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Fairbourne Quartet #3
The Counterfeit Mistress
A refugee from the war in France, Marielle Lyon has established herself at the fringes of London society and welcomes the gossip that she is a s py. The more eyes watching her, the better protected she is -- and the better her chances are at saving her father's life. A warrior at heart, Gavin Norwood, Viscount Kendale, would still be in uniform if not for his older brother's untimely death. Kenale doesn't trust the French, or their femmes fatales. He's ready to do what it takes to unmask her -- even if it means playing a game of seduction.
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 24, 2013
131 people are currently reading
914 people want to read
About the author
Madeline Hunter
102 books2,105 followersMadeline Hunter is a nationally bestselling author of historical romances who lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. Her books have won two RITA awards and seven nominations, and have had three starred reviews in Publishers Weekly. In a parallel existence to the one she enjoys as a novelist, Madeline has a Ph.D. in art history and teaches at an East Coast university.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
September 25, 2013
4 solid stars for this new-to-me author!
Madeline Hunter is a name I see popping up all over the Historical Romance genre, and always in a favorable light. I hadn’t taken the time to really look into her books – “so many books, so little time” and all that rot – but when I was given this book for review, I really had no choice but to dive in. And oh, how very happy I am that I did!!
The Story:
With nothing in mind but saving her father's life, Marielle Lyon doesn't just welcome her reputation as a spy for her French homeland, she relies on the gossip to keep her safe. After all, the more people watching her and waiting for her to make a mistake, the better protected she is from those who want her captured, or worse, dead.
Alban Norwood, Viscount Kendale, no longer serves his country fighting the in war, but that doesn't mean he can't serve in another way. To keep the beautiful cunning spy, Marielle, from passing secrets to the French, he'll use every weapon in his arsenal to draw her out and make her slip up, even seduction…especially seduction!
My Review:
All of my reading buddies know that when it comes to reading series books in order, I put the "O" in OCD. That said, even though this is the third book in the Fairbourne Quartet series and I haven't yet read the others, it works quite well on its own. I never got the feeling I was missing out on something important, and never felt the story lacking. The characters and the plot are so well written, so fleshed out, the only thing I find I need more of is more of Ms. Hunter's writing.
The Bottom Line:
Intrigue and espionage, humor and romance…this story has it all and kept me turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning. I really wasn’t sure what to expect, but Ms. Hunter has written a captivating tale ending in a heartfelt, passionate, happily ever after.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine
===========
The Counterfeit Mistress
Madeline Hunter
Jove
Mass Market Paperback
336 pages
ISBN: 978-0515151381
****
August 26, 2022
French lady and the viscount. He thought she was a spy and followed her. Only to get embroiled in her quest.
Liked the humour that the men had with each other.
Liked the humour that the men had with each other.
April 23, 2023
3.5 stars. Although I did like this book, it's my least fav out of this series. For me, Marielle's character in particular felt a bit flat, and as a consequence the romance didn't really draw me in enough to balance the heavy dose of mystery and other shenanigans in this book.
I liked Kendale's character, the stern, honourable ex-military man who still missed army life and was privately chasing revenge for a past massacre of his unit. I also liked the way he was able to mellow and change his attitude towards relationships with women as he fell in love with Marielle.
Marielle's character was a little more difficult to like. In order to maintain suspense in the book, Hunter did not reveal enough about her real motives to readers early enough IMO. Along with Kendale, we were mostly unsure about who she was, her past, her intentions and motives. This muddiness resulted in a lack of interest in the character (in my case at least). I didn't know her well enough to really care what happened to her. Darn.
The quality of the writing and the historical background were both excellent, as is usual with Hunter, but in spite of this, the book was still a bit flat for me. A bit too heavy on the mystery plot, and an FMC I didn't fully connect with. Still, overall this series is well worth a read, with the interconnected set of characters being maintained well throughout each book. I have been enjoying the banter and friendships amongst the group of friends.
I liked Kendale's character, the stern, honourable ex-military man who still missed army life and was privately chasing revenge for a past massacre of his unit. I also liked the way he was able to mellow and change his attitude towards relationships with women as he fell in love with Marielle.
Marielle's character was a little more difficult to like. In order to maintain suspense in the book, Hunter did not reveal enough about her real motives to readers early enough IMO. Along with Kendale, we were mostly unsure about who she was, her past, her intentions and motives. This muddiness resulted in a lack of interest in the character (in my case at least). I didn't know her well enough to really care what happened to her. Darn.
The quality of the writing and the historical background were both excellent, as is usual with Hunter, but in spite of this, the book was still a bit flat for me. A bit too heavy on the mystery plot, and an FMC I didn't fully connect with. Still, overall this series is well worth a read, with the interconnected set of characters being maintained well throughout each book. I have been enjoying the banter and friendships amongst the group of friends.
October 20, 2014
Originally posted
HERE
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You know, I’m getting really annoyed with some historical romance readers! I made the decision a while ago not to read this series because there were quite a few negative reviews, and I really wish I had ignored them.
The historical romance genre at the moment is beyond bizarre. Disney fairy tales based on television shows like The Brady Bunch and House get raving five star reviews across the board, while richly-detailed historical books that actually capture the location and time period are blasted for being too… well, for being too everything but fluff.
Before its recent revamp, Madeline Hunter had a post on her website (and I have mentioned it before). It discussed how her books are historical romance, not historical fiction with romantic elements, as if she needed to apologise for her books! In America, historical romances are more popular, while in Britain, general historical fiction is the one that sells.
The thing is, Hunter does write the type of book more likely to be enjoyed by British (and Australian) readers. She might see her books as having the emphasis on the romance, but when I think of her writing, what I think of is how masterfully she weaves historically accurate behaviours into her characters’ day to day activities. I think of how she brings Georgian and Regency London to life in a way few authors do.
I think she’d be better loved by many readers if she did less of this, but I’m extremely glad she writes what she does.
The Counterfeit Mistress is the third book in the Fairbourne Quartet and I think the best so far. War is brewing and the time period is so exciting. I wasn’t expecting Marielle and Gavin to be my favourite pairing in this series, but I enjoyed every moment of reading about them. In lesser hands, their conflict and mixed politics would have led to “cute” antics that would drive me insane. Instead, Hunter handles them with maturity and sense.
This book takes you through all the layers of Georgian society. The Regency era is on the horizon. The war with Napoleon is on the horizon. French aristocrats are fleeing to England. Many things are changing. So many times I put the book down to do some research of my own. Such a fascinating time period and the author researched it superbly.
What didn’t I like? I don’t like that the characters use the word snuck (ugh – not outside of the US, thank you) and call their arse their ass. And seeing an otherwise well-researched book having English characters saying fall instead of autumn… Just NO. It’s quadruply annoying because of the attention to detail in every other aspect of the book.
The Counterfeit Mistress is a fantastic book. However, if you’re on the lookout for a Happy Days or Partridge Family rewrite done in long dresses, don’t bother.
You know, I’m getting really annoyed with some historical romance readers! I made the decision a while ago not to read this series because there were quite a few negative reviews, and I really wish I had ignored them.
The historical romance genre at the moment is beyond bizarre. Disney fairy tales based on television shows like The Brady Bunch and House get raving five star reviews across the board, while richly-detailed historical books that actually capture the location and time period are blasted for being too… well, for being too everything but fluff.
Before its recent revamp, Madeline Hunter had a post on her website (and I have mentioned it before). It discussed how her books are historical romance, not historical fiction with romantic elements, as if she needed to apologise for her books! In America, historical romances are more popular, while in Britain, general historical fiction is the one that sells.
The thing is, Hunter does write the type of book more likely to be enjoyed by British (and Australian) readers. She might see her books as having the emphasis on the romance, but when I think of her writing, what I think of is how masterfully she weaves historically accurate behaviours into her characters’ day to day activities. I think of how she brings Georgian and Regency London to life in a way few authors do.
I think she’d be better loved by many readers if she did less of this, but I’m extremely glad she writes what she does.
The Counterfeit Mistress is the third book in the Fairbourne Quartet and I think the best so far. War is brewing and the time period is so exciting. I wasn’t expecting Marielle and Gavin to be my favourite pairing in this series, but I enjoyed every moment of reading about them. In lesser hands, their conflict and mixed politics would have led to “cute” antics that would drive me insane. Instead, Hunter handles them with maturity and sense.
This book takes you through all the layers of Georgian society. The Regency era is on the horizon. The war with Napoleon is on the horizon. French aristocrats are fleeing to England. Many things are changing. So many times I put the book down to do some research of my own. Such a fascinating time period and the author researched it superbly.
What didn’t I like? I don’t like that the characters use the word snuck (ugh – not outside of the US, thank you) and call their arse their ass. And seeing an otherwise well-researched book having English characters saying fall instead of autumn… Just NO. It’s quadruply annoying because of the attention to detail in every other aspect of the book.
The Counterfeit Mistress is a fantastic book. However, if you’re on the lookout for a Happy Days or Partridge Family rewrite done in long dresses, don’t bother.
February 5, 2017
This is third in a series, and the others are pretty present in this one so it's better to read in order, I think. Also, the others are way better, so there's that.
This story starts off really rocky. The first half of the book is pretty much the two of them stalking around being the kind of emotional you'd expect from emo-teens in a gothic LARP. Kendale is the worst at this as he kidnaps Marielle, sorry, "wants to ask her some questions", a couple of times and, oddly enough, fails to ask her any useful questions. He does brood a lot. With occasional kissing. And that's all doubly frustrating as each is the perfect solution to the others' issues. Kendale could use someone French to assist in his counter-spy activities. Marielle could use someone with a little brawn and a can-do attitude to assist in her revenge/rescue fantasy. And since their actual obsessions kind of intersect, they'd be natural allies if they could spare a moment to talk a bit.
I get the trust issues involved. I mean spies and spying are not exactly trust-rich environments. But neither of these characters are exactly subtle either, really, and neither strike me as the kind who'd be any more likely to have romantic trysts with someone they don't trust than they'd be to sit down and share their important obsessions. So going chapters and chapters in sexy times without bothering to open the obsession ledger just made no sense to me.
All of that smoothed out once each chose to take the first steps towards trust. It dribbled out slowly from there, but since neither is the betraying kind, it was a steady progress and that allowed me to immerse better into the story. Indeed, Kendale is almost sweet once he forgets to brood. And I've always had a soft spot for the man of action who can be bothered to care for as well as care about. Plus, double points for listening to Marielle well enough to alter his plans at her request a few times ().
So if I had to break it out, it's two-stars and an almost-dnf for the first half and a solid four stars for their relationship and lovely trust-intimacy spiral in the second half. And I'll average that out to three stars.
A note about Steamy: This had a very odd steam pattern. There were maybe a half-dozen explicit scenes but about half were a couple of paragraphs and no more. So it's still the middle of my steam tolerance, but with a bit of a raised eyebrow for the weird path to get there. Frankly, I kind of had to ignore most of that crap and rewrite it in my head to come later in the story because the intimacy didn't fit very well with where they were in their actual relationship.
This story starts off really rocky. The first half of the book is pretty much the two of them stalking around being the kind of emotional you'd expect from emo-teens in a gothic LARP. Kendale is the worst at this as he kidnaps Marielle, sorry, "wants to ask her some questions", a couple of times and, oddly enough, fails to ask her any useful questions. He does brood a lot. With occasional kissing. And that's all doubly frustrating as each is the perfect solution to the others' issues. Kendale could use someone French to assist in his counter-spy activities. Marielle could use someone with a little brawn and a can-do attitude to assist in her revenge/rescue fantasy. And since their actual obsessions kind of intersect, they'd be natural allies if they could spare a moment to talk a bit.
I get the trust issues involved. I mean spies and spying are not exactly trust-rich environments. But neither of these characters are exactly subtle either, really, and neither strike me as the kind who'd be any more likely to have romantic trysts with someone they don't trust than they'd be to sit down and share their important obsessions. So going chapters and chapters in sexy times without bothering to open the obsession ledger just made no sense to me.
All of that smoothed out once each chose to take the first steps towards trust. It dribbled out slowly from there, but since neither is the betraying kind, it was a steady progress and that allowed me to immerse better into the story. Indeed, Kendale is almost sweet once he forgets to brood. And I've always had a soft spot for the man of action who can be bothered to care for as well as care about. Plus, double points for listening to Marielle well enough to alter his plans at her request a few times ().
So if I had to break it out, it's two-stars and an almost-dnf for the first half and a solid four stars for their relationship and lovely trust-intimacy spiral in the second half. And I'll average that out to three stars.
A note about Steamy: This had a very odd steam pattern. There were maybe a half-dozen explicit scenes but about half were a couple of paragraphs and no more. So it's still the middle of my steam tolerance, but with a bit of a raised eyebrow for the weird path to get there. Frankly, I kind of had to ignore most of that crap and rewrite it in my head to come later in the story because the intimacy didn't fit very well with where they were in their actual relationship.
April 2, 2014
Originally posted on Buried Under Romance book blog
Marielle Lyon is a French émigré with secrets – secrets that make Gavin Norwood, Viscount Kendale, suspect her of being a spy for the French. Marielle has been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with her Gavin, whom she dubs Handsome Stupid Man, not knowing he might actually be the cat in their game.
Kendale is a man unlike many of his aristocratic peers. His years in the military instilled in him lasting independence and discipline, along with the tracking skills of a hound, which are useful in his independent work for the Home Office. Kendale is an interesting blend of the gentleman and the soldier; he is astute, perceptive, and dangerous, yet also kind and generous to Marielle, even when he planned to imprison her in his home for an interrogation. He knows Marielle is lying about her clandestine activities, and he is determined to find out the truth, even if he has to stalk her wherever she goes.
Marielle has crafted her current existence on lies and deceits, all for the sake of her father. Her masquerade as the niece to the Comte de Vence is questioned by all, and rumors of her as a spy lead to further questions when she treats them with disregard. She constantly dons a deliberate mask, never slipping up in any of her stories, never showing any outward vulnerability to her acquaintances. Yet her disguises are draining, and she is running out of time. In her mission for her father she is just as persistent as Kendale, if not more.
One of Marielle’s oft-used personas is that of a femme fatale. In spite of her being Kendale’s quarry, she maintains the upper hand emotionally for most of the story as she calculates seduction and flirtation to Kendale, who struggles to rein in his rampant desire for her. This makes her not only the most fascinating character in the story – for that we get to see her emotional barrier slowly crumble to pieces – but also the most dynamic character in both manner and action.
While Kendale is not as dynamic as Marielle, his character works well with hers. Together, these two will battle a cunning French enemy, make futile attempts to resist their mutual attraction, and slowly uncover each other’s secrets, until all that’s left are their hearts in unwanted discord, searching for harmony.
Undoubtedly, Marielle is the mystery that keeps the story alive, for it is her secrets that catalyze the plot and her interactions with Kendale. I should warn though, that the gist of Marielle’s secrets and her mission are revealed in tiny bits and pieces in the first half of the story; the plot of the first story may be confusing for some without the background fully explained – for example, we know who the villain early on, but we are not told the reason and mechanism behind Marielle’s mission and her true identity until much later. The effect of this device is either confusion or anticipation, and I suspect more the latter due to the story’s rapid pacing.
My criticisms: I have read several of Madeline Hunter’s works, and in each the hero always seems to have a nearly irrational desire for the heroine, for reasons unknown to him. While that is no troubling matter by itself, it fails to act in accordance with the concise bedroom scenes that are without ample rising action in terms of sexual tension. Yes, the desire is written, but it is not felt through the characters, especially Marielle.
Despite all of the above, THE COUNTERFEIT MISTRESS is a book that hits most of the high notes of an intense spy novel with the soft notes of a woman too used to insecurity, joining forces with a cautious lord who slowly learns to let down his guard. It is replete with action, humor, and lots of delicious dialogue, albeit a puzzling plot for impatient readers. While this is the third in Madeline Hunter’s Fairbourne Quartet it can be read as a standalone. After this book I look forward to the last book in the Fairbourne Quartet, THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS, starring Kendale’s ex-friend the Duke of Penthurst and Lydia Southwaite in May 2014.
*ARC received via Romance Junkies; review written independently
Note: On the author's website and my review copy the hero's name is Gavin Norwood, not Alban Norwood. I used the one from the author's website.
Marielle Lyon is a French émigré with secrets – secrets that make Gavin Norwood, Viscount Kendale, suspect her of being a spy for the French. Marielle has been playing a game of cat-and-mouse with her Gavin, whom she dubs Handsome Stupid Man, not knowing he might actually be the cat in their game.
Kendale is a man unlike many of his aristocratic peers. His years in the military instilled in him lasting independence and discipline, along with the tracking skills of a hound, which are useful in his independent work for the Home Office. Kendale is an interesting blend of the gentleman and the soldier; he is astute, perceptive, and dangerous, yet also kind and generous to Marielle, even when he planned to imprison her in his home for an interrogation. He knows Marielle is lying about her clandestine activities, and he is determined to find out the truth, even if he has to stalk her wherever she goes.
Marielle has crafted her current existence on lies and deceits, all for the sake of her father. Her masquerade as the niece to the Comte de Vence is questioned by all, and rumors of her as a spy lead to further questions when she treats them with disregard. She constantly dons a deliberate mask, never slipping up in any of her stories, never showing any outward vulnerability to her acquaintances. Yet her disguises are draining, and she is running out of time. In her mission for her father she is just as persistent as Kendale, if not more.
One of Marielle’s oft-used personas is that of a femme fatale. In spite of her being Kendale’s quarry, she maintains the upper hand emotionally for most of the story as she calculates seduction and flirtation to Kendale, who struggles to rein in his rampant desire for her. This makes her not only the most fascinating character in the story – for that we get to see her emotional barrier slowly crumble to pieces – but also the most dynamic character in both manner and action.
While Kendale is not as dynamic as Marielle, his character works well with hers. Together, these two will battle a cunning French enemy, make futile attempts to resist their mutual attraction, and slowly uncover each other’s secrets, until all that’s left are their hearts in unwanted discord, searching for harmony.
Undoubtedly, Marielle is the mystery that keeps the story alive, for it is her secrets that catalyze the plot and her interactions with Kendale. I should warn though, that the gist of Marielle’s secrets and her mission are revealed in tiny bits and pieces in the first half of the story; the plot of the first story may be confusing for some without the background fully explained – for example, we know who the villain early on, but we are not told the reason and mechanism behind Marielle’s mission and her true identity until much later. The effect of this device is either confusion or anticipation, and I suspect more the latter due to the story’s rapid pacing.
My criticisms: I have read several of Madeline Hunter’s works, and in each the hero always seems to have a nearly irrational desire for the heroine, for reasons unknown to him. While that is no troubling matter by itself, it fails to act in accordance with the concise bedroom scenes that are without ample rising action in terms of sexual tension. Yes, the desire is written, but it is not felt through the characters, especially Marielle.
Despite all of the above, THE COUNTERFEIT MISTRESS is a book that hits most of the high notes of an intense spy novel with the soft notes of a woman too used to insecurity, joining forces with a cautious lord who slowly learns to let down his guard. It is replete with action, humor, and lots of delicious dialogue, albeit a puzzling plot for impatient readers. While this is the third in Madeline Hunter’s Fairbourne Quartet it can be read as a standalone. After this book I look forward to the last book in the Fairbourne Quartet, THE ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS, starring Kendale’s ex-friend the Duke of Penthurst and Lydia Southwaite in May 2014.
*ARC received via Romance Junkies; review written independently
Note: On the author's website and my review copy the hero's name is Gavin Norwood, not Alban Norwood. I used the one from the author's website.
October 31, 2020
Tinha tudo para ser dos livros mais interessantes desta série mas ficou a faltar qualquer coisa.
Até mesmo a relação dos protagonistas não me fez apaixonar por este livro.
3,5⭐
Até mesmo a relação dos protagonistas não me fez apaixonar por este livro.
3,5⭐
June 24, 2023
Mas que atencioso nos saiu o sisudo e anti social Lord Kendale! Sinceramente não simpatizava muito com esta personagem mas acabou por surpreender e estar à altura de Marielle! Fazem um par muito peculiar! Fica a faltar um livro para completar a série 🥰
March 12, 2017
3.5*
Review completa em: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.co.uk/20...
English review: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.co.uk/20...
(...)
Gosto particularmente que Madeline, como outras autoras de romances históricos por vezes fazem, faça pequenos cameos de personagens dos livros anteriores no livro corrente. Neste caso, a personagem principal é Marielle Lyon, amiga de Emma e Cassandra (personagens principais do primeiro e segundo livro, respectivamente) – e estas fazem pequenas aparições no livro, o que me dá imenso prazer ler.
Marielle é uma personagem interessante. Manipuladora, ela consegue que as coisas corram como ela quer – até que elementos estranhos entram em acção e tudo muda. Já Gavin Norwood, visconde Kendale, sempre desconfiou dela. Mas aprende que atrás da fachada que ela mostra ao mundo (ou tem de mostrar, na realidade), há uma verdade bem diferente.
Ambos têm um sentido de honra e amor filial bastante forte e esse é um dos grandes motores da história – além de, claro, o romance que se desenvolve entre o casal.
(...)
Review completa em: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.co.uk/20...
English review: http://pepitamagica.blogspot.co.uk/20...
(...)
Gosto particularmente que Madeline, como outras autoras de romances históricos por vezes fazem, faça pequenos cameos de personagens dos livros anteriores no livro corrente. Neste caso, a personagem principal é Marielle Lyon, amiga de Emma e Cassandra (personagens principais do primeiro e segundo livro, respectivamente) – e estas fazem pequenas aparições no livro, o que me dá imenso prazer ler.
Marielle é uma personagem interessante. Manipuladora, ela consegue que as coisas corram como ela quer – até que elementos estranhos entram em acção e tudo muda. Já Gavin Norwood, visconde Kendale, sempre desconfiou dela. Mas aprende que atrás da fachada que ela mostra ao mundo (ou tem de mostrar, na realidade), há uma verdade bem diferente.
Ambos têm um sentido de honra e amor filial bastante forte e esse é um dos grandes motores da história – além de, claro, o romance que se desenvolve entre o casal.
(...)
January 9, 2017
Ahh! Gostei tanto deste!
March 7, 2022
Another great Madeline Hunter story to continue the series! I loved the slow building romance of Kendale and Marielle woven between the intrigue and suspense of the plot. Kendale developed into a sweet and romantic hero. ❤️❤️❤️
May 2, 2016
I liked this one and it really worked for me. The book had a longer feel to it and Marielle and Kendell's romance was really able to flourish. The mystery of Marielle was well done and I am looking foward to the next book in the series.
April 12, 2020
This might be my favorite of the series because of Kendale. His character is so serious and stodgy, I was laughing out loud at the way Marielle shook things up.
September 23, 2013
In the years following the French Revolution, French nobility escaped to London. Gavin Norwood, the Viscount Kendale, was in the English army fighting against the Revolution. His company got ambushed when they were betrayed by a woman, and now he dreams of revenge while mistrusting women everywhere. He spends his leisure time building a private army and following a French woman around town.
Marielle Lyon may or may not be a spy, but she certainly acts shifty, skulking around town and delivering papers to men in back alleyways. She also may or may not be impersonating the niece of a French aristocrat. The point is, no one really knows who she is or what she’s doing, and that makes her suspicious, so Kendale keeps spying on her. One fortuitous afternoon, Kendale rescues Marielle from some back-alley ruffians. They both get stabbed, so he takes her to his house to meet with a doctor. Then they have a suggestive conversation while she’s wearing a sheet and he’s wearing a robe. From her perspective, “She knew what he was thinking. She saw the desire in him. Smelled it. Women like her were never ignorant of their effects on men.”
From his perspective, “He knew French women to be very wily in their ways with men. A smart man would have nothing to do with them.” That’s the setup. And then there’s lots of suspicion and arousal and suspicion. They don’t know much about each other before Kendale pushes her against a wall and kisses her. He eventually asks her to be his mistress for two weeks because she’s sexy and mysterious, and she agrees because she finds him attractive.
Several times he takes her from behind, because he’s impatient, and that stood out to me only because many heroes lift up their lady’s legs and do them against a wall, face to face. Either it’s proof of his trust issues with women, or he’s not strong enough to carry her, or I’m just thinking too much about it.
Overall, I didn’t connect with either character. Marielle had a personal mission but she never revealed it to the reader until she told Kendale, so I didn’t sympathize with her much. And Kendale was just kind of oafish with his vendetta. He has a deserved reputation of being anti-social and rigid. Their relationship seemed to be based on sex and on the allure of having sex with someone mysterious. I didn’t feel like I really saw them fall in love.
The last part of the book reveals both of their motivations, and there’s even a little spy mission that was interesting and almost suspenseful. But the result felt a little lackluster and emotionless to me.
Kendale has two friends who were heroes in their own books, which I haven’t read. Those characters seemed livelier, I would recommend reading one of their previous books first to get a sense of the political situation and maybe more background. Then this book could have been more rewarding.
Rating: C+
Marielle Lyon may or may not be a spy, but she certainly acts shifty, skulking around town and delivering papers to men in back alleyways. She also may or may not be impersonating the niece of a French aristocrat. The point is, no one really knows who she is or what she’s doing, and that makes her suspicious, so Kendale keeps spying on her. One fortuitous afternoon, Kendale rescues Marielle from some back-alley ruffians. They both get stabbed, so he takes her to his house to meet with a doctor. Then they have a suggestive conversation while she’s wearing a sheet and he’s wearing a robe. From her perspective, “She knew what he was thinking. She saw the desire in him. Smelled it. Women like her were never ignorant of their effects on men.”
From his perspective, “He knew French women to be very wily in their ways with men. A smart man would have nothing to do with them.” That’s the setup. And then there’s lots of suspicion and arousal and suspicion. They don’t know much about each other before Kendale pushes her against a wall and kisses her. He eventually asks her to be his mistress for two weeks because she’s sexy and mysterious, and she agrees because she finds him attractive.
Several times he takes her from behind, because he’s impatient, and that stood out to me only because many heroes lift up their lady’s legs and do them against a wall, face to face. Either it’s proof of his trust issues with women, or he’s not strong enough to carry her, or I’m just thinking too much about it.
Overall, I didn’t connect with either character. Marielle had a personal mission but she never revealed it to the reader until she told Kendale, so I didn’t sympathize with her much. And Kendale was just kind of oafish with his vendetta. He has a deserved reputation of being anti-social and rigid. Their relationship seemed to be based on sex and on the allure of having sex with someone mysterious. I didn’t feel like I really saw them fall in love.
The last part of the book reveals both of their motivations, and there’s even a little spy mission that was interesting and almost suspenseful. But the result felt a little lackluster and emotionless to me.
Kendale has two friends who were heroes in their own books, which I haven’t read. Those characters seemed livelier, I would recommend reading one of their previous books first to get a sense of the political situation and maybe more background. Then this book could have been more rewarding.
Rating: C+
May 5, 2020
Kendale is just fantastic and I love him so much. I love how straight lace he is and the fact his friends make fun of him for it. I also love the liaison of Marielle and Gavin!
September 24, 2020
It lacked passion... 🤭🤭🤭
Não posso dizer que amei, pois senti falta do toque magico da Madeline... 📚📚
Para mim faltou algo na story para ser perfect, como outros livros dela.. 😞😕😕
Esse livro conta a story de Marielle Lyon e Gavin Norwood, Viscount Kendale...
Um Viscount que têm um objetivo descobrir quem é Marielle Lyon.. Já Marielle Lyon têm um segredo que não deseja quem seja revelado..
Na história Kendale se aproxima dela para descobrir o segredo, porém não consegue esconder seu desejo por ela, e isso torna tudo mais complicado, pois seu passado mostra que nem todas as mulheres são de confiança, e isso faz ele sempre estar um pé atrás com Marielle..
Ela têm um passado doloroso, e mantem segredos de quase todos, com exceção de sua amiga, mas quando Kendale, entra finalmente em sua vida, tudo muda... Segredos são revelados, e tudo muda.. Com eles encontrando juntos uma forma de obter as vinganças que desejavam..
Só que não senti o coração bater forte,, faltou...
Something was missing ... I don't know what, but I feel something is missing .. 😞😞😞
#BoaLeitura! #GoodReading! 🎀📚🎀
Não posso dizer que amei, pois senti falta do toque magico da Madeline... 📚📚
Para mim faltou algo na story para ser perfect, como outros livros dela.. 😞😕😕
Esse livro conta a story de Marielle Lyon e Gavin Norwood, Viscount Kendale...
Um Viscount que têm um objetivo descobrir quem é Marielle Lyon.. Já Marielle Lyon têm um segredo que não deseja quem seja revelado..
Na história Kendale se aproxima dela para descobrir o segredo, porém não consegue esconder seu desejo por ela, e isso torna tudo mais complicado, pois seu passado mostra que nem todas as mulheres são de confiança, e isso faz ele sempre estar um pé atrás com Marielle..
Ela têm um passado doloroso, e mantem segredos de quase todos, com exceção de sua amiga, mas quando Kendale, entra finalmente em sua vida, tudo muda... Segredos são revelados, e tudo muda.. Com eles encontrando juntos uma forma de obter as vinganças que desejavam..
Só que não senti o coração bater forte,, faltou...
Something was missing ... I don't know what, but I feel something is missing .. 😞😞😞
#BoaLeitura! #GoodReading! 🎀📚🎀
September 23, 2019
Kendale vikomtot nem sikerült sajnos megkedvelnem, bár néha elég szórakoztató volt, amikor udvarlási tanácsokat kért. Az előző rész jobban bejött, és remélem a következővel is így lesz.
May 9, 2022
Es la que más me gustó por cómo se lleva la trama. Pero igual, esta chica podría haberle contado su drama antes. Eso es lo que no entiendo de esta serie.
September 26, 2015
Review posted on Got fiction?
2.5 stars
I didn't care for this at all.
Marielle Lyon is a Frenchwoman who has moved to England and carries out many suspect activities. She has meetings in dark alleys with smugglers, she goes where she pleases without a chaperone, she uses her feminine wiles to get her way. All these actions are suspect to Viscount Kendale, Gavin* Norwood, a man who’s been watching her for a while and who absolutely believes she’s a French spy.
Marielle does have secrets, many of them in fact, but she isn’t about to let Kendale figure them out, even if he does save her life. Their little game is coming to an end, though, as the stakes have just been raised.
I thought the plot of this book was intriguing and interesting, but I didn’t like the hero or the writing very much. The hero was very arrogant and holier-than-thou, which I know was to foil Marielle, but it served to make him unlikable (for me). Marielle had so many great qualities and even though the Home Office believed she was a spy, they never were able to prove it.
Kendale distrusts the French, Marielle especially for several reasons. He thinks she’s a spy, he doesn’t believe she is who she says she is, and she does nothing to dispel the rumors. If anything, she revels in them. Marielle claims to be the daughter of a French aristocrat, but she doesn’t live like one. Her dresses are decades out of date, worn, and she has little money. Everything about her is suspect.
She is working at making and selling political etchings to save her father back in France, and it turns out Kendale and she have a common enemy. But it takes Kendale a good portion of the book to trust her, and Marielle does nothing to make him trust her. She continues her lies and tales and constantly keeps him on his toes, which should have made for a fun romance, but I found it annoying that she never tried to help herself in that respect.
This book has the makings of a great plot, but I found it slow, and a bit of a let down.
*My copy has the hero’s name listed as Gavin, but the Goodreads blurb calls him Alban
***ARC courtesy of Avon Books and Avon Addicts
***ARC courtesy of Pocket books
2.5 stars
I didn't care for this at all.
Marielle Lyon is a Frenchwoman who has moved to England and carries out many suspect activities. She has meetings in dark alleys with smugglers, she goes where she pleases without a chaperone, she uses her feminine wiles to get her way. All these actions are suspect to Viscount Kendale, Gavin* Norwood, a man who’s been watching her for a while and who absolutely believes she’s a French spy.
Marielle does have secrets, many of them in fact, but she isn’t about to let Kendale figure them out, even if he does save her life. Their little game is coming to an end, though, as the stakes have just been raised.
I thought the plot of this book was intriguing and interesting, but I didn’t like the hero or the writing very much. The hero was very arrogant and holier-than-thou, which I know was to foil Marielle, but it served to make him unlikable (for me). Marielle had so many great qualities and even though the Home Office believed she was a spy, they never were able to prove it.
Kendale distrusts the French, Marielle especially for several reasons. He thinks she’s a spy, he doesn’t believe she is who she says she is, and she does nothing to dispel the rumors. If anything, she revels in them. Marielle claims to be the daughter of a French aristocrat, but she doesn’t live like one. Her dresses are decades out of date, worn, and she has little money. Everything about her is suspect.
She is working at making and selling political etchings to save her father back in France, and it turns out Kendale and she have a common enemy. But it takes Kendale a good portion of the book to trust her, and Marielle does nothing to make him trust her. She continues her lies and tales and constantly keeps him on his toes, which should have made for a fun romance, but I found it annoying that she never tried to help herself in that respect.
This book has the makings of a great plot, but I found it slow, and a bit of a let down.
*My copy has the hero’s name listed as Gavin, but the Goodreads blurb calls him Alban
***ARC courtesy of Avon Books and Avon Addicts
***ARC courtesy of Pocket books
April 3, 2021
https://guerradoslivrosblog.blogspot....
Adoro os livros desta autora. São romances de época compostos por series de amigos em que os finais são previsíveis mas que comprem a sua função como livros de época.
Neste terceiro livro da serie O Quarteto Fairbourne, conhecemos Marielle, uma refugiada francesa em Londres e Gavin, visconde Kendale, que acredita que ela é uma espia. Gavin tudo fará para a prender enquanto Marielle procuro só a vingança para a sua família ao mesmo tempo que tenta sobreviver. Juntos vão viver uma história de amor de cão e gato com mistério e crime envolvidos.
Para quem, como eu, já leu outros livros da autora, vai gostar desta história e de viajar de Inglaterra para França.
Adoro os livros desta autora. São romances de época compostos por series de amigos em que os finais são previsíveis mas que comprem a sua função como livros de época.
Neste terceiro livro da serie O Quarteto Fairbourne, conhecemos Marielle, uma refugiada francesa em Londres e Gavin, visconde Kendale, que acredita que ela é uma espia. Gavin tudo fará para a prender enquanto Marielle procuro só a vingança para a sua família ao mesmo tempo que tenta sobreviver. Juntos vão viver uma história de amor de cão e gato com mistério e crime envolvidos.
Para quem, como eu, já leu outros livros da autora, vai gostar desta história e de viajar de Inglaterra para França.
August 16, 2015
Hunter knows how to write great characters. I enjoyed the relationship between Ambury, Kendalle and Southwaite as well as the one between Kendall and Marielle. But her basis of her plot was ridiculous. And her books are getting a bit too formulaic and perhaps that (and the stupid plot) is why I found myself skimming the 2nd half of the book . The 2 series are so similar. Castleford and penthurst, while different characters, have essentially the same role. They're even both dukes. The men are peers and the women are not of the same world. There are differences of course but they all have the same role. I could go on but am too lazy. This book is essentially the same as "sinful in satin".
September 17, 2018
Any book where the heroine starts out thinking of the hero as "handsome stupid man" has my attention. I really liked the hero. He was gruff and taciturn, but also showed growth without a sudden change of personality. The heroine was independant and the twist to her history was interesting and amusing.
I really enjoy this author's style. She is definitely a new favorite.
I really enjoy this author's style. She is definitely a new favorite.
November 5, 2024
Captivating story where there is intrigue. The main setting is an auction house, which the heroine is managing in cognito after her father died. Love HRs that feature independent women and settings outside balls and house parties.
October 1, 2015
Oh yes, I love this so much more than the last book. A lovely story that kept me reading until 7 am. I must be mad....and tired!
I loved the interaction between Marielle and Gavin.
I loved the interaction between Marielle and Gavin.
January 28, 2017
Boo!
Did not hold my attention at all! Hopefully, the final book of the quartet will fare better.
Did not hold my attention at all! Hopefully, the final book of the quartet will fare better.
April 1, 2019
More like 3.5.
I have now read the last two books in this series in reverse order -- #4 first and now #3. This one was much better than #4, mostly because Marielle, this book's heroine, was not a complete and utter idiot (like Lydia is in #4.) Marielle does keep a lot of secrets from Kendale, the hero, but her rationale is much more understandable (unlike dumbass Lydia in book #4). Marielle and Kendale's mutual suspicion of each other makes sense.
Kendale is a viscount who would prefer to be a military commander. I think it would be an exaggeration to say he's autistic, but he doesn't joke around, he doesn't pick up on subtlety, he doesn't care about social niceties, and he cannot endure small talk or idle chitchat. He manages a small, loyal, lethal "army" of former soldiers whom he orders about to keep an eye on things.
He has been following Marielle Lyon, a young emigre from France, because he thinks she might be a spy. She is friends with the wives of his friends (books #1 and #2 of the series), but Kendale and Marielle have not met because Marielle is really not received in society. She has told people she is the niece of a French comte, but no one can decide if she is telling the truth or not. She has a tendency to sneak around and hand things off in alleys, so Kendale thinks she might be doing something illegal.
It's a nice change of pace that Kendale is a hero who is a little "off" socially, though he is not so far gone that he misses all cues. Of course he is still strong and handsome and wealthy, so he gets lots of room to maneuver.
They finally meet when Kendale, who has been following her, saves Marielle when she is attacked in an alley. They are both wounded, and she is taken to his house to recover. She recognizes him as the man who has been following her, and she knows he is also physically drawn to her. She uses that knowledge to tease him in a brazenly sexual way, and then she jumps away from him at almost the last second when he is distracted with lust and escapes his house.
He keeps finding her (and sometimes kissing her), and at some point they agree to have an affair, though he's not 100 percent sure she isn't a spy and she's not 100 percent sure of him either.
I was a little surprised by Marielle's sexual openness, but I guess restrictions to unmarried women's sexuality was more common in the upper classes. Kendale doesn't seem at all surprised or distressed by the fact that she is not a virgin; in fact that is just never mentioned. It is weeks into their affair when she explains that the dude who brought her from France to Britain seven years earlier, when she was 15 or 16, was partially paid for his efforts by having her sleep with him. No mention is made if there have been men since then. Marielle knows her way around a man's working parts and knows her own pleasure, however.
One head scratcher for me -- and this has happened in a few other Madeline Hunter books -- is the apparent complete lack of concern for and discussion about possible pregnancy once the hero and heroine have embarked on their affair. They have lots of sex over the weeks that the story takes place; taking a brief hiatus during her menstrual cycle is never mentioned. No mention is ever made that she might get pregnant -- he is not pausing to put on a rubber, that is for sure.
Hunter's ability to weave in actual historic fact and write characters who are engaged in political realities is one reason she might be my favorite HR writer. (She does tend to repeat a lot of imagery, like "drenched" in emotion, and feelings of "nostalgia," "wistfulness," etc. ... though I don't remember much of that language in this particular book.)
I'm trying to think of some big plot hole from this story and I'm coming up blank (other than the whole "let's never consider the fact that she might get pregnant as they have as much sex as possible during a four-week period, oh and speaking of which, Heroine never seems to get her period"), so that's a plus. I'll have to read the other reviews now to see what I am missing.
I have now read the last two books in this series in reverse order -- #4 first and now #3. This one was much better than #4, mostly because Marielle, this book's heroine, was not a complete and utter idiot (like Lydia is in #4.) Marielle does keep a lot of secrets from Kendale, the hero, but her rationale is much more understandable (unlike dumbass Lydia in book #4). Marielle and Kendale's mutual suspicion of each other makes sense.
Kendale is a viscount who would prefer to be a military commander. I think it would be an exaggeration to say he's autistic, but he doesn't joke around, he doesn't pick up on subtlety, he doesn't care about social niceties, and he cannot endure small talk or idle chitchat. He manages a small, loyal, lethal "army" of former soldiers whom he orders about to keep an eye on things.
He has been following Marielle Lyon, a young emigre from France, because he thinks she might be a spy. She is friends with the wives of his friends (books #1 and #2 of the series), but Kendale and Marielle have not met because Marielle is really not received in society. She has told people she is the niece of a French comte, but no one can decide if she is telling the truth or not. She has a tendency to sneak around and hand things off in alleys, so Kendale thinks she might be doing something illegal.
It's a nice change of pace that Kendale is a hero who is a little "off" socially, though he is not so far gone that he misses all cues. Of course he is still strong and handsome and wealthy, so he gets lots of room to maneuver.
They finally meet when Kendale, who has been following her, saves Marielle when she is attacked in an alley. They are both wounded, and she is taken to his house to recover. She recognizes him as the man who has been following her, and she knows he is also physically drawn to her. She uses that knowledge to tease him in a brazenly sexual way, and then she jumps away from him at almost the last second when he is distracted with lust and escapes his house.
He keeps finding her (and sometimes kissing her), and at some point they agree to have an affair, though he's not 100 percent sure she isn't a spy and she's not 100 percent sure of him either.
I was a little surprised by Marielle's sexual openness, but I guess restrictions to unmarried women's sexuality was more common in the upper classes. Kendale doesn't seem at all surprised or distressed by the fact that she is not a virgin; in fact that is just never mentioned. It is weeks into their affair when she explains that the dude who brought her from France to Britain seven years earlier, when she was 15 or 16, was partially paid for his efforts by having her sleep with him. No mention is made if there have been men since then. Marielle knows her way around a man's working parts and knows her own pleasure, however.
One head scratcher for me -- and this has happened in a few other Madeline Hunter books -- is the apparent complete lack of concern for and discussion about possible pregnancy once the hero and heroine have embarked on their affair. They have lots of sex over the weeks that the story takes place; taking a brief hiatus during her menstrual cycle is never mentioned. No mention is ever made that she might get pregnant -- he is not pausing to put on a rubber, that is for sure.
Hunter's ability to weave in actual historic fact and write characters who are engaged in political realities is one reason she might be my favorite HR writer. (She does tend to repeat a lot of imagery, like "drenched" in emotion, and feelings of "nostalgia," "wistfulness," etc. ... though I don't remember much of that language in this particular book.)
I'm trying to think of some big plot hole from this story and I'm coming up blank (other than the whole "let's never consider the fact that she might get pregnant as they have as much sex as possible during a four-week period, oh and speaking of which, Heroine never seems to get her period"), so that's a plus. I'll have to read the other reviews now to see what I am missing.
March 1, 2018
Romanul a apărut în limba română cu titlul '' Complicațiile dragostei'' la editura Litera in anul 2018, în colecția Cărți romantice. Madeline Hunter a publicat romanul prima dată în anul 2013. Traducerea a fost făcută de Cătălina Stanciu. Romanul face parte din seria Fairbourne Quartet fiind al treilea din serie. Seria completă cuprinde romanele: Capitularea domnișoarei Fiarbourne (2012), Cucerirea lui lady Cassandra, (2013), Complcațiile dragostei, (2013), The Accidental Duchess,(2014).
Acțiunea romanului se petrece la finalul secolului XVIII când Franța era încă răvățită de revoluție și Anglia primea zilnic numeroși refugiați fugiți de persecuții. Majoritatea celor sosiți cu nave clandestine erau nobili care pierduseră întreaga lor avere și urmau să ducă în Anglia o viață grea și plină de lipsuri. Trăiau un timp vânzând puținele bunuri pe care le putuseră lua cu ei și încercând să-și facă relații în societatea engleză. Dar Anglia nu-i primea mereu cu brațele deschise de teamă că printre adevărații refugiați erau și spioni care lucrau pentru guvernele revoluționare franceze. De aceea unii dintre francezii ajunși în Anglia erau supuși unei permanente supravegheri. Aceasta era situația tinerei Marielle Lyon care era permanent supravegheată atât de serviciul secret englez cât și de trimișii guvernului francez. Marielle Lyon știa de supravegherea engleză dar considera că aceasta era o șansă să fie apărată de eventuale atacuri ale agenților francezi. Și avea perfectă dreptate pentru că cel care o supraveghea, Gavin Norwood, viconte Kendale, chiar o salvează de la un asemenea atac. Așa fac cunoștință cei doi și așa începe povestea lor de dragoste. Pentru că Gavin Kendale va face tot posibilul să afle cine este de fapt frumoasa Marielle Lyon iar aceasta va face și ea efortul de a împăca dorința de răzbunare pentru ce i se întâmplase în Franța cu dragostea tot mai profundă pentru frumosul nobil englez. O lectură plăcută, plină de neprevăzut și cu foarte interesante date istorice.
Acțiunea romanului se petrece la finalul secolului XVIII când Franța era încă răvățită de revoluție și Anglia primea zilnic numeroși refugiați fugiți de persecuții. Majoritatea celor sosiți cu nave clandestine erau nobili care pierduseră întreaga lor avere și urmau să ducă în Anglia o viață grea și plină de lipsuri. Trăiau un timp vânzând puținele bunuri pe care le putuseră lua cu ei și încercând să-și facă relații în societatea engleză. Dar Anglia nu-i primea mereu cu brațele deschise de teamă că printre adevărații refugiați erau și spioni care lucrau pentru guvernele revoluționare franceze. De aceea unii dintre francezii ajunși în Anglia erau supuși unei permanente supravegheri. Aceasta era situația tinerei Marielle Lyon care era permanent supravegheată atât de serviciul secret englez cât și de trimișii guvernului francez. Marielle Lyon știa de supravegherea engleză dar considera că aceasta era o șansă să fie apărată de eventuale atacuri ale agenților francezi. Și avea perfectă dreptate pentru că cel care o supraveghea, Gavin Norwood, viconte Kendale, chiar o salvează de la un asemenea atac. Așa fac cunoștință cei doi și așa începe povestea lor de dragoste. Pentru că Gavin Kendale va face tot posibilul să afle cine este de fapt frumoasa Marielle Lyon iar aceasta va face și ea efortul de a împăca dorința de răzbunare pentru ce i se întâmplase în Franța cu dragostea tot mai profundă pentru frumosul nobil englez. O lectură plăcută, plină de neprevăzut și cu foarte interesante date istorice.
May 19, 2023
História cativante - O triunfo da amante é o terceiro livro da série “Quarteto Fairbourne” e tem tudo o que nos faz desejar virar a próxima página, intriga, espionagem, humor e romance, presenteando-nos numa espécie de visita guiada literária nas diversas camadas da sociedade georgiana e onde a era da regência estava no horizonte bem como a guerra com Napoleão, os aristocratas franceses estão a fugir para Inglaterra neste período fascinante da história que a autora pesquisou de modo soberbo, promovendo assim um enorme equilíbrio entre a ficção e o contexto histórico da época.
Marielle Lyon é uma emigrante francesa envolta em mistério e muitos segredos, construindo assim a sua atual existência com base em mentiras, serve a sua determinação em salvar o pai, o seu disfarce como sobrinha do Conde de Vence é questionado por todos, levantando rumores sobre o facto de ser espiã.
Gavin por seu lado é um homem que se distingue dos demais, os anos no serviço militar incutiram nele independência e disciplina, transformando-o numa mistura interessante de cavalheiro e soldado. Ele é astuto e perspicaz, algo que o torna perigoso, contudo também apresenta outra faceta gentil e generoso com Marielle, mesmo quando planeava prende-la em sua casa para um extenso interrogatório.
Gostei muito como o romance deste casal floresceu com aquela intensidade crescente e tensão sexual. Aconselho vivamente a leitura desta série.
Marielle Lyon é uma emigrante francesa envolta em mistério e muitos segredos, construindo assim a sua atual existência com base em mentiras, serve a sua determinação em salvar o pai, o seu disfarce como sobrinha do Conde de Vence é questionado por todos, levantando rumores sobre o facto de ser espiã.
Gavin por seu lado é um homem que se distingue dos demais, os anos no serviço militar incutiram nele independência e disciplina, transformando-o numa mistura interessante de cavalheiro e soldado. Ele é astuto e perspicaz, algo que o torna perigoso, contudo também apresenta outra faceta gentil e generoso com Marielle, mesmo quando planeava prende-la em sua casa para um extenso interrogatório.
Gostei muito como o romance deste casal floresceu com aquela intensidade crescente e tensão sexual. Aconselho vivamente a leitura desta série.
February 10, 2024
Now, this one I loved! While the previous two books in the series aren't quite as good as this one, they do set it up perfectly and having that background definitely contributed to my enjoyment of this book. (They are by no means bad. They are good. This is way more good.) Not only do they introduce both lead characters and their circle of friends, but you have to read them to get the history of the term Handsome Stupid Man (how Marielle refers to Kendale until she learns his name) - which was a delightful scene, and revisiting that term on page 1 immediately set the stage for "this will be fun".
Kendale and Marielle are perfectly matched. Both straddle a line between aristocrat and really-not-aristocrat in entirely different ways. He is fundamentally a military man who became a Viscount when his brother and sister-in-law both died unexpectedly. She presents as an impoverished emigree who is also the orphan of a French count. There's a lot of intrigue relating to the aftermath of the French Revolution and some relating to the French/English war. But while Marielle has secrets she must keep, the relationship itself develops openly, honestly and organically and we are spared a third act break-up that would likely have been an easy way for Ms. Hunter to crank up the drama. Instead, we have the hero and heroine supporting each other and being generally good people. So nice.
Kendale and Marielle are perfectly matched. Both straddle a line between aristocrat and really-not-aristocrat in entirely different ways. He is fundamentally a military man who became a Viscount when his brother and sister-in-law both died unexpectedly. She presents as an impoverished emigree who is also the orphan of a French count. There's a lot of intrigue relating to the aftermath of the French Revolution and some relating to the French/English war. But while Marielle has secrets she must keep, the relationship itself develops openly, honestly and organically and we are spared a third act break-up that would likely have been an easy way for Ms. Hunter to crank up the drama. Instead, we have the hero and heroine supporting each other and being generally good people. So nice.
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