Meant to be?

The Marquess of Fenris has loved Lady Eugenia from the day he first set eyes on her. Five years ago, pride caused him to earn her enmity. Now she's widowed, and he's determined to make amends and win her heart. But with their near explosive attraction, can he resist his desire long enough to court her properly? After the death of her beloved husband, Lady Eugenia Bryant has come to London to build a new life. Despite the gift of a medallion said to have the power to unite the wearer with her perfect match, Eugenia believes she won't love again. And yet, amid the social whirl of chaperoning a young friend through her first Season, she finds a second chance at happiness.

Unfortunately, the Marquess of Fenris threatens her newfound peace. Eugenia dislikes the man, but the handsome and wealthy heir to a dukedom is more charming than he has a right to be. Constantly underfoot, the rogue disturbs her heart, alternately delighting and scandalizing her. And when their relationship takes a highly improper turn, Eugenia must decide if the wrong man isn’t the right one after all.

Review

Who cares about being not proper enough?

Five years earlier the Marquess of Fenris fell hard for Lady Eugenia, but to his dismay she didn’t pick love him in return. He handled it badly and she grew to hate him. Now her husband, who was once his best friend, is dead and she has returned to London society to be the chaperone to a young friend and maybe find her own second chance at happiness. Fenris knows this is his chance to make amends for the terrible things he did and maybe to get Lady Eugenia to realize that he truly does love her.

Fenris is a very cocky character, who at times comes across as the biggest jerk, but that’s exactly what makes him so delicious. He is vulgar with Lady Eugenia and doesn’t shy away from telling her exactly what he wants to do to her and where he wants to do it in explicit terms. His relentless pursuit of Lady Eugenia and his quest to get her to call him Fox is full of spicy banter and sexy innuendo. There isn’t a moment wasted in his pursuit of Ginny. He is a man who knows what he wants and will use his charm and sensuality to get it no matter what.

Lady Eugenia was once in love and wants to be again. She knows that her late husband, Robert, would want her to find happiness again and to move on with her life. She is given a medallion that is said to help pull the wearer to the person they are meant to be with. She feels herself drawn to the Marquess of Fenris over and over. She wants to move on, but she does not want the person that she wants to move on and find happiness with to be the Marquess of Fenris. The man made her life miserable before her marriage to Robert and she despised him. However, Lady Eugenia finds herself running into him everywhere and he makes her laugh, think, and feel. Lady Eugenia has to fight a within herself as her feelings for Fenris change from dislike to lust to love.

The relationship between these two begins as a sexual relationship that evolves into something more. With each encounter their feelings grow even though they don’t see it. The author’s writing style is enchanting. I was completely enthralled by the characters, their motivation, and the relationship that was developing between Fenris and Eugenia.

There is a delightful secondary romance between The Duke of Camber and the young lady that Eugenia is chaperoning. I loved that their romance is completely innocent compared to the very sexual and scandalous relationship of Fenris and Eugenia.

I can’t wait to find out what happens to the next character to wear the medallion and find their heart’s desire.

Reviewed by Carrie