Review - The Greatest Lover Ever

The Greatest Lover Ever
By Christina Brooke
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press
Release Date:  December 31, 2013

Six years ago, she was too young and he was too inflexible.  Something was bound to come between them. In their case, the something was another man and his insinuations were ugly.  Pride and honor demanded the two men meet on the field of honor.  Young and frightened, Georgie gave Beckenham an ultimatum:  call off the duel or she'd call off the engagement.  She expected him to fight for her, not lecture her then walk away without a backward glance but pride was a wall he wasn't willing to climb - not even for the girl who was to be his wife.

Georgie Black has done a lot of maturing in six years.  She leads a much more circumspect life and even though her looks still draw men to her like bees to honey, she's grown into her power and doesn't abuse it as a young girl would.  She's managed to successfully avoid her former bethrothed...until she goes looking for her younger sister at a party thrown by Beckenham's notorious cousin and finds herself locked into a room with the only man to ever own her heart.

Marcus, the Earl of Beckenham has managed to avoid Georgiana Black, the woman who jilted him, for six years.  But now, just as he makes the decision to seek a wife - a quiet, biddable wife - fate sees fit to bring Georgie back into his life.  Beautiful, lush, stubborn, intelligent Georgie, who is about as far from biddable as possible.  The attraction is still there.  The desire is still there.  So is the stubbornness.  And the pride.  But Beckenham is older.  Wiser.  As is Georgie.  Will the second time around bring them the happiness for which they both yearn or will an enemy from their past come between them once again?

I love second-chance stories, especially the ones where characters are too young the first time around and re-connect years later after life's experiences have 'seasoned' them.  I love this couple. They were made for one another and I was in their corner from beginning to end. That doesn't mean that I didn't become frustrated with both Georgie and Marcus at times but that's what makes them so real.  They have flaws and lessons yet to learn before the author is finished with them.  Their journey to a happy ending is realistic for them, even when Georgie, who believes Marcus will never love her, encourages him to look in a different direction.  It breaks her heart to do so but she feels she's doing the right thing for him and for someone else who means the world to her.  It's a rocky road to love for these two but that makes the arrival at their final destination all the sweeter.

I've really enjoyed the books in Brooke's Ministry of Marriage series and connected Westruther series. The writing is fresh and well-paced, with witty dialog, chemistry that sizzles and characters so real they fairly leap from the page.  I've grown to care about these people and am fully invested in what happens to them.  As soon as I finish one book in the series, I find myself counting the days/weeks/months until the next.  While I enjoy reading a series in order, Brooke has written the books to be read either as part of the series or as a stand-alone so I don't think it will have a negative impact on your enjoyment if you begin with The Greatest Lover Ever.  However, if you're like me, as soon as you finish this book you'll be off to buy the ones that preceded it!

~PJ

Sneak Peek - - The Greatest Lover Ever

Our thanks to Christina Brooke for allowing us to open the cover and take a peek at The Greatest Lover Ever, the next book in her Westruthers series.  I don't know about you but I've fallen in love with these sexy cousins and can't wait to read Beckenham's story. The book doesn't come out until December 31st but one lucky reader who leaves a comment today will have the opportunity to read it now!  Check out the details at the end of the excerpt.  

For more information about Christina Brooke and her books, visit her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.





The Greatest Lover Ever
The Westruthers - Book 2
By Christina Brooke
St. Martin's Press
December 31, 2013


Excerpt:

“Becks is bride hunting,” Xavier said to Lydgate.

Lydgate choked a little on his ale, set the tankard down. “No! Damn me but you’re full of surprises this morning.” He straightened in his chair, eyes widened. “Not to the Shady Lady?”

“Most definitely not,” agreed Xavier. “Beckenham wants a quiet, dutiful bride who won’t give him any trouble. Someone biddable, no doubt.” The last sentence was said with something of a sneer.

Beckenham focused on his plate. His wish for a bride seemed to belong to another century.

With an effort, he hauled his mind out of the quagmire of his encounter with Georgie. “I wouldn’t have put it quite so crudely.”

“Women,” said Lydgate darkly, “are nothing but trouble. If there’s one out there who isn’t, I haven’t met her.”

Beckenham didn’t agree. “You will admit that your experience of virtuous ladies is limited.”

Xavier’s lips curved in an unpleasant smile. “Lydgate’s right. It is a wife’s duty to make her husband’s life as hellish as possible, as far as I can see. The docile ones are usually hiding their claws until the wedding band is securely upon their pretty fingers. The beauties are vain and far too demanding, the bluestockings are dead bores… Need I go on?”

Lydgate tilted his head. “Never knew you were such a misogynist. I love women,” he said on a sigh. “I can find something to admire in the worst of them. That’s my curse.”

“Yes,” Beckenham said. “Your total lack of discrimination was a factor in my decision to ask Xavier’s advice rather than yours.” He cocked an eyebrow at the marquis. “You cannot recommend even one lady to me as a suitable bride?”

Xavier curled his lip. “I leave the matchmaking to our former guardian.”

“Why haven’t you asked Montford?” said Lydgate.

“I’m not interested in shoring up the Westruther dynasty.” Beckenham shrugged. “Besides, Montford washed his hands of my affairs after the debacle with Georgie Black.”

That was the only time Beckenham could recall thinking the duke was a complete cloth-head. Any reasonable man could see Beckenham had no choice but to accept his congé with good grace. Montford had thought otherwise, mocking him for his stubborn pride. Which just showed how skewed the duke’s thinking had been. Montford deplored vulgar scenes and scandal; he ought to have been wishing the fiery-haired termagant good riddance.

No matter how well-matched their inheritances, the Earl of Beckenham and Georgiana Black were wholly unsuited to be husband and wife.

Readers, do you like second-chance love stories?  Do you enjoy a feisty heroine turning a hero's perception of the perfect wife on its head?  Do you enjoy enemies to lovers stories?  Share your thoughts with us.  And, while you're at it, tell me why an advance copy of The Greatest Lover Ever should land on your doorstep!  

One randomly chosen person leaving a comment before Midnight, Sunday, November 10th (EST) will win a print advance reader copy of The Greatest Lover Ever.  (U.S. addresses only)

The sweetest scandal  

Beautiful, exuberant, and stubborn Georgiana Black has more spirit than sense—which she learns when an ultimatum to the Earl of Beckenham ends their engagement. Six years later, Georgie is less concerned with impending spinsterhood than with making sure her young sister doesn’t make the same mistakes she did. But soon Georgie stumbles into a scandalous encounter with none other than her former fiancé. Beckenham is still breathtakingly desirable—and as iron-willed as ever...

 THE TRUEST TEMPTATION

Beckenham’s brief engagement to Georgie taught him one thing—when it comes to a wife, he wants a woman who will do her duty and cause no trouble. When the fiery Georgie falls unexpectedly into his arms, Beckenham remembers just how lushly delectable she is. Suddenly, the idea of actually marrying Georgie is irresistible. In The Greatest Lover Ever, convincing her will take more than a simple proposal, however. In a battle of wills, can passion conquer pride?