The Countess Confessions

Boscastle #14

by Jillian Hunter

New York Times bestselling author Jillian Hunter has charmed readers with her "sizzling sexual chemistry and rapier wit"(Booklist). Now she returns to the scandalous Boscastle family…

All Emily Selwick wanted was to convince the man she had adored for years that she was the woman he ought to marry. She never expected that her ill-fated deception at a party would uncover a scheme against the Crown and ensnare her in the sensual trap of an enigmatic stranger.

Damien Boscastle, the Earl of Shalcross, knows he must marry Emily to defend her honor and keep his mission secret. But, by saving her reputation, he will draw her into his arms as well as a dangerous intrigue.

After a whirlwind courtship that leaves her breathless, Emily finds herself wed to a husband who vows not only to protect her from his menacing world—but to train his wife in the pleasures of passion.

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

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 4, 2014

About the author

Jillian Hunter is the bestselling author of over twenty historical romances. She lives with her husband, three daughters, a pug and a poodle in Southern California. She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which means she is in love with Mike Myers and Tyler Perry.

Reviews

[jennyoseach · Rating 1 out of 5]

Blech. The pacing was weird as hell and the plot was non-existent. There is the start of an entertaining story here, but it could have used some serious editing and an actual commitment to character development/any discernible plot. Every time I thought Emily would show some spine and/or do something interesting, the weird pacing would get in the way and all progress would come to a screeching halt. Plus the male lead was flat and oddly controlling. Hunter was trying to make it seem sexy, but...it wasn't.

This is the 14th in a series, so perhaps that is why it felt so half-hearted and lazy. Maybe the first ones are better, and somehow warranted a series this long?

1.5 stars

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't read any books from this series, but when I read the blurb I plunged in to read this latest installment. Luckily, this worked out fine as this book's ties to the series are pretty loose and can be read as a standalone. It was the promise of danger, espionage and historical romance all wrapped up in one story that drew me in. Offer me spies and I'm all over that book. Haha! I had a blast with this one from beginning to end.

Emily, with the help of her friend Lucy, has cooked up a scheme in the hopes of nudging the man Emily dreams of to finally notice her. Lucy has made it possible for Emily to set up a gypsy fortune teller tent at her family's ball and Emily will act as the fortune teller. Her half-Rom brother, Michael has given her a crash course in palm and tarot card reading and he watches over her from behind the tent. In an unexpected twist, instead of giving Cameron a foretelling of Emily being his future, she gets a handsome attractive stranger who ducks into the tent to avoid someone. He flirts and kisses her before he disappears into the night.

Damien leaves the delectable gypsy girl behind to get back to the serious business of his mission to infiltrate a group of anarchists, discover their plans and thwart their efforts. Only his gypsy has stumbled upon the secret meeting and the plotters call for her death. Damien has to whisk her away and eventually propose all in an effort to save her life. If he isn't completely revolted at the idea and pleasantly surprised when he sees his intended without her gypsy disguise, that is his business.

Emily has gotten into trouble for years, but this time she's tripped into a situation way beyond her ability to extricate herself. She has to depend on this attractive and yet enigmatic stranger who happens to be an earl no less to keep her safe. As they play the role of besotted lovers and then husband and wife, she finds it difficult to focus on her fears because Damien has no plans for a marriage in name only. He introduces her to the world of passion and teaches her to enjoy all that his experience can bring to their marriage bed.

Damien has never felt this distracted before. It's a toss up who will be his priority if danger is near and he suspects his enchanting bride might push out duty to crown. But the danger is real and he must both keep Emily safe and protect the man who can identify all the traitors even while they all work together to cross up the plotters.

Some historical romances are awesome because they are so beautifully authentic, some are light and fluffy gooey ones, but then there are the fun romps. This one most definitely fell in the last camp. It had a nodding acquaintance with the historical side, but the focus was most assuredly on the romance.

There are pacing issues when both characters get caught up in their heads. Even though I recognized that things were slowing way down and not as crisp as I'd like, I was never bored. Maybe this one caught me in the right mood, but I didn't really mind all the mulling over about what they thought of each other and their relationship.

Damien is the historical romance lover's dream hero. He is dangerous, confident, domineering, but he is bowled over by the gutsy, spontaneous, lively lady to which he finds himself married. For the first time in his life, he embraces all the light and fun, the romance and the little adventures that being near Emily brings him and sets aside the weightiness of the past, his quest for power and fortune and his responsibilities. These two were great together. I think the only thing that would have made this better for me was to see the two of them engaged in more espionage action. Emily had one scene where she was in danger as did Damien, but they were small in comparison to the size of the book. Greedy me wanted more of that sort of thing. I can just see them as one of those great husband and wife detective teams in a lovely romantic suspense series.

Speaking of teams, the side story with Emily's ladies' maid and Damien's valet who were also playing parts in the mission was a great part of the story too. It was like a second little story tucked inside the larger one.

All in all, this was a lighter historical romance that was full of passion and good chemistry between the characters. I am definitely going back for more of Jillian Hunter's Boscastles.

My thanks to Penguin Group for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review thoughts.

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jillian Hunter brings readers the second book in her spin-off Boscastle Affairs series, The Countess Confessions. This a sexy romp through the ton, with a bit of fortune telling, a smidgen of espionage and a big dose of romance. Hunter fans will love revisiting the Boscastle family with Damien being the hero for this novel. Hunter's sharp wit is amazing during the banter between hero and heroine and her trademark ability to write captivating characters was at it's best. Damien's protective nature comes out when Emily is in danger both in body and in reputation. Readers will love this addition to the series.


What I liked:


This book is the second in a spin off series featuring the Boscastle family. It also considered book 14 in the original series, but I think it fits well in either category. Jillian Hunter is a old pro at writing historical romance and her experience really shows in her latest book, The Countess Confessions. She uses several plot devices that give this story an originality that is sometimes missing in the genre. Yes, it is set in the Regency era, but it is distinctly outside the norm. It features a young woman, who essentially ends up in the wrong place, at the wrong time and finds herself in a mountain of trouble.


Emily had in a mind a simple little scheme to get a man she was interested in's attention. But she ends up in the middle of a plot against the crown. I loved the way the author used the Gypsy girl scenario as a catalyst for the hero and heroine to meet. I thought it was both cute and something I hadn't seen before. Readers will find it a fresh and interesting plot line that will have them wondering exactly what is going to happen next.


Many Regency romances focus on a woman's reputation being put in danger by her actions with a man. This story also leans that way, but it is a bit more complicated than the typical plot line. Not only is Emily in danger of losing her reputation, but her life is on the line as well, when she stumbles into Damien mission to find a group of anarchists. This also showed a lot of originality. It works from a tried and true theme and adds a new dimension, making it much more interesting than the normal set up.


Damien was a fantastic hero. Not only does he show loyalty to his country but he also shows loyalty to Emily throughout the story. He is passionate and full of surprises, in the bedroom and out of it. When he realizes that he must propose to Emily to keep her safe he doesn't want a marriage in name only, he wants her as his wife and he intends to show her everything about love and being intimate. I loved the way he was so accepting of her and how he only wanted the best for her. I felt like he was a very worthy character and that he had is priorities in the right place making him the ultimate hero.


Hunter has created a very intriguing novel and I think readers will really enjoy the spy angle, as well as, the love story. If definitely has it's place, but the romance is where it's at in this novel. The chemistry between main characters is scorching. I loved their interactions together throughout the book whether is was bantering back and forth or in the midst of love making they always respected each other and made each moment matter. Hunter wrote them very sensuously but also very emotionally mature.


What I didn't like:


Not much of a criticism, but I wanted more spy stuff. More intrigue and danger. I loved the romance but I think the story would have benefited with a little more attention to the conflict in the story. Still a wonderful book with great characters and a very romantic lead couple.


Bottom Line:


I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next adventure with the Boscastle's they are some kind of family. The romance was the central crux of the story but that little added benefit of the espionage gave it interest and originality. Loved it!

[Julie]

Heroine: Oh no! I am being chased by killers! So I will randomly fling my accoutrements onto the path to make sure they can follow me. All this after I have a "plan" and fail at my "plan" because my "plan" apparently was "be dumb and deceptive while in disguise and win that dude's love... somehow."

Hero: Oh no! You are being chased by killers! I'll both believe you are in disguise and not believe you're in disguise because that's funny. I think I need to brush down my horse and then propose to you instead of heading them off in the woods. It's okay, because I have a weird power to magically teleport myself from place to place unlike those other guys who have to, you know, walk and stuff.

[Elis Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

It might be just me



but this one didn't click for me. There were just too many points where I didn't follow the logic of the characters or the story.

Emily Rowland is posing as a gypsy at a house party in order to (somehow) convince the boy she loves that she's the one for him (Example of logic problem: She stole a mysterious potion her brother obtained from a gypsy, whom she overheard saying that it should be used as a last resort. For all she knows, it could be a treatment for jock itch, but she decides it's a love potion, even tho the LAST thing Michael is looking for is love).

Her tent is invaded by Damien Boscastle, who is also in disguise. He's an agent for the Home Office, there to uncover a conspiracy against the crown, and he's ducked into Em's tent because he saw someone he didn't want to run into. Gypsy stuff involving snail poison happens.

A little while later, Damien attends a secret meeting of conspirators in an abandoned tower on the estate. Lucy and her maid are also headed for the tower to change back into their real clothes. The girls make enough noise to rouse the conspirators, and they're seen fleeing (still in costume). The baddies dispatch Damien (also still in disguise) to find and eliminate them. By now they do know he's one of the good guys, so Em lets him take her home.

Now, there MIGHT be some reason to worry that Em will be found out. Apparently she's shedding tarot cards as she flees. But even so, she doesn't look at all like a gypsy once she dumps the wig and washes off the tea stain on her face. Damien has other urgent business—first, after the meeting he knows the identities of several conspirators, which he ought to be reporting to Home office. Second, there's an EX-conspirator who knows the WHOLE plan and the names of every key figure in the deal. The man refused Home Office protection, but he's a target, and the idiot has decided to have a big house party. Damien's been sent to look after him. He ought to be going to the man's estate and doing advance security stuff. But instead he decides he has to marry Emily to protect HER, so he takes a week off to court her and get a special license. Then, because it makes sense to take her into the thick of things instead of sending her to the protection of his extended family, he takes her with him to the house party.

Without going into excruciating detail, once the house party is over, even though the conspirators are still on the loose and Damien hasn't put an end to the threat—and the ex-conspirator whose information was supposed to be so important hasn't given them much of anything—Damien and party return home to celebrate. There's an interesting twist at the end, but by then I was so frustrated with all the things that made no sense to me that I wasn't all that invested.

As for the primary and secondary romance, both were nice, but instead of feeling drawn into the feelings of the characters by the use of evocative words and situations, I felt like I was just being told how they felt (i.e. "she felt sad" instead of "tears burned her eyes"), so I wasn't invested in that, either. Hunter's books are usually much better.

Authors who are pressed to churn out 1-2 titles a year are bound to phone some of them in rather than giving their best work, which might push them past some arbitrary deadline (G-d forbid). I'm guessing most publishers don't care, because they figure even if the occasional book is not as good as it should be, fans of those authors will still buy them.



With all respect to the author, who's definitely capable of better, this one gets 2 stars.

[Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

My, oh, my. Where do I even start? This book was a huge disappointment. And it's the 14th in a series, which I didn't know and astounds me. Were all her previous books in this series as sloppily written, or is the inspiration for the Boscastle family running dry?

The plot is so thin you could read a (better) book through it. There's a plot against the crown! But we don't know WHY, we don't know what this plot is hoping to achieve, nor do we know why this plot is attacking a specific person versus any other high-ranking official in the country. And why is Damien the hand-chosen savior? What makes him fit for espionage? Just because you were a solider who was captured in battle and imprisoned for a few years (but he escaped! Though HOW is never explained, of course) does not make you a good spy. And really, his logic is not very sound, so he probably wasn't a good choice. Point in case? Emily was disguised -- her race, hair and skin color, bodily markings, clothing, mannerisms, etc were disguised. But SHE COULD STILL BE IN TROUBLE! And Damien was of a different nationality, body build, and hair color, but HE COULD STILL BE IDENTIFIED, ESPECIALLY IF SEEN TOGETHER!!! Because who WOULDN'T link the two?? And since your "duty to the crown" is so all-consumingly important, why don't we go ahead and decide that all the suspicious persons are only suspicious because they flirt with someone? The architect flirted with Emily! It could be him! The maid flirted with Winthrop! It could be her! Some random lady named Mrs. Batleigh flirted with Damien! It could be her! If you guys are the best spies available, England is doomed.

And for a romance novel, I have never seen a couple with less chemistry. I mean their sex might be good, but he's overbearing, and she's clueless. And we're told they have good sex, but I mean short of *cut to black* writing, there's not much more you could do to shorten your sex scenes. The advances in their relationship (and honestly, the relationship of their respective servants) is illogical.

The pacing is bizarre, too. The plot (what little there is of it) SEEMS to have a lot going for it at first, but then you realize it's a lot of nothing happening. She tries reading the fortune for someone BUT DOESN'T. She tries climbing the tower BUT DOESN'T. She almost gets hit by her dad BUT DOESN'T. She almost makes any sort of comment to show her intelligence BUT DOESN'T. She almost burns someone to death BUT DOESN'T. Are you seeing a pattern here?

And let's go ahead and mention how the characters will say something and it's wildly misconstrued or somehow understood by another party with no actual conversation. For example:
""I do not consider your shoulders to be flawed," Emily said. "Merely broad. The rest of you is undeniably masculine, too. I would not believe you were a woman for an instant." His stare pierced her composure. Had she just confessed that she had found his body to be the epitome of male beauty?"
No, dude, that's not even close to what she said. She said you looked too much like a man to be mistaken as a woman, that is not even in the same realm as confessing that she thinks you're an Adonis among men. Such weird jumps in character conversation happens throughout the book.

And finally, for the topping on the cake, if you are going to have all of these other problems, at least do yourself a favor and actually pay attention to what you write (you know, that process called editing?). You don't want to do something like write "He closed the lid and stood, looking into her eyes." AND LITERALLY 10 SENTENCES LATER "He closed the lid and stood, his gaze skirting hers." When did he kneel back down and reopen that lid? C'mon, now.

[Anna's Herding Cats · Rating 4 out of 5]

*rubs hands together* Oh yes. I have found a new historical author to go all girly over! The Countess Confessions was a delightfully entertaining romp that was light, fun and utterly romantic with a kick of suspense thrown in too! It was just what I needed today. An easy romance that wasn't too dark or heavy but that kept me intrigued and excited to spend just a little more time with two charming characters as their lives change forever and they set out to protect their country.

The quick of it is that in a last ditch effort to snag the man of her dreams Emily...gets a little creative and decides to pose as a fortune teller at a party to work herself into her dream man's future one reading at a time. Alas! A big beefy hulk of a man--with a secret plan of his own--foils her romantic endeavors at the last minute spinning her world upside down, landing her a husband--though the wrong one!--and dead center in a conspiracy against the Crown. I mean. Talk about a silly little scheme to catch a husband gone way, way awry.

I loved both Damien and Emily. They were excellent characters. Both unique and determined. Flustered by their new circumstances but jumping right in. Witty and honorable and a little unconventional (something I absolutely adored!). And just utterly perfect for one another. I loved that while both of their lives came to an extremely sharp turn when they met neither complained or wallowed but made the best of their new lot in life. They were fun and charming. Endearing and just entertaining. And even steamed things up just a little. She could be a little silly with her schemes now and again but I really liked her moxie and Damien was just sexy as all get out.

"Damien!"

"Yes, darling."

"This sort of behavior can't continue."

"It can and it will," he said, consoling her, his hand stroking up her arm. "As long as you are with me, you are safe."

"Not if I am required to start undressing in the library."

"But I like libraries."

She clenched her teeth. "So do I."

"Maybe we can read together after everyone leaves," he suggested, although his mischievous smile implied that reading did not figure high on the list of what he wanted to do when they were alone.

The conspiracy was interesting. I haven't read too many books about spies yet and really enjoyed the historical aspect of it. Seeing them in their disguises, trying to figure out who was behind an assassination attempt, not knowing exactly who could be trusted. It was exciting and pretty fascinating. Not all of it came as a huge surprise but there were spots where I was left going 'well damn! I did not see that coming' which is always a nice thing to have happen. I did wish for a little bit more of a showdown when everything came to a close but really that's probably just me. I am rather blood thirsty. Especially when my hero and heroine are threatened.

So, all in all, The Countess Confessions was a delightful historical romance that had me smiling and completely charmed! Add in a stunning cover and I'm one very happy reader girl. And very much looking forward to more from Hunter.




Reviewed for herding cats & burning soup.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good romance with a touch of suspense added to liven things up. Emily had disguised herself as a fortune-telling gypsy in an attempt to catch the interest of a man she was interested in. Instead, she found herself entangled with Damien, who was undercover trying to discover and shut down a group of anarchists. She ends up compromised and in the crosshairs of the conspirators, who worry what she might have heard.

Damien is intent on his mission, with no plans to marry in the near future, but he won't let Emily suffer because of him. He steps up to marry her, in spite of the kink it puts in his plans. He finds it distressingly easy to play the part of the besotted fiance, and worries that his fascination will distract him from what he has to do. He is determined to stop the anarchists and keep Emily safe. I really liked the fact that Damien showed no resentment about having to marry Emily. In fact, he was quite comfortable with the idea and expected that they would have a real marriage right from the start. He may be a dangerous, confident operative but he is also astounded by Emily's ability to take everything in stride. I really liked the fact that he didn't treat her like an idiot but showed a lot of respect for her intelligence.

Emily has been a magnet for trouble most of her life. She has a tendency to get herself into awkward situations, but this time she's in real trouble. At first she's angry that Damien has spoiled her plans, but the effect he has on her soon drives those plans right out of her mind. She's smart enough to know that Damien is her best bet at staying alive, but thinking about the danger she's in is difficult when all she can think of is her upcoming marriage. She realized pretty quickly that what she felt for the other man was nothing when compared to what she feels for Damien. I liked the fact that she started the marriage with the full intention of making it work. I really enjoyed seeing her fully embrace everything that Damien was exposing her to.

The suspense itself started out strong, with Damien's undercover attempt to ferret out who the leader of the anarchists was. His fears for Emily and Iris seemed well-founded when the conspirators were so determined to track them down and kill them. I enjoyed the efforts that Damien and Emily, as well as Iris and Winthrop made to investigate at the house party, but they seemed pretty laid back for the importance of the mission. The final confrontation felt almost anti-climactic with its lack of intensity. I will admit that the leader was someone I did not suspect, so that was a pleasant surprise.

[SidneyKay · Rating 2 out of 5]

In the beginning...in the beginning...in the beginning...

I usually like Jillian Hunter books, especially her older ones, but for me The Countess Confession was just passable. When it started, I thought, "oh this is going to be fun." Emily, our heroine, seems to always be getting in trouble and Damien, our hero, is trouble. He's a Boscastle, he's a spy, he's a manly man. But about halfway through the book, they are hopping into bed with each other and I thought, Hey, wait a minute, isn't that a little too soon? Then I looked down at the page count, noticed how far into the book I was and was surprised. I was surprised because even halfway through the book at bed-jumping time, it still had the feel that it was just getting started. In fact, all the way through the book I kept waiting for a middle and it just never happened.

Damien and Emily were could-have-beens. They could have been great characters, but their development just never went anywhere. The plot meandered all over the place after the initial promise of a good story. I was greatly disappointed. And, by the way, why would our hero ask a question when someone’s tongue is wrapped around his Mr. Toad? It was like being in a dentist chair and being asked, "how's your vacation?" I could only hear Emily replying, "Flaaaaggg blmoxo slup." That wasn't really her reply, but seriously, her mouth is occupied - she cannot answer - so don't start a conversation.

There is a moment toward the end of the book when Damien is telling Emily why he loves her and that was a nice touch. If only the rest of the book had been that good. Bottom line, this is not my favorite Jillian Hunter book - I didn't care about the heroine and hero, they just were not interesting... and they could have been.
KaysBlog

[My Book Addiction and More MBA · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE COUNTESS CONFESSIONS by Jillian Hunter is an exciting Historical Romance 1820 London. A Boscastle Affairs Novel (Book 2), but can be read as a stand alone. See,"The Mistress Memoirs". A sizzling, charming tale of the Scandalous Boscastle Family.

Emily Rowland, only wanted to the the attention of the man she loved from afar for years, but what is got was entangled in a scheme against the Crown and married to another man altogether.

Damien Boscastle, the Earl of Shalcross, is a spy on a mission when he encounters Emily and her maid, what follows is a series of misfortune that ends up with the two married. After a whirlwind courtship, Emily ends up married to a man who has declared he wants no children. Which Emily desperately wants. But he does want to train her in the pleasures of passion. But first, they must stay alive long enough to have a future.

Filled with witty banter, passion, secrets, danger, deceit, treason, betrayal, and love. Did I mention passion? The chemistry between Emily and Damien is sizzling, and passionate. An wickedly, passionate tale of treason and romance. For an exquisite romp though England, you must pick up "The Countess Confessions" you won't regret your choice. A must read! Well done!!

Received for an honest review from the publisher.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: HOT

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read. The heroine dresses up as a gypsy to try to encourage her crush to think of her in romantic terms by telling his fortune at a party and inserting her own name. But when someone else pushes him out of line and invades the fortune-telling tent, her plans fall apart, especially since this invader is much more intriguing. Things get confusing right off the bat for me. I couldn't figure out either why she wanted the original guy, or why she was so intrigued by the new guy, except that he is the hero, and he's new. Apparently she hasn't had much opportunity to meet people. Then the bad guys show up, the hero turns out to be someone else entirely (he was in disguise), and I started to have real trouble following the story. Probably because a lot of the complications take place elsewhere and people just show up to explain them. The center of the story, a marriage of convenience, was fairly straightforward. But everything around it was so tangled up, I had problems. Still, it was entertaining and I enjoyed reading it. But I still couldn't tell you if the bad guys got defeated in the end...

[Jill B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed Emily and Damien’s first meeting and their passion for each other. I enjoyed their repartee. The mystery and espionage plot was poorly thought out though. The two characters married because of it, after all, so it should have been given attention. I honestly do not see why they should have married at all. And the whole riot plans of the anarchists suddenly falling to the wayside just because the presumed “ringleader” was shot by a drunk at a pub? By the end of it, one cannot fully grasp what the villain’s plot or scheme was. It was so vaguely and weakly written.

In the beginning part, it seemed like it wasn't edited properly because there were some confused lines. Damien already found out that Emily was not a real gypsy and that she is a sister of his friend, Michael but then lines about how he suspected she was hiding something underneath her gypsy garb appeared afterwards.

Anyway, Jillian Hunter is always a hit and miss. She rarely writes strong stories. She’s good at chemistry and passion, though.

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The exploits of the young heroine in this story are endearing precisely because they are so bumbling. If you happened to be the head cheerleader in high school who dated the captain of the football team, definitely do NOT read this book. You will never be able to relate to the story of a wallflower longing to be noticed by the boy she adores who, while in the process of earnestly attempting to attract his attention, instead captures the notice of a dangerously seductive man that she most assuredly can't handle (until he falls in love with her, of course). Even if the story is set in 1820, we ex-wallflowers of today -- content with our happily ordinary lives though we may be -- still secretly long to attract that dangerous man (a fact that I'm pretty sure sells books just like this one!)

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed a better editor. Typos throughout the book. The writing was fine, but lacked the skill to be well done. At times the author was unclear, and moments that should have been savored were neglected while others that were meaningless were drawn out.

The story concept was enjoyable yet the details unbelievable. I feel no need to read another book by Jillian Hunter. Overall, it was bland.

[Cs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first in the series although it is #14. It was good, entertaining, and can be read as a stand-alone without being lost. It did leave me wanting to find the other books in the series so I can read about the other characters.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did Damien ever say I love you? lol I don't think so and Emily only said it once while Damien was sleeping..... Also what happened with the potion? Michael made it seem like it was something more but that never came back around.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rated 3.5

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice to get one I really like again! The connection between Iris and Winthrop absolutely was a positive.

[Neeuqdrazil · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok, although I had a hard time telling the characters apart.

[Ashley (wickedreads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was just...kinda boring. like the political stuff and the spy stuff was fun but other than that...i just wasnt super invested. felt like a chore to finish

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have rather read about Winthrop. Couldn't stand any of the main characters.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original Post March 30 at http://fangswandsandfairydust.com/201...

THE COUNTESS CONFESSIONS: A 19th Century 007 Marries the Girl

Disclosure: uncorrected Galley provided by publisher via NetGalley for review purposes. No remuneration was exchanged and all opinion presented herein is my own, unless otherwise noted.



I was very restless reading this book. It didn’t capture my attention and I think it was both my mental state and that the book felt like it was written with restraint. The hero is restrained and noble, the heroine is quiet, intelligent, polite and the sex is okay and fairly realistic.

Ah, while it lacked the titillating thrill of other romance novels, I liked that the heroine doesn’t go from virgin to wanton in one night. Although she enjoys her newlywed conjugal encounters, she is still shy and a bit embarrassed and often keeps her eyes shut.

The language is accessible without fancy accents and words you will need to look up. That’s not to say it has been dumbed-down; it just hasn’t put on a veneer of pseudo-intellect.

The title arises from a period of less than ten percent of the book where they meet and are welcomed into the family about whom I suspect the other books in the series are written. It feels forced into a naming scheme for the series (The Mistress Memoirs, The Duchess Diaries). This also forces a rapid, and shallow, relationship with the other women in the hero’s family that I doubt would have been included otherwise. I am silly perhaps in thinking the title should really have meaning within the tale.

I am amused by the role the tarot plays in the story; lending a comic element and a tender moment as well.

It is not an disengaging romp; there’s nothing terribly off-putting. There just wasn’t anything all that compelling. Split between two romance subgenres: historic and suspense, the restraint I mentioned earlier dampens the excitement or thrill one should find in either. It’s not romantic enough to be hot, nor based in an historical espionage event I could discover (although there was a period of unrest causing an uprising which ended in 1820), and it’s not very suspenseful. The one briefly exciting minute occurs at the very end.

It’s a shame because Damien sounds every bit as dashing as our contemporary equivalents, and she could be quite the partner in espionage. However, the two are blind to the two very obvious clues cast in front of them.

Now, remember, I like my romance very steamy, so what I see as tepid you might find just the right temperature. Not a bad read just not my favorite. The cover is gorgeous!

[Mariel Grey · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by Jillian Hunter. Though the story is part of her Bocastle series, it reads easily as a stand alone title. Tidbits about the family are scarce and really don’t even come into play until later in the book. To be honest, the story was a little busy for me at the beginning and it took me some time to settle into the book. There just seemed to be a lot of characters for me to absorb up front.

The story begins with our heroine trying to lure the man of her dreams into believing she is destined for him by disguising herself as a gypsy reading fortunes at a ball. Her plan goes awry when a stranger, our hero, forces his way into the fortune telling line ahead of her intended sweetheart. The intervening man is himself posing as someone else in an attempt to thwart a spy/assassination plot. Because of his meeting her, our hero feels he has endangered our heroine and is duty bound to marry and protect her while he sorts out the details and participants of this spy scheme.

Most of the other reviews I have read describe the intrigue/spy aspect of the story as enjoyable and fun. For me, that was the part of the plot I found a little thin. In fairness, that may be because I have read a great many spy genre books where, obviously, the elements and details of intrigue and spy craft are much stronger. Maybe I'm just slow on the uptake, but I never got a good grip on the real goals and motivations behind the spy plot. They remained somewhat fuzzy and hazy in the background for me so I never had any real sense of urgency or danger for our hero and heroine other than being told they were in danger (**spoiler** Yes, I know, there were periodic gun shots to induce the illusion of danger. But other than that, everything about the danger was told rather than shown to me ***spoiler***).

That being said. Ms. Hunter has a nice way of depicting her numerous love scenes which are sensual without being overly graphic. Her characters are likeable and we witness the transformation of the instant chemistry between the hero and heroine into love and respect. I found Ms. Hunter very good at description and “turn of phrase.” I enjoyed her dialogue as well.

If you are looking for a good romantic Regency spy story, this one may not be for you (try the Stephanie Laurens Bastion Club series or My Lord and Spymaster by Joanna Bourne). If you don’t care about the spy background or are just looking for a light romp where the characters fall in love with one another over time in an enjoyable way, then give this book a try.

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love how you think you know the writing about the regency Era but I did not

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this book 3.5 stars :)
Well, this was the first book that I've read from the series and I like it. It's really different from other books where the female and male characters actually met under different circumstances with their disguise on!

It's totally unexpected for Emily to get married to Damien so quickly in order to protect her and her maid. Albeit they have only known each other for a short time, they have both developed feelings for each other in a short amount of time and Emily was able forget her crush whom she had feelings for for a few years.

I didn't expect that Damien is so humorous I love this part ' "This is your heart line," she said in a detached voice, sweeoing the tip of her forefinger across his palm.
"I'm surprised you can find it. Everyone who knows me well insist that I am heartless. I should have you write a letter of testimony in my favour." ' Hehe

I like the story of this book, it has its interesting and intense parts, however, to be honest, I feel that some parts of the story bores me... Well, that's just how I feel and overall this book is worth your time to read! :)

[Patty McKenna Van Hulle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It has one of my favorite families, the Boscastle. Jillian Hunter has done it again. This is her 14 Boscastle book but they are never boring. Damien is a loner who only keeps his valet/best friend Winthrop around and because Winthrop won't leave. He is uncover for the Crown against the anarchists. Emily has loved a certain boy and that boy never knows that she in love with him. She goes uncover as a gypsy fortune teller with the help of her lady's maid Iris and her brother. Her boy never show but she catches a MAN instead. Damien is shocked when he see her again with red hair and white skin instead of black hair and a tan. Emily is shocked when her fiancé shows up with no mustache or beard and no red hair. Who is fooling who? I loved that these 2 got naked after the marriage and not wait until they got to know each other better. They both knew they could relate better on the bed and couch so they did and did. I also loved that Jillian had a second love story between Winthrop and Iris. I give this book 5 fingers up and 10 toes.

[Cocktails and Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Star

The Countess Confessions centers around the romance of Emily and Damien. Emily is a bit of a trouble maker. She meets Damien when she is pretending to be a fortune teller to get another man. They end up in a compromising situation and are forced to marry Damien is determined to have a real marriage and with great intensity teaches Emily everything about the marriage bed. This book is a romance but there is plenty of adventure and spice. Unfortunately there are a few moments in the book that drag. Emily and Damien get a little lost in their own heads. There are a few moments you have to push through to get back into the book. Still worth a read of you're into historical romance.

Reviewed by Kristyn for Cocktails and Books

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had expectations for this book, unfortunately it did not meet any.

Follow me!

[Tammy Sargeant · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gotta say, I HATE historical romances, but Jillian Hunter is always my exception because I love her witty style of writing and the hot sexy scenes she has. But this book was my main reason why I hate historicals. I couldn't keep reading. It was good until I got to the 6th chapter, then my interest in it just stopped. I love the Boscastle series, but this one has got to be my least favorite. I was waiting for Damian's story because he was interesting in the other books, but eh. At most points it was difficult to actually follow the writing but then I just gave up. Just skimmed through it and read parts that I liked.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

All Emily wants to do is to capture the imagination of the man she's loved for years. So she creates a simple plan: dress like a gypsy, sneak a tent onto a property, interrupt a party, get him to be the seventh (lucky number!) person in line, tell his fortune, and make him realize that he loves her too. Easy-peasy. But then, Bocastle muscles his way into the tent. He can't be her lucky number seven! Then there's an assassination plot, a hurried marriage, and who knows what else before these two can find their HEA.
Not as good as the usual Jillian Hunter fare. The story moves in leaps and bounds that leave a lot of information out. And I didn't really like Damien. He was sort of a jerk.