But three years later, tired of her scoundrel of a husband headlining the gossip rags, Lady Isobel Vance decides enough is enough. She is no longer a fragile kitten, but as the anonymous author of a women’s sexual advice column, she’s now a roaring tigress...and she can use her claws.
Isobel decides to go to him in London, channeling her powers of seduction to make him beg to take her back. But she didn’t expect her marauding marquess to be equally hard to resist. Now the game is on to see who will give in to the other first, with both sides determined like hell to win.
Bloody hell. Not a wife. His wife.
God, how his sister would have cackled to see the great
Winter Vance leg-shackled.
I shall never marry! His twelve-year-old self had puffed his chest. Girls are annoying, just like bratty little sisters.
Prue had paid his male posturing no mind. Then I shall curse you, my favorite brother, to marry the most beautiful angel in the world!
And here he was.
Married to exactly that.
Winter forced himself to focus on the task at hand. He couldn’t go to his private estate, Rothingham Gable, for obvious reasons. For one, that particular abode was not prepared for a Lady Roth, given the week-long house party that had just been hosted there.
He had not even been in residence. Rutland and Petersham and the rest of their fast set had run the show, desperate for some wild country fun to offset the terminal boredom of the season. While he missed them from time to time, those days of endless dissipation were over. They had been for since Prue’s death. Not that anyone actually knew…or had noticed. People believed what they wanted to believe.
Winter slanted his new wife a glance. Her attention was
caught outside the small window, her face held in pensive thought. Her profile
was exquisite, perfect in its symmetry from the classic line of her forehead to
her delicate nose and pink rosebud pout. Isobel was young, fresh out of the
schoolroom, but he couldn’t deny her exceptional beauty…or his irritating and
inconvenient attraction to her.
Christ, he wanted to debauch that mouth right there on the balcony—take it from virginal pink to passionate red. The urge had taken him by surprise. The honeysuckle scent of her satiny skin had been an aphrodisiac. When he’d grazed the corner of her mouth and seen her undisguised longing, the bolt of lust tunneling through him had nearly brought him to his knees.
Just like it threatened to do now.
Ripping his gaze from her tempting lips, he let it drift down the elegant line of her throat. He imagined tasting the skin there, nuzzling her fluttering pulse beneath his lips, and inhaling more of her sweet, flowery smell. Winter bit back a groan. He would no doubt sample both later…when he’d be expected to do his marital duty. Hell. He’d have to hold himself in check. Make it perfunctory. And most of all, quick. The act was a necessary obligation, nothing more, because he had an inkling that this woman could be the end of him.
“Did you enjoy seeing your sister?” he asked, his voice rough edged. They’d called in at Beswick Park after leaving Lady Hammerton’s. Her rousing entertainments had gone well into the dawn hours.
His wife startled, attention flying to him. “Yes, of course, my lord. Thank you for arranging the visit.”
“Call me Winter,” he said.
She flushed. “Winter.”
His wife turned the full force of those ice-blue eyes on him, and for a moment, it felt like his skin had been seared by lightning. But that gaze also shone with no small degree of infatuation. It didn’t take much to interpret the shy glances and the soft blushes whenever she thought he wasn’t looking.
This was why it could never work.
I love Amalie's books!!! The Beast of Beswick is one of my favorites! I am looking forward to seeing Isobel teach Winter a lesson. 😁
ReplyDeleteI have now read the book and can tell you it's one delicious lesson!
DeleteI've not read her as yet but yes to your questions lol.
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure it's going to end up being one of my best books of this year.
DeleteThe book sounds captivating and special. I haven ot as yet read this author's novels.
ReplyDeleteHope you enjoy her.
DeleteThank you for introducing me to this author. The story sounds unique and delightful.
ReplyDeleteI loved it!
DeleteI have not read Amalie Howard before, but this book sounds fantastic! I'm adding it to the list!! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'd start with The Beast of Beswick, Katie. I loved them both.
DeleteThe Beast of Beswick was one of my favorite reads last year. I am hooked by the blurb and excerpt for this book. It sounds like it is going to be a fun read.
ReplyDeleteI read The Beast of Beswick last year and loved it. I enjoyed the lush excerpt of the Rakehell of Roth which has got me all a tingly, and I've put it on my "wish list". Nothing delights me more than seeing a reluctant hero brought to his knees.
ReplyDeleteThat's exactly what happens, Diane, and it's so very good.
DeleteI have now read The Rakehell of Roth and it's gone straight to my Best of 2021 watch list. So good! Be sure to stop by on February 23 for my review and another giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this author yet, but the book sounds good.
ReplyDeleteI have not read it yet, but I have one of her books on my Kindle. Thanks for the review, this sounds like an interesting story. Yes, I like the idea of a woman learning about her power and deciding to use it. The excerpt makes it evident this is a fun book.
ReplyDeleteI hope everyone is taking care and staying well.
I haven't read her books yet, but boy does this one sound awesome! Thanks for the chance to win it.
ReplyDeleteShe is a new to me author!
ReplyDeleteI have The Beast of Beswick on my tbr pile, but I haven't read it yet.
ReplyDeletedenise
I have read the reviews of Amalia Howard's books, but not yet read them. Do I enjoy this story line? Certainly. It is always fun to watch a man who thinks he is totally in charge, only to realize he is toast and likely never really was uncharge at all. A woman can't be ignored and kept on a shelf, treated like an ornament, trophy, or necessary utensil. If she has any spunk at all, he is in for a big surprise.
ReplyDeleteI've never read her before but that blurb sounds interesting. Cannot go wrong with an innocent kitten turned tigress.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this author before. Your guess of kitten to Tigress who gets her man is definitely catnip to me! Enjoyed the excerpt.
ReplyDelete