Hero of My Heart by Megan Frampton

• Title: Hero of My Heart: A Loveswept Historical Romance
• Classification: Adult Fiction
• Genre: Historical Romance
• File Size: 1377 KB
• Publisher: Loveswept (April 8, 2013)
• Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
• ASIN: B009QJMUUE
• Author's Website: http://meganframpton.com
• Notes: I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

"She's a virgin, gentleman. And She'll be sold to the highest bidder."

Mary Smith had been raised to be a good girl. Her father was a country vicar and she had been a teacher. Upon his deathbed, Mary's father made a startling last confession. He hadn't been married to Mary's mother and she hadn't died in childbirth as he had told her. In fact, she was still alive. With her father gone, it soon became obvious that her half-brother hadn't followed in their father's footsteps. He lost their inheritance on sport and game and soon acquired a substantial amount of debt. That's when he started eyeing his sister in a new light--as a means to gain funds. After beating her into submission he and his partner in crime drugged her and auctioned her and her virginity off to the highest bidder. Luckily, in the pub where the impromptu auction was held was a lost soul who felt as his final act he'd save someone as he couldn't save himself. That someone was Lord Alasdair, Marquess of Datchworth. 

This was an interesting book. The relationship between Mary and Alasdair started out as a codependent one. Each needed the other, even though Alasdair didn't realize it right away when he purchased her. His plan was to marry her, set her up in his home and then give in to his drug dependency letting it take his life. Mary was to be his final good deed.

Mary was looking for a way to escape her brother and find her mother. When Alasdair proposes the two of them get married, she initially thinks he is joking. When he finally convinces her he's serious, the two attempt to abscond to Scotland for a quick marriage. He'll be her means of accomplishing both her tasks as both he and her mother reside in London. It quickly becomes clear, however, that Matias, Mary's brother, never intended to give Mary away permanently. He'd planned to use her as a revolving means of income. Hiring her out to whoever is willing to pay. Alasdair realizes he needs to keep his wits about him if he ever wishes to get them to the church, or in this case Scotland, before Matias or Hugh, Alasdair's cousin, can stop them. Hugh hopes to inherit Alasdair's land and title sooner rather than later. The possibility of Alasdair taking a wife and having offspring are definitely not part of his plans. 

As the two try to dodge and hide from those who would thwart their plans, they slowly get to know one another and realize they make a good team. They quickly find they share a favorite past time and are soon doing it like bunnies whenever and wherever they can. I think this book had one of the highest amount of love scenes in a historical romance that I've ever read. Alasdair gives up his opium addiction for another. Luckily, it appears his new wife shares in his second addiction. But besides all the sex, they find they truly like one another and fall in love. I thought it had a truly sweet ending even though toward the end I wanted to figuratively smack a little sense into both Alasdair and Mary. 

Overall, I gave this one 3 out of 5 roses. While I truly liked the story, there were some holes I would have liked to have seen filled regarding Mary's brother. Perhaps a few more details or a little more time spent on his story line. I would have liked to have known what made him the way he was. Was he like that before their father died? Was he acting out against something? I personally would have liked to have known. Also, I would have liked to have known more about Hugh and perhaps had a sneak peek into his and Alasdair's history. Additionally, the opium withdrawal was truly wrong. While you can sometimes substitute one addiction for another and some may say their love for another is their drug and some insist love cures all, I have never heard it being used to combat withdrawal. Heads up ladies, if a guy tells you he needs sex to get over his drug addiction he's a BIG FAT LIAR. lol As this is a work of fiction, however, I didn't hold that against the author. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.