by Eva Leigh
Series: Wicked Quills of London #3
Pub. Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: Avon
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss
My Rating:
Sultry Scale:
Eva Leigh’s deliciously sexy Wicked Quills of London series continues as a Lady’s secret career writing erotic fiction is jeopardized by real-life romance . . .
In society circles she’s known as the Watching Wallflower—shy, quiet, and certainly never scandalous. Yet beneath Lady Sarah Frampton’s demure façade hides the mind of The Lady of Dubious Quality, author of the most titillating erotic fiction theton has ever seen. Sarah knows discovery would lead to her ruin, but marriage—to a vicar, no less—could help protect her from slander. An especially tempting option when the clergyman in question is the handsome, intriguing Jeremy Cleland.
Tasked with unmasking London’s most scandalous author by his powerful family, Jeremy has no idea that his beautiful, innocent bride is the very woman he seeks to destroy. His mission must remain a secret, even from the new wife who stirs his deepest longings. Yet when the truth comes to light, Sarah and Jeremy’s newfound love will be tested. Will Sarah’s secret identity tear them apart or will the temptations of his wallflower wife prove too wicked to resist?
The Wicked Quills of London series has been so much fun! Eva Leigh has gone on my auto-buy list for her steamy, modern historical romances with great dialogue, engaging characters, and entertaining storylines. The latest installment, Temptations of a Wallflower, involves a sensual vicar and a virginal erotic romance author. Say what???? It worked, trust me.
Lady Sarah Frampton, daughter of a duke and near spinster, is writing erotic romance under the nom de plume, A Lady of Dubious Quality. Writing is in Sarah's blood... she is compelled to do it. A curious mind and wonderful imagination has allowed Sarah to create steamy passion, even though she has not experienced any passion herself. In fact, Lady Sarah has not really been inspired by any of the men she has met... until the day she spies a handsome vicar with a delicious earthy aura. I loved Lady Sarah and had a wonderful connection to her character. She made me laugh, cry, and squirm in my seat. She is one of the rare heroine's who rallied me to her side over the hero when there was relationship strife.
Jeremy Cleland is a country vicar and third son of a demanding duke. The duke maintains control over his family... having one son as his heir, one son for a noble profession (the law), and the last son for the church. While Jeremy enjoys helping people, he was not overjoyed about his livelihood being dictated, but can't stand up to his father. Normally I do not go for these type of beta male heroes, but I loved Jeremy as well. Rooting for this vicar to burst out of his cleric's clothes and ravish our heroine was delightfully naughty. Leigh gave Jeremy a dichotomous nature... he was at times awkward and shy, but then had this earthy sensual side that was trying to break free from years of suppression.
The romance of the story built nicely, and I liked that we got to see Jeremy and Sarah during the lead up and after the marriage. However, Jeremy's father the duke is a moral highroller and he has tasked Jeremy with exposing the Lady of Dubious Quality. As you can imagine, this has disastrous consequences for our romance and marriage, and I was riveted when the drama started unfolding. This was the part where I was firmly on Sarah's side... and Leigh did a fabulous job at making this a more emotional matter rather than just throwing out drama and having the H/h fight and be annoying. I was laying in bed at 2am with tears running down my face for Sarah's plight.
If you haven't experienced the Wicked Quills, I encourage you to put it on your TBR Soon list. All of the heroines in the series have been engaged in the writing profession in different ways, and I have enjoyed following each of their creative processes. The heroes have been just as engaging, even the unexpected ones like our vicar! I am so excited to meet Eva Leigh and get my fangirl on at the RT Convention later this month.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Avon Romance via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
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About the Author
EVA LEIGH is the pen name of a RITA® Award-nominated romance author who writes novels chock-full of smart women and sexy men. She enjoys baking, Tweeting about boots, and listening to music from the ‘80s. Eva and her husband live in Central California.
Wicked Quills of London Series
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