Él era hijo ilegítimo, jugador y réprobo favorito de la sociedad. Pero para lady Kiri, Lawford es un héroe: más valiente que los contrabandistas de quienes la rescata, más honorable que cualquier lord que ha conocido y mucho más atractivo de lo que un hombre tiene derecho a ser. ¿Cómo no iba a enamorarse?
Pero Damian Mackenzie tiene secretos que no dejan espacio en su vida para cortejar jóvenes de la alta sociedad… mucho menos a la hermana de uno de sus amigos más antiguos. Pero cuando la brillante inteligencia de Damian saca a la luz una amenaza mortal para la Corona de Inglaterra, descubre que Kiri no es ni tan mojigata ni tan respetable como en un principio la creyó… y la dama es mucho más seductora de lo que puede resistir.

This book was at least better than the last one in the series, but that's really not saying much. It wasn't that it was a particularly bad book but that it is nowhere near as good as MJP's earlier works. The characterization wasn't very deep. The actions of the heroine, Kiri, were not appropriate to the time period. I get that the heroine was a foreigner but even so the author didn't sell me on the idea that she would be so determined to have sex with this guy while not married to him. That is a totally modern outlook that seem shoe horned into the story.

The plot involving Princess Charlotte wasn't real interesting. In fact I had trouble caring about any of the characters. This book lacks the emotional depth I have come to expect in MJP's work and I miss it. No tugs on my heart strings at all.

After three books in this series, I don't have much faith that the series will get any better. However, I am a long time fan of MJP so I will undoubtedly read the next one and keep my fingers crossed.

( )

Another page-turner from Mary Jo Putney.

Back to the Lost Lords, those boys from the Westerfield Academy, this time we meet Damian Mackenzie, the bastard half-brother of Lord Masterton. He's made a living for himself running a gambling establishment in London. He's off to pick up smuggled goods for his business. But then he meets

Lady Kiri Lawford who needs help immediately. Damian's chivalrous instincts rise to the fore and the two escape away into the night.

More complications lead to the two of them working together undercover to foil a plot to bring down the English government. Lots of adventure, excitement, and of course, romance result.

More suspense and danger than some romances, the requisite happy ending is achieved. ( )

It's been a while since I've read a new 5 star HR, but this one just kept me entertained and happy so I'm going for it. The heroine is very capable and her own person, without being a 'fiery-haired loud-mouthed hellion' sort. And the hero seemed quite believable, he's more wit and charm than alpha He-Man soldier (but not a slouch), and he admires the heroine in such a heartwarming way. I felt their deep attraction to the other person as a whole and not just their exterior. And they were both appealing characters to me. Their hurdle to overcome was believable and was a good foil to show how they couldn't help being drawn to the other even despite it. (I foresaw how it would be resolved from nearly the beginning, but that didn't ruin it.) It's an adventure romance, with action scenes and spying and things, but it never overpowered their relationship for me. Characters from previous books are in it, but I think it could easily stand on its own. Drawbacks- sometimes things felt a little bit fairy-tale-ish, not in a preposterous way but just in a 'tied up with a bow' sort. And the villainous characters were each plenty different from each other, but also were pretty easy to sort into 'good person who did a bad thing' and 'bad person through and through'. Small things really. ( )

This series is fun because not only does it deal with issues that used to be ignored in Regency romances, but Putney constantly reevaluates the concepts of honor and respectability. Women make their own choices sexually, birth control is a given, and everyone continues to play the game of "keeping up appearances" until caught. I wish the OTP would have been more honest -- why is it SO HARD to tell someone you love them, damn the consequences? Quit being all self-sacrificing for once! But the intrigue and spy work was fascinating. Definitely a good set up for the next novel.

I also love the way Putney explores characters that have dual natures -- disreputable/respectable, Hindu/English, adventuresome/family-oriented. ( )