s harmed by it. Maybe my reading approach was too nervous (or too American, maybe), but it felt like this giant, festering, definitely not resolved issue was used — was appropriated, perhaps — as a narrative crutch to demonstrate just how much the heroine suffered in her marriage. There are other ways to achieve that end without marginalizing people whose experiences were fifty thousand times worse than the heroine’s because she was, eventually, able to escape and hide because she’s white. I dunno… I liked so many things about the book, but all the parts that related to Sarah’s back story made me feel deeply uncomfortable.
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