Pearl's World of Romance - Reviews with a Passion: The Love Affair of an English Lord

September 4, 2007

The Love Affair of an English Lord - Jillian Hunter

6:08 PM |

When Cloe Boscastle is caught indiscreetly kissing a man in a park, her brother Grayson – the protective patriarch of the Boscastle family – sends her off to a country manor to stay until the scandal in town subsides.
Soon after Chloe’s banishment begins, she is shocked to learn that her neighbour Dominic Breckland, the devilish Viscount Stratfield has been killed in his bed. But she is even more stunned to discover the dangerously handsom “victim” taking refuge in her lingerie closet one night. By some miracle Dominic has survived his attack and wishes the world to believe him dead.
Can the alluring Lady Chloe keep his secret ? Dominic uses all his masculine charm to persuade her as the work together to unmask his enemy. Of course, being caught sheltering a seductive scoundrel could further mar Chloe’s already tarnished reputation. But, really, what’s a little scandal to a lady in love?

A scoundrel who's presumed dead hiding in an exiled troublemaker's chest of underwear. A book starting like this can only predict lots of fun and this second installment in Hunter's Boscastle-series turned out to be a true treat in the Regency-genre.

Chloe is brazen, independent and quick-minded. A true Boscastle, nothing less than the male ones...
Her brothers and sister thought they had her neatly tucked away in the country with her aunt and uncle, where she can do no more harm to her already damaged reputation. For social-minded Chloe this is the worst punishment possible but little did they all know that she would find true love hiding in her underthings.

Dominic possesses a witty kind of sarcasm that had me grinning at some of his remarks towards Chloe in the beginning and laughing out loud at his interaction with Justin, Chloe's country suitor. This scene was extremely funny, but everything about this book was a delight: hero, heroin, secondary characters, the interactions, the plot.

I enjoyed this book even more than book 1 and I really loved that book too. But in this one the chemistry between Chloe and Dominic was really the cherry on the cake. Their interactions were sparkling, witty and they were both able to deliver smart quips and comebacks as good as they received them from each other. They fall for each other hard and deep and the intensity of their blossoming love is breath-taking.

It was a delight to meet those delicious Boscastle men again. Supportive, loving, taking care of each other in their own bossy and medling ways and always in for a bit of pranking and teasing. And of course it was lovely to see Jane being her magnificent self in this book accepting no nonsense from Grayson and the other siblings.

Quotes:
If he was going to die, for a second time this month, he might as well go out on a rousing sexual fantasy.

Chloe was his world, the flame that had given him hope in darkness. She was also a strong, earthy woman with a passionate nature, and the thought of spending forever with her left him breathless.

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