Enter to win a set of The Wicked Quills of London bks 1&2
Temptations of a Wallflower
The Wicked Quills of London #3
Eva Leigh
Releasing April 26th, 2016
Avon Books
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 the ton 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?
Now it was her turn
to laugh. “I’m hardly enviable, Mr. Cleland.”
His expression
shifted to thoughtfulness. “I wonder why you might say that.”
“I have…everything
a woman could want,” she acknowledged, matching her stride to his.
“Such as?”
“Wealth, position.
If there’s a material thing that I desire, I simply have to ask, and it’s
mine.” She shook her head. “And I’m grateful for these things. I truly am. And
yet…”
“And yet…?” he
prompted gently.
“It comes at a high
price,” she admitted.
“What is that
price?”
She considered
this. Never before had she spoken so openly to anyone. Not her friends, or her
family. But here, now, to be with this man, and to consider the foundations of
her life, was both odd and deeply right. At last, she said, “Freedom.”
He contemplated her
perceptively. “Must be very restricting,” he murmured. “The responsibilities of
your position in society. Not to mention the fact that you’re a woman.” He
blushed a little at that word.
It was a
charming—but also gently erotic—blush. Her own cheeks warmed.
He continued, “You
haven’t the liberty that a man in your place might have.”
“Indeed, no.” She
gave a small, strained laugh. “You must think me dreadful to take issue with my
admittedly fortunate circumstance.”
He fell briefly
silent. “I know a little about having one’s role be predetermined.” They
stopped walking, and she gazed up at him. Cool sunlight carved hollows in his
cheeks and gilded his eyelashes. “Being a vicar means I must be a model to
everyone in my parish. I have to be more pious, more humble, more
self-sacrificing. I have to be better at everything while also being
deferential. I certainly cannot admit to being an ordinary human man.”
Their gazes held at
that word, man. Awareness
of him sizzled. His height, his physicality. That suppressed desire. Her own
body warmed in response.
She tiled her head
to one side, imagining what it must be like to live such a restrained life.
“Sounds exhausting.”
“Not unlike being a
duke’s daughter, I imagine.” He smiled at her, and that lush warmth continued
to gathered through her.
“I never would have
thought I’d have much in common with a vicar,” she said with a laugh.
“Nor I with you,”
he answered, his smile softening. “But here we are, in this garden.”
“So we are.”
Strange how the world worked, that she discovered a man such as him on a day
that had started out so perfectly ordinary. It was almost…miraculous. Did
miracles happen? She went to church as a matter of form, not faith, though the
ritual gave her comfort. Still, it was a revelation to learn that men of God
were mortal just like anyone else, with the same needs and frustrations anybody
might experience.
She ought to have
imagined as such. She often imbued people in her mind with hidden motivations
and secrets. He was no exception.
“And does
your…wife…feel as you do?” She inwardly grimaced at her lack of tact, but she
needed to know whether or not he had someone with whom he could confide. It
seemed a shame, a right shame, that he should be alone in this world.
“No wife, I’m
afraid,” he said with a self-deprecating grin.
A strange relief
shot through her. She reasoned that it must be because it wouldn’t do to flirt
with a married man. “Stick around the London Season long enough,” she replied.
“An earl’s son, with a living? You’ll make someone a fine catch.”
“I’m just a humble
country vicar,” he answered. “Hardly the stuff of a doting mama’s dream for her
daughter.”
“You might be
surprised.” Without a doubt, she and Mr. Cleland could never be a match. Even
if she wanted to marry, he stood too far beneath her to warrant any possibility
of courtship. Duke’s daughters and vicars—though they might be sons of
earls—made for an improbable, mismatched pairing.
A vicar could never
be married to a woman who wrote anonymous erotic novels, either. The very idea
was ruinous.
But damn and all
the other curse words she wasn’t allowed to use—she liked Mr.
Cleland. The way his mind worked, how he spoke to her like a person of equal
intelligence, the sensual quality within him. It wasn’t all her writer’s fancy.
Something burned in him and it lured her closer, closer, drawn toward the
mysteries of this man. Even Lady Josephina wouldn’t find someone half as
interesting in her adventures.
And…he was
exceptionally attractive. In a way she’d never experienced with another man
before. She’d met handsome gentlemen in the past, but Mr. Cleland lit a spark
within her, low and hot.
A shame, really,
that Sarah couldn’t have been someone else. Because, if she had…she might give
him serious consideration.
But that was never
to be. She was who she was, and he was who he was, and they would have to be
friends—nothing more.
So absorbed was she
in this thought, that she didn’t hear footsteps approaching until they were
almost upon her. Turning, she saw her mother coming down the path, wearing a
pinched expression.
“There you are,”
Lady Wakefield said impatiently. She nodded at Mr. Cleland, barely
acknowledging him. Sarah felt a small stab of shame at her mother’s rudeness.
But a vicar didn’t warrant much attention. “This sun has given me a headache.
It’s time to go.”
“Yes, Mama.” Before
the words had left her mouth, her mother had spun on her heel and strode off
back toward the main house.
Sarah offered Mr.
Cleland a remorseful smile. “I’m so sorry.”
“Nothing to
apologize for,” he said easily, and it was clear he meant it. He bowed. “It was
a genuine pleasure to meet you, Lady Sarah.”
“I feel the same
way.” They smiled at each other. For a long time, neither, it seemed, willing
to move away.
“Now, Sarah,” her
mother called out.
Sarah sighed. Her
gaze drifted back to the hedge maze. Could she drop her fan? As they both bent
to retrieve it, she might whisper to him an invitation to meet her there in a
few moments. And then… She could taste those gently curved lips of his. Oh,
she’d experienced a few chaste kisses before, but never anything she truly
desired. But she wanted to kiss Mr. Cleland. She craved feeling his mouth
against hers, and seeing if her imagination was correct about him.
He, too, looked at
the maze. Was he thinking the same thoughts? Did he want to savor her? A
delectable thought, one that made her feel both languid and powerfully alive
all at once.
Their gazes met. He
turned gorgeously pink.
He was thinking
of kissing her!
Jeremy may be a vicar, but it was not by his choice. Forced into service by his overbearing father, he is conflicted by his feelings. He loves to help others, but wishes he could do it through other ways that did not mean he had to live such a strict way of life. He hopes to someday marry, but is afraid that the typical vicar's wife would not be as sexually adventurous as he would like to be. Sarah's secret life as an erotic romance writer is quite unconventional for a Duke's daughter, but it's what makes her feel alive. She refused offers of marriage and plans to stay single so that she can continue with the writing career. All of that begins to change when she meets Jeremy. It seems that she is the only one who can sense what lies underneath his clerical clothes. Their is an instant attraction between the pair, but society would not accept a relationship between them due to their station. However, a friendship forms that eventually leads to marriage. They have amazing chemistry both in and out of bed, but will face hard times as Jeremy discovers who she is. I fell in love with Jeremy for his hidden sexual side as well and with Sarah for staying true to herself. Another great books in the Wicked Quills series!
I received an ARC via Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
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.
Thank you for hosting your lovely review!!
ReplyDelete