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Lords of Intrigue #3
What Isabella Desires
Lady Isabella Willoughby has always been patient and proper. But secretly, scandalously, she longs to be wild—to wear daring gowns while dancing the night away. Above all, she craves one thing: To be more than merely a "friend" to Marcus, the dashing, sinfully handsome Lord Roth.
Marcus has everything—power, prestige, wealth...enemies. He thrives on danger and lives life to the fullest knowing each day might be his last, for he carries a dark family secret which precipitates one simple rule—never fall in love. Especially not with dear Bella, who has, of late, transformed herself into a siren, bewitching every male she encounters with her newly unfettered sensuality. Marcus must not allow himself to be tempted—but his resolve is weakening by the minute.
For what Isabella desires, she is determined to get.
Marcus has everything—power, prestige, wealth...enemies. He thrives on danger and lives life to the fullest knowing each day might be his last, for he carries a dark family secret which precipitates one simple rule—never fall in love. Especially not with dear Bella, who has, of late, transformed herself into a siren, bewitching every male she encounters with her newly unfettered sensuality. Marcus must not allow himself to be tempted—but his resolve is weakening by the minute.
For what Isabella desires, she is determined to get.
353 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 31, 2007
18 people are currently reading
365 people want to read
About the author
Anne Mallory
12 books431 followersSome people have always known they wanted to write. Others fall into it and discover its inherent joy. I’m somewhere in between. As an avid reader, writing a novel had always tickled the back of my mind. There seem to be a lot of people who say, “Someday I’ll write a book.” For me, the feeling tickled, moved into an incessant knocking and finally became a dull roar. All I needed was to make that “someday” into “today.”
I’ve always considered myself a creator, so transitioning to writer was not as grueling as it might have been. From creating two minute stories for people on the street, to creating jewelry, crafts, stained glass, pottery, music, crazy art projects… the list of things I like to create (and buy all the necessary materials for) keeps getting longer amidst my family’s exasperated groans. I love to start something from scratch, and then mold and shape it into a finished project. Writing books provides a challenge I accept with relish (and a bit of hair pulling). Building a world, populating it with characters and giving them a script and satisfying ending - what more could a creative type ask for?
I’ve always loved romance novels, ever since I started sneaking them from my Mom in elementary school. I mean, what’s not to love? Rakish men and smart, feisty women, adventure and mystery, the love and loyalty between two people. Give me a roomful of romances, some Agatha Christie, some Edgar Allan Poe, the Harry Potter series and an armful of other fantasy novels, (and steady meals with chocolate) and I’m in heaven.
And heaven is what I consider a particular cottage on an inland lake in northern Michigan during the summertime. If you are headed “up north” this summer, maybe I’ll see you on the way…
Anne Bytes (or pseudo trivia)
Started writing on September 11th, 2001 as an escape from the day (needed an escape with a happy ending).
Thinks that 11pm is a perfectly normal time to begin reading a 400 page book.
Escaped from Alcatraz (story here).
Got a hole-in-one on a Par 3 and was just happy to have beaten her Dad on a hole for once. After a quick rotating hip dance, she was surprised to see her Dad still looking from the tee to the hole where the ball had bounced once and dropped in. His mouth was hanging open. Anne’s response? “What?” (In coding terms, Anne != golfer. That’s “Anne is obviously not a golfer” for you normal people).
Loves tubing (behind a boat) and roller coasters (Cedar Point, here we come!).
Loves paddleball, especially “extreme” paddleball. In the normal variety of paddleball, she helped score 432 hits with Cousins J and Mg one summer day.
Played at Carnegie Hall and was so excited she launched her violin bow across the stage when she got to the picking section of the piece. Thankfully said bow was recovered in time to start bowing once more.
Saw a Great White Shark in real life (at Monterey Bay Aquarium, thankfully).
Wrote her first (and only until Masquerading) book in sixth grade. It was a thriller/mystery centering around two sixth grade detectives. Her Mom assures her it is still well loved (read: stashed in the attic).
Began Masquerading the Marquess on Good Friday 2002, sold it on Good Friday 2003.
Considers herself a hobby collector. Friends and Family like to call her hobby “pack ratting.”
Can relate to the line in Office Space, “Um, I’m gonna need you to go ahead and come in tomorrow. So if you could be here around nine, that would be great. Oh, oh, yea… I forgot. I’m gonna also need you to come in Sunday too.”
I’ve always considered myself a creator, so transitioning to writer was not as grueling as it might have been. From creating two minute stories for people on the street, to creating jewelry, crafts, stained glass, pottery, music, crazy art projects… the list of things I like to create (and buy all the necessary materials for) keeps getting longer amidst my family’s exasperated groans. I love to start something from scratch, and then mold and shape it into a finished project. Writing books provides a challenge I accept with relish (and a bit of hair pulling). Building a world, populating it with characters and giving them a script and satisfying ending - what more could a creative type ask for?
I’ve always loved romance novels, ever since I started sneaking them from my Mom in elementary school. I mean, what’s not to love? Rakish men and smart, feisty women, adventure and mystery, the love and loyalty between two people. Give me a roomful of romances, some Agatha Christie, some Edgar Allan Poe, the Harry Potter series and an armful of other fantasy novels, (and steady meals with chocolate) and I’m in heaven.
And heaven is what I consider a particular cottage on an inland lake in northern Michigan during the summertime. If you are headed “up north” this summer, maybe I’ll see you on the way…
Anne Bytes (or pseudo trivia)
Started writing on September 11th, 2001 as an escape from the day (needed an escape with a happy ending).
Thinks that 11pm is a perfectly normal time to begin reading a 400 page book.
Escaped from Alcatraz (story here).
Got a hole-in-one on a Par 3 and was just happy to have beaten her Dad on a hole for once. After a quick rotating hip dance, she was surprised to see her Dad still looking from the tee to the hole where the ball had bounced once and dropped in. His mouth was hanging open. Anne’s response? “What?” (In coding terms, Anne != golfer. That’s “Anne is obviously not a golfer” for you normal people).
Loves tubing (behind a boat) and roller coasters (Cedar Point, here we come!).
Loves paddleball, especially “extreme” paddleball. In the normal variety of paddleball, she helped score 432 hits with Cousins J and Mg one summer day.
Played at Carnegie Hall and was so excited she launched her violin bow across the stage when she got to the picking section of the piece. Thankfully said bow was recovered in time to start bowing once more.
Saw a Great White Shark in real life (at Monterey Bay Aquarium, thankfully).
Wrote her first (and only until Masquerading) book in sixth grade. It was a thriller/mystery centering around two sixth grade detectives. Her Mom assures her it is still well loved (read: stashed in the attic).
Began Masquerading the Marquess on Good Friday 2002, sold it on Good Friday 2003.
Considers herself a hobby collector. Friends and Family like to call her hobby “pack ratting.”
Can relate to the line in Office Space, “Um, I’m gonna need you to go ahead and come in tomorrow. So if you could be here around nine, that would be great. Oh, oh, yea… I forgot. I’m gonna also need you to come in Sunday too.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
October 3, 2010
*4.5 stars to be exact.*
I am so pleased with this final entry in the Lords of Intrigue trilogy! I liked the preceding two, but they were missing the click that I usually have with this author's work. That could very well be because my first tastes of her were with her more recent works, and this trilogy was her debut.
After having quite a bit of back and forth conversation with my friend, Katyana, I've drawn a few parallels in my mind with one of Anne Mallory's other books. It's not that they're similar storylines, but there are some similarities, and differences, I want to draw between the heroes and their behavior toward the heroines.
The book that I'm referring to is Three Nights of Sin. The hero of that book, Gabriel, was very closed off and manipulative. He played his little power games with the heroine and always held himself apart. The hero of this book, Marcus, does exactly that too - although it's to a lesser extent.
I had an extremely hard time with Gabriel's relationship with Marietta. She was so in the dark and rather like a sexual puppet most times. It all felt very uncomfortable to me, and I railed against Marietta's passive attitude and unfounded trust. A dead body could have been in her path and she would have just stepped over it without looking down. That's how oblivious she was.
The big difference in my feelings toward that book and my feelings toward this book is simple. Isabella had an awareness that Marietta never had. Isabella knew that Marcus was playing his games with her, maneuvering her around like a chess piece. She knew that he danced around answering her questions and tried to distract her with her feelings for him. But she consciously chose to play the game with him in the hope that things would play out in her favor. That's all I need, awareness. I never felt like Isabella was a dim victim - as I sometimes did with Marietta - because she had the strength to choose. Marcus could only manipulate her for as long as she chose to let him.
I really loved Isabella's character. What most people would see as pitiable actually opened her up to her biggest strength. I'm referring to her secret love of Marcus, of course. She had the strength to reach out for what she wanted. Even when she was knocked down by embarrassment she was strong enough to pick herself up and try again. Because what she was reaching for mattered too much to her to not give it her all. She was willing to forgive Marcus's occasional jerk moments and his stoic attitude because the potential pay off would be worth a little tweaked pride. Usually I see characters in this position as people to pity, but I just couldn't feel that way about Isabella.
Marcus caught my heart and squeezed it even when he was irritating me. The more I learned about him the sadder I was. His friendship with Isabella has been a rock for him throughout his life. He's known her since she was 7 1/2, and she has always been a bright spot for him. Especially after he was changed by an event when he was 18. That was when Marcus closed himself off from the world. He has existed as an island. He has friends, but he never lets them get too close to his personal life. He trusts them, but he doesn't trust them, not with the deepest parts of himself. There are things about himself and his future that he had hoped to never share with anyone. Things have started to come to a head for him though, and it's the slight vulnerability that it created that really seems to have made Isabella's change of behavior hit him so hard.
I had so much fun watching Marcus pace around the shadows getting edgier and edgier with each new dress Isabella wore, and each new man she was friendly with. It was especially entertaining watching Marcus interact with his friends during this! At times Marcus's attitude became a little tiring, but on the whole I stayed sympathetic rather than frustrated.
I just wanted to make a quick mention of how surprisingly hot some of this book was! The tension and anticipation worked extremely well for me. I've quoted one of the scenes in one of my status updates if anyone cares to have a look.
I knocked down a half star because of the ending. I don't mean the very end, because I actually liked that it was a realistic happy ending. I ended it a little sad for the eventual future, but very hopeful of certain things and very confident in their relationship no matter what happened. But before that there was a section that was resolved way too quickly. I wanted to be a fly on the wall as realizations were made and courage was gathered. I felt a little cheated that it was all so abrupt.
Other than that little thing I enjoyed this book immensely. I cannot wait to read more by my new addiction, Anne Mallory!
I am so pleased with this final entry in the Lords of Intrigue trilogy! I liked the preceding two, but they were missing the click that I usually have with this author's work. That could very well be because my first tastes of her were with her more recent works, and this trilogy was her debut.
After having quite a bit of back and forth conversation with my friend, Katyana, I've drawn a few parallels in my mind with one of Anne Mallory's other books. It's not that they're similar storylines, but there are some similarities, and differences, I want to draw between the heroes and their behavior toward the heroines.
The book that I'm referring to is Three Nights of Sin. The hero of that book, Gabriel, was very closed off and manipulative. He played his little power games with the heroine and always held himself apart. The hero of this book, Marcus, does exactly that too - although it's to a lesser extent.
I had an extremely hard time with Gabriel's relationship with Marietta. She was so in the dark and rather like a sexual puppet most times. It all felt very uncomfortable to me, and I railed against Marietta's passive attitude and unfounded trust. A dead body could have been in her path and she would have just stepped over it without looking down. That's how oblivious she was.
The big difference in my feelings toward that book and my feelings toward this book is simple. Isabella had an awareness that Marietta never had. Isabella knew that Marcus was playing his games with her, maneuvering her around like a chess piece. She knew that he danced around answering her questions and tried to distract her with her feelings for him. But she consciously chose to play the game with him in the hope that things would play out in her favor. That's all I need, awareness. I never felt like Isabella was a dim victim - as I sometimes did with Marietta - because she had the strength to choose. Marcus could only manipulate her for as long as she chose to let him.
I really loved Isabella's character. What most people would see as pitiable actually opened her up to her biggest strength. I'm referring to her secret love of Marcus, of course. She had the strength to reach out for what she wanted. Even when she was knocked down by embarrassment she was strong enough to pick herself up and try again. Because what she was reaching for mattered too much to her to not give it her all. She was willing to forgive Marcus's occasional jerk moments and his stoic attitude because the potential pay off would be worth a little tweaked pride. Usually I see characters in this position as people to pity, but I just couldn't feel that way about Isabella.
Marcus caught my heart and squeezed it even when he was irritating me. The more I learned about him the sadder I was. His friendship with Isabella has been a rock for him throughout his life. He's known her since she was 7 1/2, and she has always been a bright spot for him. Especially after he was changed by an event when he was 18. That was when Marcus closed himself off from the world. He has existed as an island. He has friends, but he never lets them get too close to his personal life. He trusts them, but he doesn't trust them, not with the deepest parts of himself. There are things about himself and his future that he had hoped to never share with anyone. Things have started to come to a head for him though, and it's the slight vulnerability that it created that really seems to have made Isabella's change of behavior hit him so hard.
I had so much fun watching Marcus pace around the shadows getting edgier and edgier with each new dress Isabella wore, and each new man she was friendly with. It was especially entertaining watching Marcus interact with his friends during this! At times Marcus's attitude became a little tiring, but on the whole I stayed sympathetic rather than frustrated.
I just wanted to make a quick mention of how surprisingly hot some of this book was! The tension and anticipation worked extremely well for me. I've quoted one of the scenes in one of my status updates if anyone cares to have a look.
I knocked down a half star because of the ending. I don't mean the very end, because I actually liked that it was a realistic happy ending. I ended it a little sad for the eventual future, but very hopeful of certain things and very confident in their relationship no matter what happened. But before that there was a section that was resolved way too quickly. I wanted to be a fly on the wall as realizations were made and courage was gathered. I felt a little cheated that it was all so abrupt.
Other than that little thing I enjoyed this book immensely. I cannot wait to read more by my new addiction, Anne Mallory!
October 1, 2010
This is a really difficult book to review. Here is my dilemma:
I think Anne Mallory is an extraordinarily talented writer. I think she works very hard, with some of her books, to keep things from being perfect. Instead, she strives to make them real. And real means imperfect. This is the second book I have read in her library, now, that I think strays a little too far, becomes almost too real (the other was Three Nights of Sin, in case anyone is wondering).
Because, let's face it, what most of us look for when we read HR is junk food for the brain. Sure, strife, tension, drama, all those are good things, as long as we can rest assured that in the end we get our HEA with a big beautiful sparkling bow wrapped around it. That's not to say that is all I am ever looking for, and believe me, I love complicated stories that feel very real, with a world painted in shades of gray. But the problem here is expectations.
So I am struggling to evaluate this book for what it is, and not for what I expected it to be.
At first, I was angry that the relationship between Isabella and Marcus was so one-sided. Isabella has been in love with Marcus for practically her entire life, and in this book she is literally (and obviously) throwing herself at him. He is withdrawn, in control, evaluating the situation, and altogether unemotional. To sum up: he holds all the cards. And that made me angry. I wanted to see some self-respect from Isabella. I wanted him to want her, and not get to have her. But this entire book was really all about Marcus finding the courage to take what he wanted. Finding the self-worth to believe that he deserved it. And Isabella, she had to spend this entire book being strong enough to continue to offer it, to continue to hold herself open to someone who was doing everything he could to shut her down.
So in reality, Marcus wasn't as unemotional as he seems for the first... mmm, probably about half of the book. He has just become remarkably good at self-control, and he has spent his entire life coming to accept all the things he can't have. He says, at one point, that he has always loved Isabella. And I honestly think the book sells that - I didn't doubt him. But I just... I don't know if I was heartbroken or just angry that it took him so long to take a chance on happiness.
Because that's where the whole shades of gray bit comes in. I understand why he felt that way. Once everything came to light... I get it. Not the spy bullshit - that is no reason to decide you can't have a relationship. And I don't ever think that was Marcus's reason. It was always his health. And I honestly get it. In his situation, I can see why he would decide, ruthlessly, that he would never inflict that disease on a loved one. Never make them care for him as he wasted away. Never have children and risk passing such a horrible sickness on to them.
Which was heartbreaking - the loneliness, and the fact that Marcus had TRULY decided that once he started to really get sick, he would cut all ties with his friends and go die alone in the country somewhere... it was freaking devastating. I can't imagine living your life in such a bleak place. But Marcus does.
And that pretty much tells you all you need to know about why he behaves the way he does.
I feel unsatisfied with the ending, but I don't know if it is because I wanted that HEA with the big shiny bow, or if it is because of something the book didn't get quite right. Having gotten through it all, I can see that Isabella really had to be exactly the way she is: utterly open, utterly giving, willing to risk her heart again and again. Because nothing else would have gotten through to Marcus. Had she told him to fuck off (which I certainly would have done - no one has ever accused me of having the patience of a saint), he would have, without question. Marcus was more than willing to sit in his lonely bubble, cut off from the world, as this kind of silent martyr.
So I get it. I just don't know if I like it.
Regardless, I can't argue that it wasn't a well-written book. So... after this long and winding review, I think I have talked myself into my rating:
***3.5***
I think Anne Mallory is an extraordinarily talented writer. I think she works very hard, with some of her books, to keep things from being perfect. Instead, she strives to make them real. And real means imperfect. This is the second book I have read in her library, now, that I think strays a little too far, becomes almost too real (the other was Three Nights of Sin, in case anyone is wondering).
Because, let's face it, what most of us look for when we read HR is junk food for the brain. Sure, strife, tension, drama, all those are good things, as long as we can rest assured that in the end we get our HEA with a big beautiful sparkling bow wrapped around it. That's not to say that is all I am ever looking for, and believe me, I love complicated stories that feel very real, with a world painted in shades of gray. But the problem here is expectations.
So I am struggling to evaluate this book for what it is, and not for what I expected it to be.
At first, I was angry that the relationship between Isabella and Marcus was so one-sided. Isabella has been in love with Marcus for practically her entire life, and in this book she is literally (and obviously) throwing herself at him. He is withdrawn, in control, evaluating the situation, and altogether unemotional. To sum up: he holds all the cards. And that made me angry. I wanted to see some self-respect from Isabella. I wanted him to want her, and not get to have her. But this entire book was really all about Marcus finding the courage to take what he wanted. Finding the self-worth to believe that he deserved it. And Isabella, she had to spend this entire book being strong enough to continue to offer it, to continue to hold herself open to someone who was doing everything he could to shut her down.
So in reality, Marcus wasn't as unemotional as he seems for the first... mmm, probably about half of the book. He has just become remarkably good at self-control, and he has spent his entire life coming to accept all the things he can't have. He says, at one point, that he has always loved Isabella. And I honestly think the book sells that - I didn't doubt him. But I just... I don't know if I was heartbroken or just angry that it took him so long to take a chance on happiness.
Because that's where the whole shades of gray bit comes in. I understand why he felt that way. Once everything came to light... I get it. Not the spy bullshit - that is no reason to decide you can't have a relationship. And I don't ever think that was Marcus's reason. It was always his health. And I honestly get it. In his situation, I can see why he would decide, ruthlessly, that he would never inflict that disease on a loved one. Never make them care for him as he wasted away. Never have children and risk passing such a horrible sickness on to them.
Which was heartbreaking - the loneliness, and the fact that Marcus had TRULY decided that once he started to really get sick, he would cut all ties with his friends and go die alone in the country somewhere... it was freaking devastating. I can't imagine living your life in such a bleak place. But Marcus does.
And that pretty much tells you all you need to know about why he behaves the way he does.
I feel unsatisfied with the ending, but I don't know if it is because I wanted that HEA with the big shiny bow, or if it is because of something the book didn't get quite right. Having gotten through it all, I can see that Isabella really had to be exactly the way she is: utterly open, utterly giving, willing to risk her heart again and again. Because nothing else would have gotten through to Marcus. Had she told him to fuck off (which I certainly would have done - no one has ever accused me of having the patience of a saint), he would have, without question. Marcus was more than willing to sit in his lonely bubble, cut off from the world, as this kind of silent martyr.
So I get it. I just don't know if I like it.
Regardless, I can't argue that it wasn't a well-written book. So... after this long and winding review, I think I have talked myself into my rating:
***3.5***
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 15, 2009
It’s pretty sad when you finish a book and all you can think about is how boring it was. Such is the case with What Isabella Desires. I am a fan of unrequited love stories, but the affection Isabella had for her childhood friend Marcus was simply not believable. Their love affair was beyond dull to the point that I wondered how these two would co-exist with each other even after they have their HEA.
Marcus Stewart, Lord Roth, doesn’t feel worthy of love for no particular reason that I can see. This doesn’t make sense as Marcus seems to have it all with his dark hair, whiskey eyes, lush lips… well, you get the point. He has a wonderful set of friends and a woman who would do anything for him. He also happens to be a top notch something-or-other for the Foreign Office.
Lady Willoughby was married to a nice man who is now conveniently deceased, but Marcus has always had her heart. Isabella hides this so well that she is more of a sister to him than anything else and she seems to divide her time between watching Marcus in crowded ballrooms and gardening. Isabella decides she wants to be a little more daring, so she starts wearing shocking dresses that show too much cleavage. Suddenly, the brotherly feelings Marcus has for Isabella disappear because he likes the way she now looks in her new low-cut red ball gowns. He just has to kiss her and soon decides that this is a good time to have an affair with her. Other than trying to solve the mystery of some unknown murdered agents, what else has he got to do?
Soon Isabella and Marcus are exchanging longing glances in public which somehow makes Isabella a target for the bad guy. This gives Marcus an excuse to whisk her away to his country home for her protection and, of course, a little seduction. I will give Mallory some credit for the interesting use of a piano as a seduction tool, but all I could think about during that love scene was that Isabella will have a lot of back pain the next day. For some reason, the thought of consummating a relationship on piano keys doesn’t appeal to me in the least.
Eventually Marcus is able to solve the vague mystery that I couldn't even remember by the time I got to the final chapter. Perhaps my problem is that I didn’t care to. Everything about What Isabella Desires was so vague and overall “blah” that it took quite a bit of willpower on my part not to stop reading by the third chapter. The chemistry between Isabella and Marcus was non-existent and the fact that our hero has the stereotypical brooding issues for no good reason made me really want to give up reading altogether.
For those who like mundane and, dare I say, inane storylines with no passion or intrigue, you are welcome to this one. I, for one, will take a pass next time I see an Anne Mallory title.
Marcus Stewart, Lord Roth, doesn’t feel worthy of love for no particular reason that I can see. This doesn’t make sense as Marcus seems to have it all with his dark hair, whiskey eyes, lush lips… well, you get the point. He has a wonderful set of friends and a woman who would do anything for him. He also happens to be a top notch something-or-other for the Foreign Office.
Lady Willoughby was married to a nice man who is now conveniently deceased, but Marcus has always had her heart. Isabella hides this so well that she is more of a sister to him than anything else and she seems to divide her time between watching Marcus in crowded ballrooms and gardening. Isabella decides she wants to be a little more daring, so she starts wearing shocking dresses that show too much cleavage. Suddenly, the brotherly feelings Marcus has for Isabella disappear because he likes the way she now looks in her new low-cut red ball gowns. He just has to kiss her and soon decides that this is a good time to have an affair with her. Other than trying to solve the mystery of some unknown murdered agents, what else has he got to do?
Soon Isabella and Marcus are exchanging longing glances in public which somehow makes Isabella a target for the bad guy. This gives Marcus an excuse to whisk her away to his country home for her protection and, of course, a little seduction. I will give Mallory some credit for the interesting use of a piano as a seduction tool, but all I could think about during that love scene was that Isabella will have a lot of back pain the next day. For some reason, the thought of consummating a relationship on piano keys doesn’t appeal to me in the least.
Eventually Marcus is able to solve the vague mystery that I couldn't even remember by the time I got to the final chapter. Perhaps my problem is that I didn’t care to. Everything about What Isabella Desires was so vague and overall “blah” that it took quite a bit of willpower on my part not to stop reading by the third chapter. The chemistry between Isabella and Marcus was non-existent and the fact that our hero has the stereotypical brooding issues for no good reason made me really want to give up reading altogether.
For those who like mundane and, dare I say, inane storylines with no passion or intrigue, you are welcome to this one. I, for one, will take a pass next time I see an Anne Mallory title.
July 18, 2019
Out of Anne Mallory’s works published before 2008, What Isabella Desires is surprisingly readable. You can really see Mallory and her editors figure out the right pacing and balance between the mystery/intrigue plot and the romance plot, dropping clues whilst developing the relationship between the two leads. The Earl of Her Dreams is still the worst offender of this experimentation that makes me shudder to think about, but What Isabella Desires is a great example of the comfort of an unambitious vanilla read. It's genuine and adequately charming. It hits the notes it means to hit.
Isabella is a widow named who harbours a love for Marcus, a childhood friend and decides to do something about it. As this is the third and final story to the Lords of Intrigue series, Marcus is involved in “political intrigue” and his enemies are taking down his whisper network. Something something about corn laws. A red herring. The End. Anyways, if you are looking for a comfort read, this is inoffensive and safe. And I mean that in the best positive light because sometimes you need that.
Isabella is a widow named who harbours a love for Marcus, a childhood friend and decides to do something about it. As this is the third and final story to the Lords of Intrigue series, Marcus is involved in “political intrigue” and his enemies are taking down his whisper network. Something something about corn laws. A red herring. The End. Anyways, if you are looking for a comfort read, this is inoffensive and safe. And I mean that in the best positive light because sometimes you need that.
January 13, 2013
Okay, where should I start? This book was a great read, better than the second book of this series. Isabella Willoughby had been in love with Lord Roth, real name Marcus Stewart, for years. Even when she was married to someone else. It wasn't mentioned whether Marcus also harbored pent-up love for Isabella but I would prefer it if Marcus had been secretly loving Bella all of those years too. Towards the end Marcus did say that he thought he was always in love with her but it's a bit unspecified.
From the previous books, we were told that Marcus was somewhat aloof, cold and dangerous. But somehow the threats to his life, and the people surrounding him at that, were stupidly lame. He was supposed to be the most powerful man, even more than his Marquis and Duke friends. It was like the criminal was doing a halfhearted job. Tsk. His struggle actually concerned his health, which was also brought out lamely. Lack of depth, to put it actually.
And the chase, it was too short! Bella should have let Marcus drooled over her before she surrendered. She changed her proper ways for him but alas, the good girl couldn't play longer. It would be a delight if Bella played hard to get, and Marcus would try harder to protect her from other rakes and in the process, realised that he was actually irritated because he did love her. But again, I'm not the author.
And the part that I have issue with the most is the ending. Happy ending, for sure, but again, lack of depth, or elaboration, or something. I can't find the perfect exact word to explain it. But what I know is that the ending vexed me a bit. More that a bit. For me, the issue concerning his health is not being tackled properly. He left Bella because of his dying-self, and suddenly he was there asking for her forgiveness. He didn't even had a sudden clarity that he needs Bella, no matter how chronic his illness was. Doesn't that a bit disturbing for you? He didn't think about Bella after he left her and the next thing you know, he was grovelling at her feet. Just like that. What?
All and all, it was actually a nice read. Don't let my thoughts hinder you from reading this book. It would do for a light read. A read without too much thinking. Obviously I thought too much, hence the complaints. Oh well, enjoy!!
From the previous books, we were told that Marcus was somewhat aloof, cold and dangerous. But somehow the threats to his life, and the people surrounding him at that, were stupidly lame. He was supposed to be the most powerful man, even more than his Marquis and Duke friends. It was like the criminal was doing a halfhearted job. Tsk. His struggle actually concerned his health, which was also brought out lamely. Lack of depth, to put it actually.
And the chase, it was too short! Bella should have let Marcus drooled over her before she surrendered. She changed her proper ways for him but alas, the good girl couldn't play longer. It would be a delight if Bella played hard to get, and Marcus would try harder to protect her from other rakes and in the process, realised that he was actually irritated because he did love her. But again, I'm not the author.
And the part that I have issue with the most is the ending. Happy ending, for sure, but again, lack of depth, or elaboration, or something. I can't find the perfect exact word to explain it. But what I know is that the ending vexed me a bit. More that a bit. For me, the issue concerning his health is not being tackled properly. He left Bella because of his dying-self, and suddenly he was there asking for her forgiveness. He didn't even had a sudden clarity that he needs Bella, no matter how chronic his illness was. Doesn't that a bit disturbing for you? He didn't think about Bella after he left her and the next thing you know, he was grovelling at her feet. Just like that. What?
All and all, it was actually a nice read. Don't let my thoughts hinder you from reading this book. It would do for a light read. A read without too much thinking. Obviously I thought too much, hence the complaints. Oh well, enjoy!!
April 15, 2013
Isabella has been pining over Marcus for years, but Marcus only thinks of her as a friend. She's good friend material. She and her husband were friends, too, until her husband died. Now that she's put off her black, Isabella has decided not to go back to being friend material.
To change her image, she has a new wardrobe designed to subtly suggest that she's in the market for a little adventure.
Then she throws herself into the fast set.
Marcus notices.
And his enemies, who are killing the men who work for him in his super-secret government operations, notice him noticing her.
Unfortunately, Marcus has his reasons for not wanting to get involved—or, well, too involved. If she's offering, he'll take her up on a fling, but that's it.
He means it. That's it.
Really.
It.
Good elements of danger. I thought the whodunit was a little obvious, but it still worked. And
To change her image, she has a new wardrobe designed to subtly suggest that she's in the market for a little adventure.
Then she throws herself into the fast set.
Marcus notices.
And his enemies, who are killing the men who work for him in his super-secret government operations, notice him noticing her.
Unfortunately, Marcus has his reasons for not wanting to get involved—or, well, too involved. If she's offering, he'll take her up on a fling, but that's it.
He means it. That's it.
Really.
It.
Good elements of danger. I thought the whodunit was a little obvious, but it still worked. And
September 17, 2012
Where was the ending in this book? It builds up to the main character possible having a mortal degenerate disease. He's all like no I can't get arrows I have this thing. She's like no I love you. He's like oh okay. The end. What happened to them??? Where is at least an epilogue? I like Anne Mallory's booms but feel most have very weak endings...this more than most.
October 6, 2023
I liked this! I think I may like books 1 & 2 a bit more - this book had a few too many scenes with the other couples doing couple things and that's just not something I care about in series. BUT I'm glad we got Roth & Isabella's book!
September 2, 2010
I have mixed feelings about this book, I liked it 45% and 65% did not like it. One notable improvement from her previous two novels (Masquerading the Marquess and Daring the Duke), were the increase in passionate love scenes, and how the author presented the situation.
I liked Isabella's character, she's really strong and resilient, someone who's determined to win Marcus. The writing style was effective when it came to her feelings toward Marcus, and how she gets the shivers whenever he's near. I'm more attuned to her than to Marcus's character.
Marcus, Lord Roth, is a ruthless peer. He's the most serious of the three and I didn't like his character that much. His fears were unfounded but his rejection really struck through the core. Ms Mallory tried to give a mysterious air about his family history but it wasn't really explained, just mentioned haphazardly; and while the subtlety is there, I found the redemption lacking.
What I didn't like about this story is Marcus's character was weak. The storyline is a little jagged, but I liked the heroine chasing the hero, it's unusual and the author made it work. The political part was a little boring, it springs up from time to time. I also didn't like the deception part, it made me anxious and further dislike Marcus.
The first book is the best in this series even though it didn't have the love scenes I was looking for. This is the most grim and depressing. I appreciate the authors efforts thus, I didn't give this 1 star.
I liked Isabella's character, she's really strong and resilient, someone who's determined to win Marcus. The writing style was effective when it came to her feelings toward Marcus, and how she gets the shivers whenever he's near. I'm more attuned to her than to Marcus's character.
Marcus, Lord Roth, is a ruthless peer. He's the most serious of the three and I didn't like his character that much. His fears were unfounded but his rejection really struck through the core. Ms Mallory tried to give a mysterious air about his family history but it wasn't really explained, just mentioned haphazardly; and while the subtlety is there, I found the redemption lacking.
What I didn't like about this story is Marcus's character was weak. The storyline is a little jagged, but I liked the heroine chasing the hero, it's unusual and the author made it work. The political part was a little boring, it springs up from time to time. I also didn't like the deception part, it made me anxious and further dislike Marcus.
The first book is the best in this series even though it didn't have the love scenes I was looking for. This is the most grim and depressing. I appreciate the authors efforts thus, I didn't give this 1 star.
October 15, 2013
It felt like this one was missing about 100 pages of ... dialogue, back story, drama, anything to shore up the premise. It was too thin, and ended up unbelievable, especially the hero's change of heart moment, which must have involved something off site of the book, it changed awfully quickly with no instigation.
July 17, 2022
I've having the best time with Mallory! This was one a little patchier than the first two I read, but it was 1. written earlier 2. maybe not initially planned? There was a note in the beginning about readers "asking" for Roth's story, which I know could be a little fan service, but I would be interested in going back and reading the two that come before this in the series to see if he was set up as a romantic lead clearly, or if it really was just fans latching onto a side character, especially because some of the plot maneuvers felt a little more gap-y/less intentional here.
I keep saying "they've got one too many plots." But what I mean by that, is that any other author that I have read would have one have fewer plots and I'm not sure if I would miss them if one got taken out. But this really just seems to be Mallory's style! And far be it for me to be prescriptive, when the feedback I am getting is "I'm enjoying these one-too-many-plot books."
But gosh what is more exciting than enjoying an author and getting to figure out why you love them so much?
I think I might be cursing myself with comp reviews, but I just see how other authors who I have read would have handled this plot. MacLean would have given WAY more backstory about Bella and Marcus' burgeoning relationship in the past and her pining and then coming into her own. Balogh would have had a miraculous , Kleypas would have had Bella actually end up kidnapped (there were three or so moments where I thought, this is it! this is it! this is the kidnapping! But Mallory zigged when I expected her to Kleypas), Tessa Dare would have had the revelation about his trauma be much more of a surprise for really total reader emotional heartstrings tugging. I think even Sherry Thomas would have just started with way less plotting and really drilled down into the anguish of one or two of the through lines here.
But all these thoughts that I have about what other people who make up my mental map of Romance would do differently really didn't affect my appreciation of this book. I'm not sure if it's Mallory's authority when she writes dialogue, or her ability to manage reader intrigue, but she has gotten me on board so quickly with her vision of what a romance novel is.
I am hoping that more of Mallory's books are "established relationship" transforming. The plot of this one is that Bella is a widow who has been in love with Marcus basically her whole life, but he has primarily viewed her as a little sister/something to be protected? It is also kind of an age gap romance, though not very extreme (he is nearly 40 and she is 28, I think), but their age difference seems to have an effect on their relationship. Widowed, she has taken care to protect her reputation, which she primarily wields to help ton couples grease the wheels of society to get the alter, but now she wants to stop waiting around for Marcus to notice her. He initially thinks she is casting a net for any affair, and well, that won't do.
The *plot* details of their past relationship are not explicated to any great satisfaction, but where Mallory makes up for it (and possibly exceeds beyond the need for lots of backstory) is in the dialogue. Watching Marcus react to Bella pushing the boundaries of their rapport into flirting, him responding in kind and taking her by surprise with his acquiescence to the changed nature of their banter. It's thrilling.
Also had one of my favorite romance novel tropes which is "woman with dark hair and very pink skin looks better in jewel tones than pastels, to great surprise to herself and even greater surprise to a rake."
I keep saying "they've got one too many plots." But what I mean by that, is that any other author that I have read would have one have fewer plots and I'm not sure if I would miss them if one got taken out. But this really just seems to be Mallory's style! And far be it for me to be prescriptive, when the feedback I am getting is "I'm enjoying these one-too-many-plot books."
But gosh what is more exciting than enjoying an author and getting to figure out why you love them so much?
I think I might be cursing myself with comp reviews, but I just see how other authors who I have read would have handled this plot. MacLean would have given WAY more backstory about Bella and Marcus' burgeoning relationship in the past and her pining and then coming into her own. Balogh would have had a miraculous , Kleypas would have had Bella actually end up kidnapped (there were three or so moments where I thought, this is it! this is it! this is the kidnapping! But Mallory zigged when I expected her to Kleypas), Tessa Dare would have had the revelation about his trauma be much more of a surprise for really total reader emotional heartstrings tugging. I think even Sherry Thomas would have just started with way less plotting and really drilled down into the anguish of one or two of the through lines here.
But all these thoughts that I have about what other people who make up my mental map of Romance would do differently really didn't affect my appreciation of this book. I'm not sure if it's Mallory's authority when she writes dialogue, or her ability to manage reader intrigue, but she has gotten me on board so quickly with her vision of what a romance novel is.
I am hoping that more of Mallory's books are "established relationship" transforming. The plot of this one is that Bella is a widow who has been in love with Marcus basically her whole life, but he has primarily viewed her as a little sister/something to be protected? It is also kind of an age gap romance, though not very extreme (he is nearly 40 and she is 28, I think), but their age difference seems to have an effect on their relationship. Widowed, she has taken care to protect her reputation, which she primarily wields to help ton couples grease the wheels of society to get the alter, but now she wants to stop waiting around for Marcus to notice her. He initially thinks she is casting a net for any affair, and well, that won't do.
The *plot* details of their past relationship are not explicated to any great satisfaction, but where Mallory makes up for it (and possibly exceeds beyond the need for lots of backstory) is in the dialogue. Watching Marcus react to Bella pushing the boundaries of their rapport into flirting, him responding in kind and taking her by surprise with his acquiescence to the changed nature of their banter. It's thrilling.
Also had one of my favorite romance novel tropes which is "woman with dark hair and very pink skin looks better in jewel tones than pastels, to great surprise to herself and even greater surprise to a rake."
November 17, 2017
This book is mostly well written and the characters are very sympathetic. However, that ending was a real bust. *kinda sorta spoilers ahead, if you don't know how romance novels work* Nearly all the tension of the story comes from the irony of Isabella's history of suffering through the prolonged terminal illness of her late husband and the fact that she's in love with a man who's secretly developing symptoms of a gruesome genetic fate. While HE acknowledges what a horrible bit of Greek tragedy is in store for them, the author doesn't do Isabella the justice of giving her ANY time to process it before committing anyway, The End. What??
October 24, 2021
any of the desire and intimacy between the two /
too much fraught too many threads vexing
good secondary couples from previous spy adventures
both h/h delectable as was the potential of their affairs
an appreciative awakening of Isabella especially as she became more desirable, seductive, et alia, for the ton
but tinged by her desperate, and do not use that word lightly, desire for Marcus and his dying problems and hismakes this somewhat sad despite hea
the thoughtful review by Katyana said everything i wished to say, only better
did not review for first read, am revisiting through reviews. was gratified to read the above review which touched all bases of my hesitations
too much fraught too many threads vexing
good secondary couples from previous spy adventures
both h/h delectable as was the potential of their affairs
an appreciative awakening of Isabella especially as she became more desirable, seductive, et alia, for the ton
but tinged by her desperate, and do not use that word lightly, desire for Marcus and his dying problems and hismakes this somewhat sad despite hea
the thoughtful review by Katyana said everything i wished to say, only better
did not review for first read, am revisiting through reviews. was gratified to read the above review which touched all bases of my hesitations
September 23, 2018
I really liked this book. The plot wasn't something totally new. The broken spy and the healing lady. But there was freshness in the approach.
And one thing I absolutely relished is the uncertainty in the end even though it killed me to leave loose ends. What happens to Marcus? I'll probably never know. But I'll know that Isabella was always with him.
And I guess that's in a way better than everything being magically set right.
It was a poetic love story, one I really enjoyed.
And one thing I absolutely relished is the uncertainty in the end even though it killed me to leave loose ends. What happens to Marcus? I'll probably never know. But I'll know that Isabella was always with him.
And I guess that's in a way better than everything being magically set right.
It was a poetic love story, one I really enjoyed.
April 24, 2023
Best in the series. I've lost count on how many times I've read this one. Highly recommend the entire series, each one can be a stand alone but it a little makes sense with the series. Just with the dynamic with the friendship (which makes the series) and references.
Marcus is by far the more closed off one of them all. Isabella is super sweet and has known him forever. it's sweet, sexy, funny and thrilling. everything you want.
Marcus is by far the more closed off one of them all. Isabella is super sweet and has known him forever. it's sweet, sexy, funny and thrilling. everything you want.
December 17, 2025
While I may have unintentionally jumped into this story at book three, this being my first historical romance, I've gotta say I was surprisingly into it. It was just the right length and had just enough character development while keeping the plot moving that it was an enjoyable easy read. The ending and resolution with Lord Roth didn't quite work, as I felt like we needed to understand more about his actual ailment, but I may be checking out more of this genre in the future.
March 29, 2017
A lot of scenes in this book made me cringe particularly those where Isabella really tried hard to get Marcus to notice and then love her...it would have been nice if Marcus also shared her feelings from way before the story started...
May 18, 2021
Better than book 2, but still not great. Quite a few plot devices left unresolved, and the ending came in quite suddenly and felt rushed. There was potential but the book failed to be as good as it could have been.
September 10, 2022
I didn’t like this one, the story was written like newspaper,not much feeling,just telling and cut of dialogues ...even the mystery was not interesting at and not much making sense.
There were some sentences that I liked but overall just disappointing....
There were some sentences that I liked but overall just disappointing....
June 23, 2018
I was not a huge fan of Marcus. He was a little too brooding to me.
October 17, 2013
What Isabella Desires was the third installment in Anne Mallory’s misleadingly named Lords of Intrigue series (fact: I have never read a less intriguing spy series in my life). Having suffered through the needlessly complex yet totally unsatisfying plot of Masquerading the Marquess, only to find myself pleasantly surprised by the sweet romance and genuine warmth of the characters in Daring the Duke, I wasn’t sure what to expect from the series’ final installment. Unfortunately, things did not end on a high note for me.
The novel’s title character is Lady Isabella Willoughby – a sweet, quiet, respectable widow with a penchant for chess, gardening, and Marcus Stewart, Lord Roth. After spending a lifetime as a wallflower, Isabella has finally made the decision to become a bolder, more polished version of herself in hopes of ensnaring the sexy baron whom she has loved since childhood. Though I freely admit to identifying more with adventurous heroines than with wallflowers, I usually come to appreciate the quiet dignity and kindness of characters like Isabella. This time, however, Mallory missed the boat entirely and Isabella never became anything more than a bland, second-rate character devoted to Marcus the way that a puppy is devoted to its master.
As for Marcus, it quickly became apparent to me that Mallory never fully committed to who his character should be. In the beginning of the novel she sets him up as your typical straight-shooting, tell-it-like-it-is hero. He’s wealthy, intelligent, politically shrewd, and more than a little ruthless with his enemies (verbally cutting three men in the space of a heartbeat). Later in the book, however, Mallory seems to forget all this and Roth becomes uncharacteristically demonstrative with his tenants (oddly more so than with Isabella) and more forgiving of his enemies than any man in his position actually would be. There’s also the issues of the family curse and Roth’s mysterious illness that causes him to brood excessively throughout the book. I haven’t a clue what Roth’s father died of because the symptoms are never described in enough detail, but it sure as hell sounds to me like Roth suffers from migraines (hardly something to justify this level of paranoia and fuss).
With two characters so individually bland as Isabella and Marcus, it’s no wonder I didn’t feel a lick of chemistry between the two of them as a couple. Unfortunately for Isabella, Marcus has never seen her as anything more than a little sister. Yet, Mallory wants her readers to accept that all it took for Marcus to switch from seeing Isabella as a sibling to seeing her as a sex object was a few low-cut gowns and well-placed double entendres. If only! By the end of the book, Marcus’s feelings for Isabella have supposedly progressed to such a point that he is as madly in love with her as she is with him. I’m as big a sucker for a happy ending as the next romance junkie, but there’s simply not enough dialogue or description in the last quarter of the novel to make this change of heart believable.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this novel was the fact that it was practically devoid of all of the beautiful imagery and well-written description that I felt gave the characters in Daring the Duke such depth and life. Mallory shows readers only tiny glimmers of this skill in What Isabella Desires, most notably during the first scene in which Marcus plays the piano for Isabella. Her turn of phrase is that scene is almost achingly beautiful. Sadly, knowing that Mallory is capable of writing scenes that make the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions come alive in this way makes the fact that she uses this skill so haphazardly all the more of a shame.
Verdict: This novel can only be described as adequate at best. Unless you’re a huge Mallory fan, you’re likely to be disappointed.
The novel’s title character is Lady Isabella Willoughby – a sweet, quiet, respectable widow with a penchant for chess, gardening, and Marcus Stewart, Lord Roth. After spending a lifetime as a wallflower, Isabella has finally made the decision to become a bolder, more polished version of herself in hopes of ensnaring the sexy baron whom she has loved since childhood. Though I freely admit to identifying more with adventurous heroines than with wallflowers, I usually come to appreciate the quiet dignity and kindness of characters like Isabella. This time, however, Mallory missed the boat entirely and Isabella never became anything more than a bland, second-rate character devoted to Marcus the way that a puppy is devoted to its master.
As for Marcus, it quickly became apparent to me that Mallory never fully committed to who his character should be. In the beginning of the novel she sets him up as your typical straight-shooting, tell-it-like-it-is hero. He’s wealthy, intelligent, politically shrewd, and more than a little ruthless with his enemies (verbally cutting three men in the space of a heartbeat). Later in the book, however, Mallory seems to forget all this and Roth becomes uncharacteristically demonstrative with his tenants (oddly more so than with Isabella) and more forgiving of his enemies than any man in his position actually would be. There’s also the issues of the family curse and Roth’s mysterious illness that causes him to brood excessively throughout the book. I haven’t a clue what Roth’s father died of because the symptoms are never described in enough detail, but it sure as hell sounds to me like Roth suffers from migraines (hardly something to justify this level of paranoia and fuss).
With two characters so individually bland as Isabella and Marcus, it’s no wonder I didn’t feel a lick of chemistry between the two of them as a couple. Unfortunately for Isabella, Marcus has never seen her as anything more than a little sister. Yet, Mallory wants her readers to accept that all it took for Marcus to switch from seeing Isabella as a sibling to seeing her as a sex object was a few low-cut gowns and well-placed double entendres. If only! By the end of the book, Marcus’s feelings for Isabella have supposedly progressed to such a point that he is as madly in love with her as she is with him. I’m as big a sucker for a happy ending as the next romance junkie, but there’s simply not enough dialogue or description in the last quarter of the novel to make this change of heart believable.
Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this novel was the fact that it was practically devoid of all of the beautiful imagery and well-written description that I felt gave the characters in Daring the Duke such depth and life. Mallory shows readers only tiny glimmers of this skill in What Isabella Desires, most notably during the first scene in which Marcus plays the piano for Isabella. Her turn of phrase is that scene is almost achingly beautiful. Sadly, knowing that Mallory is capable of writing scenes that make the character’s thoughts, feelings, and actions come alive in this way makes the fact that she uses this skill so haphazardly all the more of a shame.
Verdict: This novel can only be described as adequate at best. Unless you’re a huge Mallory fan, you’re likely to be disappointed.
March 30, 2016
What a beautiful touching 'real' romance.
I've never been one to turn up my noise as some do as the books that they find 'unbelievable' or a 'strech' becuase honestly it makes for good reading and keeps the attention. Also I never find 'real' believable' books that are actually decent, and thats putting it nicely.
What Isabella Desires, however, is completely different. It is far from streching the story. The characters are completely relatable and believable. Their romance is perfect, with very real problems and emotions. The plot that they travel on through the story is also believable and real.
I fell in love with Isabella as she got the courage to break out of her self impossed shell to finally get what she wants-- or more like who she loves. I enjoyed watching her grow from shy and reserved to ready to fight for what she wants as well as become the woman she always wanted to be instead of what people expected of her or keeping herself back from fear.
Than there is our hero, Marcus. Troubled, but keeps it well hidden. He wants to keep a distence from his old friend 'Bella' but begins to realize he's not willing to let others get close to her as she begins to break from her shell. Instead he's happy keeping her at a distence as a friend and their games of chess.
There romance is perfect and oh so real. They've been in love with each other for years, while one knows it the other feeling it but so focused on keeping a distence (for his reasons) doesn't realize it. Its only when Bella takes the first step and begins to break through his walls that Marcus begins to realize how important she has always been to him, even more so when she is put in danger. Yet, he can't allow himself that happiness.
Its all so perfect and touching.
A perfect read!
I've never been one to turn up my noise as some do as the books that they find 'unbelievable' or a 'strech' becuase honestly it makes for good reading and keeps the attention. Also I never find 'real' believable' books that are actually decent, and thats putting it nicely.
What Isabella Desires, however, is completely different. It is far from streching the story. The characters are completely relatable and believable. Their romance is perfect, with very real problems and emotions. The plot that they travel on through the story is also believable and real.
I fell in love with Isabella as she got the courage to break out of her self impossed shell to finally get what she wants-- or more like who she loves. I enjoyed watching her grow from shy and reserved to ready to fight for what she wants as well as become the woman she always wanted to be instead of what people expected of her or keeping herself back from fear.
Than there is our hero, Marcus. Troubled, but keeps it well hidden. He wants to keep a distence from his old friend 'Bella' but begins to realize he's not willing to let others get close to her as she begins to break from her shell. Instead he's happy keeping her at a distence as a friend and their games of chess.
There romance is perfect and oh so real. They've been in love with each other for years, while one knows it the other feeling it but so focused on keeping a distence (for his reasons) doesn't realize it. Its only when Bella takes the first step and begins to break through his walls that Marcus begins to realize how important she has always been to him, even more so when she is put in danger. Yet, he can't allow himself that happiness.
Its all so perfect and touching.
A perfect read!
November 24, 2016
Yes, yes, yes!
A brooding, honorable, slightly mauled-by-life hero. A witty, obscure, smart, secretly passionate heroine. A mystery. Some background nastiness. And some really nice sexy hotness. Ah, and the kick-ass sidekicks we've come to know and love.
This one has it all.
Plus, there are no farfetched coincidences, or unprobable developments. Which is awesome!
I really, really liked this one.
The heroine is amazing. This woman knows what she wants, she makes it happen, and will speak her mind and fight for her happiness. She's a damn fine, strong woman, all the way.
It's a bit darker than the usual romance, but it had me glued on to the very end.
SPOILER ALERT!
And it is a rather bitter sweet ending at that, unusually so.
I'm surprised (and oh-so-very pleased!) that there was no crazy, unlikely event that transformed it into a perfect fairy tale ending.
These ones are given a fair shot, and left for themselves, amidst some troubling suspicions and a potentially heartbreaking future.
I was SURE there would be some last page ploy that would make it all perfectly rose colored, and I give points for bravery for leaving it like this.
Is just makes the characters love, sacrifice, and resolve all the more valiant.
It takes a lot of courage for them both to dare love in the face of so much bleakness.
A brooding, honorable, slightly mauled-by-life hero. A witty, obscure, smart, secretly passionate heroine. A mystery. Some background nastiness. And some really nice sexy hotness. Ah, and the kick-ass sidekicks we've come to know and love.
This one has it all.
Plus, there are no farfetched coincidences, or unprobable developments. Which is awesome!
I really, really liked this one.
The heroine is amazing. This woman knows what she wants, she makes it happen, and will speak her mind and fight for her happiness. She's a damn fine, strong woman, all the way.
It's a bit darker than the usual romance, but it had me glued on to the very end.
SPOILER ALERT!
And it is a rather bitter sweet ending at that, unusually so.
I'm surprised (and oh-so-very pleased!) that there was no crazy, unlikely event that transformed it into a perfect fairy tale ending.
These ones are given a fair shot, and left for themselves, amidst some troubling suspicions and a potentially heartbreaking future.
I was SURE there would be some last page ploy that would make it all perfectly rose colored, and I give points for bravery for leaving it like this.
Is just makes the characters love, sacrifice, and resolve all the more valiant.
It takes a lot of courage for them both to dare love in the face of so much bleakness.
April 2, 2016
A 3.5 STARS FOR THIS!
I felt a little disappointed towards the end and felt the hero's excuses for not wanting the heroine was pretty lame
OVERALL:
Normally I would opinionate upon the characters but Marcus and Isabella I can tell you are pretty much like cut out cookies. I really don't understand why Bella married George in the first place, if she loved Marcus since 18. Her parents had a love match so why didn't they just let her make her choice?
I cannot believe it took them years just to be sexually attracted, more on Marcus's part but what a waste of years! Here we have the typical hero who avoids marriage and agrees to have an affair but later falls in love with said heroine...
It had quite the potential. If Marcus has grovelled compared to Bella always the one seeking him out and telling him 'I Love You' then it would have been a satisfying read. Sadly I felt the heroine did most of the work while the hero just happily took her to bed.
STILL ENTERTAINING DESPITE THE ENDING. ALTHOUGH IT IS A HEA.
I felt a little disappointed towards the end and felt the hero's excuses for not wanting the heroine was pretty lame
OVERALL:
Normally I would opinionate upon the characters but Marcus and Isabella I can tell you are pretty much like cut out cookies. I really don't understand why Bella married George in the first place, if she loved Marcus since 18. Her parents had a love match so why didn't they just let her make her choice?
I cannot believe it took them years just to be sexually attracted, more on Marcus's part but what a waste of years! Here we have the typical hero who avoids marriage and agrees to have an affair but later falls in love with said heroine...
It had quite the potential. If Marcus has grovelled compared to Bella always the one seeking him out and telling him 'I Love You' then it would have been a satisfying read. Sadly I felt the heroine did most of the work while the hero just happily took her to bed.
STILL ENTERTAINING DESPITE THE ENDING. ALTHOUGH IT IS A HEA.
January 5, 2011
Lady I sabella Willoughby is a widower who has been in love with Marcus Steward, Lord Roth, for 10 years, even before she married her husband George. She waited 3 seasons for him to ask for her but it did not happen. She has now decided that she wants to lure him in so she changes herself into a siren and starts attending parties that she would normally not attend, this does gain Marcus’ attention but it takes him awhile to come around to her way of thinking. This is because of a family secret that causes him to never want to commit to anyone or to have children.
Marcus works for government and he is parliament as well and wields a bit of power that has caused him to have a few enemies. A lot of the story features around this.
I found this book a bit slow and not as good as the last 2 books I read by Anne Mallory which were stories about Marcus’ friends and colleagues – they are featured a little in this book as well. When their relationship got going though the book got better.
Marcus works for government and he is parliament as well and wields a bit of power that has caused him to have a few enemies. A lot of the story features around this.
I found this book a bit slow and not as good as the last 2 books I read by Anne Mallory which were stories about Marcus’ friends and colleagues – they are featured a little in this book as well. When their relationship got going though the book got better.
September 14, 2013
I'm a fan of secret illness or the like. Preferably with a miracle but still believable solution and HEA.
While this is not one of them (and kudos to the author for the courage to make this not a Hollywood ending), my bigger issue is the anti-climactic resolution of the revenge plot, the sudden about face of the OTHER issue, and the abrupt ending. It's like the author ran out of time and haphazardly finished the book because it needed to be published in 5 minutes. It's a real shame since I feel that the plot had so much potential and it's already a bitter pill that the readers have to take. I would at least like to see them happy a little longer.
And what was that last visit about?
Other reviews already voiced the same complaints.
While this is not one of them (and kudos to the author for the courage to make this not a Hollywood ending), my bigger issue is the anti-climactic resolution of the revenge plot, the sudden about face of the OTHER issue, and the abrupt ending. It's like the author ran out of time and haphazardly finished the book because it needed to be published in 5 minutes. It's a real shame since I feel that the plot had so much potential and it's already a bitter pill that the readers have to take. I would at least like to see them happy a little longer.
And what was that last visit about?
Other reviews already voiced the same complaints.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2014
3.5/5.0. The widowed Lady Isabella has been in love with her childhood friend, Marcus aka Lord Roth, for many years since even before her marriage. They've enjoyed a close and comfortable friendship and Marcus appears in no hurry to alter the status quo. He is occupied with building his formidable political reputation during the day and dapping in crime solving intrigues at night in between pondering chess moves to defeat Isabella in their regular chess matches. While I love the unrequited love scenarios, the characters and their back stories could be more detailed. I can't see why Marcus could not tell her the truth about his family considering she is a confidante in many other aspects. The ending was rather rushed and unsatisfying.
February 19, 2011
3.4
It's a so-so book. Not my favorite just because there were a lot of reveals that felt very heavy handed.
Marcus reminded me a bit of Nicholas Brisbane of the better written Lady Julia Grey series, and while I liked him I never felt a connection with him. Isabella was nice and a little bland and while she blossomed in the latter half of the book, I never really clicked with her either.
Perhaps if things about Marcus had been set up earlier then I would have cared more about their relationship. Not to mention that I would have loved to have an epilogue with Marcus and Isabella just to find out what happened!
It's a so-so book. Not my favorite just because there were a lot of reveals that felt very heavy handed.
Marcus reminded me a bit of Nicholas Brisbane of the better written Lady Julia Grey series, and while I liked him I never felt a connection with him. Isabella was nice and a little bland and while she blossomed in the latter half of the book, I never really clicked with her either.
Perhaps if things about Marcus had been set up earlier then I would have cared more about their relationship. Not to mention that I would have loved to have an epilogue with Marcus and Isabella just to find out what happened!
November 21, 2008
It was so good
September 7, 2009
Really interesting in that the heroine really saves herself, and the ending isn't all happy - Marcus is still ill, and may eventually die from the same thing that killed his father.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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