Always a Maiden

Belles of Beak Street #5

by Katy Madison

Lady Susanah Poole is everything a gentleman should want in a bride. She’s pretty enough, the heir to her father’s considerable estate, and she’s perfectly behaved. Except she keeps losing her suitors one right after another to the Belles of Beak Street. When a completely unacceptable rake catches her in a rare fit of pique and suggests he could teach her what the belles have, she is determined to do whatever it takes to land a lord before her exasperated father forces her to marry an old man—even if it means accepting the guidance of a notorious womanizer.

The last thing Evan Cooper expects is for the rigidly proper Lady Susanah to accept his off-the-cuff offer to teach her about passion. While she is not in his usual vein of bored widows or neglected wives, he is intrigued by her. But she makes it perfectly clear, while she may welcome his kisses, she’ll never accept his proposal—not that he has any plan to marry…or fall in love for that matter.

Genres: Historical

219 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2017

About the author

Katy Madison has always loved stories. As a child she was always lugging a book around. At the age of eight, after
Katy Madison having gone through over a hundred Nancy Drew mysteries, all the Laura Ingalls Wilder books—at least twice—and many others including her full weekly allotment of library books, Katy went to her mother and begged for a new book to read. Her frustrated mother handed her a romance novel. Katy fell in love with the romance genre. She quickly found where her mother hid the rest and began sneaking them out to read. She cut her eye teeth on books by Georgette Heyer and Mary Stewart, not to mention dozens of Barbara Cartland’s. With a nod to great Gothic novels like Jane Eyre and Rebecca, Katy offers up her gothic romance Tainted by Temptation.

Reviews

[anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

this one had so much potential! but marred by most unsatisfying, rushed ending and half baked attempt in writing the heroine's back story. i was ready to sell my soul for Susanah to love herself and to break free from what her mother did to her but i guess nah.

and sadly i don't buy the romance too.

[Sandra R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book a great deal, it was a lovely Historical romance. Well written and set in 1806 London. Lady Susanah has strict parents (an Earl & Countess), is their only child and is expected to marry well. If she displeases them, she's fed bread and water and locked in her room and only every goes anywhere under the strict supervision of her mother. She's known the penniless Mr Collins (Evan) in passing, for years and as he's a so called 'rake', she manages to track him down at a ball to ask if he would show her 'passion', so she can find a decent suitor. She's desperate to get away from her parents and they are forcing her to marry an older man who's had 4 previous wives.

The story that ensues is really engaging and I felt so sorry for Susanah. She's been brought up so properly that she is unable to express herself at all - she knows nothing of life or love. The Historical details were good and I felt I was there with her, feeling her sorrow at her impossible situation. The gorgeous and light-hearted Evan spirits her away after midnight several times and starts feeling a very strong attraction to the sad woman. The romance scenes are beautifully done.

There's mention of more books in this series at the end, but I can't seem to find anything Ms Madison has written since this book. (c2017). She's written for Mills and Boon and has several earlier Historical Romances I read a few years ago, that are all excellent.

[Lena · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!!! I was really drawn to Susannah and her reticence and closedness make so much sense when you start seeing the years of endless neglect and abuse. Evan's need to protect her and then wanting to know her, love her makes for a wonderful story. While in other books their coming and goings might seem fruitless, they make sense in two characters like them.

My only criticism would be that I feel the end was rushed and I would have loved to read more about their life together. But a wonderful story and I look forward to read about the Belles and hopefully Lord Hull will also find a happy ending (he definitely was a great sidekick in this one!)

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this historical romance. It was well written, had a nice back and forth for point of views of the main characters so you knew what they were thinking. The chemistry between them was great and I enjoyed the story. Liked it well enough to prompt me to check out the other "Belles of Beak Street" books.

[Iris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the slow burn. This book is a real romance. There’s great relationship development. I loved both the characters and the way they fall in love. The only thing was the end dragged on too long. I would have liked a better longer prologue.

[Lindap · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 / 2 Stars

***HOOPLA Audio***

MC's: Susanah & Evan

OMG, I just couldn't stand Susanah's character. She wants to be taught what she lacks in catching a husband like the "Belles", but she's such a standoff-ish character. Not a book I'd ever want to revisit.

[Samurdhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an easy read. loved the way it was written. The chemistry between the two and the emotional depth in Lady Susanah's character was nicely developed.