The Scoundrel's Heart is a story that I have been highly intrigued by and it was on the top of my list of the top releases that came out this past week that I wanted to get to but it was a book that took me a bit longer to get through. I will admit that the beginning does start slow, maybe if it hadn't been an audiobook it might have gone by faster, but I really wanted to listen to this one since it was available in the AnyPlay subscription that I have. I have always been impressed by Anne Gracie, and she writes such authentic regency tales, and you can really tell that she does her research and I respect that especially in the face of the evolvement of historical romance currently.
The Scoundrel's Heart features two main couples:
Alice (Lady Charleton)-a widow, destitute, blackmailed and James, Lord Tarrant-military officer retired, single father of three daughters and widower -Mature Pairing
Lucy and Gerald-Younger Pairing -Lucy a scoundrel's daughter, a goose girl, but trained in the arts of a lady. Gerald-Young lord and nephew to Alice, Lady Charleton
The Scoundrel's Heart begins with Alice. She is a widow and is in her late thirties. She is confronted by a man who holds letters from her late husband to his mistress, scandalous ones that demean Alice in the worst of ways. He threatens her that if she won't get his daughter a titled lord for a husband, he will send them to be printed and the whole Ton would know of the reality of her marriage and what her husband thought of her. So Alice agrees, knowing she has no other choice. When she meets Lucy, she sees a girl that is completely withdrawn, bitter and angry. But soon Alice is able with her warm demeanor and kind heart, to bring Lucy out of her shell and they make a pact and build a friendship. As Alice shows Lucy around to the Ton, she knows that Lucy doesn't want a titled lord but neither of them have a choice right now of their circumstances. Lucy and the nephew of Alice, Gerald, have some entangled bantering. On the surface they don't care for each other, but underneath their bantering is a passion they are holding back from each other. Gerald is aware he will have to be crafty and cunning to capture Lucy's heart. He is determined to turn that animosity into love. But while Lucy and Gerald are working through their issues, so are Alice and James. James is a single father now, having lost his wife while he was away at war. And now he is claiming his children and he is drawn to Alice. But to dig into her secrets, he will have to show he is trustworthy and that he wants her more than just to be his mistress....that he wants to show her passion yes but also what love between a man and a woman can truly become.
The Scoundrel's Heart is a story that features two couples and at first, I was reluctant and I almost walked away from the book because I really have to know this beforehand and to just walk blindly in the book (why oh why I didn't read reviews for it before reading/listening I have no clue) but I chugged through it and then it CLICKED. After that, I was so addicted to this book and I honestly couldn't put it down. I had so much fun with this one and seeing these two couples find their way together. It definitely starts with a rocky beginning for them, but through some alliances that are made, and some fun antics with three little girls and an obsession over cats....these alliances turn into affairs of the heart. I was really drawn into the humor and sweet tones of this book. Now, this is what I love my regency to be. I wanted to take a break from historical's for a bit, but nope now I have a more burning need to read more of the genre and I thank Anne Gracie for firing me up in her novel. This was exactly what I needed. Her writing can sometimes be a hit or miss for me, however, this book turned out to be a beautiful yet charming read.
I will admit that I was supremely nervous at first with the two couples, but I found that it was really well balanced throughout the story. I was so intrigued in seeing how it would play out, especially the blackmail portion of the plot and it does turn out so well. What I really love about Anne Gracie's style of writing, is that it may start out slow and rocky but once it builds momentum, then you are hooked into it and you don't want to let go of the story. If it hadn't been for the slow beginning, then I would have rating this a five blossom rating.
Overall I found The Scoundrel's Daughter to be stunning, authentically historic, realistically portrayed in the culture f the Regency era, and a romance that fit my mood in such a perfect way. It's a story that will captivate the hearts of its reader with each page and touch the soul with its strength and sweetness.
When I first read this book back in 2016 I think it was a 2 star read for me but I recently did a re read for a buddy read a long and now its a 4 star. So sometimes re reading can change the outlook of a story for you.
Destiny, as a child suffered and was tortured and abused by a vampire, and then turned by him, but there is still good within her, even though she thinks she is evil, having to kill to survive. There is one man, a carpathian, who has always suffered right with her, and been her light, but there is a great part of her that doesn't believe she deserves any joy or love in her life. Then he shows up in her life, real and she knows that her life is about to change forever. Nicolaoe has been searching for Destiny ever since their first connection when she was but a little girl, and once he sees her knows that she is his lifemate, but knows that through all the trauma she has gone through in her life, he must take it slow for her, no matter the cost to himself. Hoping that once she learns to trust him, that she will come to love him...Dark Destiny is the thirteenth book in the Carpathian Series by Christine Feehan. I have read this book before but it has been a while since I have, and I have to say its one of my favorites. Its so emotionally compellling to the reader, that you can't put it down. Destiny is the kind of character that can almost break your heart, so easy to relate with, despite the fact that she can fight vampires, there is a side of her that doesn't believe in herself, but then she meets her best friend Mary Ann and then Nicolae her lifemate, and we start to see how she starts to heal and learns how to truly love and be loved. There were quite a few times that I cried, and at other times just laughing at the interaction between Destiny and Nicolae. Nicolae, is the kind of man any woman could fall for, and he is pretty dreamy in this book. Even though he can be controlling at time, and all Alpha Male, he takes his time with Destiny, more patient than most of the other males in this series. Overall this is on the top of the list in favorites of this series, of course it can be hard because I have loved every one of her books, however the story and the characters were endearing, and the plot thrilling, and I there wasn't one moment that I was bored, defintely a worthwhile read. A most emotionally empowering, engaging book that I have read in a long time, and I LOVED it!!!
Dark Celebration is a bit different than the other books within the Dark Series. However I have read this book quite frequently from the library, and I thought it was about time to do a review on it. For those of you who don't know much or really none about this series, let me explain it a bit for you. The Carpathian series, is a paranormal series, very similar to vampires, however Carpathians are a bit different from vampires. The Carpathian race is dying out, they are a honorable race, however they are bound to be extinct. In this world that Christine Feehan has created, Carpathians males are very "alpha" so it can be very enjoyable at time and humorous to read. But the males have a darkness within them, and if they don't find their lifemates, then they will eventually turn vampire and lose their souls. So in each of the books, its about how each Carpathian male finds his lifemate, and trust me their lifemates are independent, strong willed spitfires, and its amusing to watch the couple come together. In this book, its a Christmas celebration, where all the Carpathians, especially the couples and their children come together. Its one of my favorites of the Dark Series, and those that have read this one already will probably agree with me. Its definitely full of amusing wit, suspensful action and intrigue, intense passion and a tender story of coming together as a united species.
