INFO: Paperback, Fiction, 342 pages
PUBLISHED: Forever, 2011
SOURCE: Received from Publisher for Review and Blog Tour
FROM GOODREADS: TWICE TEMPTED...
Serena Donovan left London six years ago, her heart broken and her reputation ruined by devilishly handsome Jonathan Dane. Now, with her family's future in peril, she reluctantly agrees to return to England and assume her late twin's identity. The price? Marry a man she doesn't love and spend the rest of her days living a lie.
Jonathan Dane, Earl of Stratford, has become an incorrigible rake, drinking, gambling-and trying to forget Serena Donovan. Yet the moment he's introduced to the prim and proper "Meg", he recognizes the sensual young woman who captured his heart. Haunted by his past mistakes, he refuses to lose Serena again. But convincing her to trust him is no easy task. Claiming his lost love means exposing the truth and destroying the life Serena has sacrificed everything to rebuild. With the future of all the Donovans at stake, and their undying passion capable of triggering yet another scandal, how much will Jonathan and Serena risk for a chance at true love?
MY TAKE: Back in October of last year I was lucky enough to be on the blog tour for Jennifer Haymore's Season of Seduction. I mentioned that this new book was in the works and I was looking forward to reading it. I also noted that I was going to go back to read the first two books in that series: A Hint of Wicked and A Touch of Scandal. Well I did and I LOVED both of them as well. Ms. Haymore has a very devoted fan here.
On to this exciting first installment of The Donovan Sisters series. I'm hooked. The author is a master at writing characters that draw you into their lives and their story. You feel like you know them personally and are on the journey with them. My heart ached for Serena having to pretend to be her late sister. I also hurt for Jonathan who mourned his beloved Serena for six years only to discover her alive, posing as Meg and engaged to his best friend. I must admit that I found myself wanting to flick Aunt Geraldine on the forehead even though I understood why she behaved as she did.
The story was packed with action and some intrigue, but the characters definitely drive it forward for me. I found myself rooting for them to succeed and caring about what happened to them. It was one of those books that I didn't want to put down. The fact that these stories are part of a series does not take away from their extreme readability and enjoyment as a stand alone book. The series aspect just feeds my own hunger for MORE of certain characters and the setting that the author has put in place.
Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:
ALSO we have some exciting news: Jonathan Dane, yes the Earl of Stratford, is on Twitter! How exciting is that? You can contact sign up to follow his tweets and interact with the dashing hero. His twitter account is: @EarlofStratford
To get a sneak peek of Jonathan and Serena's tale, read an Excerpt from Confessions of an Improper Bride
Jennifer Haymore and Forever Romance have decided to reward THREE of you lucky readers with your very own copy of Confessions of an Improper Bride. Here's how to win:
- Must be a resident of the US or Canada
- No PO Boxes
- ONE prize (of this title) per household
- Leave a comment WITH your email and tell me if you have ever posed as or pretended to be someone else (in real life ~ not Halloween or dress-up)
- Drawing will end August 26th at midnight PST time.
- Winners will have 72 hours to respond to winning email.
Just so you know...the next Donovan Sisters novel Secrets of an Accidental Duchess is available for pre-order NOW. It is the story of Serena's younger sister Olivia and the roguish Maxwell Buchanan, Marquis of Rumsford. I can't wait!
~~~~~ Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own. I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links. I may receive books in order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one. Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.
