As a young, penniless gentleman, Maxwell Harwick knew he had little to offer Juliet White—the most beautiful debutante of the season—except his love, and one thoroughly scandalous kiss. But when they were discovered in a compromising position, a nearly ruined Juliet fled into the arms of a rich, older lord... taking Max’s heart with her.
Now a widow, Lady Juliet Granworth intends to use the fortune she inherited from her odious husband to build a new life in London. Five years have passed, but she’s never forgotten Max… or his soul-searing kiss. Yet it’s clear the newly-minted Marquess of Thayne has not forgiven her—after all, the infuriating man can barely stand the sight of her. But Juliet has endured far too much to give up without a fight and if it’s a battle of wills he wants, it’s a battle he’ll get.
He hates her for breaking his heart. She detests him for destroying her future. But beneath all the loathing, simmers an intoxicating passion that neither can ignore… and the harder they resist, the harder they will inevitably fall.
He
spread his arms out in a shrug, cakes in one hand, walking stick in the other.
“Now, as you can see, I am utterly helpless”—he paused at the sound of her
scoff—“and unable to taste the cake that you offered to feed me.”
“I
made no such offer.”
“Then
I cannot think of what I heard moments ago unless . . .”—he lowered his
voice—“you were flirting with me. But
you, the ever-composed Lady Granworth, would never do such a thing.”
He
wanted to see her color rise, her ire flash, anything. Damn it all, he needed
to ruffle her feathers and crawl under her skin. It was the least she owed him.
“I
would not even know how to flirt,” she boldly lied and without batting an eye.
Wasn’t
every nuance of flirtation woven into her being? Every downward sweep of her
lashes. Every subtle curl of her lips. Every slash of her tongue. Every single
breath!
“Oh,
I’m certain that is a false statement,” he said, keeping his tone smooth and
even. “All you have to do is admit to flirting with me, and I’ll be on my way.”
“I.
Admit. Nothing.”
He
held out his hand. “Then feed me a cake.”
She
stepped forward so suddenly she nearly startled him in the process. “Fine.”
The
crisply enunciated word tolled a warning bell within him, advising caution. He
had anticipated their continued banter and even her eventual retreat, but not
her acquiescence. Instinct told him to be wary. And yet curiosity fixed him to
the spot.
Lifting
her hand, she slipped the serviette into her delicate palm, the edges draping
over fingers. He stared, paying close attention to every movement, noting how
her lace mitts left the entire length of her slender fingers exposed. No doubt,
like her dress, they were designed for a purpose, bringing to mind thoughts of
bared limbs.
Then,
with a delicate pinch of her thumb and forefinger, she picked up the first
cake.
Anticipation
thundered in his chest, neck, and ears simultaneously. She could still balk.
Still storm off in a flurry. He was prepared for such a response but no longer
assured of it. Perhaps challenging her wasn’t the best idea after all.
His
gaze shifted from the cake to her eyes, over and again. Her gaze, on the other
hand, remained fixed to his as she slowly lifted the cake—
And
popped it into her mouth. Then she closed her eyes, a smile curving her lips,
while emitting a low murmur of sensual delight.
Max
couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think, couldn’t move if someone were to set him on
fire. The pulse that had pounded so hard an instant ago abruptly dropped to his
trousers, banging like a drum as blood engorged his flesh.
The
tip of her pert tongue slipped out to tease him further. The taunt transformed
into torture when she licked the pink icing from her fingertip and then her
thumb. When she finished, her eyes opened, the blue a brighter, deeper hue than
the sky overhead. He found himself unable to look away.
“Delicious,”
she purred. “So good in fact that I think I’ll have another.”
She
pinched the second cake, her lips parted. But before she could lift it to her
mouth—before he knew what he was doing—he seized her wrist.
He
was half-tempted, half-wild with the need to kiss her, to lose himself in the
silken texture of her lips once more. To haul her into his arms and feel the
curves of her body with his hands.
It
took every shred of control he possessed not to give in. At least, not
completely.
Watching
her all the while, he lowered his head and took the cake into his mouth.
He
swallowed it without fanfare or appreciation. The dessert he really wanted was
still waiting.
He
slipped her finger into his mouth next, the dainty pad at the tip more silken
and sweet than marzipan. In slow, searching swipes, he laved her flesh, mapping
the route of every fine impression, wicking away every last bit of icing. He
would have stopped if he was frightening her. Hell, he was startled by his own
actions. But when he saw her pupils dilate, her gaze drifting down to his
mouth, and then heard the quickening of her breath, he knew she was not afraid
of him.
She
was one of two things—either wholly, explosively angry or . . . wholly,
explosively aroused. And since he’d
been the recipient of her temper before, he wagered it was the latter.
A
surge of triumph merged with the unleashed desire coursing through him. She
could pretend she was cool-headed and aloof all she wanted, but he knew better.
Five years ago, that same passion had slipped through the cracks in her
composure.
He
wanted more. Greedy, he curled his tongue around her, drawing her flesh deeper,
and gently grazing the delicate furrows of her knuckle with his teeth.
“Max.”
His
name shuddered out of her lungs and past her lips, sending a tremor through
him. Yet the tinge of vulnerability in her passion-laden plea swiftly brought
him to his senses.
With
a quick tug, he pulled her closer. Still holding his walking stick, he touched
the handle beneath her chin and tilted it up. “Perhaps you should reconsider
flirting with your enemy in the future.”
USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is an Avon Impulse author of works including: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone, The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Duke’s Christmas Wish, and the Season’s Original Series.
Vivienne Lorret
USA Today bestselling author, VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is an Avon Impulse author of works including: Tempting Mr. Weatherstone, The Wallflower Wedding Series, The Rakes of Fallow Hall Series, The Duke’s Christmas Wish, and the Season’s Original Series.
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Season's Original
Format: Paperback; 320 pages
Publisher: Avon Impulse (November 15, 2016)
ISBN-10: 0062446371
ISBN-13: 978-0062446374
Author's Website: http://vivlorret.net/
Notes: I bought this one. I am also an Avon Addict which means I love the books that Avon publishes enough to volunteer to read as many ARCs and books as they can send my way. So you'll be seeing a lot of books reviewed by me from this publisher. Please note, however, that if I don't like a book, it will be truthfully reflected by a low rating.
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Once upon a time Juliet White had hopes of making a grand match. She'd earned the moniker "goddess" for her beauty early on in her debut, but it quickly became paired with the term "hollow", as most never took the time to truly get to know her. But when Maxwell Harwick decided to make his feelings for her known, and the two were caught kissing, all her hopes were dashed. What Max didn't know, and not many did, was Juliet's father would never have approved of a match between her and the then poor and untitled Max, scandal or no. He father needed money. Her elopement the next morning to an older wealthy gentleman well past his prime had not been hers by choice. Now, five years later, Juliet is widowed, and the two who once considered each other friends are seemingly at war.
They say love and hate are but two sides of the same coin. Will love find a way or are they destined to remain enemies? Hell hath no fury as a lady scorned, but does that also apply to a Marquess?
This is the third book in the Season's Original series by Vivienne Lorret. It can be read out of order without the reader being lost, but if you're like me, you'll be wanting to read the whole series upon finishing this one. The thread that binds the series together is, of course, the ton nominating the person chosen to be that Season's "Original". The "Original" can be a male or a female whom the ton has deemed above approach and others try to mimic. If the title is bestowed upon a female, she can pretty much pick and choose who she wants to marry among the gentleman of the ton. She is, for all intents and purposes, the season's "it" girl.
'When a Marquess Loves a Woman' is one of those love/hate stories that stars two stubborn people and one huge misunderstanding. Neither feels compelled to explain what happened, and each is perhaps too afraid of the answers to ask what truly transpired. While these types of stories almost always leave me shaking my head, they also have a tendency to have me grinning from ear to ear as the two battle it out via words and deeds. That is exactly what Ms. Lorret does in this book, and it's what makes this novel such a delightfully delicious good read.
Juliet and Max are alike and different in so many ways. While Juliet is beautiful and well known. Max was relatively unknown in society until he came into his title. Both have insecurities and issues they need to work out. I liked how the feud over who will end up with Juliet's childhood home is being battled over essentially the same thing--neither wants to witness the other in the house raising a family with someone else. The verbal banter and taunts between these two were both charming and funny. While each feels they are justified in their anger, you can see immediately how this one was going to play out. The majority of the fun was in watching them come to the realization that is pretty much obvious to everyone but them--that they love each other.
The song that kept playing in my head as I was reading was Cake by the Ocean by DNCE. Once you read the story or above excerpt, you'll understand why. lol:
'Talk to me, baby
I'm going blind from this sweet, sweet craving, whoa
Let's lose our minds and go crazy crazy
Ah ya ya ya ya I keep on hoping we'll eat cake by the ocean
(...)
Hot damn
See you licking frosting from your own hands
Want another taste, I'm begging, "Yes, ma'am."
I'm tired of all this candy on the dry land, dry land, oh
Waste time with a masterpiece, don't waste time with a masterpiece (huh!)
You should be rolling with me, you should be rolling with me (ah)
You're a real life fantasy, you're a real life fantasy (huh!)
But you're moving so carefully; let's start living dangerously...'
I gave this one 4 1/2 out of 5 roses. It was a fun, witty, and charming story that I highly enjoyed. The attraction between these two was highly combustible, and it was fun watching them come to the realization of just how they felt about each other. Wonderful characters that felt real and believable wrapped in a highly entertaining romance that had me chuckling and smiling in equal measures. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scored a FAN rating--the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice. I definitely recommend this one.
Lovely review. Thank you for hosting WHEN A MARQUESS LOVES A WOMAN today!
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