Publisher: Christi Caldwell Ink (February 15, 2016)
Blurb:
Destitute and determined to finally be free of any man’s shackles, Lily Benedict sets out to salvage her honor. With no choice but to commit a crime that will save her from her past, she enters the home of the recluse, Derek Winters, the new Duke of Blackthorne. But entering the “Beast of Blackthorne’s” lair proves more threatening than she ever imagined.
With half a face and a mangled leg, Derek—once rugged and charming—only exists within the confines of his home. Shunned by society, Derek is leery of the hauntingly beautiful Lily Benedict. As time passes, she slips past his defenses, reminding him how to live again. But when Lily’s sordid past comes back, threatening her life, it’s up to Derek to find the strength to become the hero he once was. Can they overcome the darkness of their sins to find a life of love and redemption?
Review:
Sweet, sexy, and a little bit sinful. This scorching historical hits the mark at every turn!
Lily’s life hasn’t been easy at all, and she’s determined to be free- free from destitution, free from scandal, free from hatred. Everyone she loved – or thought she loved- has done nothing but use and turn their backs on her. When she’s given the opportunity to keep the home that was promised, but not left to her, she has to decide how far she’ll go to survive.
Derek once lived a charmed life. That life was taken from him by accident, and he’s suffered tremendously. Although he’s a duke, he’s seen as a monster, and not even his title and riches can reclaim his place in society. All he wants is to be left alone; that is, until Lily and Flora crash into his life.
Although he was a handful and sometimes needed his butt whipped, my heart went out to him. He struggled to accept his life, and as if his scars weren’t a big enough reminder, he suffered daily with pain. How could he forget that terrible day, especially when he was all alone? Well things changed when Flora (his deceased sister’s daughter) became his ward, and Lily became her governess. Although caring for Flora was only supposed to be a ruse to get what she needed in order to keep her home, it quickly became more.
My heart went out to Lily as well. I wanted so badly to strangle George (Derek’s brother), and his mother for the way they treated her. The “gentleman” who claimed to be willing to help her was no better. But through it all, she did what she had to do to survive, and I admired her.
And what can I say about Flora? What a delight. I looked forward to her skipping into the room and expressing her opinions. She was so funny and smart, and she, too, tugged at my heart.
From the first word until the last one, I was hooked. There’s nothing cliché or predictable about this novel, and it rules in ever way. The writing, the dialogue, the action, the sexual tension – all noteworthy! I will definitely be reading more from Caldwell.
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 0 cups of coffee