eARC Review: Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone

PRIDE & PASSION by Charlotte Featherstone
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: HQN Books (November 15, 2011)
ISBN: 9780373776177

They each have their secrets. But what they share is Passion
Lucy Ashton had long ago given up her quest for true love. In the rarified society of Victorian England, Lucy plays the game--flirting, dancing and dabbling in the newly fashionable spiritualism. Even marrying when--and who--she's supposed to. If the stuffy Duke of Sussex cannot spark the passion she craves, he can at least give her a family, a home of her own,and a place to belong. But when her polite marriage reveals a caring and sensual man, Lucy begins to wonder if she can indeed have it all.
But Lord Sussex is not the man the London ton has come to admire. And Lucy has some ghosts of her own, as well. Thus, when a blackmail scheme turns to threats of danger, the newfound peace of the Sussex marriage is cast upon the rocks. Passion has a price, Lucy learns. And not all ghosts stay buried. (source)

Where To Find Charlotte: Author Site | Twitter | Facebook | Blog
Where To Buy: Amazon | Kindle | B&N | Nook | Book Depository
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

Go and Buy it NOW!

Other Book in Series (click on cover for an excerpt/learn more):

available now

coming 2012

REVIEW:
OH.MY.GOD. I don't even know where to begin in reviewing this book. I've never been left speechless by a book before. Charlotte Featherstone had me floored. Utterly stunned. I read until 2AM. Just amazing. It's been a while since I've cried over a book and this one had me in tears. And don't even get me started on  the ending. My jaw dropped, may have heard it pop it dropped so fast. Whyyyy? How am I going to survive until Temptation & Twilight?

To be honest, I picked up the book because of its cover. Yes. I'm a cover lover. And I'm not even a big fan of orange but this cover works. Gah!

PRIDE:
Lady Lucy Ashton is dabbling in the occult trying to find her lost lover. He has captured her heart and enthralled her, only to die in a fire, or so she thinks. The Duke of Sussex, the man she is to be engaged to, brings proof in the form of her handkerchief (which she gave to her lover) as proof that he is still alive. She is determined to find him by any means and has branded Sussex as her enemy.

Being a victim of her time and upbringing, Lucy was the only child born to her parents (no heir) so they ignored her. In turn, she learned to close herself off from others. As a child, she had a friend (the butcher's son) who she spent a lot of time with until her father sends him away. He gifts her with a handmade bed for her dolls, which she has kept as a reminder. Now, she cannot seem to get her childhood friend out of her head. There is something hauntingly familiar about the cold grey eyes she saw during her visit to the mystic.

Refusing to cave into her father's arrangement of marriage to Sussex, she does everything in her power to dissuade Sussex from marrying her. But as the heavy staring and sultry, thigh clenching words flow and seduce from Sussex's all too kissable mouth do a number to her whole being, Lucy must not allow herself be lured in by that simmering passion underneath the controlled visage of the all too proper duke.

She must find her lover and prove to Sussex that the man is not in league with Orpheus. She must also find out why her lover did not let her know he was still alive and she had to find out via her handkerchief that Sussex brought to her. But things take a dangerous and unexpected turn. She must decide whether to go back to her lover or allow Sussex's amorous attentions to grow into something more.

PASSION:
Lord Adrian York, Duke of Sussex is controlled, scandal-free and on the hunt for the man named Oprheus who has one of the relics that belong to the Brethren Guardians. Under all that control is a secret and a simmering passion for Lucy. He is determined to make Lucy his in every way but to do so, he must convince her that Thomas is the enemy, not him.

He's held a tendre for Lucy for quite some time now and he wants her. Badly. But he must keep his passions in check so as not to prove to the ton that he is his father's son. At every turn, Lucy tempts him more and more even though, true to her hair color, she's feisty and fights him every step of the way.

His sister and his father's mistress are the only family he's got left, not counting his fellow Brethren. Keeping them safe from Orpheus is at the top of his list after finding the man himself. Both know what Adrian is and they are willing to help him even if it is too dangerous and could pay with their life.

He's held a deep dark secret for so long, it could cost him everything and everyone he loves.

Pride & Passion:
As Lucy gets closer to finding Thomas, Adrian must keep her from harms way even if it means opening up to her about Brethren business and showing her how he really feels. Together they each must set aside their pride and let their passions rule. Only then, can the truth be revealed and releasing their respective emotional burdens.


FAVORITE QUOTE: "That telling sentence was far more intimate than his mouth against hers, his breath on her face, his palms on her skin." (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)


OVERALL: Charlotte Featherstone has created a world of danger, intrigue, betrayal, forgiveness, anticipation, second chances, dark secrets and the occult. Just WOW. Confession: this book started a little slow for me but once the danger escalated, the reigned in passions exploded and jaw dropping secrets were revealed, I turned the pages faster and faster. When I thought I had it figured out, Ms. Featherstone threw a kink in my little dance party. This is a heart pounding, adrenaline pumping, heat pooling low in your belly, holy carp I didn't see that coming! read. You'll laugh, you'll sigh, you'll cry (okay, at least tear up for those of you who are only half human) and you'll curse out loud once it is finished. Or at least break out in a chorus of "whyyyy Charlotte Featherstone, whyyyyy?" At least that's what I did. I do recommend that you start off with the first book of this series: Seduction & Scandal. There's a mystery afoot and you don't want to miss out on anything.

***requested off Netgalley***

Five Friday Favorites

It's Friday, Friday, gonna get down on Friday... Guess what happens today? That's right. Twihards will be creaming their panties (if they haven't done so at midnight) during the headboard breaking smexing scene in Breaking Dawn Part 1. Really? Part 1? Just because Potter did it doesn't mean that every tween book turned movie has to do it with the last book in the series. The only good thing about the last Twilight book were Jacob's chapter titles. Anywho, rant over. Let's get on to the good stuff.

This weeks Five Friday Favorites:

December Joyathon. Not that I'm tooting my own horn or anything. The banner is fabulous (done by Ms. Jenn LeBlanc), the authors are totally awesome and my co-conspirators(Laura & Jamie Lynn) have sooo amazing. It was this tiny idea with just a name and then it took a life of its own becoming this 24 day event that I hope to hold annually on the blog. Gah! Just so flipping excited about it. Why yes, those abs on the banner belong to the guy in my header. :)

Pride & Passion by Charlotte Featherstone. Danger, betrayal, pride, secrets, passion, the occult. Hello Charlotte Featherstone, where have you been all my life? And yes, I picked this book up because of it's gorgeous cover. Let me tell you, I'm not a fan of orange but this cover is just fantastic. I missed out on Scandal & Seduction, the first book in the series and have been running all over town looking for it. Apparently my bookstores have no appreciation for romance books.

Forever and A Day by Delilah Marvelle. This is her first book in her new Rumor series. Confession: I have been hankering DYING to read this galley. It's floating in the Kindle, taunting me. I keep telling it that there are other books that I must read and it needs to buy me flowers and dinner before I jump into bed with it. Seriously, Delilah Marvelle is one of my favorite authors. She was the first to introduce me to ass play. No joke. I've had a girl crush on her ever since. :)

GIMP. Okay, I've had this photoshop-like program on my computer for a while now and just started playing around with it. OMG. How could I not have discovered the wonders of it until now??? It takes a while to figure out filters and cutting and dragging and all that good stuff. My favorite is smudging. *giggle*

Model Mayhem. Once again, I lost over an hour during the writing of this post just looking through Model Mayhem. What?! It's the best place to find man candy. Some of your favorite Man Candy Monday staples come from there. Seriously. Like this guy:

Now that I've shared my five favorites for this week, what about YOU? Any new movies, books, videos, man candy or what have you that you've been loving this week? Sharing IS Caring. :)

W...W...W...(21)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

***click on the covers for excerpts/to learn more***

• What are you currently reading?
Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry. This is the second book in her Sugar Shack series. The title is a play on Any Given Sunday. It involves an injured football player who is going back home to spend time with his crazy family for Christmas. I just started reading it.

Pride and Passion by Charlotte Featherstone. The second book in the Breathren Guardians series. Hmm, do you notice a pattern? I'm reading quite a few series. Anyway, it's got a really cool beginning. Dabbling in the dark arts. This should prove to be a fantastic read. I'm going to have to go back and read the first book in the series.

Lord of the Wolfyn by Jessica Andersen. The third book in the Royal House of Shadows series and I am now dying to get my hands on the first two. This takes the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood to the next level. I love a good twist on a classic.


A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae. I'm still struggling a little with this book. In order for the girl to keep her home, she must submit to the attentions of the lord. He's not longer the boy she knew. I haven't gotten far. :(



• What did you recently finish reading?

Sweet Magik by Penny Watson. In keeping with my holiday book reading theme, this was fun, whimsical read but peppered with danger, dark magic and one angry elf. Hilarious! This is the second book in the Klaus Brothers series. Yes, Santa has five sons who help the family business. Oskar Klaus, the youngest and a totally punk snowboarder has been coasting through life flirting with the snow bunnies. Enter Kiana Grant, dressed down librarian complete with the glasses. Read my review.

If You Give A Girl A Viscount by Kieran Kramer. A fun, laugh out loud conclusion to the Impossible Bachelors series. It's got all the Cinderella elements with a twist. Prince Charming is a viscount, Cinderella is a Highland lass, the stepfamily come from Cheapside, there's a shoemaker named Mr. Glass. If you've got a quirky sense of humor, this book is for you. Read my review.

The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall. This was another fantastic read. Adultery, danger, spies, betrayal, treason and of course, sultry kisses and hot loving. The wife of a traitor to the crown is being watched day and night in hopes of finding the whereabouts of the traitorous husband. There's a coveted flag supposedly a lucky charm of sorts and a dashing hero who must clear his name of treason. 

Forever Mine by Delilah Marvelle. A prequel to Marvelle's new Rumor series. Leaves more questions than answers but has me wanting the first book in the series. Badly.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake. A short, sexy, steamy novella. Lost love, second chances, betrayal and a hero with quite the touch.


Desired by Nicola Cornick. I've read the first 3 books in her Scandalous Women of the Ton series and thoroughly enjoyed it. In this book we revisit Owen Purchase, now a viscount. I love the way the story starts, in a brothel! But not what you're thinking. Tess Darent is hiding in a brothel and she's got some very important papers. Purchase is in pursuit of her.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Marshal of Hel Dorado by Heather Long. This was a review request and the premise looks promising. Badlands, outlaws, a robbery gone wrong, a fiery redheaded heroine, a gun slinging hero in a ten gallon hat. Oh yeah. Maybe I'll dub this guy Captain Tightpants 2.0.

My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley. The fourth in the Inferno Club series. The nobleman and the gamekeepers daughter. Danger, revenge, hatred, conspiracy, betrayal, desire, passion. What more could a girl ask for in a romance book?

Deliver Me From Darkness by Tes Hilaire. Grabbed this off of Netgalley because the cover was abtastic. (Judge me all you want). 

The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy. I've the first book in this series and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Elven Lords series. Kennedy has a way of taking magic and combining it with the real wold of London society.



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!