Barbara Ann reviewed on
In the opening of the tale our heroine, Julianne is about to embark on another season in London. Since her sister in-law is currently expecting her first child, it had been planned that Julianne would stay with friends of the family for the duration of the season. Situations arise forcing a change of plans, and Julianne is ultimately left with our hero Marc's, Aunt Hester.
It couldn't have worked out better because you see, Julianne has a secret. She has been in love with her brother's best friend Marc, the Earl of Hawkfield, since she was a little girl. With the help of her friends and Marc's aunt Hester, Julie is determined to win his heart before the season is over.
Marc is asked by Julianne's brother (aka his best friend), to basically act as his young sister's guardian while she is in Hester's care. This comes as a bit of a shock because Marc is not exactly the sort of man who should be charged with rescuing a young maiden from all the rakes a rougues prowling London ballrooms. Well, considering he himself is quite the reputed rake.
But Julianne's brother is completely confident and so, Marc decides to take on the challenge--and to take the duty quite seriously. For the time being, Marc completely pushes aside his playboy ways and concentrates all his energies on thwarting would be suitors.
The season begins and it's really very comical to see how overbearing Marc becomes and just how blind he is to the fact that he is the only man Julianne wants.
As far as Marc is concerned, these losers don't stand a chance of taking advantage of Julie. He knows every trick, every body movement, every thought that wanders through the minds of men and he'd be damned if he's going to allow these men to think these thoughts about his innocent Julie-girl!
Before he knows what he's about, Marc realizes it's not only the would-be suitors who are envisioning what Julie would look like in the throws of passion...but him, as well!
Marc knows he needs to get a grip on his wayward thoughts because there was no way he was going to pursue and romantic thoughts of Julie.
But what Marc doesn't realize is that it isn't so easy to keep your desire in check. Especially when your own aunt, a group of overly romantic girls and the object of your affections are conspiring behind your back about all the ways to seduce a scoundrel....
Oh I really came to love Marc. Outwardly, he's this fun, loving and seemingly carefree guy, but inside he was tormented by something in his past that no one--not even his closest friend--knew about. It is also this secret from his past which proves to be one of the main reasons he is reluctant to pursue his feelings for Julianne. Well, that and the fact that her brother is Marc's best friend and would likely choke the very life out of him if he ever found out.
Julianne was a wonderful heroine. She's so in love with Marc even as the story opens, but it's almost a girly infatuated "he's my knight in shining armor" type love. As time passes and she matures so do her feelings and when Marc's past comes to light I was very impressed with just how much she matured throughout the course of the tale.
This story did sort of remind me of Julia Quinn's Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. You've got the heroine who is secretly longing for the hero but doesn't think it's ever going to happen. The hero who is completely oblivious to how the heroine feels about him, when suddenly he himself is completely smitten. There's also scandalous society sheet type deal...but, amazingly, Vicky Dreiling made this story all her own.
This author is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I also really enjoyed her first story, How to Marry a Duke. Her writing style is, in a word--fun! You find yourself smiling and laughing at each of her characters antics throughout the story. The romance is so very passionate and you very easily connect with her characters.
It couldn't have worked out better because you see, Julianne has a secret. She has been in love with her brother's best friend Marc, the Earl of Hawkfield, since she was a little girl. With the help of her friends and Marc's aunt Hester, Julie is determined to win his heart before the season is over.
Marc is asked by Julianne's brother (aka his best friend), to basically act as his young sister's guardian while she is in Hester's care. This comes as a bit of a shock because Marc is not exactly the sort of man who should be charged with rescuing a young maiden from all the rakes a rougues prowling London ballrooms. Well, considering he himself is quite the reputed rake.
But Julianne's brother is completely confident and so, Marc decides to take on the challenge--and to take the duty quite seriously. For the time being, Marc completely pushes aside his playboy ways and concentrates all his energies on thwarting would be suitors.
The season begins and it's really very comical to see how overbearing Marc becomes and just how blind he is to the fact that he is the only man Julianne wants.
As far as Marc is concerned, these losers don't stand a chance of taking advantage of Julie. He knows every trick, every body movement, every thought that wanders through the minds of men and he'd be damned if he's going to allow these men to think these thoughts about his innocent Julie-girl!
Before he knows what he's about, Marc realizes it's not only the would-be suitors who are envisioning what Julie would look like in the throws of passion...but him, as well!
Marc knows he needs to get a grip on his wayward thoughts because there was no way he was going to pursue and romantic thoughts of Julie.
But what Marc doesn't realize is that it isn't so easy to keep your desire in check. Especially when your own aunt, a group of overly romantic girls and the object of your affections are conspiring behind your back about all the ways to seduce a scoundrel....
Oh I really came to love Marc. Outwardly, he's this fun, loving and seemingly carefree guy, but inside he was tormented by something in his past that no one--not even his closest friend--knew about. It is also this secret from his past which proves to be one of the main reasons he is reluctant to pursue his feelings for Julianne. Well, that and the fact that her brother is Marc's best friend and would likely choke the very life out of him if he ever found out.
Julianne was a wonderful heroine. She's so in love with Marc even as the story opens, but it's almost a girly infatuated "he's my knight in shining armor" type love. As time passes and she matures so do her feelings and when Marc's past comes to light I was very impressed with just how much she matured throughout the course of the tale.
This story did sort of remind me of Julia Quinn's Romancing Mr. Bridgerton. You've got the heroine who is secretly longing for the hero but doesn't think it's ever going to happen. The hero who is completely oblivious to how the heroine feels about him, when suddenly he himself is completely smitten. There's also scandalous society sheet type deal...but, amazingly, Vicky Dreiling made this story all her own.
This author is fast becoming a favorite of mine. I also really enjoyed her first story, How to Marry a Duke. Her writing style is, in a word--fun! You find yourself smiling and laughing at each of her characters antics throughout the story. The romance is so very passionate and you very easily connect with her characters.
