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Intimate Betrayal
TO THE MANOR BORN
Independent Alyssa Carrington had run her father's estate for years. But before his death, he auctioned Westgate Manor to the highest bidder, leaving her penniless. With no means to support herself, she was at the mercy of the new lord of the manor --- the dashing Duke of Gillingham.
Now the ladies' man welcomed Alyssa into rooms that were once her own --- especially the master's bedroom. Captured in his haunting gaze, the copper-haired beauty felt her strong will weaken as she was torn between the allure of illicit passion and her dreams of wedded bliss. She would need to risk both to capture the reckless peer and become the mistress of his heart.
Independent Alyssa Carrington had run her father's estate for years. But before his death, he auctioned Westgate Manor to the highest bidder, leaving her penniless. With no means to support herself, she was at the mercy of the new lord of the manor --- the dashing Duke of Gillingham.
Now the ladies' man welcomed Alyssa into rooms that were once her own --- especially the master's bedroom. Captured in his haunting gaze, the copper-haired beauty felt her strong will weaken as she was torn between the allure of illicit passion and her dreams of wedded bliss. She would need to risk both to capture the reckless peer and become the mistress of his heart.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1995
38 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Adrienne Basso
29 books240 followersBetween stints as a corporate financial analyst, marketing consultant and public librarian, Adrienne Basso has parlayed her vivid imagination and desire to tell romantic stories into a twenty-four-year writing career. She has published contemporary, Regency, Victorian, vampire, and Scottish medieval romance novels. She enjoys the challenge of creating stories that emphasize the everlasting power of love and is truly delighted that her characters always achieve the fantasy of living happily ever after. A native New Yorker, Adrienne, her husband, and their incomparable dog now live in New Jersey.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
January 8, 2013
This is a reissue of a book originally published in 1995, now in e-book form. It’s a fairly run-of-the-mill and rather clichéd historical romance which I didn’t find particularly engaging. There was one part of the story I liked (more of that later), but on the whole it was flat and one-dimensional as, sadly, were the characters.
The heroine, Alyssa Carrington has managed her wastrel father’s estate for years. She’s 24 and fully expects to remain a spinster, having set aside a small sum of money for herself and bought a small property in expectation of such time as there is no money left to pay his debts and she will have to sell the house. She is frequently described as “independent” and “stubborn”, but there’s little evidence of it for the most part, as she quickly succumbs to the supposed charm of the hero and shows every sign of becoming rather a doormat.
Our hero, Morgan Ashton, Duke of Gillingham is, of course, handsome and rich. He’s 35 and a widower and while being a commanding presence displays an unattractive tendency to be quick to anger and often loses his temper over nothing, obviously in an attempt to create some sort of conflict where otherwise there would be none. When he first meets Alyssa and she has no idea who he is, he’s yelling at her in about two sentences, having incorrectly assumed she’d know who he was and why he was there. That’s not the only time something like that happens and it makes no sense.
But despite this, it’s not long before Alyssa is quivering at his touch or marvelling at how closely their bodies fit together; and not long after that when, in the manner of twenty-four-year-old spinsters who may never otherwise know a man’s touch, she sleeps with him.
Perhaps this is a mark of the time at which the book was written, but in most of the historical romances I’ve read that have been written in the last few years, there’s almost always some discussion or mention of contraception or the possibility of pregnancy if the hero and heroine are not married. Given the stigma and scandal that would have surrounded a well-bred young woman becoming pregnant out of wedlock at that period, I personally find it more realistic when the subject is at least touched upon before the characters embark on a sexual relationship. But here, it’s not mentioned at all. He’s 35, has been married and has had mistresses, so it’s pretty obvious he’d know where babies come from, even if Alyssa is dangerously ignorant, as I suppose many young ladies at that time would have been.
In fact, the only time the possibility of pregnancy is mentioned is after they’ve had sex several times, and Alyssa is sending Morgan packing because while she believed she’d agreed to marry him, he thought she’d accepted his offer of carte blanche.
And then, guess what? Yep – not long after he takes himself off, she discovers she is, indeed up the duff.
Not only that, but there is more nastiness on his side when he finds out – he’s a real “shoot-first-ask-questions-afterward” kinda guy.
That’s enough for now about what I didn’t like. What I did like was the section where, after they’ve married, Alyssa and Morgan settle to married life and then after that, the section following the birth of their daughter. They’re more relaxed around each other, have begun to understand each other more, and at last seem like they actually have a chance together.
There is another element to the book in addition to the relationship between Alyssa and Morgan, which is the fact that he has been asked to track down a French spy who is passing on valuable information to Napoleon. This strand was so slight that felt like a late addition to the plot and there were vast swathes of the story where it wasn’t mentioned at all. I don’t generally mind having an element of adventure or intrigue in a romance novel, but if it’s there, it needs to be integral to the story and well thought out and executed. I didn’t feel as though that was the case here; there was no real tension as to the identity of the spy, and although I guessed who it was early on, there were no clues to speak of other than the fact that it was obvious who it wasn’t and the dénouement and reveal fell sadly flat.
I really hate having to write reviews of this nature, and sadly seem to have written quite a few in this vein of late. But this is poor :(
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the review copy
The heroine, Alyssa Carrington has managed her wastrel father’s estate for years. She’s 24 and fully expects to remain a spinster, having set aside a small sum of money for herself and bought a small property in expectation of such time as there is no money left to pay his debts and she will have to sell the house. She is frequently described as “independent” and “stubborn”, but there’s little evidence of it for the most part, as she quickly succumbs to the supposed charm of the hero and shows every sign of becoming rather a doormat.
Our hero, Morgan Ashton, Duke of Gillingham is, of course, handsome and rich. He’s 35 and a widower and while being a commanding presence displays an unattractive tendency to be quick to anger and often loses his temper over nothing, obviously in an attempt to create some sort of conflict where otherwise there would be none. When he first meets Alyssa and she has no idea who he is, he’s yelling at her in about two sentences, having incorrectly assumed she’d know who he was and why he was there. That’s not the only time something like that happens and it makes no sense.
But despite this, it’s not long before Alyssa is quivering at his touch or marvelling at how closely their bodies fit together; and not long after that when, in the manner of twenty-four-year-old spinsters who may never otherwise know a man’s touch, she sleeps with him.
Perhaps this is a mark of the time at which the book was written, but in most of the historical romances I’ve read that have been written in the last few years, there’s almost always some discussion or mention of contraception or the possibility of pregnancy if the hero and heroine are not married. Given the stigma and scandal that would have surrounded a well-bred young woman becoming pregnant out of wedlock at that period, I personally find it more realistic when the subject is at least touched upon before the characters embark on a sexual relationship. But here, it’s not mentioned at all. He’s 35, has been married and has had mistresses, so it’s pretty obvious he’d know where babies come from, even if Alyssa is dangerously ignorant, as I suppose many young ladies at that time would have been.
In fact, the only time the possibility of pregnancy is mentioned is after they’ve had sex several times, and Alyssa is sending Morgan packing because while she believed she’d agreed to marry him, he thought she’d accepted his offer of carte blanche.
And then, guess what? Yep – not long after he takes himself off, she discovers she is, indeed up the duff.
Not only that, but there is more nastiness on his side when he finds out – he’s a real “shoot-first-ask-questions-afterward” kinda guy.
That’s enough for now about what I didn’t like. What I did like was the section where, after they’ve married, Alyssa and Morgan settle to married life and then after that, the section following the birth of their daughter. They’re more relaxed around each other, have begun to understand each other more, and at last seem like they actually have a chance together.
There is another element to the book in addition to the relationship between Alyssa and Morgan, which is the fact that he has been asked to track down a French spy who is passing on valuable information to Napoleon. This strand was so slight that felt like a late addition to the plot and there were vast swathes of the story where it wasn’t mentioned at all. I don’t generally mind having an element of adventure or intrigue in a romance novel, but if it’s there, it needs to be integral to the story and well thought out and executed. I didn’t feel as though that was the case here; there was no real tension as to the identity of the spy, and although I guessed who it was early on, there were no clues to speak of other than the fact that it was obvious who it wasn’t and the dénouement and reveal fell sadly flat.
I really hate having to write reviews of this nature, and sadly seem to have written quite a few in this vein of late. But this is poor :(
Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the review copy
December 8, 2017
Quite riveting in parts with the side story line about the spy/traitor taking up a chunk of the novel. I loved the heroine but took a longer while getting to like the hero. There were some very interesting minor characters as well. The heroine's sister in law was a bit annoying in a bimbo dumbass type of way, even if she wasn't a mean character. I disliked her resentful attitude towards the heroine's pregnancy because she had so set her own greedy little heart on having her husband ( the H's younger brother be the heir to the duke hero ). What was more sickening was her happiness that the H and h's baby was female. That bitch was such a retard; did she really think that a young fertile couple like the H and h would not eventually have a male child ? I'm sorry but that acquisitive bitch annoyed me and I would have much rather that she had been the villain and not her widowed sister Priscilla. The H and h managed to overcome their personal conflict at a fairly good point in the story. It made it possible to see them spend a lot of happy times together. The remaining quarter of the novel was taken up with the solving of the spy/traitor story line mystery. I can easily admit that I did not suspect that Priscilla was the infamous traitor/spy/smuggler called the Falcon.
November 25, 2019
The title is correct, and the H acts dishonourably. The h is an innocent, lives and cares for the servants who care for her as she managers her father's estate. She has never left it, no season, her father treated her as a servant. Her father gambled the estate, now owned by the H. He takes possession of everything, revolting in his avarice, seduces her and she poor innocent, believes they are to marry. He has no intention and leaves her pregnant. I didn't believe he loved her, she was too naive to know anything of love. The servants cared for her, until he turns up unexpectedly. No romance - he was not a good man.
April 12, 2022
3.5🌟
It's a quick read and has all the ingredients to make a great story, romance, but it just doesn't hit that sixer.
I liked both H & h even though Morgan was an ass initially he redeemed himself beautifully. Alyssa is a spunky gal and she's the true star of this show.
Recommended: 👍
It's a quick read and has all the ingredients to make a great story, romance, but it just doesn't hit that sixer.
I liked both H & h even though Morgan was an ass initially he redeemed himself beautifully. Alyssa is a spunky gal and she's the true star of this show.
Recommended: 👍
December 7, 2012
I enjoyed this heartbreakingly emotional regency romance . The characters will captivate the readers . The storyline is intense & ripe with intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat . An arrogant Duke meets a woman who will challenge him in every way . First he wanted her for his mistress . Then he wanted her for his bride . And now , she doesn't want him at all . What to do ? Sometimes a Duke must take matters into his own hands . Whether it's for the romance or the suspence - either way - you're gonna love this story .
Morgan Ashton , Sixth Duke of Gillingham , has come to the English countryside to claim the estate he just purchased . And to investigate rumors that a notorious French spy is operating nearby . He becomes fascinated with independent Alyssa Carrington , the previous owners daughter . Alyssa's father carelessly sold the only home she's ever known . She should be outraged . Instead she finds herself intrigued by the beautiful stranger who now owns her home . More tragedy befalls Alyssa when her father committs suicide , leaving his daughter destitute & alone . In the aftermath of her fathers death , Morgan's need to comfort the beautiful Alyssa turns to passion . In her innocence , Alyssa mistakes an offer of carte blanche for an offer of marriage . She's on cloud nine for a little while . But the blazing affair soon turns to ash when the her lover reveals her mistake . Alyssa is heartbroken . But she refuses to force her lover into a marriage he doesn't want . Even after she finds out she's carrying his child . Misunderstandings abound in this story . The Dukes got his work cut out for him when he decides that he really does want to marry Alyssa . And those French spies are closer than he thought .
This story is not without intrigue . The author kept the reader guessing right up until the end....and then the spy wasn't who I thought it was at all . The story took many twists & turns. But here's the most important part for me : the character's just didn't appeal to me . I liked the heroine well enough - even though she was sort of a doormat . I do like a bit of heartbreak with my romanmce . It was the hero that I hated . He was not hero material . He didn't just seduce the heroine - he used her . Even knowing she was innocent - a virgin - he only wanted to make her his mistress . In other words - good enough to bed but not to marry . What the hell happened to being a gentleman ? So that kinda ruined the story for me . I finished it because I liked the heroine . Oh , and I wanted to see who the spy really was .So I guess the author really did hook me if I finished it despite not liking the hero . It's hard for me to make it to the end when I don't like the characters . Next time the author might wanna ease up on the arrogant hero angle .
Would I recommend this story ? You betcha . I do love my regency romance . And I love my Alpha hero's . I just didn't like this one so much .
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to review this book . ARC downloaded via Netgalley .
August 28, 2013
Predictable, oversexed and melodramatic, but still a decent way to pass the time.
December 3, 2016
3.5 Stars
March 7, 2017
I don't know why I finished reading this book. The writing was awful. Too much detail into every movement of the characters, not enough character development, and too much telling not showing.
June 27, 2020
A duke named Morgan buys a property at an improvised auction from only to find out when he arrives to inspect the place that not only has the previous author not informed the household of the events but he’s got a grown daughter living there. Soon after Alyssa, who had the foresight to put aside some funds for a small house and living expenses, finds she is forces to give them all up to pay off debts her father ran up. When Morgan shows up again with his brother to whom he plans to give the place as a wedding gift he encounters Alyssa at a low point and says, “I would be honoured to take care of you. If you will allow me, … With the protection of my name, Alyssa, you will never want for anything. I give you my word.” An extremely sheltered girl she takes this to mean he is offering marriage while he is really offering to make her his mistress.
After a lengthy period of misunderstanding where she is assuming the things he is doing for her are as a future bride there is a direct conversation wherein she asks him outright some question about the wedding. He is furious that she make such an assumption as he plans never to marry. When it is clear how she misunderstood him he thinks: “Knowing he was only partly to blame did not entirely ease the guilt he felt” I do not understand how he can believe he is only partly to blame for this. He knows she was a virgin that had had almost no dealing with polite society to get those nuances. Also in my understanding offering to be someones protector may be a euphemism for taking a mistress but offering someone the protection of your name is typically what they say in regards to marriage particularly in areas where a reputation may have been damages by your actions. He had no questions or surprise when she, a nobleman’s daughter, quite happily agreed to become a mistress without any fuss or embarrassment?
He does reluctantly offer to marry her because she is so upset though he’s already made it plain he never wants to marry. She of course refuses him because she is unwilling to be an obligation and have him eventually resent her for his intolerable married state.
Later he when he comes and discovers some shocking news he immediately accuses her of poor behaviour rather than asking her why she didn’t share the news sooner and He decides he needs to marry her after all but instead of asking her assumes that because she refused him before she’ll do it again so instead of asking her and deciding on a course of action after if she refuses him. He sets about humiliating her in public in such a way as to ensure she’ll agree to the marriage to save face. In the process he seems to be amused by her anxiousness to avoid embarrassment. Then seems surprised when she’s so upset she bursts into tears. He apologizes then explains why he had to do it. He didn’t. Even after they get home he is patronizingly amused as various difficulties she has.
On their wedding night he feels like he probably shouldn’t consummate the marriage so he just refuses to touch her and gets snappy when she tries timidly to reach out to him. She of course feels rejected… Why is this guy such an ass. He may have some valid reasons for being unsure but you know what talk about it explain what your reservations are so she knows at least that it isn’t her and you don’t resent her for “forcing” you into marriage.
Overbearing jerk. it’s a common character type in historical romances somehow despite all this the lady loves him and the wind up happily every after.
Had a hard time with the sister-in-law who was in a love match with the Hero’s brother and yet was also very upset that he marries again and is having a child because she had somehow believed that at 35 year old who claims they will never marry again will actually never marry again and that his brother would inherit so she’d a duchess and have even more wealth and importance than currently. She’s nasty to her new sister-in-law and hopes they’ll have a girl instead of a boy so her husband can still inherit. She’s billed as silly but ultimately a good person but in fact she seams like a not very good person at all.
After a lengthy period of misunderstanding where she is assuming the things he is doing for her are as a future bride there is a direct conversation wherein she asks him outright some question about the wedding. He is furious that she make such an assumption as he plans never to marry. When it is clear how she misunderstood him he thinks: “Knowing he was only partly to blame did not entirely ease the guilt he felt” I do not understand how he can believe he is only partly to blame for this. He knows she was a virgin that had had almost no dealing with polite society to get those nuances. Also in my understanding offering to be someones protector may be a euphemism for taking a mistress but offering someone the protection of your name is typically what they say in regards to marriage particularly in areas where a reputation may have been damages by your actions. He had no questions or surprise when she, a nobleman’s daughter, quite happily agreed to become a mistress without any fuss or embarrassment?
He does reluctantly offer to marry her because she is so upset though he’s already made it plain he never wants to marry. She of course refuses him because she is unwilling to be an obligation and have him eventually resent her for his intolerable married state.
Later he when he comes and discovers some shocking news he immediately accuses her of poor behaviour rather than asking her why she didn’t share the news sooner and He decides he needs to marry her after all but instead of asking her assumes that because she refused him before she’ll do it again so instead of asking her and deciding on a course of action after if she refuses him. He sets about humiliating her in public in such a way as to ensure she’ll agree to the marriage to save face. In the process he seems to be amused by her anxiousness to avoid embarrassment. Then seems surprised when she’s so upset she bursts into tears. He apologizes then explains why he had to do it. He didn’t. Even after they get home he is patronizingly amused as various difficulties she has.
On their wedding night he feels like he probably shouldn’t consummate the marriage so he just refuses to touch her and gets snappy when she tries timidly to reach out to him. She of course feels rejected… Why is this guy such an ass. He may have some valid reasons for being unsure but you know what talk about it explain what your reservations are so she knows at least that it isn’t her and you don’t resent her for “forcing” you into marriage.
Overbearing jerk. it’s a common character type in historical romances somehow despite all this the lady loves him and the wind up happily every after.
Had a hard time with the sister-in-law who was in a love match with the Hero’s brother and yet was also very upset that he marries again and is having a child because she had somehow believed that at 35 year old who claims they will never marry again will actually never marry again and that his brother would inherit so she’d a duchess and have even more wealth and importance than currently. She’s nasty to her new sister-in-law and hopes they’ll have a girl instead of a boy so her husband can still inherit. She’s billed as silly but ultimately a good person but in fact she seams like a not very good person at all.
February 18, 2019
Entertaining romance but full of cliches. The male hero is a duke (!), young (35!), beautiful (not merely handsome!), rich (!) and a widower. He vowed never to remarry because his late wife hated the physical aspect of their marriage (despite it being a love match). The female heroine grew up alone and neglected at her father‘s country estate (her mother died when she was a child, her father a spendthrift preferred to live in London, where he gambled away the family fortune). She is a well-bred Lady (with composed and dignified in all situations of life!), whereas he is arrogant and hot tempered (=ill behaved) as befits a duke. I did not like his character because of these cliches.
But I liked the heroine. Although she loved him she could still look him in the eye, tell him that she loved him AND send him away, because he was not willing to marry her. She showed her strength of character throughout the whole story. I also liked that this story did not end with their wedding but continued with the second sub-plot of the book (espionage) and gave a glimpse at how their marriage and relationship progressed. Well-paced and steamy, too!
But I liked the heroine. Although she loved him she could still look him in the eye, tell him that she loved him AND send him away, because he was not willing to marry her. She showed her strength of character throughout the whole story. I also liked that this story did not end with their wedding but continued with the second sub-plot of the book (espionage) and gave a glimpse at how their marriage and relationship progressed. Well-paced and steamy, too!
November 9, 2019
What an adventure
Well written story of love and intrigue. Characters are written to engage the reader in their lives. You are drawn into their lives like they are relatives and you are anxious for the outcome of the story. The plot, although it has been done many times, is so well written that you are holding your breath for the end of the story. Truly enjoyed this book. A romance reader's joy.
Well written story of love and intrigue. Characters are written to engage the reader in their lives. You are drawn into their lives like they are relatives and you are anxious for the outcome of the story. The plot, although it has been done many times, is so well written that you are holding your breath for the end of the story. Truly enjoyed this book. A romance reader's joy.
July 28, 2024
This book reads as if it were written by AI. It is cliches strung together, not always grammatically correctly.
The historical romance genre relies heavily on cliches and it is the responsibility of the writer to overcome the monotony and to be honest often cringe nature of these motifs. However 2 stars because overall it was entertaining, the plot was fine but was delivered so clunky.
The historical romance genre relies heavily on cliches and it is the responsibility of the writer to overcome the monotony and to be honest often cringe nature of these motifs. However 2 stars because overall it was entertaining, the plot was fine but was delivered so clunky.
July 8, 2017
Intimate Betrayal: 3.5 stars Some of the dialogue didn't belong to the time period. Whilst reading every time I came across some, it completely took me out of the story. Otherwise, I enjoyed it.
Read in the last quarter of 2016
Read in the last quarter of 2016
November 8, 2019
Lovely Amorous Adventure
This was a well-written, spellbinding adventure. I liked the writing style, pace, and historical setting. The characters were likable, people that seemed one would want to spend time with. Great author!
This was a well-written, spellbinding adventure. I liked the writing style, pace, and historical setting. The characters were likable, people that seemed one would want to spend time with. Great author!
September 25, 2018
3.5 stars. The h was both naive to not understand the Duke's intentions. The author touts her high intelligence and then allows the big "misunderstanding" seems hard to believe.
July 7, 2020
More like 3.5
This was a fun story to read. Plot was different in some ways and made the story more solid. I enjoyed getting to know these characters.
This was a fun story to read. Plot was different in some ways and made the story more solid. I enjoyed getting to know these characters.
July 14, 2020
Another great story!
This story drags you in and never lets you go! I loved the characters and the love in their hearts. I love this author!!
This story drags you in and never lets you go! I loved the characters and the love in their hearts. I love this author!!
December 25, 2020
It was better than what I expected after reading the bad reviews.
January 7, 2025
This book started a little rough but evened out into a great plot
March 30, 2013
INTIMATE BETRAYAL by Adrienne Basso is an exciting Regency Historical Romance set in 1813 England. Follow, Alyssa Carrington,a feisty,fiercely independent lady who was left penniless by her father and Morgan Ashton,Duke of Gillingham,sexy and handsome who brought Alyssa's beloved Westgate Manor. Alyssa's father auctioned off Westgate Manor to the highest bidder before his death leaving Alyssa not only with no where to go but penniless. What to do? Well Alyssa did the only thing she could do,you will have to read "Intimate Betrayal" to find out. Fast paced and filled with danger,French spies,scandal,passion,romance and betrayal. A quick fast read you will not be disappointed in reading. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, My Book Addiction Reviews
December 23, 2014
Intimate Betrayal
It is a good Entertaining Story .I read the Story in one day. It took me awhile to figure out who was the bad guy. I had my suspicion and the end proved me right . It would have been the very best if Alyssa had Twins a Boy and a Girl. I would have liked that . As it is it was a good story.
It is a good Entertaining Story .I read the Story in one day. It took me awhile to figure out who was the bad guy. I had my suspicion and the end proved me right . It would have been the very best if Alyssa had Twins a Boy and a Girl. I would have liked that . As it is it was a good story.
May 18, 2015
Found this book while looking through my myriad of boxes for a good reading material for a lazy Saturday afternoon. This one did not disappoint - sweet story, easy reading, great ending (although I sorta figured out who the bad guy was waaay before the ending).
July 1, 2016
Well written
The duke comes to the rescue...sort of. He is offering for her to become his mistress she thinks he offers marriage. Along with the improbable romance the couple must find who is selling secrets to France and implicating the duke.
The duke comes to the rescue...sort of. He is offering for her to become his mistress she thinks he offers marriage. Along with the improbable romance the couple must find who is selling secrets to France and implicating the duke.
April 14, 2012
Although I wasn't expecting to appreciate this, it was quite a good read. For once a heroine with a bit of spine, and the series of events and misunderstandings are slightly less run of the mill.
October 5, 2012
Excellent.....
April 2, 2013
Every once in a while I enjoy a mindless romance novel.
September 11, 2015
Το βιβλιο αυτο με ενθουσιασε απο την αποψη του οτι υποδειχνει διαφορα ιστορικα στοιχεια της εποχης και την πραγματικοτητα ως προς τις ατυχεις συμπτωσεις που πραττονται καθημερινα στη ζωη.
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