BLURB:
Sensual heat melts the ice in the new Disgraced Lords novel
from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans, as a marriage of convenience
leads to delightful pleasure - and mortal danger.
Lady Marisa Hawkestone’s nightmare is just beginning when
she wakes up naked, with no memory of the night before, lying next to Maitland
Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton—a man so aloof and rational he’s nicknamed “the
Cold Duke.” A scandal ensues, in which Marisa’s beloved beau deserts her. As a
compromised woman, Marisa agrees to marry Maitland. But on her wedding night,
Marisa discovers the one place the duke shows emotion: in the bedroom, where
the man positively scorches the sheets.
Taught from a young age to take duty seriously, Maitland
cannot understand his new wife’s demands on his love and affection. Marisa’s
hot-blooded spirit, however, does have its attractions—especially at night. In
retrospect, it seems quite silly that he didn’t marry sooner. But being one of
the Libertine Scholars requires constant vigilance, even more so when the enemy
with a grudge against his closest friends targets Marisa. Now Maitland must
save the woman who sets his heart aflame—or die trying.
Excerpt:
Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton, had always simply
been her older brother’s somewhat handsome yet standoffish friend. He’d never
shown an ounce of interest in her, or her in him. She looked him over. “Are you
ill?”
Perfectly arched eyebrows lowered into a frown. “I’m very
well, and you?”
“I’m stunned, actually. You’re flirting with me.”
“I wasn’t flirting. I was merely stating a fact.”
Of course he was. Literal was his middle name. “Then perhaps
you can unhand me, sir,” she said, looking pointedly at his large hands still
firmly holding her waist, “unless you do have intentions of flirting with me.”
To her dismay, he did not take his hands from her; instead,
they tightened and pulled her close, and he gently moved her into an alcove,
away from prying eyes.
“What if I decided I did want to flirt with you? Perhaps
even declare my suit? Don’t look surprised—you are one of the most sought-after
debutantes this season.”
“Has Sebastian put you up to this? There is no need for him
to pester me. I know who I will marry; I’m simply waiting for him to ask.”
Maitland’s eyes roamed her face, stopping at her lips. “A
beauty such as you should not have to wait. I would decline him on principle.
What would you do if I got down on bended knee here and now?”
Heat flared over her skin. Flustered, she didn’t know how to
reply. What had come over His Grace tonight?
“I suspect I would think you in your cups, Your Grace. In
all the years I have known you, you’ve never looked at me twice.”
He pressed closer. “That’s not true, little one. It would
have been inappropriate for me to notice you until I knew my mind. I find that
tonight I know exactly what I want.”
His eyes flared with something she’d swear was heat. Perhaps
their dance earlier had affected him as much as it had affected her.
“I’m not for the wanting, so you can stop this silly
flirtation.”
“I have no need to flirt, little one. When I want a woman
she is left in no doubt as to my intentions.” His mouth trailed up her neck
until he reached her ear. He softly added, “And they rarely deny me.”
A Whisper of Desire is the fourth book in The Disgraced Lords
series by Bronwen Evans, but it can be read as a stand alone. This is the first
book I have read by Ms. Evans and I loved the story!
Lady Marisa Hawkstone is in
love with Lord Rutherford. She thinks he is in love with her also and has been
waiting for him to propose to her. Being
the best friend of Sebastian Hawkstone, Marisa’s brother, Maitland has been
asked to be an escort to Marisa during the ball and keep her safe.
While attending Lord Dunmire’s
ball, Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton steps outside for air and overhears a
conversation that includes Rutherford. Maitland hears the truth of why Rutherford
would want to marry Marisa. He knows that once Sebastian hears of this, he
would never let Rutherford marry Marisa. Maitland had previously suggested he
marry Marisa, but Sebastian didn’t take the offer seriously. Returning to the
ball, Maitland decides he will tell Marisa that he is interested in marrying
her.
The morning after the ball,
Marisa and Maitland find that they have been drugged. They wake up naked in the
same bed in strange room, with no knowledge of how they got there. Word of this would destroy Marisa's reputation and Maitland says they should be married right away.
Maitland, nicknamed the cold
duke, has vowed to never fall in love and closes himself off to
relationships. He keeps his true feelings inside and shows a cold demeanor to
others. This is to protect himself due to an incident when he was
young. He also vows not to ever become like his father.
Maitland is one of a group
of men called The Libertine Scholars. The group, which includes Sebastian, is
being targeted by an enemy. This madwoman wants revenge for an incident their
fathers had done. The men set out to get more information to find out who this
is.
Marisa and Maitland go
undercover to get more information and Marisa is injured. While she is healing
from her injuries, Maitland opens his heart and lets Marisa know why he has
been the way he is. He also tells her that he loves her and no matter what
happens he wants to be with her always.
I really enjoyed reading
this story. There is so much emotion with each character. The suspense of what
happens also is intriguing. I found myself not wanting to put the book down so
I could see what happened next.
I plan to go back to read
the previous stories in the series and I’m also am looking forward to reading
the next book.
Click the Rafflecopter link below to be taken to Bronwen’s giveaway:
About the Author:
USA Today Bestselling author, Bronwen Evans (Bron), loves story-telling – gobbling up movies, reading books and attending the theater. Her head is always filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer.
Bronwen attended Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand earning a bachelor’s degree in Commerce and Administration, majoring in Marketing and Accounting. She was all set on building herself a business career (which she did along the way).
But life never turns out exactly as one thinks. After working for a few years in marketing roles within New Zealand financial institutions, she left for a 6 month overseas experience in London, England. She loved England. She spent several years living in London, using it as a base to be able to work and travel from. She visited all four corners of the world. Her most interesting trips were a camel safari in the Sahara, a trip through Russia, a safari through Africa with her mother, and three months in the Mediterranean.
It was while living and working in London she discovered the offices of Mills & Boon and the germ of an idea to embark on a romance writing career was born.
Almost eight years later, on her return to New Zealand, encouraged by a close friend battling a life-threatening illness, Bronwen finally started down the path to publication by joining RWA, The Beau Monde, RWAustralia and RWNZ.
Bronwen’s first manuscript, INVITATION TO RUIN, was completed late 2009, and was sold to Kensington Publishing early 2010, in a two book deal. Her debut novel, INVITATION TO RUIN, received a 4.5 star rating from RT Book Reviews and was nominated in the RT Reviewer’s Choice Awards – Best First Historical. Invitation to Ruin was also won the RomCon Readers Crown Best Historical 2012.
Bron’s first contemporary, The Reluctant Wife, also won the RomCon Readers Crown, Best Short Contemporary 2013.
Her first book in her Disgraced Lords series hit the USA Today bestsellers list and she has hit it several times since.
She lives in New Zealand in sunny Hawkes Bay with her Cavoodle named Brandy.
Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at Bronwen@bronwenevans.com
You can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com
Or Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bronwenevansauthor
Or Twitter: https://twitter.com/bronwenevans_NZ
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