Series: Hadley's Hellions (Book 3)
"Duty can also be pleasure, Lady Alyssa…"
When politician Benedict Tawny set out to save Lady
Alyssa from a nefarious plot, he never expected to find himself trapped in a
compromising situation with the alluring lady! Now duty demands he propose…and
claim her as his bride!
Tainted by his illegitimacy, Ben knows he can't give
Alyssa the life of luxury she deserves. But if he can convince her to succumb
to the undeniable heat between them, their convenient marriage might just lead
to the love of a lifetime!
Very good book. Ben is one of four friends who came together
while at school. Each of them had issues that made them outcasts with their
peers, so they banded together. Ben's difficulty was that he was born the
illegitimate son of a viscount. He suffered from jeers and taunts throughout
his childhood and longer, and also watched as his mother was treated even
worse. Fortunately, he was acknowledged by his father and received the benefits
of a good education. The treatment he received has made him extremely cautious
about his own behavior, and he has matured into a thoughtful and honorable man.
When he overhears a plot to ruin a young lady's reputation, he takes action to
warn her of the danger.
Alyssa is an independent and stubborn young woman. Thanks
to the bullying behavior of her father and brother, she has no intention of
marrying and putting herself under the control of yet another man. She is a
talented artist and intends to set up her own household with inherited funds,
if she can just convince her father. Ben's sudden appearance and the tale he
tells startles her, and she is hesitant to believe him. But the truth is soon
obvious, and Alyssa decides to take action of her own. She's a bit naïve about
the prospect of succeeding, but determined to have her way.
I really enjoyed the development of their relationship.
From the moment they met, the attraction between them was strong. Though he
could have simply warned her and left, Ben feels compelled to stay nearby and
watch over her. Their morning meetings so that he could reassure himself of her
safety quickly turned into a burgeoning friendship. He is amazed by her talent,
and truly impressed by her wit and intelligence, while Alyssa is drawn to his
kindness and honesty in his conversations with her. When her plans for revenge
against those who plotted her ruin go wrong, Ben comes to her rescue and gets
caught in a compromising position with her. Alyssa is horrified that his
chivalry forces him to propose, and she is adamant in her refusal, not wanting
to ruin his life. She has no confidence in her ability to be the kind of wife
he needs.
Her stubbornness backfires on her, and her father's
actions are especially cruel and inhumane. When Ben discovers what is
happening, his reaction is immediate. I loved seeing him take charge. His
attraction to Alyssa and his appreciation of her mind and talents convince him
that a marriage between them can work. Alyssa is the one who needs to be
convinced, and it isn't easy. The attraction she feels for him scares her, and
she fears that giving in to it will lead her to lose her sense of who she is
and what she wants to do. I loved that Ben promises her that there will be no
intimacy until she wants it, even though resisting his attraction to her is a
monumental task.
His patience and care for Alyssa is evident as he
accompanies her on her travels. I loved seeing him earn her trust as he strives
to keep his word. His efforts prove to be worth it when Alyssa is finally ready
to give in to the steadily growing desire he inspires. However, neither is
quite ready to give voice to their feelings, as their fears run deep. It takes
a threat to Ben's career for them to realize what they have together. I loved
her big moment at the end, when it is her turn to come to Ben's rescue.
There were some marvelous scenes showing Ben's determination
to do whatever he could to ensure Alyssa's happiness. My favorite is the one in
the lawyer's office, as Ben states his desire that Alyssa have full and sole
control over her inheritance. The lawyer's reaction is priceless.
The underlying theme of how women were treated during
this time was very well done. The nasty bet placed by Denbry only emphasized
how helpless most women were against people like him. Alyssa's father and
brother were another example of what they had to endure, with no true way to
escape. There was also a theme of reputation, how important it was, and how
fragile it could be. Denbry's method of revenge was truly devious and difficult
to counter. Ben also had to deal with his own feelings about his past,
especially after a surprise revelation by his mother. I loved his scenes with
his father, and the changes in Ben that it showed.
I loved seeing the other Hellions and their wives. Their
respect and support of Ben was great. I especially liked the way that Ben was
able to enlist the ladies' help to make Alyssa more comfortable in a situation
she dreaded. It was moving to see the way that they all banded together to deal
with the threat against Ben.
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