14 books, that's how many I have read to date since my recent renaissance with reading exploded big time. Thank god for GoodReads for all the up-to-date data on every single book I ever wanted to know really! and for keeping track of the books I have read.
Back to my subject header, yes I am feeling the sweet, warm bliss after finishing a particular romantic book. :) Secret desires of a gentleman - I am in love with Laura Lee Guhrke! Nothing spy-ish about this book, it was a classic romance, a historical version spin-off from Pride & Prejudice! LOL
Philip Hawthorne (1 of my fav names) and Maria Martingale (not my fav but i'll overlook it), the stuffy, upright, very gentlemanly and honour bound and of course, devilishly handosme Marquess of Kayne. and his 'qing1 mei2 zu2 ma3' crush from childhood days, Maria Martingale, daughter of his family's chef. Lord should forbid that he befriended a servant! But it was a mutual meeting of hearts, both adored each other at childhood. but naturally, Philip should feel so highly aware of his status, social class and great disparity with Maria that *gasp* he decided he needs to distance himself from her in order not to bring disgrace to himself and his mighty family name. But it's true it will only have killed any chance of a HEV (happily ever after) between a 17 yo Marquess and a 15 yo daughter of a chef. Lawrence, Philip's brother, had a side role in their story, but he was never a major factor. Maria's heart was always for Philip, he was just a convenient spare tyre, genuinely in this case!
Fast forward 12 years, and Romeo & Juliet's paths cross again. Guess what, Philip secretly kept Maria's handkerchief (is there something suspiciously shakespearen here? Hamlet??) with him for 12 years, always by his side no less. How sweet is that?? Aww.... this ultimately (propelled by Lawrence) was what melted the lady's heart. Aww
My feelings?
Love, loved, LOVED it!
HOWEVER - The ending was rather contrived and a spoiler in certain ways for me. Philip publicly declared his affections for Maria at a charity luncheon. If Philip was such a private person, he would never have done this. And I believed this was not what Maria was demanding from Philip - it is not about declaring his heart in public for god's sake. All she was asking was for him to acknowledge and tell her he wants to marry her because he loves her and none of that crap that her station is below him, or demanding she mold her life to his requirements. This could have been done equally well, and much more convincingly, in a private scene with just them and at best, Lawrence and Duchess of St Cyres. A public declaration was just OTT for me.
Other than that, I love this book!
Love the Pride & Prejudice twist, not surprisingly ;) The reluctant love but unstoppable romance between Darcy & Elizabeth Benning has already long been a fav of mine (THAT is my idea of a fairytale love story, not Cinderella, not Snow White!). I vaguely remember my pleasant surprise back in JC that a literature book, Pride & Prejudice no less, was actually such a sweet romance. :) Back to this book, naturally I fell for Philip in a major way too because I have always liked such heroes in historical romance - elder brother Lord, strong, tough guys, stuffy and honour bound, married to his responsibility and title but whom ultimately still fall prey to vulnerable, sweet sweet love. Of course they have to be tall, tough, devilishly handsome, dashing and charming. and yet a thoughtful gentle giant to the heroine (I swear only female authors could include this aspect) That's why I am so excited to get my hands on Rothgar's book!! (which sadly is still out there, nowhere close :S)
The heroine is no more special than classic historical romance heroines, courageous, stands up for herself/her beliefs/not caving in to the invisible jail bars set by society for her... but I did like the twist of a patisserie very much, it lent a nice chic European bistro setting to the book which happens to be another factor that appealed to me. *grin*
Anyway conclusion is - I MUST BUY THIS BOOK!
Can't wait to get my hands on other books by Laura Lee Guhrke too. I have another book which promises to be great too (hopefully I wouldnt be wrong about this) Dancing at Midnight by Julia Quinn, another romance diva author!
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