Verrukkelijke vijand

Cameron Sisters #3

by Cathy Maxwell, Mariëlla Wanrooy-Snel (Translator)

Londen, 1807…

De arrogante hertog gaat haar toch niet kussen?

Op een stormachtige avond geeft Lady Charlotte Cameron een gestrande reiziger een lift in haar koets. Tot haar schrik blijkt het Phillip Maddox, de hertog van Colster te zijn - de man die ervoor heeft gezorgd dat ze door de high society straal wordt genegeerd. Nu zit die verleidelijke duivel opeens zo dicht bij haar in de buurt, dat ze elkaar moeiteloos zouden kunnen kussen!

Phillip moet niets hebben van de bemoeizieke maar beeldschone Charlotte, al zou hij onder andere omstandigheden zeker hebben geprobeerd haar te verleiden. Tijdens de reis blijken echter vele gevaren op de loer te liggen, waardoor hij opeens héél nauw met haar moet samenwerken…

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Regency, Historical Fiction, Regency Romance, Fiction

318 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 25, 2006

About the author

CATHY MAXWELL spends hours in front of her computer pondering the question, "Why do people fall in love?" It remains for her the mystery of life and the secret to happiness.

She lives in the Austin, TX area where she is having the time of her life.

Visit her on Instagram, Twitter, FB, and TikTok at maxwellcathy (Yes, some other Cathy Maxwell nabbed the handle. However, she does own www.cathymaxwell.com and she'd love for you to swing by.)

Reviews

[Jessica's Totally Over The Top Book Obsession · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad. I didn't really like Phillip. It bugged me that he didn't want to marry Charlotte. That he had sex with her and ruined her on purpose, but then he wanted to make her a mistress. Even after he fell in love with her and he knew he wouldn't be Duke anymore he still didn't ask her to marry him but was just going to use her as a mistress. That is super disrespectful and showed he had no honor. I did like Charlotte but I wish she would have married someone else and told Phillip to go fuck himself. I also didn't care for Phillip's twin Justin. I found him immature and at times annoying. I couldn't believe he would be so stupid about his ex wife. Overall this read was just meh and I'm not really looking forward to Justin's book.

[Fae · Rating 2 out of 5]

Stopped at chapter 12. I’m done with series. It has gone from bad to worse now.

There’s an issue with Cathy Maxwell’s development of romance between the hero and heroine in every one of her books in this series (from the first book until this 3rd book). They always start off falling in lust or jumping into bed with each other way too early in the book, even before they start to get each other better.

I’m not convinced that jumping into bed with someone they barely know justifies them falling in love with each other. It’s just the lust speaking, not actual love. Hence, i do not believe that they truly love each other.

Also, the plot in this book was draggy. I actually didn’t care much about the feud between the duke’s family and the Scot people. I wanted more bonding between the duke and charlotte.

Alas, i ran out of patience as the feud took over the romance. I will give up reading the remaining books of this series and try another series of Cathy Maxwell. If even that book doesn’t keep my attention, i will not read this author’s books anymore. This author’s writing is just not my cup of tea.

[Sally Jask-eh · Rating 2 out of 5]

The brother does not like cheese and i do not like moldy d bag fake dukes. Boo this could have, should have had consistent character dev and story direction. ughhh I am having flashbacks to all the worst exes who were unfortunately good in the sac. toxic🤮🤢🤤

[steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

So you know those books you've already read, that you've forgotten you've read until you are about 1/3 or halfway through the actual book and you're sitting there thinking, "this seems so familiar" but it takes you another page or two to realize OHMYGOD. I'VE READ THIS ALREADY?

Yes. This book was it. I like Cathy Maxwell, I really do but for the second time, this book didn't grab my attention (Hence the reason it took me all the way up until the fight in the middle to realize I have read it before). My biggest problem was I didn't like how Charlotte fell in love with Philip RIGHT AWAY AND STARTED PLANNING THEIR LIFE TOGETHER RIGHT AFTER THEY DID THE DEED. Seriously. She was all, this is the man I have been waiting all my life for even though he TRICKED her into sleeping with him. Not cool book, not cool. I think it's a lot of my cynicism coming through, and in no reflection of the book itself, but that just didn't sit well with me. Also the plot line of McKenna taking away Justin as babe but never once telling their father and instead waiting until AFTER the old Duke died before revealing it to Philip, the current duke, struck me as odd. If they were so determined to get their revenge on the old Duke, why did they ever not tell him. That makes no sense to me. But other then that, the book ended the way I recalled. And that was okay

[Niranjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story. I really enjoyed it. It was refreshing to meet a pair of twins that were so unlike each other. That was different, original. Even the heroine wasn't annoying as they usually turn out to be. Charlotte was strong and did not cry or make a fuss at every single trifle. In fact, she actually took control of dire situations more than once. If I had any complaint it would be that they fell in love all too quickly for my tastes. There wasn't much development involved, especially considering they were supposed to hate each other more than anything. Also Charlotte's reason for travelling to Scotland wasn't all that strong (something more solid would have been believable.) Oh, but the ending killed me the most. I wasn't ready for it to end. I would have liked to see how they trained Justin to be a Duke and how they stopped the Laird. Honestly though, I would have preferred for Phillip to just continue on being the Duke (maybe because Justin realises he can't do it and since Phillip's been trained and been through all the shit involved in being a Duke for so long he deserves the title and all its priviledges.) Then again, we readers don't always get what we want, do we?

[Jes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fast read, after my last two. It sits at around 350 pages, which all that much considering how large the typeset was.

I feel a little guilty comparing it to my last two historicals but it feels impossible not to. This book is only ten years younger than the last I read and it feels like it’s in a different era of romance entirely. It lacks the same twisty plot and deeply, deeply drawn characters. This is the kind of book that probably wasnt meant to be picked up at random at a thrift store, the way I did. While it’s comprehensible as a stand alone, it relies pretty heavily on the chance that you’ve read the last book and will read the next in the series.

It follows a pretty weak enemies to lovers set up that culminates into political intrigue that goes nowhere. The romantic resolution felt cheap and unearned. The Scottish-ducal plot goes totally unresolved, as it’s probably supposed to be the subject of the next book.

It’s funny. Like my last read, the protagonist of this book is an oldest sister who is constantly holding her siblings’ best interests at heart. Unlike Lord of Scoundrels, all of our heroine’s development happens in the entry before this one. I don’t think that’s a bad choice, it just makes this read less fulfilling than the other books I’ve been reading lately.

This probably earned two and a half stars but I’m leaving it at a three. I feel like two 2 star review looks really negative where I really just felt really neutral and bored regarding this book.

I have a ton of paperbacks that I got from Chamblins and I’m going to the beach tomorrow. Maybe I’ll read one while lounging prettily in my bathing costume (read: the bikini top I bought because I’m vacationing without my mother to yell at me).

[Lady Darcie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte Cameron is an American trying to fit into London. After helping her sister Miranda jilt the Duke of Colster for husband Charlotte has been putting up with insane things and she isn't going to let the Duke of Colster treat her family the way he has anymore. Set out on to scotland to met the Dukes enemy Charlotte hopes that this man will be able to help her with her little problem little does she know the Duke is also on his way to Scotland to meet the same person.
Phillip Maddox, the Duke OF Colster has had enough of the whispers going around after being jilted by Miranda Cameron he needs an out and finds one when he gets a letter saying that his twin brother was still alive and has been taken by his families emeny Lord MacKenna. Set on finding his brother Phillip heads to Scotland only to wind up with the one person he never thougth to see ever again and thats Charlotte Cameron.
The two begin an EPIC journey to find hope, happiness and maybe even love.

[Sammy Loves Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved and respected these two. Fabulous read after suffering through the last book!

[Elena-Loredana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book did not know what it was trying to be: a historical fiction romance or adventure or all at the same time. That is the feeling I got from it. It was enjoyable although it felt short. It has lots of major plots which required more development and page count. Moreover, the ideas behind those plot points were really good. Maybe it was the small page count or their execution.
I know this book is part of a series, and I basically started in the middle of it. Thus, the two main characters might know each other better from previous books and interactions. Although, I have to say that the beginning of their relationship errs on the side of problematic. At least, it does for someone who just picks up the book with no idea of the previous books.
It was an enjoyable, quick, and entertaining read. I liked it. I read it in less than 24 hours, even though I read the first 2 chapters less than a month ago. Oops! The bit of adventure was a welcomed spice.

[ies · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 bintang deh, gw awal2 masa mikir dulu bacanya "ini apa sih maksudnya?" trs musti gw ulang lagi buahahaha.. mungkin emang kr gw baca CR mulu dari kemaren, jadi butuh loading.. atau writer-nim yg bahasanya aneh? entah lah.. gw sempet rada bosen sih, tp ceritanya si bagus... bukan cuma masalah perasaan doang kaya HR biasanya ehehehe XD

Mungkin emang gw mustinya baca buku 2 nya dulu kali ya, karena Charlotte sama Phillip tu ude berseteru dari buku 2, tp gw langsung lompat ttp bisa nyambung si kwkwkwkw Jadi di buku 2 kan Phillip tu mau ngelamar adeknya Charlotte, Miranda karena mirip sama mantan istrinya Elizabeth yg stunning beauty gitu.. sayangnya Miranda jatuh cinta sama temen masa kecilnya sekaligus cinta monyet kali ya, Alex setengah Indian yg dulunya ditentan bapaknya Cameron sister ini. Nah, pas ngelamar di ball gitu, Miranda nolak.. padahal pas Phillip pdkt tu nyambung kok meski gak hingar bingar intensitasnya, Phillip, Duke of Colster yg agung ditolak di depan ton!! dan yg ngomong itu Charlotte (kayaknya) bkn Mirandanya dan bikin Phillip meradang. Padahal Phillip yg tadinya gak mau nikah lagi setelah kematian Elizabeth kr melahirkan dan merasa bersalah mulai mikir nikah lagi pas liat Miranda.

Setelah insiden itu Phillip makin kekeh gak mau nikah lagi deh.. bodo amat, next Duke biar sepupunya aja yg jadi heir, sampai suatu siang die dapet surat yg bilang kalau saudara kembarnya aka kakaknya yg lahir 14 menit lebih dulu blm mati dan di culik sama Laird MacKenna yg dendam sama keluarga Maddox puluhan tahun lamanya. Phillip diem2 pergi ke Scott buat nyari kakaknya, Duke yg sah secara hukum, die pergi diam-diam tanpa pengawal atau karyawan satupun karena die gak yakin apakah surat itu bener atau cuma hoax doang. Nah, pas lagi badai gitu.. kudanya Phillip kakinya patah dan die ditolongin sama kereta kuda yg kebetulan lewat, alangkah kagetnya Phillip pas masuk ke dalam kereta kuda dan mendapati Charlotte Cameron, his nemesis duduk cantik dalam kereta kuda, lebih kaget lagi pas Charlotte bilang mau ke tempat nya Laird MacKenna. Phillip yg kesel banget maksa Charlotte bilang ada hubungan apa die sama MacKenna yg dibalas dgn sengit sama Charlotte “bukan urusan lo!” kesel, curiga, kurang tidur, keujanan, si Duke nya sampe nyekik Charlotte dan bukanya takut mbaknya malah membalas dengan ganas.. yg akhirnya berakhir dgn kissu-kissu heboh dan hal-hal laennya. Phillip sendiri kaget bukan maen, kenapa die bisa gitu.. die nyalahin kurang tidur dan hidup selibat selama 6th setelah kematian Elizabeth sih.

Charlotte Cameron, pindah dari Amerika ke Inggris buat masa depan adek-adeknya sesuai harapan mamanya (yg mati karena di bunuh Indian), harapannya tu tinggi banget.. kakeknya itu Earl, jadi awalnya die diterima ton dgn tangan terbuka, meski sering disindir2 fortune hunter blabla sampai kasus Miranda. Miranda di taksir sama Duke of Colster dan bikin Charlotte hepiii banget awalnya, sampai die tau kalau Miranda itu cintanya sama Alex, setengah Indian yg punya bisnis shipping dan Charlotte pun meyakinkan Miranda buat mengikuti kata hatinya, mo ngapain jadi Duchess kl lo gak hepi? Masalahnya Charlotte salah langkah pas nolak sang Duke dan terus dikucilkan seluruh ton, bahkan Alex gak bisa lagi bisnis di Inggris karena sang Duke murka, ya mkn si Duke nya gak turun tangan langsung tp kan ton langsung melakukan boikot. Sekarang Charlotte terasing sampai Constance (heroine buku 5), adek bontotnya di sekolahin di Edinburg biar gak ngadepin ton yg makin menjadi-jadi, pokoknya semua karena Duke of Colster. Sampai one day, Charlotte dapet surat dari Laird MacKenna, trs ketemu secara langsung pas acara apa gitu lah, si Laird bilang terus terang kl die naksir Charlotte apalagi mereka sama-sama punya musuh yg sama si Duke of Colster. Charlotte si biasa aja sama si Laird, apalagi Laird nya ude tua kan.. tp ya demi masa depan Constance kan, Charlotte meng iyakan pas diundang ke kastil nya si Laird di Scott.

Sampai badai di jalan, dan kusirnya bilang ada gentlemen yg kaki kudanya patah, awalnya si kusir si gak mau nolong, tp Charlotte kasian kan di suruh masuk aja ke kereta kuda, alangkah kagetnya Charlotte pas yg masuk itu si Phillip Maddox, Duke of Colster. Setelah banter caci maki satu sama lain, Charlotte gak sengaja nyebut MacKenna kan, dan si Duke murka kaya orang kesetanan, males banget ngejelasin hubungan sama si Laird, Charlotte ngelawan mati-matian sampai insiden kissu-kissu heboh itu, Charlotte jg gak ngerti kenapa response nya gitu amat ke si Phillip, mungkin kr selama ini die kesel banget kali ya.. mikirnya gitu.

Masalah mulai pas Charlotte dgn sengaja ngomong ke si kusir kalau si mas yg ditolong itu Duke of Colster dan si kusir langsung murka, sampae panggil sodara2 nya dan nembakin si Duke, Charlotte yg gak ngerti sejarah keluarg Maddox vs MacKenna / Scott lebih tepatnya bengong dong.. dan ngerasa bersalah jg karena menyebabkan Phillip ditembakin. Pokoknya akhirnya mereka lari gitu lah, berdua nyolong kuda.. dan setelah jauh, Charlotte gak sengaja nemuin suratnya Phillip yg bilang kalau Phillip py kakak yg masih hidup aka Duke of Colster yang sah secara hukum. Charlotte bilang si, gw kaga bakalan ngomong kesiapa-siapa kok, pas liat Phillip mukanya marah, tp dalam hati Charlotte bilang one day akan gunakan itu biar die bisa di pake lagi di ton dan Alex bisa lagi bisnis di London. Phillip percaya? Ya enggak lah.. die kesel banget Charlotte nemuin tu surat, makanya die ngerayu Charlotte mati-matian malem itu dan berakhir dgn having sex, abis itu Phillip bilang “kita impas ya, lo tau rahasia gw dan gw punya rahasia lo” murka deh mbaknya.. eyel2an sampe kesel2an dan berakhir dgn uhuk2 lagi buahahahaha…

Plot twist nya pas mereka ketangkep sama orang-orangnya Laird MacKenna dan diadili, jadi masalah puluhan tahun lalu itu adalah.. Laird MacKenna itu kan King nya Scott kan, sampai para pemilik tanah di Scott pada jual tanahnya dan berbalik arah mihak king of England, salah satunya keluarga Maddox, leluhurnya Phillip. Oke itu masalah nasional deh ya, masalah yg sebenernya itu adalah Laird MacKenna sekarang itu dulu satu sekolah sama bapaknya Phillip, dan Bapaknya Phillip itu cruel kan, dingin dan ya rake banget.. pas sekolah si Laird di bully abis2an, masalah makin parah pas Rowena adeknya si Laird jatuh cinta sama bpk nya Phillip dan hamil, pas itu bapaknya Phillip malah ngejek2 dan bilang gak layak deh lo jadi istri gw.. sampai Rowena keguguran dan stress berat. Makanya buat balas dendam, Rowena tu nyamar jadi bidan pas emaknya Phillip lahiran dan ambil anaknya, bilang kl anaknya mati (bpknya Phillip lagi travel sama King nya kala itu, kr diplomat jg kaya Phillip). Yang Rowena gak tau, kl ternyata anaknya itu kembar, dan yg kedua lahir kemudian pas Rowena ude pergi bawa Justin kakaknya Phillip. Jadi ini sebenernya masalah pribadi bkn masalah nasional seperti yg laird nya gembor-gemborkan ke rakyatnya sih.

Terus apakah Justin masih hidup? Tentu saja.. ini mas hero kita buku 4 yg gw rada males baca, gw mo baca buku 5 saja kwkwkwkwkw. Oh ya, terus gimana Charlotte – Phillip, bahkan sampai melarikan diri lagi sama Justin kali ini, Phillip masih gak mau bilang kl die cinta sama Charlotte, meski tiap malem bobo bareng jg.. nyebelin deh, Charlotte nya sampe disuruh pulang aja ke London sama Justin, biar Phillip ngerasa kehilangan dan pasti akan mati-matian mohon-mohon ke lo deh.. ya HEA sih akhirnya.. Phillip jg menyerahkan gelar Duke nya ke Justin dan milih jadi Lord Phillip Madox, diplomat ma tetep.. karena die suka politik dan nikah sama Charlotte tanpa merasa terbebani dgn “Charlotte tu gak layak jadi Duchess” ahsem banget emang si Phillip!

Ceritanya seru deh.. Cuma bahasanya aja yg gw rada mikir.. pas awal, ude 20%-an si ude mulai enjoy.. gw mo baca Constance sama Gordon, heir nya Laird MacKenna ah… males baca buku 4 kr pasti Moira nya keluar tu, mantan istrinya Justin yg kaya ular…

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Quite the beginning with Charlotte and Phillip meeting on the road to Scotland; a lot of intensity between these two characters right off the bat.
I found myself secretly cheering on Charlotte's lack of "proper" manners toward Phillip the Duke (the American in me) .
Oh yes Charlotte does my American heart proud when the MacKenna's want to attack Phillip. Charlotte takes one man out, and helps shoot another while she calmly tells Phillip to run "and this time don't diddle around" hahaha
Crrraaazzzy moment when after Phillip and Charlotte are laying about in afterglow and she is dreamily thinking she found her duke he tells her she is not going back to London without him. She thinks it's because he loves her and then he tells her its because now he has a secret that would ruin her (she had a secret against him, so he needed something to have equal footing). I can't even describe this moment and how spectacular Maxwell did at writing this part because it completely took me by surprise what Phillip said.
The storyline of Phillip having a twin brother added a dimension to the story. The character of Tavis or Justin as he was named when he was baby is intriguing especially being the twin born first so Phillip turns out not to be the true Duke. (Can't wait to read Justin's story!)
Phillip was kind of an a-hole during most of the book. He spent most the time claiming he could never marry Charlotte, which given the time period and class issues yes I know is realistic but it's a romance book dammit those issues should be ignored. He was straight up prickish to her but then when she left him, the old you don't know what you have until you lost it spurred him into action. I do wonder though if he would have still married her if he was going to remain the Duke. Anyway, the ending seemed rushed to me with Phillip seeing the light a bit fast after pages and pages of having him think she was too "below" him. The beginning of the book was good with Charlotte and Phillip's battling, in fact I really thought it was going to be a keeper. However, the ending with Phillip denying Charlotte and suddenly with no apparent reason accepting she could be his wife not the greatest.

B-

[Mornie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it! Love it! Great author! My favorite book of hers. Love the main characters! In 1807 London, Duke Phillip Maddox blames Charlotte Cameron for her sister, his fiancée, jilting him at their betrothal ball. However, he learns that his older twin brother Justin, who died in childbirth, actually is alive. He was kidnapped by Laird MacKenna and was raised in the Highlands. Philip needs to know the truth.------ Charlotte travels by coach in a storm to see MacKenna who she met when he introduced himself by saying they share a common enemy. She sees a man needing a ride, but when he enters the carriage, Charlotte and Phillip recognize one another. They argue and soon physically fight. He suddenly kisses her and both lose control.----- Forced to flee an angry mob, they stop and make love. The next day eight Highlanders capture them and take them to MacKenna who has raised an army to free Scotland from the absentee lords that are selling out the land from underneath the long time tenant farmers. Mackenna¿s sister claims Judicium Dei, the judgment of God and selects Tavis as her champion to battle Phillip to the death. As they battle, Phillip knows he loves Charlotte. ----- This sequel to Cathy Maxwell¿s superb THE PRICE OF INDISCRETION is a superb Regency because the fine lead couple who were key secondary players in the previous tale deftly change from enemy to beloved. The strong support cast adds depth to this tense historical suspense. Though the escape from the villain who has plotted for years seems too easy, fans will appreciate this terrific early nineteenth century thriller.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Cameron, heads up to Scotland, to visit Laird McKenna, whom if she marries him is a way to repair the damage done to her family by letting her sister marry the man that she loved. After her and her sisters came to England, she convinced her sister (whom after being practically engaged to a peer) to marry a man she had loved for many years. So Charlotte, knowing that she and her sisters might be shunned from society, decided that the happiness of her sister was more important. Now traveling up to Scotland and in hopes of marrying this Laird, is the only way to fix what has been wrought, until Phillip Maddox ends up in the carriage with her. Phillip is still furious at having been dumped by a Cameron, can hardly believe he is in the same carriage as Charlotte. But then a spark of desire flares up between them through a sensual embrace, and all his bitter feelings go flying through the roof at this one kiss from Charlotte and he knows that she will be his destiny.In The Bed Of A Duke is the second installment of the Cameron Sisters by Cathy Maxwell. I have read this series before but its been a couple of years, so I thought I would re read them again, but I have always loved In The Bed Of A Duke, I loved how the story flows from two people hating one another, then turning into them falling in love. There is also a mystery and dangerous side to the story that will keep the reader on their toes, and fully engaged throughout the whole of the story. There was also such a emotional side to the story as well, that will pull at your heartstrings. In The Bed Of A Duke is a delicious read!!!!

[jenjn79 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I waited too long to review this book, so my comments will probably be sparse.

Apparently, Charlotte and Phillip first tangle in a previous book, and it aids in believing their connection. I didn't know this when I read the book, but it makes sense. It did seem as though you were supposed to know what had happened between them. Some readers say that if you didn't read the other book, it really took away from Charlotte and Phillip's connection, but I didn't think it was a huge problem. I still believed the chemistry between them.

I had two complaints about the book. The first was that I had a real hard time with Charlotte's antagonism toward Phillip. She blamed him for all her problems when he hadn't done a thing wrong. In that time period, she was the one who had wronged him, the one who'd caused all the problems. So it just seemed entirely illogical that she had a right to be angry with him. Secondly, I thought the ending sucked. It was too abrupt and incomplete. I was left wondering about too many things, and that's utterly annoying. It's likely that there will be another connecting book, but still, too many open issues leave a reader with a bad taste in the mouth. Some more closure would have been appreciated.

Bottom line, a decent enough historical. I liked that there was a bit more action than you find in many historicals. The romance wasn't too bad. I liked the book mostly, but I didn't find anything outstanding about it.

[Kesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

What I liked most about the book was that the twin plot wasnt what I was expecting. I thought they were gonna kill the Duke, have his twin take his place and have him marry Charlotte because the real Duke compromised her. I figured that the real Duke would somehow not be killed, realize he loved Charlotte, and then go to England and claim her. In actuality, they werent identical twins so the Laird put them in a fight to the death because of some old as revenge against the twins father.

In all other aspects of this book everything was as expected. She fell in love with him immediately after they had sex. Of course he let her know he just used her. He realized he loved her but could never marry her because she is so far beneath him but he could make her his mistress. This could have been a Harlequin Romance.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean, this book is the most ridiculous cheesie thing I've ever read. There are consent issues, insta love, a secret/stolen long list twin brother (this isn't a spoiler it's literally within the first 20 pages and if you can't guess who it is you and I can't be friends) and a mustache twirling villian who is clearly going to be showing up in more books.

I'm all for cheese and troupes but this is overload and not even very cheese. I like cheese but this is no name cheese that hasn't aged well. But Maxwell still wrote it well enough that I read all of it while wondering why I was still doing it. And suddenly the book ended and I wasn't sure how it happened.

There are better Maxwell's to read, avoid this one.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a DNF. I didn't like the lack of build between the hero and heroine before they hopped into the sack. It was too soon in their relationship, and also, the characters weren't entering into an equal relationship. There were overtones of power and control, and not the consensual kind that are prevalent in other romances. I left off when there is a kidnapping brewing, and well, I don't really care what happens to the characters in this book or how the kidnappers are foiled. Therefore, it is a no-go for me.

[mer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars - London, 1807 / Adult Historical Romance

I didn't know it was a part of series. So, am I going to grab others? Well, that depends. Anyway, it was a nice plot and I especially liked the climatic scene (read the book if you want to know what scene is that. Not gonna tell, I'm very lazy at the moment to spoil the fun). I never liked insta-love but well, it's Romancelandia, what would you expect? Read on your own peril.

[Cindy III · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I own this book and it happened to fit with a reading challenge I am doing. I had another book that also fit, but this one got my attention almost from the start. However, there were things that I didn't care for or like. Still before I go into that I'd say I liked it enough despite those things to give it 3 stars.

First thoughts on starting, this is my second book by Cathy Maxwell and it is quite similar to the first one I read. Right away you know that Charlotte Cameron helped her sister Miranda and her love interest Alex to break off her engagement to Phillip Maddox, Duke of Colster. This happened in a public way in England, so it led to the Cameron sisters to not really be welcome among the ton and less likely to make a marriage match to a Duke. As a result Charlotte and Phillip don't like each other.
Still their paths cross on a trip to Scotland. It did not take long to fall in love, which I had to roll my eyes. I really can't understand why Charlotte would love Colster. Unless there's something I missed from not having read the previous book. I know he's a Duke and characters with titles have acted holier than thou and my title demands I not associate with you or I not act like this or do that. Fine, but then the character changes over time.
Charlotte I found interesting since she grew up in America in the Ohio Valley frontier. Some background is given on that, which is sad. She went to England for her sisters and herself to marry dukes, nothing less for the Cameron sisters (their mother was the daughter of an earl hence how she thought to go to England). She was good at dealing with tense, potentially violent situations; not breaking down crying.

A little over 50% my one update comment "I might get sick of Dukes." I probably won't as long as they aren't like Colster. Grudgingly I acknowledge that being raised a certain way, doing what duty entails for a duke he is realistic. He does not want to risk similar gossip with another Cameron sister. The best he can offer is mistress. Isn't making her a mistress to result with the same kind of gossip? This being a historical romance there is a happy ending, just kind of abrupt.

I liked his brother Justin/Tavis better. I liked the interactions with the three of them closer to the end. Since the brothers haven't known each other you can sort of see a relationship developing.

This is book 3. From the little appearances I got of Gordon Lachlan in this book I liked him and then reading at the end in the back that he gets his own story with Constance Cameron I wanted to read that. Skip book 4 and go straight to 5, which it is good I read this one since it ties in and likely has spoilers. I've had time to backtrack and not go that route because book 4 is about Justin. I'd like to see how he holds up as a romantic lead, who he will fall for, what she'll be like and how he has adjusted to England as opposed to Scotland. I had to backtrack further after reading the preview for book 2 about Miranda (who jilted Colster) and Alex because it hooked me good plus you get some of their circumstances here in bk 3.

[Topy.Loving.Books · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those two went from hate to insta lust thanks to just one bumpy carriage ride. She ends up on his lap and he can't control his d*ck anymore poor widower who didn't relieve the pressure for years. And now the heroine payed the price (mind you willingly) having sex with the guy on their first night on the road.... They don't stop on the kissing, licking or handy square and directly for to pen-penetrattive-wonderland. Also I didn't understand the practicality of their first time in a hayrick?!?!? 🤔 Had to google the thing. It might have the shape of a house, but you can't request a night in, as there's no inside. It's just an enormous pile of hay. Also, I grew up in a farm so I can't see how having hay twigs pocking you during the act would be any sexy. It's like getting naughty on a sand beach: looks good on movies, not in reality.

I enjoyed the scottish shenanigans about this twin brother quest, but it took too much space from the romance. Also it gave the opportunity for the heroine to show how far she's welling to go to protect the hero, as much as he was for her. I definitely liked his big "my wife" energy and how ///SPOILER///his brother challenged him about that./////

But overall they lacked more development (like the two previous stories) also the ending felt so rushed. Can I get a proper chapter or epilogue to get there?! Apparently in the next book we see again the MMCs from the 3 first books but I don't think I want to bother continuing this series any longer.

[Lita · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5, rounded to 3 stars because it was entertaining, but the love relationship doesn't convince me.
The main character is the typical rude and arrogant macho man - aren't the dukes of that time supposed to behave properly and respect women? The book has just started, they barely know each other, they share a carriage because she pities him waiting in the rain and he shows his appreciation by groping and fondling the girl without her consent, who is on a trip to meet her betrothed, by the way? WTF????
The relationship is very rushed, I don't see feelings, only sexual desire and it's not the same. There is a Spanish movie from the nineties with Verónica Forqué and Jorge Sanz titled "Why do they call it love when they mean sex?" and that sums up this relationship -and many others in contemporary romance books.
What I liked most is the brother's storyline.
And it's not that I don't like romances, but they have to give me an interesting story, a compelling relationship, something that strikes me as worthy of being written about in a book.

[Berber · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. MMC that takes no responsibility whatsoever and is kinda delusional. He keeps talking about how he is a man of honor but then does a shitload of stuff that shows he has not a single shred of honor at all? How entiteled and arrogant can a man be? He has zero regard for her and just blatantly uses her? He doesn't listen to any of her objections or decisions and keeps insinuating she is reacting abnormally, while...she really isn't. This man is horrible on so many levels. I just coulnd't read any further after 110 pages. Its not often I find a book unreadable but this one did it lol.
I did like the fierceness of the FMC. She is smart and witty and outspoken. I just wish she wasn't so incredibly good of trust. Why sleep with that man after everything that happened? Like what did you expect of him? To marry you?
I read the ending and he decides she is worthy of marriage on literally the last couple of pages. I can't imagine the other 150 pages offer him any redeeming qualities.

Wouldn't recommend to anyone.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my second time reading this, but since I last read it when it came out, I didn’t remember the plot…after so many years of reading some pretty good romances, this one fell flat on it’s second review. Mostly boring, the romance was short, tame and I didn’t see how they could just fall in love within a couple of days considering their history. They went from arguing to romance within hours. Didn’t care for the sibling arguments, they didn’t see believable. Phillip was a cad, not wanting to marry her after he deliberately ruined her, because of her not being in the same class, but then he was always going on about how he’s a duke and can do what he liked and can weather scandal, etc, but can’t marry her because she was beneath him? Lame excuse. Didn’t like the hero at all. And then it’s a showy delxaration at the end that wraps up too quickly. She doesn’t even give him a what-for to make him earn her love.

[Carol.Dreamer]

When the H seduced the h and took her virginity I thought that the fucker was thinking in the lines of "a secret for a secret" kind of thing, and I was right. In an instant I remembered that he had a gun. Where's the gun? Just kill him and throw his body in the river. Done. Oh yeah, this is not that kind of story. This is the kind of story where the H do this kind of crap and the h still have sex with him afterwards even if he just ruined her future. This is the kind of story where the H thinks the h will only be good enough as a kept mistress and that she might not agree with him on that so he will just have to convince her that she's only good for that. And frankly, who wouldn't want to be a duke's mistress, thinks the H? And in the end, he proposed to her when he was no longer a duke. Quite the love story. What saddens me is knowing that this happened to countless women throughout history, aristocratic titles involved or not.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies turned lovers

The Cameron sisters left the young United States to come to England with hopes of finding husbands . Miranda jilted Phillip Maddox aka Lord Colester with help of her eldest sister Charlotte. One cold rainy night in Scotland these two enemies are forced together by fate. They tables turn and find themselves on an adventure of finding themselves and reliving life. Can they get over their past and new secrets to have a life together or go thier own ways. Great book!

[Jacqueline Seewald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte Cameron is an American who has brought her two younger sisters to England to improve their station in life. Her younger sister Miranda has jilted the Duke of Colster. He holds Charlotte responsible. The two meet on the road to the Highlands and a hot romance ensues. There is lots of action and a complexity to the plot which includes the Duke's long lost twin brother. If you like Regency romance, this will be an enjoyable read.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This could have been SO good! I was getting Kleypas’ Lillian and Westcliff vibes for a bit, and then the twin plot took everything else over. There was no development from the enemies to lovers, to wanting her as a mistress, to marriage. It was all interspersed throughout the plot of the brother, which seemed more important. Add to that the abrupt ending and no epilogue. Such a bummer as I happily flew through the first half, but disappointed in the later half.

[Kamila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Well, that was a disappointment.

I didn’t like the plot, didn’t like characters and I also wondered if the characters themselves liked each other. Nothing could have saved this rating. There was rep chemo between the leads and their actions were so confusing to me that along the way I cackled at their way of thinking.

Also I hate the whole - English lady = demure, white rose and American lady = wicked, wild creature. Enough of this I beg you!

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story, H and h have a history, causing them to each other, as she helped her sister to jilt him, publicly. He's now caught up in another possible scandal, somehow she's get's involved, and before she blinks he's ruined her. He realises he likes her a lot but he couldn't marry her, so plans to make her his mistress. I really enjoyed their adventure, and the writing flowed well. Good fun.

[Cam · Rating 4 out of 5]

More action than I expected for a romance book, I enjoyed this. I know they fall quick in these types of books but in two days and right after y’all do IT is insane lol. I liked that Tavis and Charlotte teamed up at the end to get at Phillip, making him come to his senses because he was acting stupid about Charlotte.