A Daring Desire

Daring Daughters #19

by Emma V. Leech

A dangerous desire…

Lady Catherine Barrington—Cat to her friends—the irrepressible and impetuous daughter of the Marquess of Montagu, was always used to getting whatever she wanted. However, when she set her sights on Ciarán St. Just, Marquess of Kilbane, the ton’s most notorious rake, it seemed she’d made a dreadful mistake. Marrying Kilbane put Cat’s reputation on the line, but his refusal to be her husband in anything but name has crushed her heart. And yet, despite everything, when disaster strikes, Cat is still determined to help her husband.

A marriage in haste, repented at leisure…

Kilbane is the hell-born libertine mothers warn their daughters about, the kind of man spoken of only in hushed whispers among high society. It’s a reputation he’s worked hard to cultivate. Everyone knows the St. Just bloodline is tainted with cruelty and madness, and anyone who believes Ciarán is not beyond saving is touched in the head themselves—not least his little fool of a wife. He may have been trapped into marriage, but that’s where his involvement with her ends. He’s certainly not the lost little boy she seems to think he is… but he’s not cruel enough to destroy her, either.

Dare to see what lies beneath…

The scandal incurred by Cat’s unconventional marriage—and the gossip occasioned by her husband’s departure for France—might break lesser women. But Cat is every inch her father’s daughter, and she won’t give up on the man she knows exists beneath the armour of Kilbane’s notorious persona. Besides, she loves him. As Cat pours her stubborn heart out in letter after letter, she can only hope Ciarán will read them.

When illness strikes, a vulnerable and pained Kilbane finds not only that his wife flies to his aid, but that her correspondence has opened up a brilliant, brave, thoughtful woman where, before, he had seen only a spoiled child. Has he left it too long to forge a relationship with her? And can he find the strength to share himself with the courage Cat has shown? When pride and necessity has built such high walls, it will take both daring and desire to tear them down.

*****************************
This is the nineteenth book in the series and focuses on the children of The Girls Who Dare series. They can be read separate from Girls Who Dare; however for a more intimate experience, one should read the Girls Who Dare first. Reading order for Daring Daughters is as follows:

Dare to be Wicked
Dare to be Brazen
Dare to be Wild
Dare to Cause a Scandal
Dare it all for Love
The Trouble with a Dare
Dare to Risk it All
The Mistletoe Dare
Just a Little Daring
An Enchanting Dare
To Dare the Devil
Sinfully Daring
To Dare the Darkness
Wildly Daring
The Dare Before Christmas
Indecently Daring
Truly, Madly, Daring
Truth or Dare

Heat rating of 3: spicy, descriptive, and provocative, but not erotica.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Regency Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

317 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 21, 2023

About the author

Bestselling author hiding mostly in 19th-century England, venturing out only for chocolate and tea.

Emma V. Leech is the award-winning author of multiple bestselling series across Regency romance, Regency mystery and paranormal romance. Fall in love with swoon-worthy rogues, bold heroines, witty banter and deeply romantic happily-ever-afters. Follow Emma on BookBub for new releases and exclusive deals.

EMMA’S BOOKS

Rogues And Gentlemen
Regency romance – 17-book series (ongoing)
Sexy, tumultuous and irresistibly romantic. From pirates and smugglers to earls and dukes, these unforgettable rogues will sweep you away!

Winter Rogue
A Regency Christmas romance within the Rogues & Gentlemen world
A scandal-weary earl, a runaway heiress and a crumbling country estate snowed in for Christmas. A sensual, heart-tugging holiday novella about redemption, desire and a love neither of them expects.

A Rogues and Gentlemen Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
A collection of three romantic holiday stories featuring beloved Rogues & Gentlemen characters. Expect snowstorms, sizzling tension, unexpected proposals, mistletoe moments and heart-melting happily-ever-afters – a cosy festive escape for Regency romance lovers.

The Girl Is Not For Christmas
A standalone Regency Christmas romance
Miss Olivia Penrose is the only thing standing between her family and ruin when a brooding aristocrat crashes into her carefully laid plans. Sparks fly amid family secrets, snowy scandals and irresistible festive longing in this passionate, witty and deeply romantic winter read.

Girls Who Dare
Regency romance – 12-book series
Inside every wallflower is the heart of a lioness. When these overlooked young women make a pact to change their lives, rules are broken, reputations are risked and love becomes the most daring adventure of all.

Daring Daughters
Victorian romance – 19-book series and two compilations
The next generation of the Girls Who Dare. Their mothers risked everything for love – now their daughters are ready to be even bolder. An ongoing series of fiercely romantic stories set in a rapidly changing world.

Wicked Sons
Victorian romance – 12-book series
Their mothers dared all for love. Their sisters did the same. Now it’s the sons’ turn… dangerous, tempting and determined not to fall – until the right woman brings them to their knees.

The Venturesome Ladies Of Little Valentine
Regency romance – my current series
A quiet seaside village, a wave of scandalous newcomers and local ladies who refuse to be swept aside. A warm, witty Regency series full of secrets, second chances and delicious enemies-to-lovers romance.

The Regency Romance Mysteries
Regency romantic suspense – 3-book series
Dashing heroes, wicked villains, murder, mystery – and heroines who refuse to sit prettily and wait to be rescued. Perfect if you like your Regency romance served with danger and intrigue.

The French Vampire Legend
Paranormal romance – 4-book series
A dark, dramatic and heart-wrenching tale of courage, sacrifice and a love that not even time, war or monsters can destroy. Gothic atmosphere, high stakes and a romance that refuses to die.

The French Fae Legend
Fantasy romance – 4-book series
An award-winning saga with close to sixteen million online reads. Moving between modern-day France and the Fae Lands, these books weave powerful magic, danger and an all-consuming love that proves stronger than any enchantment.

The Book Lover
A standalone paranormal romance novella
A book-obsessed young woman, an infuriatingly charming stranger and the unnerving sense that stories might be bleeding into real life. A short, intensely romantic tale for anyone who has ever fallen in love with books… and perhaps with something not entirely of this world.

Reviews

[Susan Saltos · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I don’t feel like we learned anything new about Cat or Kilbane. We know everything we knew about them from previous books. Also, I saw little in why they’d fallen in love with each other. I would have liked to have seen more of them getting to know each other. It could have been done while he was sick and recovering, but he was mostly unconscious during that time. Also, Cat bought some gifts at Christmas time but then she and Kilbane had a fight and she left. I assume she bought him a gift. It would have been nice if he’d spotted the gift while she was gone and opened it to find a touching gift that he would realize from it how much she does know him and love him. I felt that was an opportunity missed as the Christmas shopping was mentioned but not much else was mentioned about it except they decorated the tree together.
I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, possibly about Rose and Marlowe as well as the new series The Wicked Sons, which I believe will start with Pip!

[Sokosita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I felt disappointed. For all the built up of the story... there wasn't much of drama. He definitely needed to do more to "win" her over. I have secretly hoped, he wasn't such male wh**e. I really wished he did a bit more growing up and self reflection in the book.
Even the romance was very 🫤... 2 supposedly passionate characters, and nothing much.
I really hope the next one is more engaging.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story

An excellent story from beginning to end.

Cat and Kilbane finally get their happily ever after.

She's waited for him for 5 years but this time she's not some love sick young girl who just wants his protection,no she's grown woman who wants it all or nothing.

He has been away for 5 years but he never expected to come back and find out that after avoiding his wife for all these years, he has loved her this entire time and she worked her way into his heart by sending him letters despite him telling her not to.


He is dark and she is light

When she shows him the light by giving him love, tenderness and care when he is sick. He has no choice but to see that the light and dark can mix together.

Fate has a way of always finding a way.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story from beginning to end.

I can't wait for what Emma has in store next

[Gayla McNicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gobsmacked

How does she do it? Consistently engrossing stories, book after book! A Daring Desire was another binge-able, worth the lost sleep, must read as soon as released, escape into HR fantasyland. If you haven't read the entire series yet be sure to read the Cat and Kilbane so far synopsis book before you read this for the best enjoyment. I loved all the excerpt letters that gave insight into future stories. Please, ma'am, may I have some more?

[Lynn Hyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Addicted to the Dares

First the daring ladies drew me in, then I as addicted to the dates of their daughters. Every single book was a satisfying read! This last one with Cat, her parents, and Kilbane was all I anticipated! Excellent characters and heartbreaking memories overcome by new happiness. Montague is always an interesting husband and father. This book is so worth your time!

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book

I absolutely adored this book. Cat and Kilbane’s story has been brewing for so long and it was everything I hoped for and more. I couldn’t put it down yet didn’t want it to end. Really highly recommended.

[LainieLibrary · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

I've been waiting awhile for Cat's story and while this was overall very good, it didn't quite live up to my expectations. As someone else mentioned, it felt like Cat's and Kilbane's story had already been told with all the build up? This didn't bring anything new other than the predictable reconciliation. I still loved reading this, and it certainly brought me out of my recent reading slump (always know I can trust Emma with that), but something was missing. There was angst, but it's all situations/drama we have been aware of? So it felt a tad repetitive. I wasn't bored, but I had hoped for something to make this a bit more interesting?

Kilbane returns to England and is so sick he's practically dying. Cat nurses him back to health and he finally realizes he loves her (and has loved her via the letters she sent for years and years). He had a messed up childhood - never knew real love and had no idea how to receive it from others. But see, that's kind of the entire plot? Toss in a side of Montagu hating Kilbane and yeah, that's the whole book. Which again - we already knew all these things and it was super clear Cat would have to nurse Kilbane back to health in the last book... Again, this was enjoyable overall but predictable and nothing new was brought to the table.

In this series in particular, it feels like all the love interests are edgy and interesting but then are "reformed" and become exactly the same. The Comte, for example, Kilbane, Montagu in the previous series, etc... They all morph into the same "nice husband devoted to his wife" thing. Which is great, I just wished they kept a bit of their personalities and didn't become the exact same person.

Anyways, I love Emma and her historical romances - this just fell a little flat for me!

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

tying up things

This story was a continuation of the last book in that it picks up where it was left off on the marriage of Car. It finally ends up being a hea

[Elodie’s Reading Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

💔 A Daring Desire ❤️‍🩹
Daring Daughters Book 19
✒️ Emma V. Leech
https://www.facebook.com/EmmaVLeech/
Release Date 07/21/2023
➪ https://a.co/d/h95Wz72

𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗯

The long-anticipated culmination of the relationship between Ciarán St Just, Marquess of Kilbane and Lady Catherine 'Cat' Barrington is available now.  

Cat and Ciarán story or when Lady and Lord Kilbanes meet again after five years of estrangement.

𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄

I confess I am somewhat stuck in a sort of a loop, struggling to find entertainment in the books I recently read.
So I was so relieved when after a few pages, I felt the words flying in front of me. So eager I was to read more about Cat and Ciarán and all the others navigating around them.
The previous book left us with knowledge of Ciarán’s return home, in a bad state from his time spend in a French gaol.
Right when Cat was finally thinking it was maybe time to let go of the man she has loved for most of her life with no hope of return.

For there begins a story of second chance, healing, trust and forgiveness.
Ciarán is the tortured brooding cinnamon roll sort of a man, barking more than biting. With Catherine who does not know the meaning of no nor boundary when it is about him, they are in for some head butting and amends to make.
4.5 stars

𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 onscreen lovemaking scenes

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[Gia · Rating 1 out of 5]

First off, let me say how much I love all the other books by Emma Leech! They are very intersting with great stories. The strong heroines and heroes. This book fell way short.
I would have expected any daughter of Lucien and Matilda not to be a doormat.Cat was one of the worst heroines from Leech. She falls in love with a thoroughly depraved man, without knowing anything about him and traps him inadvertently into marriage. He has no interest in her and promptly leaves to continue his degenrate lifestyle and stays away for 5 long years! Meanwhile Cat stays faithful to him, in his house. When he shows up sick and almost dying, in true self sacrificing form she nurses him back to health. There is no clearcut reason as to why shes in love with him, she knows nothing of him really except hes had a bad childhood and he takes lovers indiscrimately. Pray tell what is there in him to love? Her father Lucien is undoubtedly furious with Kilbane(kilbane had even propositioned Lucien and Matilda to join him in his bed once). When Lucien reveals what Kilbane had done, Cat giggles! To me that was so inappropriate and disgusting, I couldnt believe it. WHat sort of women continues to be in "love' with someone like this. Badly behaving men.. When Kilbane come shome after 5 years and Cat nurses him back to health he conveniently realises hes in love with her too! Nevermind hes had no contact with her for such a long time , except of course she wrote him letters. This story was so ridiculous I felt only Lucien was truly right in his feelings towards Kilbane and Cat. Cat was the most ridiculous heroine ever, shes constantly throwing herself at Kilbane. Ughh this book made me so mad I could barely finish it! Please Emma Leech what were you thinking!!

[Rowena Knowles · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Ms Leech’s work and reading her Daring Daughters series to date has been a most enjoyable experience.

Cat and Kilbane’s story has been laced through a number of the later books in this series. Cat has gone from a delightful, somewhat precocious child to a strong, independent thinking woman following the scandal that resulted from her obsession with Kilbane. Kilbane has gone from a young man determined to live up to his family’s dreadful reputation of lasciviousness and debauchery, sleeping with both men and women (no graphic details of this in any of the books) to…..well, a bit of a nothing really 😢.

Unlike the conclusion of the drawn out relationship of Evie and Louis in To Dare the Darkness (and the wonderful conclusion to Matilda and Montagu’s love story played out over the Girls Who Dare series - “chef’s kiss”), this one left me with a feeling of disappointment.

The first half was excellent, with glimpses of what has happened over the five years since the scandal that required them to marry, and then Cat nursing Kilbane back to health, which results in some quite touching scenes between them. However, after Kilbane refuses to admit his feelings and Cat makes a stand and leaves, the resolution to that conflict was just a little “too quick and easy”. Plus, for a book featuring a hero who has been sooo debauched, I was expecting a lot more fireworks when it came to exploring their attraction to each other. In fact, there was hardly any steamy moments and it failed to deliver any real “spark” between them.

Overall, still an enjoyable read and I absolutely loved the epilogue ❤️

[Agnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The biggest problem with Emma V Leech books is, that I can’t help but to read them. I marked my calendar in the anticipation of Kilbane and Cat story, and I promised myself to hold it for Holliday next week. “6 days! You can do this!”. I have lasted a few hours only.
I have been waiting for this book for a very long time (since Cat saw Kilbane from hidden gallery many books ago) and it did not disappointed. That scene when he said, “I was provoked!” Was a masterpiece! We can see that it was not a girlish infatuation driving Cat. She could see a broken soul that took kindness for pity, and pity for an insult. To see the end of his journey and the beginning with the help of a joyful and sassy Cat was pure joy. Emma’s V Leech book started from good, to great to absolutely wonderful. We (book lovers) all know very few occasions in our lives when we get to know THE author that will take us on a magical journey. This author is one of mine. Thank you, Emma (if I may).

[Diana Whiteman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The end.....

of the daughters but the beginning of the sons...this series just keeps on giving! A truly wonderful, warm, witty, romantic book that tells the story of Kilbane and Cat...how they wound up being together. I loved the way Emma wrote Cat and Kilbane.. She showed us how Cat grew up and matured. She showed us how Kilbane lost his walls that he had put up in order to protect himself. It was heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. I am sorry to see the daughters ending but I am thrilled we'll be getting to know and fall in love with the sons. I can't wait to see what Emma comes up with for the boys.

[Reg Ferns · Rating 1 out of 5]

Both the main characters were completely illogical and the story wasn't written in a way that would make their actions make sense. No one knows why the heroine loves the hero and no one can fathom why all of a sudden the hero starts professing love for the heroine after abandoning her and hating her for 5 years.
It's all too convoluted and there is barely any believable romance in this.
I had high hopes for Cat since she is Montagu's daughter but she felt like a naive idiot throughout the novel. Also the hero is a manwh*re who propositioned to bed both Montagu and his wife at the same time. Wonder how that will go around the dinner table in future family events.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her desire to love her husband

I absolutely loved Catherine and Ciaran’s story! She new he had a good side to him but her refused her and her friendship at every turn. When he decided to leave for France for good she ran after him. Unfortunately they were caught in a compromising position all her fault. He agreed to marry her and then leave.
Catherine promised him she would not follow if only he let her know where is was. She would write him 2 letters a week for almost 5 years until he realized he fell in love with his wife and wanted to go home.
Such a beautifully written story with a perfect ending.

[Kathy Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cat (Montague's daughter) and Kilbane. Had looked forward to it and enjoyed it, but it fell short of the mark. My favorite parts had Montague in it and Kilbane's man of business, Perry. Nice to see Ms. Leech include a gay couple, it's part of a side story.

Cat & Kilbane's love story was great, but it was too perfect somehow and neither of them are perfect, thus I felt it could have been far more interesting. Some characters are built up by an author over time and then falls short when it's time for their story, though that was definitely not the case when it came to Montague.

Kilbane is a tortured soul with a troubled past redeemed and healed by Cat's love - in short.

[Melba Hard · Rating 5 out of 5]

And so a devil is tamed

We have been waiting for a long time for the resolution of Cat's story and were not dissapointed. We found out so much about the sad childhood of her husband and how he had tried to make amends goto others that had been affected by his father's and brothers cruelty.Cat had seen. This and new there was a good man under neath.It was her determination that bright around an amazing transfer nation in his character.

[AmazingJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Absolutely Wonderful, Entertaining & Romantic Book.

The Story was Absolutely Wonderful.
A great ending to this Series.

Catherine (Cat) & Ciarán (Kilbane) were such wonderful characters.

I was happy to finally read their story.

Although I am sad that the series is at an end, I am looking forward to reading "The Devil to Pay". Besides starting "Rogue's and Gentlemen" Series.

[SR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully Daring Daughter

Cat dares to plunge headlong into her future and drags a reluctant husband along with her. I enjoyed their roads of reconciliation and redemption with a destination of a wonderful HEA
.

[Glenda Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW

Kilbane and Cat’s story was so romantic. Out of all the Daring Daughters series Louis and Evie and now Cat and Kilbane are the best page turner ever. Than you slow down reading cause you don’t want it to end. Bravo Emma!!

[Matthew J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

even better than I imagined!

This was such a lovely story that also kept surprising me. There was never a dull moment and the character growth was perfect! I cannot wait until the next book!

[lil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book I loved Cat’s story. Emma is a great storyteller always

[Anita L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love, love, loved it. Was so sad when I reached the end. Wanted it to go on.

[Holly Ortega · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma doesn’t fail to disappoint. Loved cat and his lordship Cuarion romance or lac there of.

[Els De · Rating 4 out of 5]

All by all not the same level as the other books - as mentioned in other reviews not much was added.

[Miss Conception · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well to be honest, Rose and Marlowe caught my undivided attention..I need their book like now!

[Nicole LaBoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

It was well written and a page turner. I couldn't put the book down once I started. It has all the feels. Can't wait for the next book for this series!

[Aspoon · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not feel any real connection between Cat and Kilbane. He was mean to her the entire time and then randomly kiss her and all of a sudden she stands up for herself.

[Yo · Rating 4 out of 5]

📖