eARC Review: Desired by Nicola Cornick

DESIRED by Nicola Cornick
FORMAT: eBook via Netgalley
GENRE: Historical
MASS MARKET PAPERBACK: 384 pages
PUBLISHER: HQN Books (November 15,2011)
ISBN: 9780373775903

Tess Darent’s world is unravelling. Danger threatens her stepchildren and she is about to be unmasked as a radical political cartoonist and thrown into gaol. The only thing that can save her is a respectable marriage. But when it comes to tying the knot Tess requires a very special husband – one who has neither the desire nor the ability to consummate their marriage.

Owen Purchase, Viscount Rothbury cannot resist Tess when she asks for the protection of his name. But he has no intention of making a marriage in name only. Will the handsome sea captain be able to persuade the notorious widow to give her heart as well as her reputation into his safekeeping? (source)

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

I loved it!

Other Books in Series(click on covers for excerpts):


REVIEW:

Oh man! What a great book. I read the first three books of this series and somehow missed out on Notorious (which I will go back and read when I get a chance) but Desired is my favorite. That Owen Purchase, recently minted Viscount Rothbury, is something else.

Tess Darent is the tons scandalously notorious widow. She's racking up husbands like a man collecting mistresses. Husband #1 was her best friend. Husband #2 was an old drunk. Husband #3 did a number on her psyche, verbally, mentally and physically abusing her. She's vowed to never again marry unless the man was impotent and old and very rich. Her outlet is drawing and her political cartoons have the government searching for "Jupiter". They even go to lengths sending in their best man into a brothel searching for this "Jupiter".

Owen Purchase, American and inheriting the title of Viscount Rothbury, has come to England to take responsibility in running his title's accounts and lands. Tess Darent intrigues him and he can't help but wonder what the lovely widow is doing swinging from a bed sheet out the window of a brothel he and his men are searching through. She's fascinated him for some time and he doesn't quite believe that Tess is trying to avoid scandal by rappelling out a brothel window.

With the threat of scandal over hanging her stepdaughter, Tess must find an upstanding Lord to marry. Someone who is old, impotent and loaded. She is willing to give up all her scandalous activities just to make sure a slimy, toady, lecherous old man doesn't get his hands on her fifteen year old stepdaughter. *shudder* And what better way than to look through a book of the tons most eligible bachelors.

Owen talking with her brother-in-law puts an idea into Tess's head. Oh no! Oh, yes! Owen Purchase will be proposed to by one, Teresa Darent. She did propose to each of her past husbands, why not make it a fourth time? Tess proposing intrigues Owen. Neither will back out of the engagement even if it is in name only.

Much to Tess's surprise, her new husband isn't impotent as some people have led her to believe. She must stay strong and not let his advances wear down her defenses. Owen knows that something happened to Tess in her last marriage but not what, which makes her uncomfortable with physical touching.

Now, Owen must make Tess respectable in the eyes of the ton, keep her from getting discovered as "Jupiter" by making her promise not to draw anymore, find the traitor who is willing to betray Tess for a handsome sum of money and show her that touching is a pleasurable thing.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "We need to find you a duke or a prince, old enough to die within a year or two so that his continued existence does not inconvenience you, sickly enough not to be interested in his marital rights and rich enough to increase your fortune! How very romantic!" (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)

OVERALL: Danger, suspense, betrayal, lies, spies, desire, lust and sacrifice. Whoa! This book hooked me from the first mention of Tess escaping capture by rappelling out a brothel window to the happily ever after on the last page. It always makes my heart ache knowing that the heroine of the story has been abused by a previous husband. The mental barriers are sometimes so great that the hero must tread carefully as not to scare her away at the slightest touch. Owen has a way of making Tess feel safe and stirs something in her that scares her a little. Owen and Tess may have started off trying to push the other as far as the other would be willing to go but as the barriers are slowly taken down, their passion for one another explodes off the pages and not only love but respect blossoms.

***requested off Netgalley***

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!