Felicity “Fliss” Blunt was content being a schoolmistress at Sister Ursuline’s School for Wayward Girls in Cumbria, when out of the blue her uncle, Lord Crispin Rowley, decides she has to be in London for the Season. Fliss is not impressed with the Ton, sees no need for a husband at the present time, and if ever she marries it will be for love, and with someone sensible, dependable, and certainly not one of those foppish aristocrats. And certainly not the peer her uncle has in mind: an ancient, smelly, and terminally dull fellow. Fliss’ chaperons don’t provide much help either: Rowley’s great-aunts Cressida and Daphne Sawyer keep a closer eye on the punch bowl than on their charge. It is at Almack’s, trying to find her way back to the ballroom – as she is forbidden to wear her spectacles, of course, the unsightly things! – that she encounters Jake Warriner. Jake, whose legendary charm and dreamy blue eyes leave the level-headed Fliss cold, especially when he tries to impress her with his tired, flowery, practiced lines; she tells him off. And this is foreign territory for Jake, he is flustered, humbled, and entirely captivated by the beautiful Miss Blunt. If only things were different … If he only knew that Fliss is equally confused by her attraction to the dashing rake.
Oh dear, what have I not already said about The Wild Warriners and the amazing Virginia Heath! Jake’s story is the fourth and alas last in this extraordinary series, and A WARRINER TO SEDUCE HER is just as brilliant as the three other books. The enigmatic Jake, who had been mostly relegated to the background before, is a deliciously charmer indeed! I am not giving any spoilers, but Jake the Rake’s occupation is what I had suspected. Ms. Heath’s writing sparkles, her descriptions shine brightly, especially in the case of the astonishingly entertaining Sawyer sisters, whose images are firmly imprinted in my mind forever. I thought it very clever how the author smoothly inserts some pertinent historical details into a conversation, which enables her to move the plot forward. Ms. Heath’s thorough research on smuggling, aided by her precise descriptions, all contribute to the realism of the story. Fliss is far from the retiring schoolmarm: she is rather cynical, has a poor opinion of men in general, and is far from gullible. I adored her immediately, Jake as well, but then again Virginia Heath always creates exceptionally appealing characters. And let’s not forget the scintillating dialogues; Jake has some of the best lines ever given to a male character. A WARRINER TO SEDUCE HER is exciting, filled with emotion, danger and romance that will take your breath away.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.