Phaedra Blair's mother Artemis had raised her with the
precepts of free love and equality between men and women,
and she would accept no less from any man she would choose
as 'friend'. On her father's deathbed, she promised to
publish his memoirs, unchanged, but was shaken by what his
work revealed of her mother, and the Pompeian cameo her
mother had bequeathed her. Had Artemis Blair been betrayed
by a lover? Had this bitter disappointment hastened her
death? The search for the truth of her past leads to the
archaeological digs at Pompei. In rural Italy Phaedra's
familiar manner and unusual dress "..like a mourning whore
who fears no man's hand." incites more trouble than she can
handle alone.
Lord Elliot Rothwell appeared in time to save her from
imprisonment, at the price of his guardianship through the
rest of her journey. He was well pleased to accompany her,
as it fell in well with his own quest. The memoirs in
Phaedra's keeping tarnished the memory of his father,
accusing him obliquely of hidden murder. Elliot is bent on
seeing the memoirs edited or destroyed, at almost any cost.
Phaedra has him in knots. Her response to his kiss could
not be mistaken for anything else but raw desire. Indeed,
she does not deny the possibility of them becoming lovers,
but states "If so, it will not be a seduction, I will choose
to let it happen before the first kiss or there will be no
kiss at all." She is unlike any woman he has ever met, and
his fascination for her grows almost beyond his need to
protect his family's name.
Phaedra is mightily tempted by Elliot, but fights her
increasing response with reminders of the precepts she holds
dear. She thought herself familiar with sexual desire, but
being near Elliot is teaching her new depths of intensity.
She realizes she has never truly let anyone inside her heart
before. What if remaining true to herself and to her
mother's precepts means losing the love of her life?
LESSONS OF DESIRE was a terrific read. I enjoyed Phaedra's
view of Victorian "silly society rules" and how she managed
to successfully make her way through the attitudes
surrounding her. Madeline Hunter had me laughing, and
crying, and pleasantly surprised with unusual turns of the
plot. The growth of Elliot's character from a man putting
his family first to a person who loves a woman enough to
consider other ways of life had me intrigued, then riveted.
The love scenes were intense, passionate and steamy, yet
rang true. Laughter and playfulness combined with steamy
sensuality set this romance above the ordinary.
After reading so many romances it isn't often that the
ending truly surprises me, while still fulfilling all the
promise a love story implies, but LESSONS OF DESIRE managed
it, and well enough that it ended up on my keeper shelf.
Handsome, suave, and carnal as the devil, Lord Elliot
Rothwell awaits readers in Lessons of Desire,
bestselling author Madeline Hunter’s latest book in
the Rothwell series and her most provocative novel to date.
A man used to getting what he wants, Elliot is every
woman’s most secret fantasy in the living flesh.
He first appears beneath her prison window as her savior—a
sinfully attractive man whose charm and connections have
ensured her release from an unjust arrest. But author and
publisher Phaedra Blair quickly learns that the price of
her “freedom” is to be virtually bound to her irresistible
rescuer. For Elliot Rothman didn’t come solely on a mission
of goodwill. He came to extract a promise that Phaedra
won’t publish a slanderous manuscript that could destroy
his family’s name, and he’s not above bribery, threats, or
bedding her to get his way. And with each erotic encounter
raising the stakes between them, Elliot discovers he’s ever
more reluctant to lose this sensual game…or the one woman
who’s every bit his match.
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