Elizabeth the Enchantress by Lavinia Kent
A quick, light-hearted romance that will enchant any historical romance fan.
This fourth edition of Lavinia Kent’s highly entertaining Real Duchesses of London novella series is one I was not as excited to read as the others. Having read the other three novellas in the series, I was already familiar with most of the key players and the heroine of this story was not my favorite going in. But, I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly this well written story sucked me in and tied me to all characters once again.
Elizabeth, Countess of Westhampton married a man she thought would save her from a dismal home life and give her the love and independence that she fiercely desired. But after her wedding, her husband promptly leaves for South America and leaves her for four years to face the scorn and ridicule of the entire ton. Upon his return, the Earl attempts to quiet the hateful rumors that hound his wife and win back the heart she once gave him.
But an unknown villain releases yet another vicious newssheet caricature series that puts their lives at the forefront of the ton gossip and makes redemption on both their parts next to impossible. But true love is stronger than the pain they both feel as Elizabeth and William find their way back to each other.
Each of the characters in this story endear themselves to the reader almost immediately. Elizabeth has more depth than I initially thought and her history made me empathize with her plight. Her vulnerability is masked by her icy demeanor and haughty attitude towards the people around her and she is a scared woman with a good amount of emotional baggage. She wants nothing more than a quiet life with a good man who will cherish her and take care of her.
William, Earl of Westhampton, suddenly arrives on the scene and wants his wife more than anything he can remember. He is big, strong, and yet a kind and gentle man inside which is a big plus when you want a truly sexy hero. He has made some big mistakes when it comes to his wife and he is not afraid to admit it. I like how he willingly he takes her scorn and does everything he can to win her back.
The plot of this novella moves quickly with some interesting revelations that refer back to the other editions in the series. You don’t need to have read the other three novellas but I do recommend it as you will get a real understanding of what the main point of the series is and learn about how the other lead characters found their happy endings. You will also get a glimpse of Swatt, a man who appears throughout the series and who can be a bit confusing. Is he trying to harm the ladies of London or is he really trying to help them? I frequently had to ask myself that question and even as I closed this book I was still not completely sure. Hopefully, Lavinia Kent will finish off the series with a firm answer to that mystery.
Overall, I did enjoy this nice, quick read even if I wasn’t as thrilled with the heroine when I first met her. The writing is strong, the story fast paced, and the romance definitely sigh-worthy. A recommend read for any historical romance fan.
Rating: 4 Stars
Heat Level: Hot
Reviewed by Danielle
A nice review. It’s always a nice surprise when an author can suck you into the story even when it’s a book well into the series. A good indicator of a good author.
Great review Danielle!
sounds good!
Thanks for the review. I have been enjoying reading novellas lately but I’ve found that not every author can tell a story well in this shorter format.
The fact she was able to take a character you didn’t care for, reveal whys for her behavior changing her into a heroine one can cheer on shows her strength in writing. I will have to read these novellas when the series is complete.
Thank you for this review.
I love Lavinia Kent and, when this series of novellas came out, I wasn’t sure if I should pick them up piecemeal or wait for a collection to be published.
Now you’ve tempted me … ^_^
Thanks for the review. I haven’t read anything by this particular author.
Thanks for the review. I’ve never read that author before.