Lady Anabelle Darling plans to find a respectable husband who will love her. From the moment she meets Viscount Draven, she knows there’s something dangerous about him. Draven offers nothing but sinful dalliance and forbidden pleasure.
Draven relishes the role of scoundrel. But Lady Anabelle tempts him to reform like no other. She’s lovely when she’s furious, and he can’t resist luring her into his sensual game—consequences be damned.
A single kiss wields the power to change everything between them and turn Anabelle’s carefully crafted plan inside out. When Draven is confronted with losing Annabelle to another, he realizes it was never a game at all. Can he redeem himself and prove even scoundrels can love?
Dayna Quince was only fourteen when she developed a serious addiction to romance novels. What began as an innocent desire to read became an all-out obsession with the romance genre. She gave book reports on romance novels, got in trouble for reading during lectures, and would rather spend her time reading than attending high school parties. After all, high school boys could not compete with the likes of Stephanie Laurens' Devil Cynster.
After getting her first job, her addiction only got worse. She now had her own money to spend and a car to get to Barnes and Noble as frequently as she wanted. She managed to maintain a somewhat normal life, marrying her high school boyfriend, who was aware he was competing with fictional men for her attention. She soon began writing her own romance novels, inspired by her love for all things romance.
Dayna and her family live in Southern California with their two children and three fur babies. She is happiest at home, where she can be with her family and write to her heart’s content.
He displayed everything she didn't want in a husband, and yet it was he who made her feel everything she thought she should feel upon falling in love.
5 stars!
This novel was a simple love story with no OW drama, no "misunderstanding" and subsequent break-up, and no murder plot or lurking villain--and I loved every single word. I didn't make the connection until later on the book that it was a P&P retelling of sorts, with Draven playing the part of our cold and jaded Darcy content in his bachelor ways and in no hurry to find love while Annabelle was our beloved Elizabeth who set out to find her equal, someone who could love her for who she was.
They both think they know what they want (and who they don't want) and have preconceived notions of each other they must overcome to reach everlasting happiness. The ending was HANDS DOWN the best part--Draven's flower proposal was absolutely magical and their engagement ball revealed such a broken and emotional layer to Draven. Overall, I wholeheartedly enjoyed this novel even in its simplicity, and I will definitely check out more from this author!
Belle of the Ball felt more like a modern romance instead of a Historical Romance and I did like Annabelle. I just couldn't connect with her. She was in lust with Viscount Draven who was suppose to be a Rake but came across as a very gentle loving man. He showed Great caring of his mother and two young sister. He deeply mourned his deceased father. I really did like Draven and the way he pursued Annabelle, but her constant refusal of him was off putting. Every time he kissed her she would just melt and ask him to do more. So way keep pushing him away? But they do get there HEA!!!
I just did not feel that their story was that of love but of lust. The only time love was really a concept was when he begun to send flowers and the book explaining the significance of each flower. Other than that the book entailed their many outings, hatred for one another and their all consuming attraction.
There is so much in this book that is unlikely, including the fact that I read it all the way through! If you can ignore social inaccuracies such as young ladies being unaccompanied by chaperones, totally unlikely title names, conversation gems such as “ bunk up together” and “are you thick?” - then dive in and enjoy this version of historical romance . The highlight for me was the bouquets and the meaning of flowers.
Well, it all started with a rumor, and Lord Draven can't really say why he began a rumor that he and Lady Anabelle Darling kissed. He tells her this. While Anabelle isn't sure either, she certainly is intrigued. If the rumor indeed has been spread, then her chances for a good match during this season might just be ruined. Anabelle wants to marry, and only for love. Nothing less.
Draven can't quite figure out what is wrong with him. He is a scoundrel and quite proud of it. Admittedly he enjoys what single gentlemen in London often does, including dalliances with women. But a single kiss and stolen glances with Anabelle is turning him into a changed man. He doesn't believe in love, or marriage. Nope, not for him. But, maybe another kiss...or two...with Anabelle. No, he won't ruin her chances for a good match. Or will he?
Belle of the Ball is the second in the Desperate and Daring series. It is a quick, fun and sexy read. I so enjoy this couple. She wants love. He doesn't believe in it. This is a time when propriety is everything, yet their attraction is beyond more than either of them can ignore, and they must find a way to stay away from each other. Anabelle has a list of prospective husbands and Draven is not on it. Now, can she find someone that she can truly love before she chances to lose her reputation, and her heart, to Draven? I have enjoyed the parrying between Anabelle and Draven.
What a delight these romances are by Dayna Quince are a true delight. Always fun, sexy and warm. While I loved Anabelle, there is just something so special about Draven that makes this book exceptional. There are ten books in this series and I do look forward to reading each and every one of them. Hazel's story is next in Just One Kiss. Will she succumb to her attraction to Lo rd Bainbridge? Check out the links above and grab these books!
Many thanks to Jack's House of Publishing and Inkslinger PR for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Blurb: The viscount’s plan to kiss and tell may spell his ruin…
From the moment Lady Anabelle Darling meets Viscount Draven, she knows there’s something dangerous about him. Cold, arrogant and callous, he enjoys playing the villain with a touch of cutting wit. But when she finds herself unexpectedly alone with him, the danger only grows. He says things that make her heart skip and her breathing hitch. Determined to keep her distance, she plans to find a respectable husband. Draven offers nothing but sinful dalliance and forbidden pleasure.
Draven relishes the role of scoundrel. This is never more apparent than when he spreads a rumor that he and Lady Anabelle shared a kiss—or at least that’s what he tells her. She’s lovely when she’s furious, and he can’t resist the temptation of luring her into his game--consequences be damned.
Yet a single kiss wields the power to change everything between them and turn Draven’s carefully crafted plan inside out.
Hiding behind a facade to cover his grief, Viscount Draven nevertheless finds his interest piqued by the young woman who firmly discounts him as nothing more than a rake. When Draven challenges Anabelle to a kiss, much to his surprise he is as affected as she is. The courting ritual dance begins even though neither Draven nor Annabelle want marriage to one another. In fact, Annebelle has a list that she has made up as a guideline for her future husband and Draven's name definitely doesn't appear on that list. I purchased this book some years back and am really sorry that I have only just got around to reading it. It is one of the most enjoyable Regency novels that I have read in a long time with humour, lighthearted banter and all the sensuous push and pull of an undeniable attraction between a man and a woman who want each other but are in complete denial. The story is the second book of the series and whilst there are a number of characters whose stories are still to be told, this novel is a standalone and comes to a sigh-worthy ending.
This has to be the LONGEST book I've ever read. I had to keep coming back to it for over a span of a week. My thoughts kept drifting off while reading it. That tells me that the storyline was lacking spark and the characters were not interesting enough to hold my attention. There were tons of inner dialogue and when the characters were speaking directly it was the same conversation over and over and over. Annabelle was a self righteous, judgemental and immature brat. What grown man would want that I would never understand. Basically chipping away at Dravens manhood. NOT COOL. First reading this author work as well as the last time.
This is what I like in a book. This story was a pure love story - an excellently written HEA, with no enemy banging at the door. A lovely story that unfolds into mutual love. 5*
Wenn ich einmal mit Historicals anfange, kann ich nicht mehr mit ihnen aufhören. Daher konnte ich nicht widerstehen und musste kurz nach Band 1 nun auch Band 2 lesen.
In Band 1 war bereits absehbar, dass im Laufe der Reihe Lady Anabelle und Draven eine gemeinsame Story bekommen. Sie, die kalte Lady, und er, der Clown der Gesellschaft, der nur für seine eigenen Gelüste lebt. Er lebt sein Leben, wie er es will und beachtet dabei nicht die Konsequenzen. Auch nicht die für andere.
Für Lady Anabelle ist alles ernst. Sie möchte eine gute Partie machen, unabhängig von ihren eigenen Gefühlen. Aber insgeheim sehnt sie sich nach Leidenschaft. Da kommt ihr Draven natürlich alles andere als gelegen, denn er weckt Emotionen in ihr, die sie nicht haben will. Dennoch kann sie nicht widerstehen, damit zu spielen.
Draven hingegen versteht seine eigenen Gefühle und seine Fixation auf Lady Anabelle nicht. Er fühlt sich zu ihr hingezogen, wie die Motte zum Licht. So sehr er ihre Anerkennung und ihre Aufmerksamkeit genießt, genießt er es jedoch auch sie zu necken und in den Wahnsinn zu treiben. Doch reicht das aus, um so ihr Herz zu erobern? Oder wird sich Lady Anabelle für eine Vernunftehe entscheiden?
Ich mochte die beiden Charaktere sehr. Sie waren so unterschiedlich und doch sich irgendwie ähnlich. Die Neckereien waren ein kleines Highlight in diesem sonst so durchschnittlichen Historical. Denn mehr als durchschnittlich war er leider nicht. Um hervorzustechen, fehlte dem Ganzen etwas der Pep, etwas mehr Drama und etwas mehr Gefühl. Trotz der ganzen Neckereien schafft es die Autorin zwar leichte erotische Spannung zu erzeugen, aber auf emotionaler Ebene geht leider viel verloren. Ich kann gerade den emotionalen Umschwung von Draven nicht zu 100% nachvollziehen. Das ist etwas schade.
Ein guter Historical, der einem einen schönen Lesenachmittag beschert und Lust auf mehr Historicals macht.
I loved the characters. The sisters had a great relationship as twins, and being so unlike in desires for the future. Draven was very complex in his attitude about life in general. Take what he wants, but still trying to be a gentleman, and perfect son to his gentle Mother. While also being a protective older brother to his younger sisters. Anabelle ,is so infatuated with the idea of finding the perfect man to marry, she has become tied up in knots due to the feelings she gets, just by being in the same room with Draven. A Rake, someone she should keep far away from, because he is most certainly not Husband material. My only complaint is that it took so long for them both to open their eyes, and see what could be, A magic connection between two souls looking for love and family.
I think this book was better than the first. Annabelle and Draven had quite the love/hate relationship. Their chemistry was off the charts, but they were looking for different things from life. Annabelle was determined to find a love match and Draven did not want to be tied down at all. I found it amusing how Annabelle went about finding her match, while still being drawn to Draven. Once Draven realized what he could lose if Annabelle fell for someone else, his determination to win her affections was admirable. He really ended up being a great guy for her. This story was a very good one and I highly recommend it.
I really enjoyed this book for the most part. It does have some typos and when they were at Draven’s cottage, the bedrooms moved from the first floor to the second, and the thatched roof became a glass roof, but in all, the writing was engaging. Draven is a dark character who at first seems to be just another rake, out to seduce innocent Lady Annabelle. But there’s a lot more to him than meets the eye. Annabelle is anxious to be wed but thinks if she lists all of the eligible bachelors, she can find the secret to falling in love. It was fun and romantic to see how their attraction became so much more.
Annabelle and Draven. My first book by this author and I am hooked!
Lady Annabelle has seen her friend get married and sees the love between them. She wants a love match and sets out to methodically find (she makes a list) the man of her dreams this season. Except Lord Draven keeps getting in her way. He loves to poke fun at her and she finds him utterly irritating. But there is also an attraction. And stolen kisses. And suddenly Draven is realizing that he wants to be on the list. But Annabelle won't put him there since he has made it clear he will not marry. But, of course, he changes his mind. And pursues her. And woos her. And does a FANTASTIC proposal.
Ethan and Annabelle are a perfect example of the saying 'The harder they fight, the quicker they fall'. Owing to Ethan's rakish history & his widely known disdain for love and marriage, Annabelle, despite feeling an attraction towards him, is determined to succeed in her quest to find the suitor of her dreams & have the 'love match' of the Season with anyone 'except' the tantalizing Lord Draven. But Draven & Annabelle are drawn towards each other like a magnet & both are unable to keep their hands off one another. This story is filled with intrigue, romance & the societal intricacies of the 'ton' in the Regency era. A very enjoyable read overall. ❤️
I wish I had read this sooner. I would have enjoyed it even more if I had read this when I was younger. Now I felt more like the story was a skillful arrangement of plot without the two having a lot of deep conversations or talking for hours.
It was amusing how Draven kept following Anabelle/they kept running into each other, even though he annoyed her. They seemed to be at all the same events.
I got emotional with the bit about his dad, who had passed away some time ago, but the loss was still affecting him.
The big deflowering scene didn't happen until the very end of the book, but there were sexual scenes scattered throughout the book.
Lady Anabelle and her twin sister Hazel are in the marriage mart. Only Lady Annabelle feels desperate to marry this season, so she makes a list of the most eligible. Lord Draven is not on her list and she doesn’t like him as he has a bad reputation as a rake. Some how the rumor gets out that he kissed her, now she tells him if she has to live with the rumor he might as kiss her, he does and nothing is ever the same! All needs to read it!
Riveting Story! Take one really desperate young lady, Anabelle, who just wants to find a man who will love and marry her and introduce her to Ethan Draven, a Rake who certainly doesn't want marriage and this might just be the most explosive, passionate and sensual story you can read. Wonderful characters and an interesting, fast paced and riveting story, I simply loved reading it and just have to recommend it. My voluntary review above is unbiased and records my opinion on this story.
A fun Regency romp featuring twin sisters, Annabelle and Hazel. Annabelle wants to get married and she wants a love match. Draven, her best friend’s brother’s best friend, is a rake. He is attracted to Amanda and she is attracted to him. She is also curious about the adventures they might have. This is the titillating and amusing tale of their courtship. Thanks to the author and publisher for an e-galley for an honest review.
This is the story of Anabelle, who wishes to find a husband, but also wishes to marry for love. Meanwhile, Draven has no interest in marriage at all, but finds himself hopelessly attracted to Anabella and unable to leave her alone.
For those who care one way or the other, this is not a clean romance. Just a heads up.
I enjoyed this book. I liked both Draven and Anabelle. The bit with the meaning of flowers was well done, too. This story was a pleasant read.
Dayna Quince is such an entertaining writer to enjoy, especially for females of all ages who thrive on disappearing into a fanciful world of Regency romance. Belle of the Ball is the first of a series and you will have fun escaping into the characters' lives.
A good premise and the characters are interesting. There were a few inconsistencies that were distracting. I liked the language of the flowers and the interaction between Anabelle and Ethan, but her reluctance to accept their chemistry and the way he disappears at the ball seem a little contrived.
Possibly, the most satisfying romp! If you love all the banal silliness of the TON, all the fears of coming out in society and wonderful family relationships, friends to cherish a lifetime, you won't want to put this down. Thrilling from start to finish with few minor proofing glitches, Regency at its best! Bravo, you've got a new fan Dayna!
Not sure how historically accurate this was and there were some issues which I think an editor could've helped with, but I noticed these were self published, so I would say very good quality for that. And sort of just what I needed...
The road to love is not always what we expect. Charm, seduction and arrogance were not what Annabelle was looking for in a husband but Ethan has his very own way of turning a lady’s heart. Loved these characters and their unique love story!❤️
I gave four wars , I love reading these historical romance stories from the olden days. Loved the way how two people courted each other to a beautiful ending.
It was good. I thought it would be more interesting but, it was certainly better than most. I have expectations when authors use words like hot and steamy. I can think of a dozen Regency books I've read off hand that were hotter, but it was a well executed book.