My Lady's Dare

Sinclair Brides #1

by Gayle Wilson

THIS TIME THE EARL OF DARE HAD GONE TOO FAR

Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare, was an enigma, even to those who professed to know him well. For while his morals seemed suspect and his leisure pursuits as reckless as any of his well-heeled peers', there was something lurking beneath the facade of good looks, wit and charm that he so skillfully hid behind.

Or so it had seemed, until the night Dare wagered a small fortune for a French gambler's English mistress, and won. Now, with the stunning widow installed at his town house, even the Matchmaking Mamas of the town were doubting that the Earl of Dare would ever recover his good name, for it appeared that the infamous Mrs. Carstairs was destined to become a Sinclair Bride.

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

297 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2000

About the author

Gayle Wilson is a two-time RITA® Award winner, taking home the RITA® Award for Best Romantic Suspense Novel in 2000 and for Best Romantic Novella in 2004. In addition to twice winning the prestigious RITA® Award, Gayle’s books have garnered more than 50 other awards and nominations, including most recently the Daphne du Maurier Award for the Best Single Title Romantic Suspense of 2008, awarded to Victim, her latest novel from MIRA.

Gayle holds a master’s degree in secondary education, with additional certification in the education of the gifted. Although her specialty was teaching honors and gifted students, as a former high school history and English teacher, she taught everything from remedial reading to Shakespeare—and loved every minute she spent in the classroom.

Gayle was on the board of directors of Romance Writers of America for four years. In 2006 she served as the president of RWA, the largest genre-writers’ organization in the world.

Gayle has written 41 novels and four novellas for Harlequin Enterprises, including works for Harlequin Historicals, Harlequin Intrigue, Special Releases, HQN Books, MIRA, and Mills & Boon.

Reviews

[Preeti ♥︎ Her Bookshelves · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some of my favorite elements as well as things that made me antsy and uncomfortable.
So rounded to a 3*.

A H who is a deadly (actually) spy for the crown but in society, masquerades as as lazy fop.
A h who is obviously being blackmailed to play hostess (and more) to a French emigre owner of a gaming hell for the aristocracy. I am quite partial to an ice princess/cool facade h with a back story.
The H goes into serious knight mode for the troubled h, wins her in a game of cards, brings her home. What he wants from her is not clear, to him as well.
Lots of spy stuff happens in between as the story unfolds and secrets tumble out.

Liked
Love the H. He's a real knight in shining armor.
Also the h. Their connection pans out naturally and believably.
They are superb characters with beautiful hearts. A hurt and bruised one in her case but unselfish and
ready for love.
Although stretches the imagination a bit - his easy commuting back and forth from France for his 'job' - but I love a cool assassin H. Because I have to roll my eyes when the bad guys conveniently die on their own - in accidents or die at other people's hands.

Disliked
The dark bits.
*Serious spoilers*
Gayle Wilson has a tendency to bring in dark gritty elements, even in normally progressing stories. And guess who has to suffer? The h, of course! Emotional, sexual abusive events and generally sad back stories abound.
I don’t like to read about abuse as I read the genre for escape. But, many a time a h makes you love her for being strong and unbroken in face of such traumas. This h is the same.

But, I was uncomfortable with the author’s way of doing it.
Firstly - for much of the book - a veil, a haziness is kept on her sexual exploitation. The reader is not sure whether she was abused or not, even if it makes sense time wise - 2 years - that she couldn’t have escaped unscathed. So, even when I was ready for it, the author stresses again and again about her innocent looks, her shying away from anything intimate with the H. I wondered if (like in most HRs) if she’s been miraculously spared somehow.
When I was almost sure of the same, The author hit me hard! A 5 years marriage to a man old enough to be her grandfather, sold so by her uncaring family of father and 4 brothers who gained tremendously by it and never bothered to learn about her state
Then she falls in a trap laid by the French who blackmail her to do treason for her country and that’s how she ends up in the gaming hell. The owner Bonnet exploits her sexually (there's a scene as well) but who else? That’s a question the author leaves to our imagination. I hated it. Other French men? She's ‘offered’ to the H on their first meet in the hell, and so, did it happen before/often? Would be logical to assume yes. If so, then did other men of the aristocracy, all from the H’s circle, 'use' her?

And the worst part? It was all for nothing. Her captured-soldier brother was dead all these years!
What a sad, sad life she'd had.
So yes, I was upset and unsure how I felt about the book here.
The H is uncaring of her past. Anachronistic and tough to believe but I love him all the more for it.

Btw, the H’s mistress never gets mentioned again. Hope the over busy H managed to find time for her - even if for the expected congé.

The cover is so lovely. That's what attracted me to the book n the first place. It's when they have their moonlight dance in the garden. The h's dress in the picture is just as described. But the H was actually barefoot. He couldn't find his slippers and with the hessians, he would have trod on her feet so he went out barefoot ...

[🐝 Shaz 🐝 · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story. A woman won at a card game. Spying and blackmail .
A woman being used by the French. Thinking she is keeping her younger brother alive. An Earl who realised she was being abused, and wanted to help her.

[Ana María · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me gustó. Debo reseña. Por fin una protagonista con pasado.

[May]

Valentine Sinclair, the Earl of Dare, was an enigma, even to those who professed to know him well. For while his morals seemed suspect and his leisure pursuits as reckless as any of his well-heeled peers', there was something lurking beneath the facade of good looks, wit and charm that he so skillfully hid behind.

Or so it had seemed, until the night Dare wagered a small fortune for a French gambler's English mistress, and won. Now, with the stunning widow installed at his town house, even the Matchmaking Mamas of the ton were doubting that the Earl of Dare would ever recover his good name, for it appeared that the infamous Mrs. Carstairs was destined to become a Sinclair Bride.

I like the writing. Characterisation is pretty strong. Still halfway through but pretty good so far....

[MrsMascara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intrepid Lord Valentine Dare, involved in espionage for the crown, wagers to win French gambling den’s mistress and is overcome by his feeling.

Honourable Elizabeth Carstairs was married off to a man old enough to be her great grandfather for his money. After his death 5 years later, the money is not as much as was thought, and she is blackmailed into serving the evil Bonnet to keep her younger brother from being tortured or killed as a French prisoner of war.

She knows her vow to do anything to keep her brother safe and her reputation put her beyond the pale, how will they get their HEA.

Very much enjoyed

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentine Sinclair is the head of an English spy system trying to do away with Napoleon. Elizabeth Carstairs has spent the past 2 years as the mistress and hostess of a French owner of a gaming hell. Lord Dare wins her from Bonnet and tries to find out what hold Bonnet had over her. They foil the spy's plot, Dare and Elizabeth fall in love and marry despite past history. Sweet - one semi-clean bedroom scene at the end.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although there were a few places that struck me as illogical, for the most part this action-packed book held me spellbound. French spies and English spies make 1813, the year in which Napoleon was defeated for the first time, a year to be remembered in history. Elizabeth is caught in the middle of forces over which she has no control until Dare comes to her aid. She is remarkably courageous for the times, which Dare comes to appreciate.

[Marilyn Upright · Rating 4 out of 5]

My lady's dare was the first four star book I have read in months.

[Louise Broadfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

i just don't feel the hero and heroine spent enough time together. for them to get to know each other sadly.

[Michelle]

It bored me so much that I got aggravated

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book by Wilson.

[Elisa Vangelisti]

Valutazione dell’estratto di amazon. Trama confusionaria e poco interessante. Prevedo lotte e intrighi. Questo lo passo.

[Karen Desmond · Rating 4 out of 5]

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