Beguiling the Beauty
Sherry Thomas


ISBN-10:
0425246965
ISBN-13: 978-0425246962
Publisher: Penguin Group
Line: Berkley
Release Date: May 1, 2012
Pages: 304
Retail Price: 7.99




Genre: Historical
Heat Level: Hot
Rating:

When the Duke of Lexington meets the mysterious Baroness von Seidlitz-Hardenberg on a transatlantic liner, he is fascinated. She’s exactly what he’s been searching for—a beautiful woman who interests and entices him. He falls hard and fast—and soon proposes marriage.

And then she disappears without a trace…

For in reality, the “baroness” is Venetia Easterbrook—a proper young widow who had her own vengeful reasons for instigating an affair with the duke. But the plan has backfired. Venetia has fallen in love with the man she despised—and there’s no telling what might happen when she is finally unmasked…

Series: Fitzhugh Trilogy (Book 1)

Review

For a woman of renowned beauty the last thing she expects is to be made fun of…

Yet that is exactly what happens when the Duke of Lexington is giving a speech in front of an American audience. Little does he know the ‘hinted to’ female is in the audience, and she’s aware that the Duke is talking about her. Anger refuses containment as Venetia Easterbrook seeks to destroy and devastate the Duke by loving and leaving him. She doesn’t plan to fall in love, she doesn’t plan to reveal herself, and she most certainly doesn’t expect to become maudlin without him.

Oh, how I love a good story and the first in a new trilogy from Thomas is definitely different from the traditional line. Set at the turn of century there’s plenty of new industrial machinations, women fighting to enter the working world and the decline of nobility. Luckily for the Duke of Lexington, he’s solvent and more absorbed with science then women. There’s only one woman that’s ever caught his eye… Venetia Easterbrook, but she has never been available to him. He’s absolutely adorable in his love for the mysterious Baroness/Venetia, and the love affair is indeed some extremely hot stuff; which only Thomas can supply.  Things of course go from good to horribly wrong when Venetia is finally exposed, with a quick round of resolution toward the end.

I enjoyed both Lexington and Venetia; their characters were multi-faceted and just as troubled as Thomas can create. But for me the ending felt rushed, I just wanted more even though I knew there wasn’t more; if that’s possible. Prose and dialogue is fantastic; the plot flows seamlessly until the last little portion. Secondary character introductions are engaging and I can’t wait for the additional stories. For me this book is merely an intro into a family that will entertain me the rest of the year.

Overall, if you love Sherry Thomas, as I do, then this book is worth the read; even if the ending didn’t ring satisfaction. There is something to be said for a beautiful woman finding love with a man desperately trying to avoid the sentiment.

Reviewed by Landra