Lydia Slaughter understands the games men play—both in and out of the bedroom. Not afraid to bend the rules to suit her needs, she fleeces Will Blackshear outright. The Waterloo hero had his own daring agenda for the gaming tables of London's gentlemen's clubs. But now he antes up for a wager of wits and desire with Lydia, the streetwise temptress who keeps him at arm's length. A kept woman in desperate straits, Lydia has a sharp mind and a head for numbers. She gambles on the sly, hoping to win enough to claim her independence. An alliance with Will at the tables may be a winning proposition for them both. But the arrangement involves dicey odds with rising stakes, sweetened with unspoken promise of fleshly delights. And any sleight of hand could find their hearts betting on something neither can afford to risk: love.
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"This is a book that will tug at your heart. The pain that both Will and Lydia go through on their own and together is just so sad. This is just my favorite kind of romance book to read. 1815 is when this book is set at and it is so sad that women in this time had so little options when they are alone in the world or they make wrong choices and are put out by their family. It would take a strong woman like Lydia to make her way in life and then for her to get her HEA too was just as it should be. As for Will, I think any man that has to go to war whether it is 1815 or 2012 will have scars for the rest of their life and Wills scars went so much deeper, because of a choice he had to make. I loved the end of this book so much, because it was so much more realistic then most romance books. This book is one of my top favorites!" — Mary (5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a book that will tug at your heart. The pain that both Will and Lydia go through on their own and together is just so sad. This is just my favorite kind of romance book to read. 1815 is when this book is set at and it is so sad that women in this time had so little options when they are alone in the world or they make wrong choices and are put out by their family. It would take a strong woman like Lydia to make her way in life and then for her to get her HEA too was just as it should be. As for Will, I think any man that has to go to war whether it is 1815 or 2012 will have scars for the rest of their life and Wills scars went so much deeper, because of a choice he had to make. I loved the end of this book so much, because it was so much more realistic then most romance books. This book is one of my top favorites!"
“A marvelous gem of a book…I loved it!
Luscious, erotic, and emotionally intense . . . Cecilia Grant is a fresh, unforgettable voice in historical romance.
“Incredibly sexy…surprisingly sweet…If you read only one debut this year, this is the one to read!”
“Luscious, erotic, and emotionally intense…Cecilia Grant is a fresh, unforgettable voice in historical romance.”
“Grant’s powerful, emotionally intense, and highly sensual romance will mesmerize readers yearning for an unconventional story and dynamic characters. The driven protagonists and intriguing details of a Regency world outside the aristocracy and marriage mart, lure readers to keep turning pages.”
" It's well written but a rather heavy and bleak story - not quite my cup of 'escapism' tea. "
" Second 1/2 ruined all the goodness from the first 1/2. "
" 3.5 Stars. I didn't like this second book by Cecilia Grant as well as the first one. This was a very emotional story with two very damaged main characters. The problem I had was that I didn't really understand their behavior. I just did not seem to be logical behavior for the circumstances. "
" Hmmm, I gotta be honest, this one just didn't do this for me. I mean, it wasn't that I didn't like it, but it was just sort of okay. It was the same issue I had with the first book, it was overly descriptive for me. "
" I think it's really a 3.5 out of 5. "
" An unusual romance. The war-weary hero meets a courtesan, but (and it's a big but) she's already quite happy with her current protector, thank you. I enjoyed seeing how the author brought these two wounded souls together. "
" Maybe 4 1/2. It's going to take me a while to process this one. "
" Hard to imagine that Grant's second book could be as good as her debut novel. To find it is even better is a true wonder. "
" This is the story of Will and Lydia. Will Blackshear is a foot soldier in the British Army during the Peninsular wars against Napoleon. When one of the men under his command dies leaving a widow and child, Will feels that it is his duty to help provide for them. "
Cecilia Grant is the author of the historical romance novels A Lady Awakened and A Gentleman Undone. The holder of a degree in English, Grant makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her fellow writer husband, two bookish children, and non-literary cat and dog.
Susan Ericksen is an actor and voice-over artist. She has been awarded numerous AudioFile Earphones Awards as well as the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. As an actor and director, she has worked in theaters throughout the country.
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