Never say never…
With her mother’s passing, Alexandra Bolton gave up on love to take care of her family. Now, with the Bolton name in disgrace due to her father’s profligate ways, marrying an elderly squire might be the only way to save her family from absolute ruin. But when she meets the infamous Duke of Clarewood, old dreams—and old passions—are awakened as never before. Yet she cannot accept his shocking proposition!
He is the wealthiest, most powerful peer in the realm, and having witnessed the cold horror of marriage as a child, he has vowed never to wed. But Alexandra Bolton inflames him as no woman has ever done, and she also serves him his first rejection! Now Clarewood—who always gets what he wants—will choose which rules to play by. But when passion finally brings them together, a terrible secret threatens to tear them apart….
Alexandra Bolton’s father is a drunk and a gambler. He’s taken any of the money that the household has and has wasted it away on his own fun – not really caring about his 3 daughters…their present or their future. Their house has become threadbare and they eat very poorly. Alexandra attempts to help by taking in sewing for the local gentry. Now the Baron states that he must start marrying the girls off 1 by 1 because he just can’t afford to keep them. He states that since Alexandra is 26 she will be the first to go. Alexandra – always one to do what the family needs – agrees to be courted by a recently widowed local squire. She says she doesn’t care that he is 50 years old and allows the courtship to commence. On one visit Squire Denney invites Alexandra and her family to a birthday party he has been invited to. Since the family of the birthday girl was once friends with Alexandra’s mother, she agrees. Things don’t go well at the party – Alexandra almost faints and her father gets drunk and disorderly – but the family is “saved” by the Duke of Clarewood who has his eye on Alexandra.
The Duke of Clarewood is a hard man. He is a philanthropist and does well except with his own life. Not that anyone isn’t good enough for him, but he’s casually been searching for a wife for the last 10 years. He just get’s bored so quickly. He’s not interested in marriage at all. He sets his sights on Alexandra to be his new mistress even though he knows that she is being courted by the squire. He is relentless in his pursuit because he always gets what he wants. When Alexandra denies the squire and agrees to be Clarewood’s mistress it is the downfall of her life as she knows it and begins a roller coaster ride that takes her to incredibly wonderful highs as well as the lowest of lows. I’d love to tell you more of what happens but I truly don’t want to give away too much. There were so many surprises in the book that I didn’t expect and I don’t want to ruin that for anyone who is going to read the book in the future.
I have to say that as much as I liked this book that Clarewood was definitely not my favorite character yet I couldn’t stop reading about him. There were quite a few things about his character that were explained by his upbringing but he was still a pretty big bastard. He was supposedly the consummately patient man who never got upset about anything (on the outside) and certainly didn’t lose his temper. But this was something that happened again and again with Alexandra – several times in the book he yells at her and he’s not just upset…he’s pissed. On one hand it can be explained by the passion that he felt for her and possibly the feelings for her that he was denying but I’m not sure that I felt he redeemed himself sufficiently by the end of the book. Yes, he would react quickly and then think about things and realize he was wrong but damn he was stubborn about admitting it! This being said I think part of the reason I liked the book so much was the fact that he didn’t act like a typical historical romance hero.
For Alexandra’s part I very much enjoyed the realism of her character. Very thoughtful, loyal to her family, pragmatic but still being the type of woman who can dream of her prince – while thinking that there will be no prince for her. She was an extremely passionate woman and although I didn’t care for her actions in some parts of the book I did think that she handled herself very well most of the time – especially in the darker times in her life when her strength really showed.
There is also a subplot in the book that involves Clarewood’s mother and a man from America that she falls in love with that was sweet and touching as well. A lovely addition to the book.
This is book 12 in the de Warrene Dynasty series. I started the series at book 7, The Masquerade, when I randomly picked it up in the library and have been reading them since then. The books have been a great look into the many branches of the de Warrene family – this book following Clarewood who is actually the bastard son of Rex de Warrene and though it is part of the series I think it’s a pretty good stand alone as well. Again, while I had issues with some parts it was overall a pretty darned good read for me.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
Do you think you'll ever go back and read the first six?
OMG… Tracey, I just read this book the other night. I read it like in two nights. I will have my review after the party at my place is done. But I know what you are saying about the book and Clarewood. Oh gosh, I wanted to slap the crap out of him a couple of times. But I loves Alex, she was a woman to admire. I have not read any other books by this author or any other in the series and I did NOT feel lost at all. Every one was explained and I did not feel like it took forever for me to know who they were.
Chris – maybe some day? IDK…I've gotten so much info about those couples from the books that I've read that I done feel I need to. But who knows, right?
Cecile – I wanted to slap him too at times but he's one of the main reasons I kept reading. Never a dull moment! I can't wait to read your review!
No! ::stomps foot:: You can get me to read historical. ::sigh:: okay fine you win, I'll read historicals.
PS The fact that this is book #7 doesn't scare me off at all ::eyes widen in fear::
Wow, I haven't read a Brenda Joyce novel in years Tracy! Thanks for the great comprehensive review and the blast from the past.
Book 12 eh? Again, Wow!
Smokin Hot – This was good but if you were gonna read a historical for the first time in a while there would be some others I'd read first.
Lea – Well as I said I've been reading the series for a while. I think I picked the first one I read 2 years ago – maybe longer.
I used to like this series but I was really disappointed by the last few. I also started with Masquerade–loved it! Maybe I'll try this one.
Jill – I really liked The Masquerade as well! I think the books are good, entertaining reads without being heavy. Historical lite for me, if you will. I just enjoy sitting down and having a nice visit with the de Warrene family. lol
I don't think I've read any of this series, although it definitely rings a bell. Seeing that you started at the seventh book I will see what the library has *looks around carefully to check no one who things books should be read in order is lurking*
Orannia – lol I know I usually like to read books in order too and used to be anal about it but I've relaxed in the last year or so. I won't look at you funny for starting at book 7 since that's what I did! 🙂