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The Duke's Ever Burning Passion
Are second chances truly possible?
.
The Duke of Sermont, Shep, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place... with his best friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson.
As they grew, their relationship grew into something else...
Love.
Writing letters back and forth to one another and making plans has been a part of them...
That is ... until Shep did something that broke her heart - he married someone else.
Since then...
She has spent her life wearing a mask.
She vows to never let anyone know how much Shep meant to her.
When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place, just like old times, they antagonize one another as usual.
Is it because they hate one another? Or... because they cannot stay away from one another?
Who cares if he thinks she is the Ice Queen- cold, cruel and unfeeling?
Julia knows who she is really is, even if Shep continually misunderstands her.
"A man who loves me? A man whom I love? A family? It is all I have ever really wanted," she said.
"I never knew that about you," he whispered as he turned to look out the window.
"I am beginning to think you did not know me at all."
But is it too late for Shep to realize he made a terrible mistake all those years ago?
Can Julia forgive Shep for breaking her heart?
What about another suitor who will get in his way?
.
The Duke of Sermont, Shep, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place... with his best friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson.
As they grew, their relationship grew into something else...
Love.
Writing letters back and forth to one another and making plans has been a part of them...
That is ... until Shep did something that broke her heart - he married someone else.
Since then...
She has spent her life wearing a mask.
She vows to never let anyone know how much Shep meant to her.
When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place, just like old times, they antagonize one another as usual.
Is it because they hate one another? Or... because they cannot stay away from one another?
Who cares if he thinks she is the Ice Queen- cold, cruel and unfeeling?
Julia knows who she is really is, even if Shep continually misunderstands her.
"A man who loves me? A man whom I love? A family? It is all I have ever really wanted," she said.
"I never knew that about you," he whispered as he turned to look out the window.
"I am beginning to think you did not know me at all."
But is it too late for Shep to realize he made a terrible mistake all those years ago?
Can Julia forgive Shep for breaking her heart?
What about another suitor who will get in his way?
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2016
370 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
October 28, 2016
I was delighted when I found out that The Duke's Ever Burning Passion was the second in the Fire and Smoke series that began with Cat and Ben's tale. It was wonderful to see how Catherine and Ben were doing. They had such a tender and painful story. Once again Ms. Stone has written a beautiful heart-wrenching story that will keep you reading and waiting for the happy ever after that you and Julia dreamed of.
When Shep married another woman, he might have had his reasons, but he had no idea that he genuinely broke Julia's heart. He changed her and he never realized. Shep could write beautiful letters to Julia as he had since they were children, but he was trapped in the memories of an unhappy home.
I cried while reading this story because Julia's heart was so broken and so fragile, yet she loved Ben and Catherine and George so deeply. I cringed when Shep made condescending comments and hurt her. But still, I hoped for them to find a way to reconnect. With clues about the fire coming to light, I look forward to seeing what actually happened that night.
Charlotte Stones has such a powerful way of making damaged characters lovely. I hope there is a book about Jane. I hope she continues to share the lives of these wonderful couples in many books to come. I am so happy I was able to read this second of the series. It is a great historical romance.
When Shep married another woman, he might have had his reasons, but he had no idea that he genuinely broke Julia's heart. He changed her and he never realized. Shep could write beautiful letters to Julia as he had since they were children, but he was trapped in the memories of an unhappy home.
I cried while reading this story because Julia's heart was so broken and so fragile, yet she loved Ben and Catherine and George so deeply. I cringed when Shep made condescending comments and hurt her. But still, I hoped for them to find a way to reconnect. With clues about the fire coming to light, I look forward to seeing what actually happened that night.
Charlotte Stones has such a powerful way of making damaged characters lovely. I hope there is a book about Jane. I hope she continues to share the lives of these wonderful couples in many books to come. I am so happy I was able to read this second of the series. It is a great historical romance.
October 30, 2017
It was a formulaic book....with all the boxes checked....I even enjoyed parts of it....but I could never forgive the duke for what he did....which makes Julia a way better person if she was not fictional but I don't care...I am a bit petty and unforgiving in some ways.....
February 6, 2017
This ticked off all the boxes for me in terms of catnip, especially with the angst and how we see into their past through letters!! But I wasn't a fan of the writing at some parts and the misunderstanding was very prolonged and the epilogue seemed a bit try hard.
(and tbh I thought it a little weird with the insistence that it's a ~clean romance in the series title lol)
(and tbh I thought it a little weird with the insistence that it's a ~clean romance in the series title lol)
November 19, 2016
This was better then the first. A lot better of a story line, but with some of the same problems. The writing was irritating and the misunderstanding unbelievable. I did finish it barley. The epilogue was a bit too much, for me and I skimmed it. I don't think I'll be reading anything else by this author, not for me. It was clean was very sweet kissing scenes.
July 26, 2017
I never forgave the hero for what he did to Julia or how he treated her. They were in love and she was waiting until he graduated from Oxford for them to get married, even though he hadn't officially asked her yet, but he did kiss her repeatedly, sent each other multiple love letters and he talked about their one day soon wedding night, but he wanted to keep their relationship a secret from her brother which kept her on guard about his feelings. He sends her a letter that they can't make it work because they are too volatile and he wants life to be peaceful so he marries someone else, falls in love with her, gets her pregnant and then mourns her for a year before the story begins. But what he did to throw her over when she had made plans based on her marrying him was so wrong, she'd ignored many suitors because of him and he just tosses her over is the stuff that duels are fought over. It's also the stuff of ended friendships and Shep never even thought about how Julia's brother, his BFF would react if he ever found out.
The hero was a coward and a conceded ass for most of the book, picking on her and picking fights just to prove to himself that he was right to toss her over. When Julia's brother, Ben, found out how badly Shep treated her in the past I wanted some serious drama, I wanted Ben to toss him out of the house, to punch him in the jaw, I wanted SOMETHING! Ben didn't care about how Shep trifled with her feelings and that is when the book started to fall apart for me, because even though I couldn't forgive him and I knew the Julia eventually would, I needed someone to realize how terrible what he did was, how he treated not just Julia terribly, but his wife too by marrying her when he didn't love her just because she wasn't Julia.
In the end he still was a coward and wouldn't just lay his heart on the line like Julia did, even though she was characterized as being extremely repressed and an ice queen. But she still managed to make a grand gesture and he never did. The epilogue was sweet, but I still couldn't forgive him for tossing her over for someone he didn't even care about so long as that person wasn't her. Also, I wish Shep's rival would have been a good guy, instead of such a skeeze. I wanted to see him fight for her, not just quietly accept that she wasn't interested anymore. The book does have quite a bit of groveling, but she never "forgives" him, she more just forgets and he feels bad about about it, while pouting on his own.
Also the timing just doesn't work. He dumps Julia and meets a new girl, gets married and is widowed within 18 months. They were only separated for 2 1/2 years and it didn't work for me. The way they talked about the years they were apart, I thought it would have been more than a couple years, but for him to go from meeting someone new, after we're supposed to believe he loves Julia, to a grieving widow in 18 months . . . it just doesn't hold water.
The set up was good, but I didn't like the way it played out and to be fair, I didn't think I would like this book before I started to read it because I'm not a big fan of second chance stories and the author couldn't move my unforgiving heart. I did like this book more than I thought I would and it was well written, but I didn't like the hero or the last third of the book.
The hero was a coward and a conceded ass for most of the book, picking on her and picking fights just to prove to himself that he was right to toss her over. When Julia's brother, Ben, found out how badly Shep treated her in the past I wanted some serious drama, I wanted Ben to toss him out of the house, to punch him in the jaw, I wanted SOMETHING! Ben didn't care about how Shep trifled with her feelings and that is when the book started to fall apart for me, because even though I couldn't forgive him and I knew the Julia eventually would, I needed someone to realize how terrible what he did was, how he treated not just Julia terribly, but his wife too by marrying her when he didn't love her just because she wasn't Julia.
In the end he still was a coward and wouldn't just lay his heart on the line like Julia did, even though she was characterized as being extremely repressed and an ice queen. But she still managed to make a grand gesture and he never did. The epilogue was sweet, but I still couldn't forgive him for tossing her over for someone he didn't even care about so long as that person wasn't her. Also, I wish Shep's rival would have been a good guy, instead of such a skeeze. I wanted to see him fight for her, not just quietly accept that she wasn't interested anymore. The book does have quite a bit of groveling, but she never "forgives" him, she more just forgets and he feels bad about about it, while pouting on his own.
Also the timing just doesn't work. He dumps Julia and meets a new girl, gets married and is widowed within 18 months. They were only separated for 2 1/2 years and it didn't work for me. The way they talked about the years they were apart, I thought it would have been more than a couple years, but for him to go from meeting someone new, after we're supposed to believe he loves Julia, to a grieving widow in 18 months . . . it just doesn't hold water.
The set up was good, but I didn't like the way it played out and to be fair, I didn't think I would like this book before I started to read it because I'm not a big fan of second chance stories and the author couldn't move my unforgiving heart. I did like this book more than I thought I would and it was well written, but I didn't like the hero or the last third of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2016
Publisher's Description:
The Duke of Sermont, Shep, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place... with his best friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson.
As they grew, their relationship grew into something else...
Love.
Writing letters back and forth to one another and making plans has been a part of them...
That is ... until Shep did something that broke her heart - he married someone else.
Since then...
She has spent her life wearing a mask.
She vows to never let anyone know how much Shep meant to her.
When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place, just like old times, they antagonize one another as usual.
Is it because they hate one another? Or... because they cannot stay away from one another?
Who cares if he thinks she is the Ice Queen- cold, cruel and unfeeling?
Julia knows who she is really is, even if Shep continually misunderstands her.
"A man who loves me? A man whom I love? A family? It is all I have ever really wanted," she said.
"I never knew that about you," he whispered as he turned to look out the window.
"I am beginning to think you did not know me at all."
But is it too late for Shep to realize he made a terrible mistake all those years ago?
Can Julia forgive Shep for breaking her heart?
What about another suitor who will get in his way? . This is a clean, historical regency romance story.
Just $0.99 for a very LIMITED TIME OFFER only.
Download for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
My Thoughts:
This is a very well written clean regency romance. Our hero and heroine have known each other since childhood. Shep is Julia's brother Ben's best friend and like all adolescent boys he along with her brother teases Julia unmercifully. Over the years he has written letters to her, many expressing apology for his typical adolescent behaviour.
Julia has been in love with him forever, even through the time when he married someone else. Although it was her wish to forget him she simply couldn't.
Now that he is widowed will they get their second chance at love?
Read this amazing clean historical for yourself to answer that and other questions about this long standing love.
I would give this book a 4.5 star rating for storyline and characterization.
There is no heat rating for this sweet, clean romance novel.
Thank you to the author for allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this title.
The Duke of Sermont, Shep, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place... with his best friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson.
As they grew, their relationship grew into something else...
Love.
Writing letters back and forth to one another and making plans has been a part of them...
That is ... until Shep did something that broke her heart - he married someone else.
Since then...
She has spent her life wearing a mask.
She vows to never let anyone know how much Shep meant to her.
When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place, just like old times, they antagonize one another as usual.
Is it because they hate one another? Or... because they cannot stay away from one another?
Who cares if he thinks she is the Ice Queen- cold, cruel and unfeeling?
Julia knows who she is really is, even if Shep continually misunderstands her.
"A man who loves me? A man whom I love? A family? It is all I have ever really wanted," she said.
"I never knew that about you," he whispered as he turned to look out the window.
"I am beginning to think you did not know me at all."
But is it too late for Shep to realize he made a terrible mistake all those years ago?
Can Julia forgive Shep for breaking her heart?
What about another suitor who will get in his way? . This is a clean, historical regency romance story.
Just $0.99 for a very LIMITED TIME OFFER only.
Download for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
My Thoughts:
This is a very well written clean regency romance. Our hero and heroine have known each other since childhood. Shep is Julia's brother Ben's best friend and like all adolescent boys he along with her brother teases Julia unmercifully. Over the years he has written letters to her, many expressing apology for his typical adolescent behaviour.
Julia has been in love with him forever, even through the time when he married someone else. Although it was her wish to forget him she simply couldn't.
Now that he is widowed will they get their second chance at love?
Read this amazing clean historical for yourself to answer that and other questions about this long standing love.
I would give this book a 4.5 star rating for storyline and characterization.
There is no heat rating for this sweet, clean romance novel.
Thank you to the author for allowing me the privilege of reading and reviewing this title.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 16, 2016
Julia, Ben’s sister, has loved Shep, the Duke of Sermont, since childhood, since he was the second son with no expectations of anything. There was just something about him. To Shep, Julia was his friend’s sister, a pest, always under foot. At home there were massive altercations, but Shep could spend holidays and summer vacations with Ben’s family where things were peaceful. When Julia got a little older, she started to write letters to Shep at school and once in awhile he would answer back. But people grow up and infatuations change, at least for Julia it did! For Shep- - - well, one day he realized his friend’s little sister wasn’t a little girl any more. So it started, and finished just as quickly. Big, brave Shep was afraid of the passion, of the strength and power of it. He was afraid it would lead to the violence of the vitriol arguments spewed by his parents in his formative years.
When Shep broke up with her what was she to do? Let him see just how devastated he made her? Of course she couldn’t. So she pulled up her big girl panties, acted cold and aloof with him while her heart was shattering in a million and one pieces, then acted as if it meant nothing at all to her.
Thus their story begins – or at least, our perusal of it. There are ups, downs, twists, turns, more misunderstandings than face cards in a deck of playing cards. We are sitting in the front row watching it all unfold. I was watching with bated breath, not sure who was going to do what next. How dense was Shep really going to be, did he have any brain cells left, or had they all disappeared over the years?
I wanted to know and befriend many of these people. You would, too. Come along and enjoy finding out truths and fictions, what subterfuge has been perpetrated – AND why. All is not what it seems for the Duke of Sermont. Once again I found a very enjoyable story to become involved in and take me away from my everyday life. Pick it up, and you too can join in finding the reality in the fiction.
When Shep broke up with her what was she to do? Let him see just how devastated he made her? Of course she couldn’t. So she pulled up her big girl panties, acted cold and aloof with him while her heart was shattering in a million and one pieces, then acted as if it meant nothing at all to her.
Thus their story begins – or at least, our perusal of it. There are ups, downs, twists, turns, more misunderstandings than face cards in a deck of playing cards. We are sitting in the front row watching it all unfold. I was watching with bated breath, not sure who was going to do what next. How dense was Shep really going to be, did he have any brain cells left, or had they all disappeared over the years?
I wanted to know and befriend many of these people. You would, too. Come along and enjoy finding out truths and fictions, what subterfuge has been perpetrated – AND why. All is not what it seems for the Duke of Sermont. Once again I found a very enjoyable story to become involved in and take me away from my everyday life. Pick it up, and you too can join in finding the reality in the fiction.
October 27, 2016
In this clean, historical regency romance story, Lord Nathaniel 'Shep'field, the Duke of Sermont, has spent every summer since childhood at Pritchford Place with his best friend, Ben, and his friend's sister. Lady Julia Frederickson. As they grew, their relationship grew into love. They maded plans through writing letters until Shep broke her heart by marrying someone else. How could he do that? Would she, could she get over him and marry someone else? When Shep is widowed and comes to stay at Pritchford Place can they have a second chance or will she marry another suitor? Is it too late for them?
October 29, 2016
Enjoyed this 2nd book almost as much as the first in her series. The Duke, Shep, was her friend and Lady Julia thought he loved her but then he married another. When he is widowed, he comes to home of his friend who is also Julia's brother. Can he ever really understand how much he hurt her and will he make amends or allow another to win her hand?
March 4, 2018
Longtime friends/secret love/ heartbreake
This is a wonderful story of love ,secrets, misunderstandings,and lack of real communication. It had me interested throughout and I loved reading the letters and trying to anticipate what was coming next. Looking forward to the next book in the series!!! Keep them coming Charlotte!😊
This is a wonderful story of love ,secrets, misunderstandings,and lack of real communication. It had me interested throughout and I loved reading the letters and trying to anticipate what was coming next. Looking forward to the next book in the series!!! Keep them coming Charlotte!😊
March 27, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. It is clean, just as it says it is, with only a few steamy kisses. The storyline is great and I liked the characters, they are entertaining. I like that the book can be read as a stand alone, though the other two stories in the series tie the characters together.
August 24, 2017
Charming
This is a charming second chance, friends to lovers romance. It's clean, Christian and while the hero and heroine create most of their torment, their HEA is a most deserved one.
This is a charming second chance, friends to lovers romance. It's clean, Christian and while the hero and heroine create most of their torment, their HEA is a most deserved one.
October 7, 2017
entertaining reaf
Charlotte Stone's flaming series is filled with characters we care about, and the story is well told. If you like stories about strong women living in difficult times you will like this.
Charlotte Stone's flaming series is filled with characters we care about, and the story is well told. If you like stories about strong women living in difficult times you will like this.
November 1, 2017
A good read
I liked this story and once again look forward to reading more books by this author. The characters were likeable but noit as interesting as the ones in the spinsters series.
I liked this story and once again look forward to reading more books by this author. The characters were likeable but noit as interesting as the ones in the spinsters series.
March 30, 2018
This book is extremely well written. I love the letters from Shep to Julia that are scattered throughout the book. I may have to reread this book shortly just so I can soak up the love from the letters! The course of true love never did run smooth! Wow!
September 1, 2017
I like a stronger hero who knows what he wants and goes after it this hero was too much of a weakling and a scaredy cat.
November 28, 2017
Loved romance novels
Thank you very much for these book. I love historical romance novels. Would read them over and over again. Thank
Thank you very much for these book. I love historical romance novels. Would read them over and over again. Thank
March 22, 2018
Love and mystery
I am a fan of Charlotte Stone. Her romances are well well written. Her characters are well rounded. Her plots are well formed.
I am a fan of Charlotte Stone. Her romances are well well written. Her characters are well rounded. Her plots are well formed.
November 29, 2016
Great Story!
October 30, 2016
Regency Romance: The Duke's Ever Burning Passion (Fire and Smoke: CLEAN Historical Romance) by Charlotte Stone is book 2 in her "Fire and Smoke" series, while it can be read as a stand alone, I'd recommend reading Book 1 as well. This is a full length story.
A delightful story rich in second chances and love.
Follow, The Duke of Sermont, aka Shep, and Lady Julia Fredericks on their journey to finding their HEA. But will they be able to face their past and forgive each others shortcomings and misunderstandings or lose all?
Well written, steady paced, with engaging and interesting characters and a uniquely intriguing storyline.
I enjoyed all the characters, but Shep and Julia captured by heart. Interwoven throughout the story are the characters stories, which was utterly fascinating. I also enjoyed the love letters for a prologue.
A masterfully written story of second chances, past mistakes, healing, forgiveness, love, with a few surprises along the way. I thought it had a wide range of emotions, from smiling to tears to wanting to throw things at Shep and Julia. Will Julia's broken heart ever heal? Can Shep help to mend Julia's heart, the one he broke by marrying another? A very entertaining and enjoyable Clean Historical romance. Another great read by a powerful storyteller! There are unanswered questions concerning who started the fire, and other things, but Shep and Julia's story comes to a conclusion. A very enjoyable read! What a wonderful continuing saga!
I can't wait to read the next Book in this interesting series. Bravo, Ms. Stone!
Fans of Clean Romance, second chances, past mistakes, and finding a HEA, should enjoy this interesting series. An absolutely delightful story! One of those stories to be re-read and savored.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Sweet
Reviewed by: AprilR
A delightful story rich in second chances and love.
Follow, The Duke of Sermont, aka Shep, and Lady Julia Fredericks on their journey to finding their HEA. But will they be able to face their past and forgive each others shortcomings and misunderstandings or lose all?
Well written, steady paced, with engaging and interesting characters and a uniquely intriguing storyline.
I enjoyed all the characters, but Shep and Julia captured by heart. Interwoven throughout the story are the characters stories, which was utterly fascinating. I also enjoyed the love letters for a prologue.
A masterfully written story of second chances, past mistakes, healing, forgiveness, love, with a few surprises along the way. I thought it had a wide range of emotions, from smiling to tears to wanting to throw things at Shep and Julia. Will Julia's broken heart ever heal? Can Shep help to mend Julia's heart, the one he broke by marrying another? A very entertaining and enjoyable Clean Historical romance. Another great read by a powerful storyteller! There are unanswered questions concerning who started the fire, and other things, but Shep and Julia's story comes to a conclusion. A very enjoyable read! What a wonderful continuing saga!
I can't wait to read the next Book in this interesting series. Bravo, Ms. Stone!
Fans of Clean Romance, second chances, past mistakes, and finding a HEA, should enjoy this interesting series. An absolutely delightful story! One of those stories to be re-read and savored.
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Sweet
Reviewed by: AprilR
October 27, 2016
2.5* - I picked this up because those who know me know I'm a sucker for a 2nd chance story. The fact the the h was thrown over for another woman who the H then married made it an instant read. How do you come back from that? The H is now a widower and reunited with his first love at her family home. The heroine drew my sympathy and the reasons for her disposition tugged at the heart strings. The fact that the H was a bit of a dunderhead and doesn't at all understand her true nature nor her shattered dreams provides the angst and its pretty well done. Interspersed over the course of their current romance are letters the H and h wrote to each over the course of their first romance. I frankly don't think I missed anything in skipping most of them but the last last letter has to be read. There were some niggles but I was able to easily ignore them. As for resolution, it felt a little rushed. Forgiveness is one thing but allowing a hurt heart time to believe and trust is another and maybe more effort should have been directed to that point then in trying to convince us with an effusive epilogue. But all in all this was a pleasant surprise and exceeded my expectations from an author previously unknown to me.
December 25, 2016
This is book two of a trilogy. I highly recommend reading The Earl's Unforgettable Flame first even though this could be read as a stand-alone offering. There will be passages that make little sense without that background. Additionally, the character development for the protagonists began in book one, so having that background really enhances the story told here. Actually, unanswered questions that arose in book one of the trilogy are referred to in this book but are still unanswered. I look forward to leaning who set the fire and why plus who rescued Cat from the fire. The answers will likely come in book three. The technique to insert flash backs through the reading of past letters was a great idea. I was captivated from the first few pages, primarily because this is simply a resumption of the first book in the series with different protagonists. So I was able to pick up where I left off from book one. Unfortunately, a number of proofreading errors were real distractions for me. Remember, spell checkers only check spelling, not word usage.
October 27, 2016
Once in a while, a book comes along that really makes you fall in love with the characters and you feel that you really care about what happens to them. This is the second such book by this author. You are welcome to read this as a stand alone. If you do, please go back and read The Earl's Unforgettable Flame. The same characters are in both books.
The is Jules and Shep's story, which starts very early in their lives. It is told through letters to each other as well as narrative. Letter writing is a lost art today. Charlotte Stone has each of the characters writing heartfelt words that make the reader feel the pain, the passion, the heartache, the love that they have for each other. It made me want to get out pen and paper and write my husband a love letter.
This book was so well written. I wanted to get to the end to see how it would work out for Jules and Shep, but I didn't want the story to end. I want to know what happens next. I hope the series continues for a long time!
The is Jules and Shep's story, which starts very early in their lives. It is told through letters to each other as well as narrative. Letter writing is a lost art today. Charlotte Stone has each of the characters writing heartfelt words that make the reader feel the pain, the passion, the heartache, the love that they have for each other. It made me want to get out pen and paper and write my husband a love letter.
This book was so well written. I wanted to get to the end to see how it would work out for Jules and Shep, but I didn't want the story to end. I want to know what happens next. I hope the series continues for a long time!
October 31, 2016
A wonderful read.
I loved this book!! The struggles that Julia and Shep went through. The miss communications or words not said hurt them more than anything. Julia has loved Shep for years and he her. With broken promises from Shep has turned Julia into the Ice Queen towards other suitors. When Shep's wife dies in child birth he goes to visit his Best Friend Ben and his family where he knows he needs to apologize to Julia. When Julia's mom invites the Marquise over for a few days she tells Julia you will accept his marriage proposal. No one except her mother wants her to marry this man, he is vulgar, tasteless and rude!! When Shep orders an out by marrying him, Julia looses it. Julia realizes that she must rescue herself. A wonderful must read 2nd book to the Fire and Smoke series!!!
I loved this book!! The struggles that Julia and Shep went through. The miss communications or words not said hurt them more than anything. Julia has loved Shep for years and he her. With broken promises from Shep has turned Julia into the Ice Queen towards other suitors. When Shep's wife dies in child birth he goes to visit his Best Friend Ben and his family where he knows he needs to apologize to Julia. When Julia's mom invites the Marquise over for a few days she tells Julia you will accept his marriage proposal. No one except her mother wants her to marry this man, he is vulgar, tasteless and rude!! When Shep orders an out by marrying him, Julia looses it. Julia realizes that she must rescue herself. A wonderful must read 2nd book to the Fire and Smoke series!!!
October 29, 2016
Enchanting
Ok, I admit to burning the midnight oil with this book. I loved the way the history of this couple was interwoven into the story line. Sheep had gone to great lengths to protect himself from living the life his parents lead. Julia developed a hardened veneer to protect her heart from more pain. Had Shep not been a houseguest, she may have gotten away with her ruse. Oh well, the best laid plans are a guarantee for failure. As Julia relives the past th through the letters Shep had sent her over the years, the reader can see their love grow. Sweet and unassuming, the author brings these two lost hearts together. I recommend this book to those who hunger for a clean, well written saga.
Ok, I admit to burning the midnight oil with this book. I loved the way the history of this couple was interwoven into the story line. Sheep had gone to great lengths to protect himself from living the life his parents lead. Julia developed a hardened veneer to protect her heart from more pain. Had Shep not been a houseguest, she may have gotten away with her ruse. Oh well, the best laid plans are a guarantee for failure. As Julia relives the past th through the letters Shep had sent her over the years, the reader can see their love grow. Sweet and unassuming, the author brings these two lost hearts together. I recommend this book to those who hunger for a clean, well written saga.
October 29, 2016
Recency Romance that is clean
This recency romance is clean and has a sweet but tenacious love story between a man and woman who have known each other since they were kids. They are both stubborn. I grew fond of each character throughout the book. I really loved the letters written from hero to the heroine and the fact that she kept them since they were young. I enjoyed this book and look forward to Jane's story next.
This recency romance is clean and has a sweet but tenacious love story between a man and woman who have known each other since they were kids. They are both stubborn. I grew fond of each character throughout the book. I really loved the letters written from hero to the heroine and the fact that she kept them since they were young. I enjoyed this book and look forward to Jane's story next.
December 26, 2016
I love series
I simply love a good series. It gives a reader time to really get to know the characters in the series. I especially like series for books I put in casual reading. Those are the books I read strictly for entertainment. I can speed through a lot of the fluff because I've gotten to know the characters more intimately through reading a series. This was a great 2nd book in a series for all those reasons and more.
I simply love a good series. It gives a reader time to really get to know the characters in the series. I especially like series for books I put in casual reading. Those are the books I read strictly for entertainment. I can speed through a lot of the fluff because I've gotten to know the characters more intimately through reading a series. This was a great 2nd book in a series for all those reasons and more.
February 3, 2017
Love love love
Heart warming with mild anx. Story about two people who refuse or admit their true feelings for each out of fear and that it was
A decision he thought was best for both of them.i have a similar real life story as the book. Both are heas
Heart warming with mild anx. Story about two people who refuse or admit their true feelings for each out of fear and that it was
A decision he thought was best for both of them.i have a similar real life story as the book. Both are heas
November 9, 2016
I liked the first book in this series but I absolutely loved this second book. This story had love, heartbreak and depth and then of course the happily ever after. This story had me crying and smiling at the same time. Great story that shows it is never to late for second chances ! I can't wait for the third book in this series!
November 17, 2016
The Duke's Ever Burning Passion
This book started out ok. I tried getting into it but after the first few chapters I realized it wasn't getting any better. The story itself was good, but the execution was not the greatest. I did finish the book even though I had lost interest. I try to give every book a fair review. Author has great potential if the story telling improves.
This book started out ok. I tried getting into it but after the first few chapters I realized it wasn't getting any better. The story itself was good, but the execution was not the greatest. I did finish the book even though I had lost interest. I try to give every book a fair review. Author has great potential if the story telling improves.
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