Secrets of a Wedding Night
Valerie Bowman


ISBN-10:
1250008956
ISBN-13: 978-1250008954
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Line:
Release Date: Oct 2, 2012
Pages: 352
Retail Price: 7.99




Genre:
Historical
Heat Level:
Rating:

HOW TO STOP A WEDDING

Young, widowed, and penniless, Lily Andrews, the Countess of Merrill,has strong opinions on marriage. When she spots a certain engagement announcement in The Times, she decides to take action. She will not allow another hapless girlto fall prey to a man—particularly the scoundrel who broke her heart five years ago. Anonymously she writes and distributes a pamphlet entitled “Secrets of a Wedding Night,” knowing it will find its way into his intended’s innocent hands…

HOW TO SEDUCE A WIDOW

Devon Morgan, the Marquis of Colton, desires a good wife and mother to his son—someone completely unlike Lily Andrews, the heartless beauty who led him on a merry chase five years ago only to reject him. When Devon’s new fiancée cries off after reading a certain scandalous pamphlet, he vows to track down the author and make her pay. But when he learns it’s his former fiancée Lily, he issues a challenge: write a retractionor prepare to be seduced—to find out how wonderful a wedding night can be…

Review

I’d trade my right arm for a hero like Devon Morgan…

Unfortunately, I don’t think he’d see me if Lily Andrews is in the room. Once upon a time these two were young lover’s intent on running away together. Upsetting letters, meddling parents, and years later Devon, now the Marquis of Colton, is ready to show Lily how dangerous he can be; especially since her debut writing piece has scared off his fiancée.

Lily’s not afraid to accept any challenge, and she’s reached the end of a desperate struggle for funds. Facing destitution and attempting to launch her sister’s debut, Devon’s threat of seduction is the last thing she needs. Yet, Devon’s kiss ignites her deepest desires. Now she’s willing to go against her own instincts, and experience, for just another tender touch or press of lips. One of Lily’s biggest challenges was her inability to see beyond the past. At times I found her a bit abrasive and almost undeserving of Devon, but Bowman mixed in a bit of naiveté that made Lily endearing. She’s really trying to be tough for everyone, and attempting to be strong and practical can make a young woman quite the cynic.

Devon is the man who expects people to see him as he truly is or at least he believes anyone who loves him would. I found Devon a tough guy to please. He’s definitely a bit of an alpha and doesn’t like to be on the losing end of a competition. His scenes with Lily are the highlight of the book because they trade barbs with each other so well. Just in the moments you think they hate each other their bodies are meshing together. This book has a couple of my favorite tropes: enemies to lovers, and rediscovering lost love.  

Favorite Scene- Lily and Devon are at a ton ball. Devon has essentially forced Lily into dancing with him and is trying to put her on edge. Essentially their working each other up and it’s delicious… a delicious disaster right at the end of the dance:

Lily’s smile was tight. “This is how you go about seducing a woman, Colton? By insulting her and angering her? I often found it curious that you hadn’t snapped up some fawning heiress by now, but it’s not really a wonder you remain a bachelor, is it?”

The skin near his eye twitched a bit. Her comment had hit its mark.

His next words fell nonchalantly from his firmly molded lips. He bowed to her. “Who says I am still trying to seduce you? Given your viper’s tongue and shrewish behavior. I may have changed my mind.”

A twinge of disappointment shot through her belly. Lily didn’t stop to examine it. “That would explain your lack of skill, I suppose.” She swept her skirts aside and stalked away from him, intending to leave him alone in the middle of the dance floor.

Colton’s hand shot out and grabbed her wrist. He spun her around, back into his arms. Lily gasped. A knowing smile rested on his perfect face. “Let me assure you, my lady, it will be soon, quite soon, and when I’m seducing you, you’ll know.”

He bent down and pressed his lips against hers in a quick, hard kiss. Amid the shocked gasps surrounding them, he released her, and strode away.

As far as conflict goes there’s plenty internal and external, as you can read above. Both Devon and Lily are facing their personal demons and past mistakes in this story, whether induced by family members or themselves. My problem was Devon and Lily’s hang ups dragged on a bit too long for my tastes, which made me want to hit both H/H on the head at one point.

Secondary characters, Jordan, Earl of Ashbourne and Lily’s sister Anne, were fun and different. Jordan’s a bit of a trouble/match maker and Anne is desperate to experience love and life. Both will be featured in Bowman’s next book, and I’m anxious to see how these two mix together.

Overall, this is a wonderful debut and I look forward to Bowman’s future work. Let’s hope she continues with her excellent dialogue and high stakes situations. Definitely a more out of the box book with characters that jump from the pages.

Reviewed by Landra


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