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Gilded Passions #1
Trusting Desire
What if the only thing that could save you—was the thing you feared most?
Naive, destitute and alone, Ellie Baker's world crumbles when she’s kidnapped and forced into a brothel to repay her father’s mistakes. Betrayed to the core, Ellie vows to never trust another man—even Gabriel Peterson, her favorite childhood friend.
Gabriel can’t get past his mother’s brutal murder. Drinking, gambling and whoring help him forget, yet his guilt-ridden habits have made him a social outcast. When the girl from his youth confronts him, he is shocked out of despair and vows to help Ellie escape . . . But can he break free of his own demons?
Neither expects the reunion to last—until their lives overlap in unimaginable ways. When Ellie helps Gabriel in his quest for vengeance, she can't deny their forbidden attraction. Being together feels dangerous, yet how can Ellie resist, when his slightest touch makes her body ache for more?
With reputations in the balance, these two must learn to trust in themselves—or risk losing the only love they've ever known.
Naive, destitute and alone, Ellie Baker's world crumbles when she’s kidnapped and forced into a brothel to repay her father’s mistakes. Betrayed to the core, Ellie vows to never trust another man—even Gabriel Peterson, her favorite childhood friend.
Gabriel can’t get past his mother’s brutal murder. Drinking, gambling and whoring help him forget, yet his guilt-ridden habits have made him a social outcast. When the girl from his youth confronts him, he is shocked out of despair and vows to help Ellie escape . . . But can he break free of his own demons?
Neither expects the reunion to last—until their lives overlap in unimaginable ways. When Ellie helps Gabriel in his quest for vengeance, she can't deny their forbidden attraction. Being together feels dangerous, yet how can Ellie resist, when his slightest touch makes her body ache for more?
With reputations in the balance, these two must learn to trust in themselves—or risk losing the only love they've ever known.
- GenresHistorical Romance
458 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2014
3 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Alice Langdon
1 book9 followersAlice Langdon is a new author of American Historical Romance. She is obsessed with all things Victorian. When she isn't spending time with her characters and immersing herself in the romantic past, she can be found in the company of her amazing husband, two pups, two bunnies, and several fish. She also loves chocolate, animals, Disney, cosplay, crafting and performing on stage. Calling herself a writer is a dream come true, and she still wonders if that will ever, really sink in!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 27, 2018
Alice Langdon has done a good job with Trusting Desire. I like the cover, and I feel it represents the historical era and that this is a “sweet” romance with no real sex scenes. They are all fade to black.
I liked the western historical era Alice chose for Trusting Desire. The research is effortlessly incorporated into the world building. The writing is strong and well-done. The characters come to life on the page.
Our heroine, Ellie is a young girl left with a father’s debt and no employment opportunities, thus she becomes a prostitute. A very common trope of historical romance, but this story has a twist. There is a rape at gunpoint scene, but it’s a “close the door, turn off the lights, it’s the next day” scene and does not show everything, but it is brutal. I thought it was well done and fits the story without being gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous. The scene may be difficult for some to read.
I give Trusting Desire 3.8-stars
Gabriel, our hero was fleshed out well as the town drunk who used to be a doctor. The two knew each other as kids and find each other again – more than once. I think Alice did a wonderful job of making the characters feel like real people, and they pulled out all of my emotions.
I personally feel the book needs a good, deep edit. There were long chunks of writing that really didn’t move the story forward, in my opinion. The story lags a little in the middle, and there are a few typos.
The opening is really good and grabbed me, keeping me reading even when the middle of the story lagged. I was invested enough in the characters that I wanted to know what happened. The end of the story hits it out of the park.
If you want to read a well-researched historical, western romance, if you’re looking to be immersed into the 1880’s, this book is for you.
I liked the western historical era Alice chose for Trusting Desire. The research is effortlessly incorporated into the world building. The writing is strong and well-done. The characters come to life on the page.
Our heroine, Ellie is a young girl left with a father’s debt and no employment opportunities, thus she becomes a prostitute. A very common trope of historical romance, but this story has a twist. There is a rape at gunpoint scene, but it’s a “close the door, turn off the lights, it’s the next day” scene and does not show everything, but it is brutal. I thought it was well done and fits the story without being gratuitous for the sake of being gratuitous. The scene may be difficult for some to read.
I give Trusting Desire 3.8-stars
Gabriel, our hero was fleshed out well as the town drunk who used to be a doctor. The two knew each other as kids and find each other again – more than once. I think Alice did a wonderful job of making the characters feel like real people, and they pulled out all of my emotions.
I personally feel the book needs a good, deep edit. There were long chunks of writing that really didn’t move the story forward, in my opinion. The story lags a little in the middle, and there are a few typos.
The opening is really good and grabbed me, keeping me reading even when the middle of the story lagged. I was invested enough in the characters that I wanted to know what happened. The end of the story hits it out of the park.
If you want to read a well-researched historical, western romance, if you’re looking to be immersed into the 1880’s, this book is for you.
September 21, 2017
When words written can overcome such minor taboos, it's worth taking a gander at. I don't normally read romance, but I'm a fan of historical fiction.
I actually have both versions. I've noticed that the online version is actually better. It took forever to read the paperback because I misplaced it from time to time. Maybe the magic wasn't there anymore because I read it twice.
Buy online version if you want instant gratification. Paperback, if you want to go offline and immerse yourself in the past.
I actually have both versions. I've noticed that the online version is actually better. It took forever to read the paperback because I misplaced it from time to time. Maybe the magic wasn't there anymore because I read it twice.
Buy online version if you want instant gratification. Paperback, if you want to go offline and immerse yourself in the past.
April 5, 2015
Gabriel and Ellie make an appealing couple, both with troubled pasts, and an emotional connection going back to childhood.
I received a free ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is set in the Wild West, and in the same era, the eastern United States. I felt that the setting in the Wild West was unique for a historical romance, and particularly gritty and vivid. I did not quite get the same feel for the setting when the story moved back East, though that in itself is original, that it begins in the West and moves East.
I have to commend the author, both for dealing with the subject of rape in a believable way, and for having the ovaries to go there in the first place. She also includes a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Also included is a drinking problem for the hero, so if either of those subjects are triggering for YOU, this may not be the best book for you to read.
I liked this story a lot, and it is a very good debut novel. However, the pacing and setting felt uneven to me, and the problem(s) that kept hero and heroine apart felt a little too easily resolved. With that said, Ellie is courageous and kind, as well as lovely, and Gabriel shows hidden depths. The sexual tension between them is also exciting.
I received a free ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This novel is set in the Wild West, and in the same era, the eastern United States. I felt that the setting in the Wild West was unique for a historical romance, and particularly gritty and vivid. I did not quite get the same feel for the setting when the story moved back East, though that in itself is original, that it begins in the West and moves East.
I have to commend the author, both for dealing with the subject of rape in a believable way, and for having the ovaries to go there in the first place. She also includes a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. Also included is a drinking problem for the hero, so if either of those subjects are triggering for YOU, this may not be the best book for you to read.
I liked this story a lot, and it is a very good debut novel. However, the pacing and setting felt uneven to me, and the problem(s) that kept hero and heroine apart felt a little too easily resolved. With that said, Ellie is courageous and kind, as well as lovely, and Gabriel shows hidden depths. The sexual tension between them is also exciting.
October 12, 2015
I fell in love with these characters immediately. The emotional depth they carry and their relationship as a whole is something that has been mastered here. Their sexual tension is unmatched and is what keeps you wanting more as you read. It is as exciting as it is emotional. The journey the story takes from West to East is something the story needed to keep it moving forward. Sometimes Ellie's emotions when moved East seemed like they were just fixed, but with Gabriel's reappearance you could see them stirred up again. Overall historical romance readers need to read this book for a different take on this eras romance stories. It isn't just another class struggle read.
November 16, 2014
I received this copy in exchange for an honest review. I am typically not a fan of historical romances. I prefer a more contemporary style of romance writing. With that being said. I truly enjoyed this book. I was taken away by Ellie and her endurance. She was strong willed and innocent and I liked that about her. Gabriel was the handsome doctor with a bit of a dishonorable past. The attraction and chemistry between them is amazing. I am glad I had the chance to read this book.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews