A Night of Forever by Bronwen Evans ~ Review

Title: A Night of Forever (The Disgraced Lords #6)
Author: Bronwen Evans
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 240 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: October 26, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Distrust is no match for desire as a proper young miss and a self-professed rogue hunt down a murderer in this thrilling Disgraced Lords novel from the USA Today bestselling author of A Kiss of Lies and A Taste of Seduction.

Arend Aubury trusts no one besides his fellow Libertine Scholars. After his family escaped from France, penniless and persecuted, only the Scholars took him in. So when the stepdaughter of the villainess who has been plotting against them approaches Arend with allegations against their enemy, he suspects a double cross. Yet Isobel is a tantalizing prize, with lips as sweet as champagne and skin as creamy as Camembert. Is she a feast for the senses—or a bitter trap?

Lady Isobel Thompson dreams of marrying an honorable gentleman with a spotless reputation, a trait that Arend seems to lack completely. But Isobel believes that her stepmother is responsible for her father’s death, and only Arend has the skills to uncover the truth. As a cover, Arend suggests a fake betrothal—and soon Isobel finds herself forgetting that their courtship is a ploy. He’s so different from the man of her fantasies, and yet he’s so terribly handsome, so dangerously intoxicating—and all Isobel wants is more.

A Night of Forever takes us further into the events of Arend's kidnapping - which we see from others' perspectives in the previous book. It did take me a few moments to find my place in the timeline, but once I was settled I really enjoyed the story.  Although, knowing part of the outcome did make it a bit less suspenseful for me.

Lady Isabel is the step-daughter of the woman the Libertine Scholars believe is trying to ruin and kill them. How could she not know what is going on when she is right in the middle of it all? Arend is determined to prove her collusion and is willing to take some rather extreme measures to do so. But or course this backfires, and he finds himself deeply intrigued by the lady.

There is a lot of action, and even though I knew how it was going to end already, there were a couple surprises along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed Lady Isobel. She had a quick wit and was fiercely loyal once she deemed you worthy of her trust.

I wasn't as fond as Arend, he's never been my favorite of the Libertine Scholars. A bit too roguish for my tastes - and too much of a blackguard to really seem like the hero. In fact, he's the one in need of rescue a few times. I'm all for a damsel rescuing her hero, but that isn't the case. In fact, she's rescued by someone entirely different (I hope he finds love) that I liked much better than Arend.

A great addition to the story of the Libertine Scholars, and sort of an end. There's still more to come and I can't wait to read it. As a series, it is near the top of my list for great reads.

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book**

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The Disgraced Lords

Kiss of Lies #1
A Promise of More #2

A Touch of Passion #3
A Whisper of Desire #4
A Taste of Seduction #5

A Taste of Seduction by Bronwen Evans ~ Review

Title: A Taste of Seduction (The Disgraced Lords #5)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Genre: Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense
Length: 283 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: August 16, 2016
Source: NetGalley
Rating: 5
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

The flames of desire fuel a torrid reunion as bestselling author Bronwen Evans returns with another captivating novel of the Disgraced Lords. See why Jen McLaughlin raves, “Bronwen’s historical romances always make the top of my reading list!”

Lady Evangeline Stuart chose to wed a tyrant with a title, or so society believes. That was five years ago—five long years she could have spent with her first and only love: Lord Hadley Fullerton, the second son of the Duke of Claymore. Now Evangeline is a widow, and her soul cries out for Hadley. But when they see each other at last, everything has changed. The passion in his eyes has been corrupted by betrayal. Somehow Evangeline must regain Hadley’s trust—without revealing the secret that would spoil the seduction.

Hadley is determined not to be distracted by Evangeline. He and the other Libertine Scholars are in pursuit of an enemy who has been striking at them from the shadows, and Evangeline’s mere presence could be dangerous. But with one smile, one touch, one taste of Evangeline’s lips, Hadley’s resolve is overpowered by much more pleasant memories. As the two enter into a discreet affair, Hadley vows to give her his body, never his heart. That she will have to earn.

This is the best so far! Part of it may be because I love Lord Fullerton. He has such a sad backstory - and it's something that actually happened to him instead of to his parents, so it was much more pressing and heart-breaking to me as a reader. As the source of his heartbreak tracks him down, things get quite interesting.

These two make such an amazing couple, but there are some secrets and misunderstandings - horrible ones - between them. And, of course, they all come out at the worst possible moment. I couldn't help but cheer for these two as they tried to navigate through their new sort-or-relationship. Things kept just getting in the way. Like big things. Family obligations, honor, reputation, and the by now ever present danger of the assassin.

As in previous books in the series, there is a good dose of excitement as the assassin tries once again to ruin everyone's lives. But this one does not end the same as previous books! I soooo want to tell you, but I can't. But it is very very good. Now to settle in for the wait for book 6.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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The Disgraced Lords

Kiss of Lies #1
A Promise of More #2

A Touch of Passion #3
A Whisper of Desire #4

A Whisper of Desire by Bronwen Evans ~ Review

Title: A Whisper of Desire (The Disgraced Lords #4)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 300 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: December 1, 2015
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Lady Marisa Hawkstone’s nightmare is just beginning when she wakes up naked, with no memory of the night before, lying next to Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton—a man so aloof and rational, he’s nicknamed “the Cold Duke.” A scandal ensues, in which Marisa’s beloved beau deserts her. As a compromised woman, Marisa agrees to marry Maitland. But on her wedding night, Marisa discovers the one place the duke shows emotion: in the bedroom, where the man positively scorches the sheets.

Taught from a young age to take duty seriously, Maitland cannot understand his new wife’s demands on his love and affection. Marisa’s hot-blooded spirit, however, does have its attractions—especially at night. In retrospect, it seems quite silly that he didn’t marry sooner. But being one of the Libertine Scholars requires constant vigilance, even more so when the enemy with a grudge against his closest friends targets Marisa. Now Maitland must save the woman who sets his heart aflame—or die trying.

Marisa and Maitland have known each other for years - as the sister to a Libertine Scholar, Marisa has been around the stories and the men themselves for half her life. But, she never expects to find herself waking up in bed next to one of them - naked - and obviously compromised in the eyes of the ton even though nothing happened. But the villainess has struck again, and Maitland and Marisa find themselves wed to save her reputation.This is where I get just a tad tired of the whole style of "she wants love, but he's determined not to." I hope it gets change up a bit more in the future.

Marisa and Maitland are far from an ideal pair. Marisa is determined to find love in marriage and Maitland is determined to avoid it at all costs - he considers passion to be a curse. It may look like the villianess has finally struck a blow to the Libertine Scholars. But Marisa is no coward. She will find a way to bring some passion and romance to her marriage - but when she finally does - well, things get pretty bad.

I just about cried several times in this one. There is tragedy, secrets, and a great loss that Marisa and Maitland will have to overcome before they will ever be happy. This was the most "real" book of the series so far. Things didn't all miraculously become better and all the hurt doesn't just disappear. But because of this, the characters are going to stay with me for a long, long time. I can't wait to see them in future books in the series.

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The Disgraced Lords

Kiss of Lies #1
A Promise of More #2

A Touch of Passion #3

A Promise of More by Bronwen Evans ~ Review

Title: A Promise of More (The Disgraced Lords #2)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 256 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: April 15, 2014
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 3
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

When Beatrice Hennessey sets out to confront Lord Coldhurst, the notorious rogue who killed her brother in a duel, her intent is to save her family from destitution. She’s determined to blackmail the man into a loveless marriage. She’ll make the wealthy Lord Coldhurst pay for the rest of his life. But while greeting his ship, Beatrice takes a tumble into the Thames—only to be fished out by a pair of strong masculine arms that tempt her to stay locked in their heated embrace forever. That is, until she realizes those arms belong to Sebastian Hawkestone, Lord Coldhurst himself.

The little drowned mermaid has an interesting proposition indeed; one that Sebastian is surprised to find quite agreeable. Although he’s had women more beautiful, she is pleasing to the eye, and besides, it’s time he fathered an heir. Beatrice promises to be the ideal wife; a woman who hates him with an all-consuming passion is far too sensible to expect romance. However, it isn’t long before Sebastian’s plan for a marriage of convenience unravels, and he’s caught up in the exhilarating undertow of seduction.

We get to briefly see Beatrice and Sebastian at the end of A Kiss of Lies, book one in The Disgraced Lords series. A Promise of More takes us back a few days to when they first meet, and that meeting is one to remember. When Sebastian fishes Beatrice out of the Thames, he never expects what comes out of her mouth - a proposal. With the death of her brother, their family is about to go to the poor house, and Beatrice thinks Sebastian owes it to them to save the day - by marrying her.

This isn't the set up for a happy marriage. Sebastian killed Beatrice's brother in a duel and I really enjoyed the way Beatrice was portrayed as dealing with the fact that she was about to marry his killer. Resolved and accepting of her situation, she is determined to try and make the best of it all.

But of course, things are never as they seem at first. And when they both begin to feel the inevitable attraction to each other, well, it gets very interesting. Our villian from the first book is still in play and causing all sorts of problems, but the Libertine Scholars may be one step closer to finding out who she is.

I enjoyed the back and forth between Sebastian and Beatrice, but there was just a little spark of something that seemed to be missing. I had a hard time imagining Beatrice finding pleasure in the arms of the man that killed her brother as well, although this ends up being a little different than what they both thought. They still thought he had killed her brother, and then have great sex still. I had a hard time believing it.

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The Disgraced Lords

Kiss of Lies #1

A Touch of Passion #3

Kiss of Lies by Bronwen Evans ~ Review

Title: Kiss of Lies (The Disgraced Lords #1)

Author: Bronwen Evans
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 320 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Release Date: January 14, 2014
Source: Self-Purchased
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Desperate to escape her abusive past, Sarah Cooper disguises herself as a governess in the employ of Christian Trent, Earl of Markham, the man who, long ago, she fantasized about marrying. Despite the battle scars that mar his face, Sarah finds being near Christian rekindles her infatuation. A governess, however, has no business in the arms of an earl, and as she accompanies Christian on his voyage home, Sarah must resist her intense desires—or risk revealing her dangerous secrets.

One of the renowned Libertine Scholars, Christian Trent once enjoyed the company of any woman he chose. But that was before the horrors of Waterloo, his wrongful conviction of a hideous crime, and his forcible removal from England. Far from home and the resources he once had, Christian believes the life he knew—and any chance of happiness—is over . . . until his ward’s governess sparks his heart back to life, and makes him remember the man he used to be. Now Christian is determined to return to England, regain his honor, and win the heart of the woman he has come to love.

Two people on the run from their past, Sarah and Christian are thrown together by strange circumstances. Christian is trying to clear his name from a horrible accusation and wondering who would want to frame him for such a horrible crime. Banished to Canada, he makes friends and begins to raise funds to return to England.

Enter Sarah, applying for a job as governess to Christian's young ward. She has a dark secret she is trying to keep, and the men looking for her are getting closer and closer. Escaping to England with Christian seems like the perfect solution, but she must ensure that he never finds out who she really is or what she has done.

Of course, none of their plans go quite as expected. I'm not usually a fan of the deep dark secret theme, but it fit this story nicely. I understood Sarah's secret and why she had to keep it. But it does cause issues, as secrets will. It also comes out fairly early, so much of the story takes place after they have comes to terms with it and are now trying to help fix it. I really loved it.

The Libertine Scholars were a great group of friends. It looks like each book tells the story of one of the infamous rakes. They all be playing important parts in each other's story, too, which means I get to keep in touch with these great characters.

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 The Disgraced Lords

A Touch of Passion #3

ARC Review: A Touch of Passion (The Disgraced Lords #3) by Bronwen Evans

Title: A Touch of Passion (The Disgraced Lords #3)
Author: Bronwen Evans
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Historical Romance - Regency
Length: Novel
Release Date: March 24, 2015
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Independent and high-spirited, Lady Portia Flagstaff has never been afraid to take a
risk, especially if it involves excitement and danger. But this time, being kidnapped and sold into an Arab harem is the outcome of one risk too many. Now, in order to regain her freedom, she has to rely on the deliciously packaged Grayson Devlin, Viscount Blackwood, a man who despises her reckless ways—and stirs in her a thirst for passion.

After losing his mother and two siblings in a carriage accident years ago, Grayson Devlin promised Portia’s dying brother that he’d always watch over his wayward sister. But having to travel to Egypt to rescue the foolhardy girl has made his blood boil. Grayson already has his hands full trying to clear his best friend and fellow Libertine Scholar of a crime he didn’t commit. Worse still, his dashing rescue has unleashed an unforeseen and undesired consequence: marriage. Now it’s more than Portia he has to protect . . . it’s his battered heart.

This was a pretty good story.  There was a lot more adventure and action than I usually see in a historical romance, which I really enjoyed.  What just didn't quite work for me was the resistance between the characters.

Portia is determined to marry for love, and to do that she must make Grayson fall in love with her.  But throughout the story, it's rather obvious that he has fallen in love, but he just is far too stubborn to even admit it to himself.  When Portia believes that he doesn't love her, then she goes off in another direction.  It was just too much pulling apart "just because" for my taste.  They both needed to just get their heads on straight and work it all out.

The mystery behind who is out to get the Libertine Scholars was the best part of the story.  I really want to know who this mysterious plotter is, because they are very good at causing all sorts of trouble.  We find out quite a bit about them in this story, and now I just want to know more.

*This book was received in exchange for an honest review*

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