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Chase Family: The Regency #1
Alexandra
“Alexandra” is the SWEET & CLEAN ROMANCE edition of “Lost In Temptation” by Lauren Royal
Alexandra Chase has always liked being the perfect daughter, thank you very much. Why would she bother chafing against society’s restrictions when instead she could be basking in the warm glow of its approval? But when her brother’s best friend—and secret obsession—returns from a long spell abroad, she begins losing interest in the suitable young lord she’s expected to marry. Suddenly, family duty and a flawless reputation seem less important than the chance, however slight, that her girlhood crush might notice her now that she’s all grown up…
Alexandra Chase has always liked being the perfect daughter, thank you very much. Why would she bother chafing against society’s restrictions when instead she could be basking in the warm glow of its approval? But when her brother’s best friend—and secret obsession—returns from a long spell abroad, she begins losing interest in the suitable young lord she’s expected to marry. Suddenly, family duty and a flawless reputation seem less important than the chance, however slight, that her girlhood crush might notice her now that she’s all grown up…
Tristan Nesbitt has done some growing up himself over the last few years, what with moving across oceans, inheriting a title, and facing a devastating scandal. But through it all, he’s never forgotten the Chases, the closest thing he had to a family back in his school days. When his old friend Griffin Chase requests a favor, he’s happy to oblige, as long as he can maintain enough distance from the family that his infamous past won’t tarnish their good name. Unfortunately, one Chase seems intent on getting much closer to him than she should…
BOOK DETAILS
• Humorous historical romance
• Book One of Lauren & Devon Royal's sweet romance Regency Chase Brides series
• A full-length novel
• Connected to Lauren & Devon Royal’s sweet romance Renaissance Chase Family Series
• PG-rated: Kisses only, no love scenes!
This e-book includes Bonus Material: an Author's Note, a preview of Lauren and Devon’s next book, and a link to an online contest where you can enter to win a piece of jewelry.
CONNECTING BOOKS
While ALEXANDRA can be read as a stand-alone novel, many readers enjoy reading it as part of a series. All of Lauren & Devon’s books feature Chase family members. Should you wish to read them in chronological order, this is the sequence:
Regency Chase Brides
1815 - ALEXANDRA (Tristan & Alexandra)
1816 - JULIANA (James & Juliana)
1817 - CORINNA (Sean & Corinna + Griffin & Rachael)
Renaissance Chase Family Series
1549 - ALICE BETROTHED (Adam & Alice)
More coming soon!
297 pages, ebook
First published May 8, 2015
3725 people are currently reading
3685 people want to read
About the author
Lauren Royal
73 books519 followersFALL IN LOVE WITH A HISTORICAL ROMANCE BY LAUREN ROYAL!
LAUREN ROYAL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance. Her “truly enchanting” novels have won many awards including Booklist's “Top 10 Romance of the Year,” and they’ve earned raves from reviewers including Publishers Weekly, who calls her “an impressive talent.”
All of Lauren's books are complete, stand-alone stories, and yet they are also all connected—because they all feature her beloved “outrageously funny, loyal, compassionate, and unconventional” Chase family!
Lauren writes steamy historical romance on her own and sweet/clean historical romance with her daughter, Devon Royal. Lauren lives in Southern California with her family, two constantly shedding cats, and a stupendous collection of fuzzy socks. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys singing along (off-key) to Hamilton, dancing (badly), and (wasting time) watching HGTV.
Want great free and 99¢ books sent to your inbox on select Fridays? Sign up for Lauren's Book Club newsletter at http://royall.ink/Newsletter
Become an honorary Chase cousin (and get a FREE historical cookbook)! Join Lauren's Chase Family Readers Group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Visit Lauren’s website at LaurenRoyal.com, where you can learn about the real people and real places in her books, enter a contest to win jewelry, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree.
Join Lauren on Facebook...
Readers Group: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Facebook Page: facebook.com/LaurenRoyal
LAUREN ROYAL is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of humorous historical romance. Her “truly enchanting” novels have won many awards including Booklist's “Top 10 Romance of the Year,” and they’ve earned raves from reviewers including Publishers Weekly, who calls her “an impressive talent.”
All of Lauren's books are complete, stand-alone stories, and yet they are also all connected—because they all feature her beloved “outrageously funny, loyal, compassionate, and unconventional” Chase family!
Lauren writes steamy historical romance on her own and sweet/clean historical romance with her daughter, Devon Royal. Lauren lives in Southern California with her family, two constantly shedding cats, and a stupendous collection of fuzzy socks. When she's not busy writing, she enjoys singing along (off-key) to Hamilton, dancing (badly), and (wasting time) watching HGTV.
Want great free and 99¢ books sent to your inbox on select Fridays? Sign up for Lauren's Book Club newsletter at http://royall.ink/Newsletter
Become an honorary Chase cousin (and get a FREE historical cookbook)! Join Lauren's Chase Family Readers Group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Visit Lauren’s website at LaurenRoyal.com, where you can learn about the real people and real places in her books, enter a contest to win jewelry, and see the ever-growing branches of the Chase Family Tree.
Join Lauren on Facebook...
Readers Group: facebook.com/groups/ChaseFamilyReaders
Facebook Page: facebook.com/LaurenRoyal
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 410 reviews
May 17, 2018
If you are thinking of reading it, don't. Save yourself the time.
I read this ~two years ago but this book made me so angry that I still remember it. Alexandra is the worst kind of female characters: the know-it-all girl meddling into other people's affairs even though she was clearly told not to. And what do you know? Everything turned out for the best so it was great that she interfered. I wish I can forget that such callous characters exist.
I read this ~two years ago but this book made me so angry that I still remember it. Alexandra is the worst kind of female characters: the know-it-all girl meddling into other people's affairs even though she was clearly told not to. And what do you know? Everything turned out for the best so it was great that she interfered. I wish I can forget that such callous characters exist.
July 8, 2016
4.25 stars
I think this book could actually be split into part 1 and part 2. Part 1 focuses on Alexandra and Tristan (Tris) getting reacquainted. They haven't seen each other in seven years and have a lot of catching up to do. However, Alexandra's brother, Griffin, would really not have Alexandra renew her love for Tris and marry someone else, almost anyone else as Tris is suspected to be involved in his uncle's death years before. Tris declares to never marry Alexandra to protect her and her family's reputation from his tainted name but never say never Mr. Nesbitt. Then there is Griffin who is exhaustingly working to get his three sisters married so he can get on with his bachelorhood. Part 2 would focus on Alexandra doing everything she can to clear Tris' name so they can be happy and to protect her family's reputation. She is very determined.
Both imaginary parts are really good. I was watching Alexandra and Tris interact or possibly try to avoid each other (failing as a matter of fact) and loving it and the great mystery of Tris' uncle's death was very intriguing. Both parts of the book don't feel like they need to be separate and flow together quite nicely but there are two main focuses dividing the book. I feel like this book is longer than the 400ish pages. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story but I felt like I was reading it for a long time but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
All of the characters were great. I adored them. Alexandra, her two sisters, Griffin and Tris were all so likeable. The Chase family makes sweets all the time so I was drooling a lot of the time. I also liked their, very, very distant cousin, Rachel who just belongs with Griffin, even if they don't see it, yet. I think their relationship will develop more so in the next couple of books. Can't wait. I almost forgot to mention that Tris sleepwalks. He just ends up in the strangest places doing some things he probably shouldn't be doing. ;) Probably my favorite parts are anytime he sleepwalks. So good.
Overall, this was a great romance which was surprisingly funny and very sweet. I definitely plan to read the next two books.
I think this book could actually be split into part 1 and part 2. Part 1 focuses on Alexandra and Tristan (Tris) getting reacquainted. They haven't seen each other in seven years and have a lot of catching up to do. However, Alexandra's brother, Griffin, would really not have Alexandra renew her love for Tris and marry someone else, almost anyone else as Tris is suspected to be involved in his uncle's death years before. Tris declares to never marry Alexandra to protect her and her family's reputation from his tainted name but never say never Mr. Nesbitt. Then there is Griffin who is exhaustingly working to get his three sisters married so he can get on with his bachelorhood. Part 2 would focus on Alexandra doing everything she can to clear Tris' name so they can be happy and to protect her family's reputation. She is very determined.
Both imaginary parts are really good. I was watching Alexandra and Tris interact or possibly try to avoid each other (failing as a matter of fact) and loving it and the great mystery of Tris' uncle's death was very intriguing. Both parts of the book don't feel like they need to be separate and flow together quite nicely but there are two main focuses dividing the book. I feel like this book is longer than the 400ish pages. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story but I felt like I was reading it for a long time but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
All of the characters were great. I adored them. Alexandra, her two sisters, Griffin and Tris were all so likeable. The Chase family makes sweets all the time so I was drooling a lot of the time. I also liked their, very, very distant cousin, Rachel who just belongs with Griffin, even if they don't see it, yet. I think their relationship will develop more so in the next couple of books. Can't wait. I almost forgot to mention that Tris sleepwalks. He just ends up in the strangest places doing some things he probably shouldn't be doing. ;) Probably my favorite parts are anytime he sleepwalks. So good.
Overall, this was a great romance which was surprisingly funny and very sweet. I definitely plan to read the next two books.
July 19, 2022
4,5 stars- English Ebook
Top five things I loved about this book.
It was clean. It didn’t have swearing and there were no sex scenes. However, several times my heart was racing because of great sexual tension.
The story was very engaging. It most certainly created that “it” factor; the thing that makes you unable to participate in life or sleep or much of anything because you’d have to put the story down. I may or may not have carried the book to the bathroom.
The story had a real story arc that didn’t fall flat. I stayed wrapped in the cozy little story world and the story itself never once threw me out. It was magnificent. Plus, the story is more than just a romance novel. There’s mystery!
The characters were real people with different personalities. They had strengths and weaknesses. I loved that Alexandra was so honest, (except when she wasn’t) and would tell on herself even though she knew others would be angry.
Tristen’s thoughts were wonderful. He’d make up his mind to do something and then change it because someone’s eyes/lips where entirely too tempting and then he’d change his mind back again, very male, yet wonderfully fitting.
Surely a recommendation for this book!
Top five things I loved about this book.
It was clean. It didn’t have swearing and there were no sex scenes. However, several times my heart was racing because of great sexual tension.
The story was very engaging. It most certainly created that “it” factor; the thing that makes you unable to participate in life or sleep or much of anything because you’d have to put the story down. I may or may not have carried the book to the bathroom.
The story had a real story arc that didn’t fall flat. I stayed wrapped in the cozy little story world and the story itself never once threw me out. It was magnificent. Plus, the story is more than just a romance novel. There’s mystery!
The characters were real people with different personalities. They had strengths and weaknesses. I loved that Alexandra was so honest, (except when she wasn’t) and would tell on herself even though she knew others would be angry.
Tristen’s thoughts were wonderful. He’d make up his mind to do something and then change it because someone’s eyes/lips where entirely too tempting and then he’d change his mind back again, very male, yet wonderfully fitting.
Surely a recommendation for this book!
January 8, 2018
This is a clean version of the author's previously published novel Lost in Temptationwritten in collaboration with her daughter. They claim it's PG and appropriate for young adults but it's more sensual than Georgette Heyer while still being clean.
Lady Alexandra Chase has always done what is proper and right. She values the traditions of her late mother and ancestors and tries to set a good example for her sisters. She is even going to marry the man her brother chooses for her - until her childhood love Tristan Nesbitt returns to her life. Then Alexandra finds herself rebelling against Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces, 1811 and her brother's rules. Griffin is in despair. He never thought he would inherit the Marquisate and though he wants to do a good job, bringing up three younger sisters is a challenge. The sooner he gets them married off the better. He enlists the aid of his oldest and dearest friend Tris, who has also unexpectedly returned to England from Jamaica to inherit a Marquisate. Tristan, the new Marquess of Hawkridge has come to Cainewood Castle to help his old friend- not with his sister problem, thank goodness, but his estate management problem. Tristan refuses to be married to anyone let alone his best friend's sisters! He hides a dark secret that makes him ineligible as a husband for anyone, let alone the beautiful and bold Lady Alexandra Chase. Alexandra is determined not to take no for an answer!
This story is half romance novel and half mystery/marriage of convenience. I didn't understand why Alexandra didn't propose to solve the mystery right away! The first thing I would have asked was "Did you try?" and said Tris didn't try very hard and let me find the answer. That doesn't come until halfway through the book when Tris has been dancing around the elephant in the room that is his attraction to Alexandra. The mystery was difficult to solve though I wasn't entirely surprised at what happened at the end.
As a romance novel, this story works well. The opening scene is lovely! It's far more intimate and romantic than the closed door love scenes between a married couple that are implied later on in the book. Alexandra acts very silly at times but as her sister points out, she's only 17! The author tried a little too hard to make Alexandra a little more modern with her teenage rebellion. Alexandra and her sisters routinely quote from an advice manual that was most assuredly written by a man! They are aware of what is proper yet Alexandra and her sisters routinely dismiss the advice. Those rules are in place for a reason. If Society as a whole rejected the advice it would be one thing but to do as Alexandra does would be beyond the pale. Alexandra would never be in a room with a man. Period. End of story. Not even her brother's best friend. The author is aware of this and it comes out later in the book but in my opinion, it takes too long.
I love the warm relationship between Alexandra and her sisters. Each has her own strengths. Juliana is the sweet one, forever trying to meddle to make everyone happy the way she wants them to be. Corinna is more independent and free spirited. I liked her a lot. I'm a big sister like Alexandra and wish I had two best friend sisters like her. Griffin, on the other hand, is a bit messy and complicated. Unlike his sisters, he feels lost. As a second son, he wasn't groomed for the Marquisate but for the military. Sometimes his military bearing comes out too strong when dealing with his sisters. Griffin can't admit his sisters are grown up sometimes yet is eager to marry them off. I didn't like his methods and strict timeline. It made him seem immature and selfish. I would think as the second son, he would have thought of himself as the heir to Charles until such a time as his older brother married. The story sets the stage for a future romance for Griffin. I think he has met his match in this book and she will keep him from being too tough on the younger girls. I loved the independent young woman Rachael, Alexandra's cousin. She is intelligent and tough. I'm not sure her qualms about cousin marriage are plausible for the period.
Then we have Tris- a brooding, emotionally wounded hero. He is having a tough time settling into his new role. He planned to become a man of business on his uncle's Jamaican plantation. (The question of slavery arises late in the book. It probably wouldn't have been an issue. Jane Austen's family were anti-slavery and yet her father oversaw the management of a young relative's West Indian property). His fears about his problem are honest ones and sound rather scary! I don't blame him for being moody and withdrawn. He flirts well with Alexandra and I like them together. They have good chemistry yet in the second half of the book I found him maddening and annoying. I didn't like how he refused to admit his true feelings. He needs Alexandra to take him in hand and make him see reason.
I especially loved the period recipes included in this book. I recognized some of them. The gingerbread cookie recipe comes from Hannah Glasse and is the basis of Colonial Williamsburg's amazing ginger cakes. See their recipe and baking tips and another recipe here. I also recognized Chocolate Puffs. I've made those and they are delicious! FYI: Powdered sugar in period language doesn't mean confectioner's sugar. It means finely ground white sugar. I am not interested in any of the other recipes but I loved how they all came from period sources but were incorporated into the novels as part of a family history.
E-book freebie
Lady Alexandra Chase has always done what is proper and right. She values the traditions of her late mother and ancestors and tries to set a good example for her sisters. She is even going to marry the man her brother chooses for her - until her childhood love Tristan Nesbitt returns to her life. Then Alexandra finds herself rebelling against Regency Etiquette: The Mirror of Graces, 1811 and her brother's rules. Griffin is in despair. He never thought he would inherit the Marquisate and though he wants to do a good job, bringing up three younger sisters is a challenge. The sooner he gets them married off the better. He enlists the aid of his oldest and dearest friend Tris, who has also unexpectedly returned to England from Jamaica to inherit a Marquisate. Tristan, the new Marquess of Hawkridge has come to Cainewood Castle to help his old friend- not with his sister problem, thank goodness, but his estate management problem. Tristan refuses to be married to anyone let alone his best friend's sisters! He hides a dark secret that makes him ineligible as a husband for anyone, let alone the beautiful and bold Lady Alexandra Chase. Alexandra is determined not to take no for an answer!
This story is half romance novel and half mystery/marriage of convenience. I didn't understand why Alexandra didn't propose to solve the mystery right away! The first thing I would have asked was "Did you try?" and said Tris didn't try very hard and let me find the answer. That doesn't come until halfway through the book when Tris has been dancing around the elephant in the room that is his attraction to Alexandra. The mystery was difficult to solve though I wasn't entirely surprised at what happened at the end.
As a romance novel, this story works well. The opening scene is lovely! It's far more intimate and romantic than the closed door love scenes between a married couple that are implied later on in the book. Alexandra acts very silly at times but as her sister points out, she's only 17! The author tried a little too hard to make Alexandra a little more modern with her teenage rebellion. Alexandra and her sisters routinely quote from an advice manual that was most assuredly written by a man! They are aware of what is proper yet Alexandra and her sisters routinely dismiss the advice. Those rules are in place for a reason. If Society as a whole rejected the advice it would be one thing but to do as Alexandra does would be beyond the pale. Alexandra would never be in a room with a man. Period. End of story. Not even her brother's best friend. The author is aware of this and it comes out later in the book but in my opinion, it takes too long.
I love the warm relationship between Alexandra and her sisters. Each has her own strengths. Juliana is the sweet one, forever trying to meddle to make everyone happy the way she wants them to be. Corinna is more independent and free spirited. I liked her a lot. I'm a big sister like Alexandra and wish I had two best friend sisters like her. Griffin, on the other hand, is a bit messy and complicated. Unlike his sisters, he feels lost. As a second son, he wasn't groomed for the Marquisate but for the military. Sometimes his military bearing comes out too strong when dealing with his sisters. Griffin can't admit his sisters are grown up sometimes yet is eager to marry them off. I didn't like his methods and strict timeline. It made him seem immature and selfish. I would think as the second son, he would have thought of himself as the heir to Charles until such a time as his older brother married. The story sets the stage for a future romance for Griffin. I think he has met his match in this book and she will keep him from being too tough on the younger girls. I loved the independent young woman Rachael, Alexandra's cousin. She is intelligent and tough. I'm not sure her qualms about cousin marriage are plausible for the period.
Then we have Tris- a brooding, emotionally wounded hero. He is having a tough time settling into his new role. He planned to become a man of business on his uncle's Jamaican plantation. (The question of slavery arises late in the book. It probably wouldn't have been an issue. Jane Austen's family were anti-slavery and yet her father oversaw the management of a young relative's West Indian property). His fears about his problem are honest ones and sound rather scary! I don't blame him for being moody and withdrawn. He flirts well with Alexandra and I like them together. They have good chemistry yet in the second half of the book I found him maddening and annoying. I didn't like how he refused to admit his true feelings. He needs Alexandra to take him in hand and make him see reason.
I especially loved the period recipes included in this book. I recognized some of them. The gingerbread cookie recipe comes from Hannah Glasse and is the basis of Colonial Williamsburg's amazing ginger cakes. See their recipe and baking tips and another recipe here. I also recognized Chocolate Puffs. I've made those and they are delicious! FYI: Powdered sugar in period language doesn't mean confectioner's sugar. It means finely ground white sugar. I am not interested in any of the other recipes but I loved how they all came from period sources but were incorporated into the novels as part of a family history.
E-book freebie
May 20, 2017
Hopefully I didn't pay anymore than $2.99 for this one. Bored out of my gourd and going back looking for something to read and came across this in an anthology about "good guys." Uh, this hero was not a good guy. I'm not even sure why he would be considered a romantic hero either. To make matters worse the plot in this is beyond ridiculous. The ton rejects the hero because they believe he poisoned his uncle to inherit his title. So, just to clarify, an old, sick man passes away peacefully in his sleep and the ton immediately suspects the handsome, intelligent, unmarried heir of murder and rejects him??? WTF????? To compound the ridiculousness here, the hero believes he killed in his uncle while sleepwalking. Throughout the story, the hero manages to perform some rather amazing feats while sleepwalking including crawling into bed and doing the deed - well everything except actual penetration that is - with the heroine. I assume the author felt compelled to preserve our heroine's virginity for some reason.
There is so much more wrong with this story that I can't even begin to itemize them all. Other readers seem to have enjoyed the story but if you expect appealing characters and a plausible and engaging plot line, I suggest you don't waste your time on this mess of a book. Or, if you enjoy reading about a heroine who remains true to her first love while he visits brothels and gets engaged to multiple other women over a 7 year period, this one may also be for you.
There is so much more wrong with this story that I can't even begin to itemize them all. Other readers seem to have enjoyed the story but if you expect appealing characters and a plausible and engaging plot line, I suggest you don't waste your time on this mess of a book. Or, if you enjoy reading about a heroine who remains true to her first love while he visits brothels and gets engaged to multiple other women over a 7 year period, this one may also be for you.
February 19, 2016
I liked the read....although the plot devices were a bit elementary and the love between the main characters underdeveloped. That being said I will not be reading anymore of this series. I began reading The Chase family's stories from the beginning so even though this is generations later and it is practical to kill the grandparents and parents...I didn't like it....when I read a book with a HEA the characters are immortal in mind...and I can sleep peacefully at night knowing nothing will ever happen to them....not in this case :, (....Damn it if I wanted practicality and reality I wouldn't be reading fictions...hence time to say good bye to Lauren Royal....she killed my immortal characters and ruined HEAs for me lol....
January 30, 2017
A single kiss signifies nothing; a single kiss can promise everything. When Lady Alexandra Chase and Lord Tristan Nesbitt admitted to the feelings they had shared, for years toward each other, the kiss that followed seemed so innocent, it felt so right. Although he admitted that their love was a forbidden one, they were both lost in its temptation.
Tristan was lowly born to a second son, upon the unexpected death of his uncle, he was suddenly heir apparent and Lord Hawkridge, with a terrible blemish on his name that can never be cleansed. Unfounded accusations hinting of his hand in the sudden demise of his uncle spread through the ton, making him totally unsuitable for a good marriage. A marriage to Tristan would place a social blight on Alexandra and the whole Chase family.
In this time when unmarried women were always accompanied by chaperones; skin to skin touches was deemed scandalous, and a single chaste kiss practically a proposal of marriage, proper courting was almost an exact science. In a world where women are covered from head to foot, the accidental sight of an unclad ankle or shoulder could send a man’s fantasies into turmoil. This makes all of the openness and liberties we now take for granted, extremely provocative. Social censorships make life very restricted for ladies of proper breeding. Some social obstacles were too large to conquer but occasionally mutual love finds a way.
The long shared attraction and feelings between Tristan Nesbitt and Alexandra Chase leads to a forbidden love, and even though they tried to fight it, the battle was lost before it was even started. They both knew that they were playing with fire and they both longed to be scorched by this illicit flame of passion.
This is the first book in the Regency Chase Family series and brings the reader intimately close to English life in the regency period. The author has a gift of bringing her characters to life. She exposes their strengths and weaknesses, making them real. Solving the mystery of Tristan’s uncle’s death adds a dark side to the story that grabs and holds on to the reader to the very end. I found myself swept away with their attraction, and Lord Griffin Chase’s romantic predicament only added spice to the story. This is sure a tale to entice the most demanding readers.
Tristan was lowly born to a second son, upon the unexpected death of his uncle, he was suddenly heir apparent and Lord Hawkridge, with a terrible blemish on his name that can never be cleansed. Unfounded accusations hinting of his hand in the sudden demise of his uncle spread through the ton, making him totally unsuitable for a good marriage. A marriage to Tristan would place a social blight on Alexandra and the whole Chase family.
In this time when unmarried women were always accompanied by chaperones; skin to skin touches was deemed scandalous, and a single chaste kiss practically a proposal of marriage, proper courting was almost an exact science. In a world where women are covered from head to foot, the accidental sight of an unclad ankle or shoulder could send a man’s fantasies into turmoil. This makes all of the openness and liberties we now take for granted, extremely provocative. Social censorships make life very restricted for ladies of proper breeding. Some social obstacles were too large to conquer but occasionally mutual love finds a way.
The long shared attraction and feelings between Tristan Nesbitt and Alexandra Chase leads to a forbidden love, and even though they tried to fight it, the battle was lost before it was even started. They both knew that they were playing with fire and they both longed to be scorched by this illicit flame of passion.
This is the first book in the Regency Chase Family series and brings the reader intimately close to English life in the regency period. The author has a gift of bringing her characters to life. She exposes their strengths and weaknesses, making them real. Solving the mystery of Tristan’s uncle’s death adds a dark side to the story that grabs and holds on to the reader to the very end. I found myself swept away with their attraction, and Lord Griffin Chase’s romantic predicament only added spice to the story. This is sure a tale to entice the most demanding readers.
January 6, 2014
4.5 stars!
I really enjoyed Alexandra and Tristan's story.
It didn't go as I expected from the the book description. And I while I had an idea of "who dunnit" I didn't know the motivation - nice twist!
I thought both Alexandra and Tristan were very likable. Tristan was a great hero - the poor man has been dragged through the wringer! I can't say I blame him for not wanting to fall in love. Alexandra on the other hand has also had her share of pain. She wants the best for her family and is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for theirs - while it is touching - it was also a bit annoying and made her seem inconsistent about her feelings for Tristan - therefore knocking down a 5 star book to 4 1/2 stars.
Loved the sisters and Griffin - I can't wait to finish the series so I find out what happens with Rachel !!!
I really enjoyed Alexandra and Tristan's story.
It didn't go as I expected from the the book description. And I while I had an idea of "who dunnit" I didn't know the motivation - nice twist!
I thought both Alexandra and Tristan were very likable. Tristan was a great hero - the poor man has been dragged through the wringer! I can't say I blame him for not wanting to fall in love. Alexandra on the other hand has also had her share of pain. She wants the best for her family and is willing to sacrifice her own happiness for theirs - while it is touching - it was also a bit annoying and made her seem inconsistent about her feelings for Tristan - therefore knocking down a 5 star book to 4 1/2 stars.
Loved the sisters and Griffin - I can't wait to finish the series so I find out what happens with Rachel !!!
February 23, 2016
This felt like a lighter read, with some touches of the heavy stuff, but it doesn't drag you down. A good read and super great freebie! I'm going with 3 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed this one. Great characters, good story line that kept moving and a great HEA with the potential beginning for another great book. I would like to see what happens with them. I loved all the personalities and the self-discovery angle, there was an underlying suspense that felt a little dormant...until towards the ending. I knew it! ;) A really good read and one that can be read anytime anywhere. Enjoy
May 3, 2014
The pacing was really off in this book. Good beginning, boring middle, neatly wrapped and predictable ending.
January 1, 2018
Really, really enjoy this series . . .
September 4, 2015
I had not read any of this author's books and, although my main interest for several years has been JAFF, the book description and the free offer led me to "purchase" this book. As there are over 400 reviews and as the majority of them are 5 stars it is clear that this author and this book are both winners. I did note that it is one of a long series on the Chase ancestors and on the other sisters to the main heroine in this tale. The Sample goes into the 7th chapter so you can get a good taste of what this book entails before deciding to read it.
This book has several interesting details: one is the inclusion of recipes now and then at the beginning of chapters in which Alexandra (and at times her sisters) are baking up a batch of traditional family sweets, all of which are “good” for curing an ill or performing magic, i.e., the use of ratafia puffs to get a man to propose. However, the recipes are in such a small font size on my kindle that I could not read them easily so made no copies of those. The relationships, first between the sisters and even the brother to his sisters and then between Tris and Alexandra, were written as very open and warm relationships. When Lady Alexandra confesses her love for Tris, her sisters conspire to put them into compromising situations: all the while denying his reputation will ruin their chances in society if a marriage comes about for any reason. Then there is the “birds and the bees” talk Griffin gives his sister – I personally found this hilarious. And at the same time a bit unrealistic. I doubt any brother in that day and age would do so. If there were no female relatives to help out, a housekeeper would be a resource or even a ladies’ maid. And then the relationship between the main protagonists as they meet again after7 years was much more honest and open given the time lapse and the age difference than I would expect to read in a novel of this genre.
The romance plays out pretty uncomplicated: they have admitted their attraction dating back to when he was a second son with no fortune, off to help his Uncle Harold in Jamaica and she was the young teen-aged sister to his best friend, (also a second son) Griffin. HOWEVER his name has been touched with scandal and even though he now has a title and fortune, the scandal affects his standing in society and his prospects of making any respectable marriage arrangement. But then there is this malady from which he has suffered from childhood. This malady plays a significant part in his relationship to Alexandra from beginning to end. And the knowledge of such also is used to play up the possibility of his guilt for a dastardly deed in the tale.
The book has two parts: one the romance and two the mystery. I liked this story but it was not so tense as to make it into a page turner. For me it was more of a decision that I was going to read it to the end. I was able to figure out a certain person’s sly role in diverting attention before that fact was revealed by the author. I did like this book and would recommend it just as a sweet romance and as part of an ongoing series if you like to get into series.
This book has several interesting details: one is the inclusion of recipes now and then at the beginning of chapters in which Alexandra (and at times her sisters) are baking up a batch of traditional family sweets, all of which are “good” for curing an ill or performing magic, i.e., the use of ratafia puffs to get a man to propose. However, the recipes are in such a small font size on my kindle that I could not read them easily so made no copies of those. The relationships, first between the sisters and even the brother to his sisters and then between Tris and Alexandra, were written as very open and warm relationships. When Lady Alexandra confesses her love for Tris, her sisters conspire to put them into compromising situations: all the while denying his reputation will ruin their chances in society if a marriage comes about for any reason. Then there is the “birds and the bees” talk Griffin gives his sister – I personally found this hilarious. And at the same time a bit unrealistic. I doubt any brother in that day and age would do so. If there were no female relatives to help out, a housekeeper would be a resource or even a ladies’ maid. And then the relationship between the main protagonists as they meet again after7 years was much more honest and open given the time lapse and the age difference than I would expect to read in a novel of this genre.
The romance plays out pretty uncomplicated: they have admitted their attraction dating back to when he was a second son with no fortune, off to help his Uncle Harold in Jamaica and she was the young teen-aged sister to his best friend, (also a second son) Griffin. HOWEVER his name has been touched with scandal and even though he now has a title and fortune, the scandal affects his standing in society and his prospects of making any respectable marriage arrangement. But then there is this malady from which he has suffered from childhood. This malady plays a significant part in his relationship to Alexandra from beginning to end. And the knowledge of such also is used to play up the possibility of his guilt for a dastardly deed in the tale.
The book has two parts: one the romance and two the mystery. I liked this story but it was not so tense as to make it into a page turner. For me it was more of a decision that I was going to read it to the end. I was able to figure out a certain person’s sly role in diverting attention before that fact was revealed by the author. I did like this book and would recommend it just as a sweet romance and as part of an ongoing series if you like to get into series.
November 7, 2014
LOVELY LOVE STORY WITH LIVELY CHARACTERS!!
I loved Lost In Temptations. The H/H Marquess Lord Hawkridge Tristan and the beautiful Lady Alexandra Chase sister of Griffin The Marquess of Cainwood. Alexandra has always been in love with her brothers best friend Tristan. for most of her life. 8 years prior Tristan was just the nephew of the Marquess of Hawkridge. His uncle had made sure he was educated and then sent him to Jamaica to learn to run his plantations there. Tristan has returned to England to find his father death and his uncle on his death bed. When the uncle dies scandal ensues around him. The Ton thinks he killed his uncle for the title and money. After being back for 4 yrs Tristan is asked by his best friend Griffin to come him help with his winery. The only problem I had was Griffin was not the friend he should have been to Tristan, he has been back 4 yrs and now that you need help you ask him to come. Tristan was a great friend and never blamed Griffin and did all he could to help his long time friend.There Tristan and Alexander meet again and quickly resume their feelings for one another. However there are problems because of Tristan's scandal and Tristan has vowed never to marry.
This story is full of lively well written secondary Characters. I can't wait to read their stories. LR did a great job in making the reader feel as if they were present in the Regency period. I just love every character. They were not overly written and dragged out character. Their was a perfect balance just enough of each one to make you want to read more about them. The love story between Tristan and Alexandra was just Lovely. I loved the fact that Alexandra stuck by her man and was so determine to clear his name. Which she does. The villain is easily figured out but that doesn't bother me. Their is enough doubt to keep you wonder who and what really happen to Tristan's uncle. I also like the fact that they had to married about halfway through the story.Giving them a wonderfully written married life perspective and a pretty smoking hot one at that. The story has a humorous side at times. I highly recommend Lost In Temptations.
I loved Lost In Temptations. The H/H Marquess Lord Hawkridge Tristan and the beautiful Lady Alexandra Chase sister of Griffin The Marquess of Cainwood. Alexandra has always been in love with her brothers best friend Tristan. for most of her life. 8 years prior Tristan was just the nephew of the Marquess of Hawkridge. His uncle had made sure he was educated and then sent him to Jamaica to learn to run his plantations there. Tristan has returned to England to find his father death and his uncle on his death bed. When the uncle dies scandal ensues around him. The Ton thinks he killed his uncle for the title and money. After being back for 4 yrs Tristan is asked by his best friend Griffin to come him help with his winery. The only problem I had was Griffin was not the friend he should have been to Tristan, he has been back 4 yrs and now that you need help you ask him to come. Tristan was a great friend and never blamed Griffin and did all he could to help his long time friend.There Tristan and Alexander meet again and quickly resume their feelings for one another. However there are problems because of Tristan's scandal and Tristan has vowed never to marry.
This story is full of lively well written secondary Characters. I can't wait to read their stories. LR did a great job in making the reader feel as if they were present in the Regency period. I just love every character. They were not overly written and dragged out character. Their was a perfect balance just enough of each one to make you want to read more about them. The love story between Tristan and Alexandra was just Lovely. I loved the fact that Alexandra stuck by her man and was so determine to clear his name. Which she does. The villain is easily figured out but that doesn't bother me. Their is enough doubt to keep you wonder who and what really happen to Tristan's uncle. I also like the fact that they had to married about halfway through the story.Giving them a wonderfully written married life perspective and a pretty smoking hot one at that. The story has a humorous side at times. I highly recommend Lost In Temptations.
May 19, 2015
I read a lot of Historical Romances and this book frustrated me. There was no charm, no lightness or real connection between characters and I found the thoughts vs behaviour of most of the characters inconsistent.
Some of the language and much of the plot was cliched and did not hold my attention. By Chapter 5 phrases started to appear such as 'sweeping a renegade lock off his forehead' and 'a languid shiver rippled through her", etc. and I started to lose interest.
Based on societal norms in other Regency novels there were so many 'wtf' moments in places, I eventually had to stop reading, as it became aggravating every few pages.
The elder brother Griffin's choices at times were just silly and inconsistent. Another example is that I can't imagine that one would hold a ball where there are more men than women - I would think this would be considered gauche and 'bad ton', and putting a large affair together by relatively inexperienced people in six weeks is stretching credulity (how fast would mail service be in those days just to send out invitations to a lengthy guest list and then receive all the replies??)
Speaking of credulity, the whole 'oops I was sleeping walking and I don't have any memory of those moments, and we accidentally ended up naked in bed on the verge of consummation' was just too ridiculous.
I'm sorry, I really tried to give it a chance and persevered until half way through, but finally I surrendered and abandoned it as too frustrating to finish.
Some of the language and much of the plot was cliched and did not hold my attention. By Chapter 5 phrases started to appear such as 'sweeping a renegade lock off his forehead' and 'a languid shiver rippled through her", etc. and I started to lose interest.
Based on societal norms in other Regency novels there were so many 'wtf' moments in places, I eventually had to stop reading, as it became aggravating every few pages.
The elder brother Griffin's choices at times were just silly and inconsistent. Another example is that I can't imagine that one would hold a ball where there are more men than women - I would think this would be considered gauche and 'bad ton', and putting a large affair together by relatively inexperienced people in six weeks is stretching credulity (how fast would mail service be in those days just to send out invitations to a lengthy guest list and then receive all the replies??)
Speaking of credulity, the whole 'oops I was sleeping walking and I don't have any memory of those moments, and we accidentally ended up naked in bed on the verge of consummation' was just too ridiculous.
I'm sorry, I really tried to give it a chance and persevered until half way through, but finally I surrendered and abandoned it as too frustrating to finish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2014
A free nook book that sounded interesting. I was quite fond of Alexandra and her siblings. . . .all of them. Their interactions were wonderful to read and I esp. liked her brother Griffin. When he's warning Tris off or rebuking Alexandra he does it in such a familiar and brotherly way that I instantly liked and felt for him.
I don't particularly like when a story sets in motion a love interest for a 2nd couple and was irritated that it happend here with Griffin and Rebecca. However, once started it did tone down a bit and did not become a focus point.
Enjoyed the author's note and loved the idea of the sweets and the recipes at the beginning of each chapter. How fun!
Tris was a great hero but I couldn't completely buy into his sleepwalking issues. I wish our couple got together under different circustances, but once together I fell right in step with them. I rallied around Alexandra's determination and found the resolution to Tris's problem quite realistic and satisfying. Even Penny's actions make sense when all is said and done.
The ending was just lovely and I was pleased we ended at the family home of Alexandra so we could get this family together one last time.
I don't particularly like when a story sets in motion a love interest for a 2nd couple and was irritated that it happend here with Griffin and Rebecca. However, once started it did tone down a bit and did not become a focus point.
Enjoyed the author's note and loved the idea of the sweets and the recipes at the beginning of each chapter. How fun!
Tris was a great hero but I couldn't completely buy into his sleepwalking issues. I wish our couple got together under different circustances, but once together I fell right in step with them. I rallied around Alexandra's determination and found the resolution to Tris's problem quite realistic and satisfying. Even Penny's actions make sense when all is said and done.
The ending was just lovely and I was pleased we ended at the family home of Alexandra so we could get this family together one last time.
February 15, 2015
**This book was free on Amazon**
After a four book stretch of really Sh!tty ebooks, I picked up Lost in temptation. I was surprised once again by my love for historical fiction/regency romance. Alexandra is the eldest of three sisters, after the death of her parents her brother inherits their estate becoming the Marquees. A friend of Alexandra's brother Tris, is surrounded by suspicion and scandal after the mysterious death of his uncle. After his death Tris inherits his estate also becoming Marquees. But there are talks of the death of Tris' uncle. People are pointing fingers at Tris.
Alexandra is in love with Tris. She has been for as long as she's known him. But now, surrounded by a scandal of her and Tris own making, she wonders if she will ever get to really be with Tris. Especially since it could cost the happiness and potential marriages of her sisters. So Alexandra sets out on the path to redemption, not hers but Tris'.
The chemistry between Tris and Alexandra was really believable. And a breath of fresh air after the starting, stopping of so many ebooks. I would recommend this book if you want a good love story.
After a four book stretch of really Sh!tty ebooks, I picked up Lost in temptation. I was surprised once again by my love for historical fiction/regency romance. Alexandra is the eldest of three sisters, after the death of her parents her brother inherits their estate becoming the Marquees. A friend of Alexandra's brother Tris, is surrounded by suspicion and scandal after the mysterious death of his uncle. After his death Tris inherits his estate also becoming Marquees. But there are talks of the death of Tris' uncle. People are pointing fingers at Tris.
Alexandra is in love with Tris. She has been for as long as she's known him. But now, surrounded by a scandal of her and Tris own making, she wonders if she will ever get to really be with Tris. Especially since it could cost the happiness and potential marriages of her sisters. So Alexandra sets out on the path to redemption, not hers but Tris'.
The chemistry between Tris and Alexandra was really believable. And a breath of fresh air after the starting, stopping of so many ebooks. I would recommend this book if you want a good love story.
June 24, 2017
This was a nice book. A bit predictable, but still fun to read. A thing that irritated me where some grammar errors/typo mistakes. Sometimes I felt a word was missing and that because of that the story did not flow very well. For example: 'I am not going leave you, Tris.' (Page 300/386). I think the word 'to' is clearly missing here. But overall it was nice.
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April 3, 2018Some time ago I must have downloaded this book for free-or-cheap from the author's newsletter. I had a touch of insomnia a few nights ago and started to read it... or should I say, re-read it.
I kept thinking that it was awfully predictable. Had I read it before? Was she copying a book I'd read before? Certain features, like the cousin next door and the hydraulic pumps, really seemed too distinctive to be accidental overlap.
Well, it turned out that I had read it before, but apparently it hadn't made enough of an impression for me to be sure of that, 2 1/2 years later, and I didn't remember enough about how it ended to be able to put it down when I checked in here and saw that I'd definitely read it before. On second reading, the conclusion to the murder mystery is ... okay. But really, if I'd known what I was doing I would not have read this again.
I kept thinking that it was awfully predictable. Had I read it before? Was she copying a book I'd read before? Certain features, like the cousin next door and the hydraulic pumps, really seemed too distinctive to be accidental overlap.
Well, it turned out that I had read it before, but apparently it hadn't made enough of an impression for me to be sure of that, 2 1/2 years later, and I didn't remember enough about how it ended to be able to put it down when I checked in here and saw that I'd definitely read it before. On second reading, the conclusion to the murder mystery is ... okay. But really, if I'd known what I was doing I would not have read this again.
November 18, 2013
I really wish everyone who writes Regencies would get together and figure out what the rules really were—and how strictly they were actually applied. I've read books where a couple being caught in a garden, fully clothed but without a chaperone, required marriage, and books where the same thing happens and nobody bats an eye. I've read books where a man suspected of Dark Deeds is sure to be on Society's "A" List, and now we have one where it's just the opposite—just acknowledging the man as a friend spells Social Ruin, not only for the friend but for everyone in the friend's family as well as any pets.
Maybe Regency culture was just that confusing but it's frustrating to me as a reader to have one book treat an issue like it's the end of the world when I've just read another that had the same elements and nobody blinked—the story was about something else.
So here, Tristan Nesbitt, Marquess of Hawkridge, is suspected of murder. Not accused. Not convicted. Not even officially investigated. It's really just gossip. He was way out of the running for any title until his cousins died in a shipwreck. And then his uncle—who was heartbroken and already ill—went to bed one night and woke up dead. This was convenient for Tristan if you realize his father left him with ruinous debt, and now as the Marquess of Midden he can retire said debt. But it was bloody inconvenient if you realize that he's the social equivalent of a muddy dog at a garden party—people scatter when they see him coming for fear he'll get all over them.
Because in this story, anyone who even breathes the air this guy farts in is also an outcast. So Tris (who also has been jilted by every female he ever cared for, starting with his mom) reckons he has no business marrying and sharing his infamy with an innocent female.
Which is also inconvenient, since he's always had a "thang" for Alexandra, the sister of his "friend" Griffin.
Why the quotes, you ask. Well, if Griffin's a friend, life REALLY sucks for Tris. Cuz Griff is more than willing to invite Tris over for a "visit" (translate: he wants Tris to help him fix problems on the estate has no clue how to run). But he's also hosting a ball at his place at the same time, and Tris is emphatically NOT INVITED. Griff knows Tris didn't commit murder, but he's not ready to stand beside his friend. It's explained somewhat, but I'm still put off by Griff's apparent indifference to the injustice to a supposed friend. Seriously, was loyalty, even misplaced, such a horrible thing that it would turn him and his sisters into wet dogs too? Well, according to this book, yes.
I almost cheered aloud when Alexandra (our heroine) calls Griff on this. But immediately after she does so, this society b*tch says something horrible about Tris—publicly, in his presence—and after Tris is all but driven from the room, Alexandra is all, "Sure, I'll dance with your ugly mommy's boy son." Because God forbid Alexandra be impolite to such a rude, unkind twit. So I wasn't all that impressed with Alexandra's loyalty—towards the man she supposedly loves, mind you—either.
But this was only the early part of the book. Inevitably the H/h end up together (because apparently there are some ruins more ruinous than hanging out with homicide suspects), and from there it's all about the murder mystery. Alex decides to solve the crime in order to get the stink off her family (apparently the fact that she married a peer who was never charged with any crime is more likely to cast slurs on the family name than the fact that she obviously spent the night with the guy before they were married—that bell she can't unring since it's true).
To complicate her plans to prove her husband's innocence, it turns out he sleepwalks and doesn't remember the stuff he does…
Might he really have done the deed? Alexandra doesn't think so, and she's determined to clear her man's name. Tristan doesn't want her to do this—in fact they noisily fight about it (he's terrified that she'll find out something he doesn't want to know). And stuff keeps happening to her—stuff that he could have done while sleepwalking…
Royal does a good job setting up possible suspects. I saw some of it coming, but the "why" didn't make sense until the end (I'm not sure she really laid the clues for that). In any event the denouement was at least a little bit surprising, and I love a mystery that isn't obvious.
Despite the fact that I wasn't thrilled with the heroine or her brother early in the book, and despite the fact that I questioned the historical accuracy of one of the central plot elements, there were some good things, too. The central characters were complex, and other than the whole "everybody who comes within spitting distance of this guy is socially ruined," the book has a lot of other good historical details—the kind an author would actually have to READ OLD BOOKS to know. So I'll give this 4 stars.
February 27, 2022
A good read but SO similar to Bridgerton. Eldest sister falls in love with her brother’s best friend. Forced to marry due to scandal. Spends the rest of the novel proving her love and making him realize they’re perfect for one another.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
October 8, 2018DNF@ 14%
November 18, 2019
This book felt like 2 stories smashed together. The first half is establishing repeatedly that he won't and she can't want him to court her; the second is solving the murder to make it okay that they had to get married. I get that they've known each other for years, but not for the past 3 years; I still would've liked to have seen a real and adult relationship develop instead of avoidance the entire book.
Sex: kisses
Language: 0 F words, 3 Lord's name in vain, 13 S words
Violence: fist fight, near natural gas poisoning, near anaphylaxis shock, gunshot, assault
HEA or Cliffhanger: HEA
Do I need to read books before this one: no
Would I read more of the series: yes; I've already read #2 and liked it
----SPOILERS----
Alexandra 14yo sketches Tristan 20yo. He's school mates with Griffin, her 2nd oldest brother. He's going to Jamaica to learn business for his uncle, who paid for his education. Griffin's going into the army. Tris says Have a happy life.
3yl. Her father died during her first Season, Mom and eldest brother following shortly thereafter. She missed this Season, too, mourning. Lord Shelton is coming for tea, hopefully to propose.
Tristan visits Griffin. Two years ago, he’d been unexpectedly called back from Jamaica to become the next Marquess of Hawkridge. Griffin is now Marquess of Cainewood. Tristan thinks Griffin wants him to marry a sister; Griffin wants his vineyard advice.
Alexandra goes to tea. Shelton doesn't compare favorably to Tristan. She no longer wants Shelton to propose. She plays ill. Later, she puts on the cameo Tristan sent her from Jamaica, tells her sisters he's hers.
Tristan's attracted to Alexandra, but Griffin had said Perish the thought about him being a suitor. Dinner, he's very aware of her, notices the cameo. But he can't lose his only friend, Griffin. Juliana suggests a walk outside to cool down. He agrees; she says Alexandra would be glad to accompany you. Tristan tells her he became heir because his uncle's wife and sons all died at sea. He'd always noticed her because she spoke of interesting things, deep things. He tries to let her down because of Griffin, she won't let even the Prince get in their way. She tucks away a lock of his hair. He kisses her, her 1st kiss. “I cannot marry you. There are circumstances…There’s no chance I will ever take you for my wife.”
Alexandra learns Tristan was accused of murdering his uncle, though no proof. Scandal so big he's not claimed political seat, abandoned friends to save them. She accepts she can't marry him, for her sisters's sakes. They'll host a ball in 6 weeks with 2:1 men:women. The girls have other ideas. Corinna has eidetic memory.
Griffin's vines need irrigation to get roots deep and established. It'll take a week for Tristan to build and install pump and pipes.
The girls connive to get Alexandra in the library with Tristan. He's polite. Griffin's upset they were together. 4dl, girls choose fabrics, Tristan's leaving because irrigation is set. The sisters coerce a picnic by the vineyard. Alexandra ignores him; he's determined to keep her friendship. He talks to her about it. She agrees. Do you think there's only 1 right person to marry? My father did, and Tristan tells how Mom and Susan left, then died, and Dad turned into drunk gambler. When he leaves, I wish you a happy life.
1ml, Juliana teaches the other 2 The Look. Tristan returns because Griffin has a water problem. The irrigation is flooding Rachael Chase's (distant cousin) crops. Griffin and Rachael deny attraction to each other. Rachael agrees Tristan's not for marrying. Rachael won't marry a cousin because her malformed cousin, Edmund, was the product of first cousins. They need to learn to waltz. Tristan teaches, holding Corinna. Alexander with the butler is jealous. When Alexandra and Tristan are paired, they dance after the others stop humming, upsetting Griffin.
The night before Tristan's to leave, she hears noise under her room. Thinking it's her sisters, she goes down to find Tristan stealing sweets. He kisses her passionately, she says We can't. He goes to his room without a backward glance.
At breakfast, she teases him. He doesn't remember, must be sleepwalking again. It's caused by emotional stress. He announces he won't be going home today because something or someone bent a shank on the pump.
The girls confess during final fittings to ruining the pump. Griffin doesn't like how revealing the dresses are. Tristan thinks they're all lovely, but Alexandra: "You’d be beautiful in a shapeless burlap bag. And you’ll be beautiful when you’re a hundred years old, because your beauty comes from inside." He apologizes for how he treated her (while dancing), she's confused thinking about last night. “What do you mean, what have I been talking about? The dance lesson, of course. I held you too close, and that precipitated our latest—” “What about last night?” “What about last night?” “We kissed again last night. Am I expected to forget about that, too? Or shall I assume kissing is part of your definition of friendship?” He visibly paled, his jaw going slack. “Are you sure?” “What do you mean, am I sure? How could I forget such a thing?” “I meant…I meant, are you sure you wish that to be part of the definition? Because frankly, I don’t think it should be. I don’t think I could handle that. I don’t think I could stop with kissing.”
The ball is a success. No wallflowers. None of the men captivate her mind. Rachael and her sisters arrive late. Rachael looks so lovely, Corinna asks to paint her. Tristan comes! But the guests are rude, so he leaves. Alexandra thinks she may have to settle for second best. After dinner, Juliana makes Rachael and Griffin dance. The girls take Alexandra up to where the band usually sits; Tristan is there. He came to show her marrying him would be bad. “What I saw wasn’t real life. I don’t need those people. I need you, Tris.” “You don’t.” “I do. But I cannot ruin my family’s good name.” While she understood that he didn’t want to be responsible for exposing his wife to society’s derision, she also knew he didn’t want to open himself up for more hurt. She proposes looking for the real killer. “The matter is closed. No one murdered my uncle. Forget it. Dance with me instead.” It's torture for them both. She takes off her and his gloves so she can touch him like she wanted to sketching him years ago. They accidentally knock a tray of food into the ballroom. She tells Tristan to run, she cleans it up, a snobbish mama goes to get her gloves for her. Both sets are gone. Up here with your lover? You're ruined. Luckily my son is willing… Griffin interrupts. She wasn't here with a man. “Let me put this another way, Lady St. Quentin. Should you spread the falsehood that my sister was seen with a man, neither you nor your son will ever receive another invitation to Cainewood…or anywhere else south of London. Do I make myself clear?” Marquess beats baronet, so she understands. Rachael and Alexandra agree Griffin was magnificent.
She dreams Tristan is kissing her. With tongue, lying on her. She pulls him closer. Realizes it's not a dream. He wakes up, too. We shall have to marry. ”I’d love nothing more. But we cannot. Nothing has changed. My sisters—” “Everything has changed. You could even now be carrying my child!” “Carrying your child? I might be a bit hazy on the details, but I’ve been given to understand it takes more than kissing to make a child.” “What? You mean to say we did naught but kiss?” He confesses sleepwalking. She's curious, thought it was only in books. She begs him to stay to tell her about it, promises she won't attack. He tells her. He never remembers. He wonders if he did poison his uncle. “You don’t really believe that.” His chest suddenly felt tight. Her unquestioning belief in him was…a gift. The most gorgeous surprise. A sort of acceptance he’d never experienced or expected. She falls asleep in his arms.
At breakfast, that mama says she saw Tristan leave his bedroom, go upstairs. Everyone, including guests, goes to her room. She's ruined. Griffin: You still sleepwalking? Yes, I'll leave. “You stayed the night, you’ll stay now. You’ll marry my sister. By special license. Tomorrow.” The mama says Alexandra can't marry a murderer, offers her son (for her dowry), Alexandra shakes her head. Shelton offers. No, and Tristan is not a murderer. Griffin doesn't know what to do. Rachael: “Will you allow that to influence your decision? That isn’t the Griffin I remember. The one I imagined riding into battle with his principles held before him like a shield.” Alexandra and Tristan will marry tomorrow. Alexandra's going to find the murderer.
Tristan got the license and stopped at Hawkridge to get the family heirloom ring. He goes to the pump, lets Griffin hit him 3x, then the fight starts. Griffin gets back at 2am, finds Alexandra baking because Chase women always bring sweets, and she's moving tomorrow. She asks for the sex talk because she isn't ruined.
The only witnesses at the wedding are Chase siblings and cousins. Driving to Hawkridge, she says I love you. He reassures her the staff will love her. “They won’t be able to help themselves.” The biscuits and her learning each name goes a long way. His valet is Jamaican. To the cook: “I hope you won’t mind me invading your kitchen now and again. I do adore making sweets.” Mrs. Pawley’s merry blue eyes looked surprised, but she quickly hid that with a smile. “I do adore eating sweets, my lady.” “Then we should get along famously.” Tristan shows her gas lighting he's installing in the house, and soon the entire village. Peggy, the housemaid who asked to be Alexandra's lady's maid, pushes back when Tristan said Alexandra will sleep in his quarters; she's been here since a child, so Tristan didn't put her out, though he doesn't like her. They're in his room kissing, Peggy knocks and walks. At dinner, he tells her he freed all the slaves: There are more important things than property values and income. He shows her more of the house, then they go to bed.
Breakfast, he's going on rounds, invites her. She thinks he'd rather not be hampered, so she'll stay to learn and investigate. Don't. There are others to think of. Maybe you should've accepted another marriage offer. He leaves with perfunctory kiss. So she bakes. Mrs Pawley gossips while helping her. Staff think uncle died of broken heart. She interviews all. Peggy points at Victor. Victor is extremely loyal to Tristan; too loyal?
Tristan gets home at 1am, reads mail. Victor tells him Alexandra interviewed everyone. He's angry, stomps to bed to fight with her. She's waiting for him. He starts the fight. Finishes it with making love.
He wakes in the study. He decides to let Alexandra sleep, but hours later checks on her. The gas lamp wasn't lit but was open. It has to be put out manually because of glass chimney. He wonders if he did it. Tristan goes to foundry, Alexandra preparing to visit village with cookies, feels defeated. Pawley remembers a maid who was here then, but left. Leticia, former fiancée of Tristan's, is rude, lets Peggy in with her "news" for Beth, shuts door on Alexandra. Beth doesn't know anything. Peggy volunteers to ask the staff about departed staff so Alexandra and Tristan don't fight. While she naps, Tristan finds out from Victor. She falls asleep during dinner because you much wine. At breakfast, he saves her from strawberry jam, thinks he switched at night. She questions all kitchen staff, no one did it. He believes she'll leave him when the darkness of his reputation and his attacks on her get to her. She has lunch in the garden. Mrs Oliver brings her letters from siblings and cousins; sisters got uninvited to a ball, so cousins sent regrets to host in solidarity. Peggy brings lunch and the list of former servants. Alexandra wants to see some today, riding faster than carriage. Peggy can't ride, is peeved she's not going.
Tristan comes home with a box. He finally lets her open it after dinner. He'd gone shopping. A sterling silver basket to carry her treats when she goes visiting, a leather bound book for her family recipes, alluring nightgowns. “Why…when you have so much to do, why would you spend your day doing this for me?” Because he’d do whatever he could to make her happy, but he couldn’t say the words she needed to hear. Because he’d do anything to make her stay, but his own deficiencies were the reason she should go. Because some foolish part of him was hoping against hope that a silly little trinket and one nice evening would be enough to make up for everything else.
After making love, he leaves to be locked into another bedroom. He’d convinced himself he was dangerous, and unless she proved otherwise, he would stay convinced. But he didn’t want her to prove otherwise.
The next day, a piano arrives for her. She tells Tristan thank you, he tells her he walked again last night. You couldn't have; it's a second storey room. Before she rides to question the last servant, the butler, Mrs Oliver, and Vincent tell her the culprit may be trying to kill her to keep her from finding out. She rides. This servant truly invested in helping, refers her to the uncle's nurse maid. She gallops to see Maude, the saddle breaks. Tristan begs her to stop investigating, she won't. She feels she "turned her fairytale romance into an ugly cycle of hurt, anger, and guilt. She’d managed to destroy her marriage inside of a week. It had to be some sort of record." When Tristan finally comes up, he goes to the other room, she says she won't do the last interview, he's still cold. So she bakes. With Vincent. And Pawley, 2 kitchen maids, 3 housemaids, and 2 footmen. They all have a blast.
She spends the next day in bed, hung over and sore from fall. At dinner, it's awkward until he says he'll take her to see Maude. No one knows she's going to Maude, so they say they're going on a honeymoon picnic. Except she tells Peggy as they're leaving, but covers by saying she's going tomorrow. Tristan's uneasy at Maude's. Maude: I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was a mistake, I swear it.” “Of course it was a mistake, but that doesn’t make me any less guilty. Whether intentional or not, I’m still responsible for his death.” No, Maude had overdosed him on laudanum. Tristan takes Alexandra home, then goes to get sheriff.
Alexandra naps, wakes to Peggy with a gun. Protecting her mom, Maude. Alexandra makes her shoot the ceiling, then Maude tries to hit her with gun. Everyone's trying to get in the locked door. Alexandra hits her with the silver basket, then unlocks the door before Peggy attacks her again. The mastiff comes in, knocks Peggy over, lies on her. Tristan and Maude arrive, Peggy confesses all the other accidents were to get Alexandra to go home. Tristan says I love you, leaves a fainted Maude on the bed, Peggy under Rex, takes Alexandra to the other bedroom for kissing and talking. ”I couldn’t admit [I love you] before. Not even to myself. I was too afraid of losing you. I thought I would lose you when you chose to leave, but instead I almost lost you when Peg—” More kissing, and probably more.
2wl, they picnic at Griffin's house again. Griffin's upset she didn't come home when all this was happening. Hawkridge is my home now. She takes him for a walk to the vineyard. Stop worrying your sisters are going to die. Griffin goes to Rachael, who's wandering the vineyard. I want to be left alone, then she sobs on him. She found a letter from her mom to her dad; she's not a Chase, Mom was a pregnant widow. She looks pretty, he feels panicked, more so than at any time he'd been in the battlefield. He has two more sisters to marry off, an estate that came with entirely too much responsibility, and now a cousin who wasn’t his cousin.
Sex: kisses
Language: 0 F words, 3 Lord's name in vain, 13 S words
Violence: fist fight, near natural gas poisoning, near anaphylaxis shock, gunshot, assault
HEA or Cliffhanger: HEA
Do I need to read books before this one: no
Would I read more of the series: yes; I've already read #2 and liked it
----SPOILERS----
Alexandra 14yo sketches Tristan 20yo. He's school mates with Griffin, her 2nd oldest brother. He's going to Jamaica to learn business for his uncle, who paid for his education. Griffin's going into the army. Tris says Have a happy life.
3yl. Her father died during her first Season, Mom and eldest brother following shortly thereafter. She missed this Season, too, mourning. Lord Shelton is coming for tea, hopefully to propose.
Tristan visits Griffin. Two years ago, he’d been unexpectedly called back from Jamaica to become the next Marquess of Hawkridge. Griffin is now Marquess of Cainewood. Tristan thinks Griffin wants him to marry a sister; Griffin wants his vineyard advice.
Alexandra goes to tea. Shelton doesn't compare favorably to Tristan. She no longer wants Shelton to propose. She plays ill. Later, she puts on the cameo Tristan sent her from Jamaica, tells her sisters he's hers.
Tristan's attracted to Alexandra, but Griffin had said Perish the thought about him being a suitor. Dinner, he's very aware of her, notices the cameo. But he can't lose his only friend, Griffin. Juliana suggests a walk outside to cool down. He agrees; she says Alexandra would be glad to accompany you. Tristan tells her he became heir because his uncle's wife and sons all died at sea. He'd always noticed her because she spoke of interesting things, deep things. He tries to let her down because of Griffin, she won't let even the Prince get in their way. She tucks away a lock of his hair. He kisses her, her 1st kiss. “I cannot marry you. There are circumstances…There’s no chance I will ever take you for my wife.”
Alexandra learns Tristan was accused of murdering his uncle, though no proof. Scandal so big he's not claimed political seat, abandoned friends to save them. She accepts she can't marry him, for her sisters's sakes. They'll host a ball in 6 weeks with 2:1 men:women. The girls have other ideas. Corinna has eidetic memory.
Griffin's vines need irrigation to get roots deep and established. It'll take a week for Tristan to build and install pump and pipes.
The girls connive to get Alexandra in the library with Tristan. He's polite. Griffin's upset they were together. 4dl, girls choose fabrics, Tristan's leaving because irrigation is set. The sisters coerce a picnic by the vineyard. Alexandra ignores him; he's determined to keep her friendship. He talks to her about it. She agrees. Do you think there's only 1 right person to marry? My father did, and Tristan tells how Mom and Susan left, then died, and Dad turned into drunk gambler. When he leaves, I wish you a happy life.
1ml, Juliana teaches the other 2 The Look. Tristan returns because Griffin has a water problem. The irrigation is flooding Rachael Chase's (distant cousin) crops. Griffin and Rachael deny attraction to each other. Rachael agrees Tristan's not for marrying. Rachael won't marry a cousin because her malformed cousin, Edmund, was the product of first cousins. They need to learn to waltz. Tristan teaches, holding Corinna. Alexander with the butler is jealous. When Alexandra and Tristan are paired, they dance after the others stop humming, upsetting Griffin.
The night before Tristan's to leave, she hears noise under her room. Thinking it's her sisters, she goes down to find Tristan stealing sweets. He kisses her passionately, she says We can't. He goes to his room without a backward glance.
At breakfast, she teases him. He doesn't remember, must be sleepwalking again. It's caused by emotional stress. He announces he won't be going home today because something or someone bent a shank on the pump.
The girls confess during final fittings to ruining the pump. Griffin doesn't like how revealing the dresses are. Tristan thinks they're all lovely, but Alexandra: "You’d be beautiful in a shapeless burlap bag. And you’ll be beautiful when you’re a hundred years old, because your beauty comes from inside." He apologizes for how he treated her (while dancing), she's confused thinking about last night. “What do you mean, what have I been talking about? The dance lesson, of course. I held you too close, and that precipitated our latest—” “What about last night?” “What about last night?” “We kissed again last night. Am I expected to forget about that, too? Or shall I assume kissing is part of your definition of friendship?” He visibly paled, his jaw going slack. “Are you sure?” “What do you mean, am I sure? How could I forget such a thing?” “I meant…I meant, are you sure you wish that to be part of the definition? Because frankly, I don’t think it should be. I don’t think I could handle that. I don’t think I could stop with kissing.”
The ball is a success. No wallflowers. None of the men captivate her mind. Rachael and her sisters arrive late. Rachael looks so lovely, Corinna asks to paint her. Tristan comes! But the guests are rude, so he leaves. Alexandra thinks she may have to settle for second best. After dinner, Juliana makes Rachael and Griffin dance. The girls take Alexandra up to where the band usually sits; Tristan is there. He came to show her marrying him would be bad. “What I saw wasn’t real life. I don’t need those people. I need you, Tris.” “You don’t.” “I do. But I cannot ruin my family’s good name.” While she understood that he didn’t want to be responsible for exposing his wife to society’s derision, she also knew he didn’t want to open himself up for more hurt. She proposes looking for the real killer. “The matter is closed. No one murdered my uncle. Forget it. Dance with me instead.” It's torture for them both. She takes off her and his gloves so she can touch him like she wanted to sketching him years ago. They accidentally knock a tray of food into the ballroom. She tells Tristan to run, she cleans it up, a snobbish mama goes to get her gloves for her. Both sets are gone. Up here with your lover? You're ruined. Luckily my son is willing… Griffin interrupts. She wasn't here with a man. “Let me put this another way, Lady St. Quentin. Should you spread the falsehood that my sister was seen with a man, neither you nor your son will ever receive another invitation to Cainewood…or anywhere else south of London. Do I make myself clear?” Marquess beats baronet, so she understands. Rachael and Alexandra agree Griffin was magnificent.
She dreams Tristan is kissing her. With tongue, lying on her. She pulls him closer. Realizes it's not a dream. He wakes up, too. We shall have to marry. ”I’d love nothing more. But we cannot. Nothing has changed. My sisters—” “Everything has changed. You could even now be carrying my child!” “Carrying your child? I might be a bit hazy on the details, but I’ve been given to understand it takes more than kissing to make a child.” “What? You mean to say we did naught but kiss?” He confesses sleepwalking. She's curious, thought it was only in books. She begs him to stay to tell her about it, promises she won't attack. He tells her. He never remembers. He wonders if he did poison his uncle. “You don’t really believe that.” His chest suddenly felt tight. Her unquestioning belief in him was…a gift. The most gorgeous surprise. A sort of acceptance he’d never experienced or expected. She falls asleep in his arms.
At breakfast, that mama says she saw Tristan leave his bedroom, go upstairs. Everyone, including guests, goes to her room. She's ruined. Griffin: You still sleepwalking? Yes, I'll leave. “You stayed the night, you’ll stay now. You’ll marry my sister. By special license. Tomorrow.” The mama says Alexandra can't marry a murderer, offers her son (for her dowry), Alexandra shakes her head. Shelton offers. No, and Tristan is not a murderer. Griffin doesn't know what to do. Rachael: “Will you allow that to influence your decision? That isn’t the Griffin I remember. The one I imagined riding into battle with his principles held before him like a shield.” Alexandra and Tristan will marry tomorrow. Alexandra's going to find the murderer.
Tristan got the license and stopped at Hawkridge to get the family heirloom ring. He goes to the pump, lets Griffin hit him 3x, then the fight starts. Griffin gets back at 2am, finds Alexandra baking because Chase women always bring sweets, and she's moving tomorrow. She asks for the sex talk because she isn't ruined.
The only witnesses at the wedding are Chase siblings and cousins. Driving to Hawkridge, she says I love you. He reassures her the staff will love her. “They won’t be able to help themselves.” The biscuits and her learning each name goes a long way. His valet is Jamaican. To the cook: “I hope you won’t mind me invading your kitchen now and again. I do adore making sweets.” Mrs. Pawley’s merry blue eyes looked surprised, but she quickly hid that with a smile. “I do adore eating sweets, my lady.” “Then we should get along famously.” Tristan shows her gas lighting he's installing in the house, and soon the entire village. Peggy, the housemaid who asked to be Alexandra's lady's maid, pushes back when Tristan said Alexandra will sleep in his quarters; she's been here since a child, so Tristan didn't put her out, though he doesn't like her. They're in his room kissing, Peggy knocks and walks. At dinner, he tells her he freed all the slaves: There are more important things than property values and income. He shows her more of the house, then they go to bed.
Breakfast, he's going on rounds, invites her. She thinks he'd rather not be hampered, so she'll stay to learn and investigate. Don't. There are others to think of. Maybe you should've accepted another marriage offer. He leaves with perfunctory kiss. So she bakes. Mrs Pawley gossips while helping her. Staff think uncle died of broken heart. She interviews all. Peggy points at Victor. Victor is extremely loyal to Tristan; too loyal?
Tristan gets home at 1am, reads mail. Victor tells him Alexandra interviewed everyone. He's angry, stomps to bed to fight with her. She's waiting for him. He starts the fight. Finishes it with making love.
He wakes in the study. He decides to let Alexandra sleep, but hours later checks on her. The gas lamp wasn't lit but was open. It has to be put out manually because of glass chimney. He wonders if he did it. Tristan goes to foundry, Alexandra preparing to visit village with cookies, feels defeated. Pawley remembers a maid who was here then, but left. Leticia, former fiancée of Tristan's, is rude, lets Peggy in with her "news" for Beth, shuts door on Alexandra. Beth doesn't know anything. Peggy volunteers to ask the staff about departed staff so Alexandra and Tristan don't fight. While she naps, Tristan finds out from Victor. She falls asleep during dinner because you much wine. At breakfast, he saves her from strawberry jam, thinks he switched at night. She questions all kitchen staff, no one did it. He believes she'll leave him when the darkness of his reputation and his attacks on her get to her. She has lunch in the garden. Mrs Oliver brings her letters from siblings and cousins; sisters got uninvited to a ball, so cousins sent regrets to host in solidarity. Peggy brings lunch and the list of former servants. Alexandra wants to see some today, riding faster than carriage. Peggy can't ride, is peeved she's not going.
Tristan comes home with a box. He finally lets her open it after dinner. He'd gone shopping. A sterling silver basket to carry her treats when she goes visiting, a leather bound book for her family recipes, alluring nightgowns. “Why…when you have so much to do, why would you spend your day doing this for me?” Because he’d do whatever he could to make her happy, but he couldn’t say the words she needed to hear. Because he’d do anything to make her stay, but his own deficiencies were the reason she should go. Because some foolish part of him was hoping against hope that a silly little trinket and one nice evening would be enough to make up for everything else.
After making love, he leaves to be locked into another bedroom. He’d convinced himself he was dangerous, and unless she proved otherwise, he would stay convinced. But he didn’t want her to prove otherwise.
The next day, a piano arrives for her. She tells Tristan thank you, he tells her he walked again last night. You couldn't have; it's a second storey room. Before she rides to question the last servant, the butler, Mrs Oliver, and Vincent tell her the culprit may be trying to kill her to keep her from finding out. She rides. This servant truly invested in helping, refers her to the uncle's nurse maid. She gallops to see Maude, the saddle breaks. Tristan begs her to stop investigating, she won't. She feels she "turned her fairytale romance into an ugly cycle of hurt, anger, and guilt. She’d managed to destroy her marriage inside of a week. It had to be some sort of record." When Tristan finally comes up, he goes to the other room, she says she won't do the last interview, he's still cold. So she bakes. With Vincent. And Pawley, 2 kitchen maids, 3 housemaids, and 2 footmen. They all have a blast.
She spends the next day in bed, hung over and sore from fall. At dinner, it's awkward until he says he'll take her to see Maude. No one knows she's going to Maude, so they say they're going on a honeymoon picnic. Except she tells Peggy as they're leaving, but covers by saying she's going tomorrow. Tristan's uneasy at Maude's. Maude: I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. It was a mistake, I swear it.” “Of course it was a mistake, but that doesn’t make me any less guilty. Whether intentional or not, I’m still responsible for his death.” No, Maude had overdosed him on laudanum. Tristan takes Alexandra home, then goes to get sheriff.
Alexandra naps, wakes to Peggy with a gun. Protecting her mom, Maude. Alexandra makes her shoot the ceiling, then Maude tries to hit her with gun. Everyone's trying to get in the locked door. Alexandra hits her with the silver basket, then unlocks the door before Peggy attacks her again. The mastiff comes in, knocks Peggy over, lies on her. Tristan and Maude arrive, Peggy confesses all the other accidents were to get Alexandra to go home. Tristan says I love you, leaves a fainted Maude on the bed, Peggy under Rex, takes Alexandra to the other bedroom for kissing and talking. ”I couldn’t admit [I love you] before. Not even to myself. I was too afraid of losing you. I thought I would lose you when you chose to leave, but instead I almost lost you when Peg—” More kissing, and probably more.
2wl, they picnic at Griffin's house again. Griffin's upset she didn't come home when all this was happening. Hawkridge is my home now. She takes him for a walk to the vineyard. Stop worrying your sisters are going to die. Griffin goes to Rachael, who's wandering the vineyard. I want to be left alone, then she sobs on him. She found a letter from her mom to her dad; she's not a Chase, Mom was a pregnant widow. She looks pretty, he feels panicked, more so than at any time he'd been in the battlefield. He has two more sisters to marry off, an estate that came with entirely too much responsibility, and now a cousin who wasn’t his cousin.
July 18, 2016
I had never had the pleasure of reading anything from this mother, and daughter. Evidently the mother has written some very grown up books over the years, and they decided to put their heads together for some clean romance. Clean in this sense does not mean no passion. There was plenty of that, just no graphic details. Alexandria has always had a crush on her brothers Griffen' s friend Tristen but he was six years her senior, and not titled. She has two fun, and adorably conniving sisters, and an exasperated brother. Her mother father, and oldest brother Charles all passing before their time. Struggling with problems of the estate Griffin sends for Tristen, who has now become titled, after the death of his uncle. The moment that Alexandria sees Tristen, no other man will do, but it seems neither will Tristen. I adored this story. I began it after midnight , and picked it back up today to finish it. Alexandria had always been the steady daughter, well versed in all things her rank should hold. This begins to alter after Tristen returns. He being all things she admired, and adores. fights for them to be together. I will not ruin it for you, but a good portion of the book is also a murder mystery. It was well plotted out, and I guessed partly right. The story is so delightful, and funny, and yet has adventure, and drama as well. You feel sympathy for some of the characters and annoyed at others. I loved the family dynamics, and both of the staffs. I also loved some of the traditions passed from mother, to daughter, at least to Alexandria. The Epilogue was a nice touch, but it leaves you wanting more. Good thing I have the next book in the series. The faith part is just that, her believing in God's plan for all their lives, and reminding us he is with us in times of trouble, and peace. It was subtle, and added a nice touch.
January 8, 2017
Alexandra's brother wants her to properly marry well for her sake as well as for her younger sisters. However, Tristan, her long-time childhood friend, re-enters the picture. He is everything a young regency lady would want in a marriage: handsome, rich, and charismatic. However, rumors swirl around him that he murdered his late uncle in order to gain an inheritance. To polite society and the ton, he is poison but the attraction between him and Alexandra is undeniable. He also has an embarrassing and dangerous habit of sleep-walking and as a guest in Alexandra's household, accidently compromises her. So, half way through the book they are married and this reviewer began to wonder what could possibly happen in the second half. Well, lots! In order to clear Tristan's name and declare his innocence, Alexandra begins to investigate Tristan's late uncle's death. The mystery deepens along with Tristan's wild escapades of sleep-walking. God forbid, did Tristan innocently murder his uncle during a sleep-walking episode? This is a totally engrossing and entertaining read moving from marriage, to murder, to sleuthing to a final and totally unexpected and harrowing climax. This is a wholesome and sweet romantic read for those who want to be spared the lurid details.
July 31, 2015
What can I say? I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!! The story is absolutely wonderful from the first chapter to the every last.
From the very beginning both the hero and heroine had a love a respect for each other that is so wonderful and refreshing. They want desperately to be together but they cannot because of a dreadful scandal.
The way in the which the author brings to the two lovebirds together despite the horrible scandal is inventive and ties wonderfully into the mystery behind the hero's scandal.
I laughed and smiled throughout the entire story. The incorporation of the "sweets" that were baked to suit different needs was ingenious. And I loved all of the references to how a proper young lady should act according to a book the sister were reading by "A Lady of Distinction" yet the three sisters continuously failed to act that way.
Tristan is a wonderful tortured hero with a huge heart and so loveable. Alexdranda is sweet and charming and loyal. I was rooting for both of them from the very start and I completely enjoyed their entire journey.
I highly recommend this book. You will love very minute of it. I'm certain this is a book I will re-read in the future.
From the very beginning both the hero and heroine had a love a respect for each other that is so wonderful and refreshing. They want desperately to be together but they cannot because of a dreadful scandal.
The way in the which the author brings to the two lovebirds together despite the horrible scandal is inventive and ties wonderfully into the mystery behind the hero's scandal.
I laughed and smiled throughout the entire story. The incorporation of the "sweets" that were baked to suit different needs was ingenious. And I loved all of the references to how a proper young lady should act according to a book the sister were reading by "A Lady of Distinction" yet the three sisters continuously failed to act that way.
Tristan is a wonderful tortured hero with a huge heart and so loveable. Alexdranda is sweet and charming and loyal. I was rooting for both of them from the very start and I completely enjoyed their entire journey.
I highly recommend this book. You will love very minute of it. I'm certain this is a book I will re-read in the future.
May 21, 2016
Well written regency romance without the blushes!
I really enjoyed "Alexandra". I found the story line original, the characters well rounded and I suspected the "perpetrator" behind the heroine's mishaps but not the motive, leaving the resolution of the mystery a surprise. The pace was perfect and the plot held my attention. I read the story in one sitting, and was grateful for the absence of graphic sexual scenes, that would have added nothing worthwhile and would have spoiled the book for me. Thank you Lauren and Devon for revising the original to make it palatable for younger readers and those who prefer "sweet" to "spicy" romances. I hope more authors follow your lead. I'm pretty sure you will find a significant group of women who feel as I do and don't want novels in my home I'd be ashamed to be caught reading, or that my grandchildren couldn't read. Good stories don't need x-rated scenes to sell!
I really enjoyed "Alexandra". I found the story line original, the characters well rounded and I suspected the "perpetrator" behind the heroine's mishaps but not the motive, leaving the resolution of the mystery a surprise. The pace was perfect and the plot held my attention. I read the story in one sitting, and was grateful for the absence of graphic sexual scenes, that would have added nothing worthwhile and would have spoiled the book for me. Thank you Lauren and Devon for revising the original to make it palatable for younger readers and those who prefer "sweet" to "spicy" romances. I hope more authors follow your lead. I'm pretty sure you will find a significant group of women who feel as I do and don't want novels in my home I'd be ashamed to be caught reading, or that my grandchildren couldn't read. Good stories don't need x-rated scenes to sell!
December 31, 2015
I read. I skip. I read. I skip.
I don't even know if this should be in the "read" shelf. xD Oh well.
What bothers me is how coincidental the events are. Really? They all just died in sequence. Very very convenient. I guess I should have expected that if one reads romance genre books, so why then did I even read this in the first place? It's your fault BookBub, for notifying me. It's your fault too Amazon. Why'd you have to make this free? xD
Overall though, there's still a plot. The marquess was killed, wasn't he? So whodunit? That's actually the part that enticed me to read this book. But... really now, why make the connection so obvious? Again, why am I expecting too much logic and reasoning here anyway? It's not like this is mainly a detective/mystery novel... so I might as well give props for the author for trying to mix things up.
I don't even know if this should be in the "read" shelf. xD Oh well.
What bothers me is how coincidental the events are. Really? They all just died in sequence. Very very convenient. I guess I should have expected that if one reads romance genre books, so why then did I even read this in the first place? It's your fault BookBub, for notifying me. It's your fault too Amazon. Why'd you have to make this free? xD
Overall though, there's still a plot. The marquess was killed, wasn't he? So whodunit? That's actually the part that enticed me to read this book. But... really now, why make the connection so obvious? Again, why am I expecting too much logic and reasoning here anyway? It's not like this is mainly a detective/mystery novel... so I might as well give props for the author for trying to mix things up.
March 20, 2016
I'd actually give this book 3.5 stars and was pleasantly surprised by this book. It was sweet and predictable but there were a few twists I didn't see coming. I also felt like the author was fairly historically accurate with the time period. And I do love this regency time period! I appreciated the fact that it was a clean read, but not So much so that you wanted more... Plenty of kissing and romantic scenes:) it was only 99 cents and a great read for the price. And I would read more from this author team.
February 7, 2016
I was really in the mood for a good regency romance (getting into the Valentine's mood) so I settled down with this book. I was not disappointed. I loved how Alexandra was such a strong woman. She made up her mind and carried it through. She didn't settle for less than the man she loved and she was going to help him whether he liked it or not. Adding the mystery to the plot just added that little extra that made the story even better. I will definitely be looking for more by this author.
October 12, 2019
This book was, I believe, free when I got it on Google Play Books. Free books are always hit or miss and, being free, I usually figure... why not?
Why not?
Because Tris, the scandal plagued but sexy Lord Hawkridge, sleepwalks.
He has sex while sleepwalking.
Or comes very close.
There is something inherently creepy about sleepwalking sex.
I just wanted some good smut. This is weird smut. I DNF'd after the sleepwalking sex.
Sorry.
Why not?
Because Tris, the scandal plagued but sexy Lord Hawkridge, sleepwalks.
He has sex while sleepwalking.
Or comes very close.
There is something inherently creepy about sleepwalking sex.
I just wanted some good smut. This is weird smut. I DNF'd after the sleepwalking sex.
Sorry.
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