The Lady’s Lover by Deb Marlowe
Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars
Series: Half Moon House, #4
Release Date: May 6, 2019
The Marquess of Marstoke has escaped from Newgate and is once again reeking havoc for the Prince Regent. The Prince wants Hestia Wright stop him once and for all and insists that she works with one of his most trusted men. Hestia is not happy with this turn of events, but agrees. Hestia has a long and ugly history with Marstoke and she will do whatever is necessary to stop him, even work with the Prince’s man. She returns to the Half Moon House to plan. Half Moon House is a home that Hestia has set up to take in women and help them start a new life – most of the women are from brothels and all have been touched by Marstoke’s evil in some way. After her own abuse at his hands and having no one to help her after, the house and it’s inhabitants are precious to her.
John Everett, Earl of Stoneacre is the man the Prince has assigned to help Hestia. They have worked together before and he both admires and desires her. He knows that Hestia has made her disinterest clear and that his family would never accept the former “Queen of Courtesans in Great Britain and Beyond” as a bride – a fact made clear by the choice of young women his mother the Marchioness of Woodbury keeps throwing in his direction, but there is something about Hestia and Stoneacre is not ready to give up.
They come up with a plan to learn where Marstoke is hiding. They visit a brothel and Hestia puts on a grand show, but when she kisses Stoneacre to avoid discovery – she knows everything between them is changing – can she trust this man with her true self?
Their journey to capture Marstoke and to their own HEA is wrought with peril, betrayal, secrets, pain and more than one twist. The book is well written and is paced well. The characters are wonderful, the love scenes steamy, the suspense builds slowly and then explodes in a jaw dropping final confrontation. The ending is sweet and the author offers instant access to an epilogue if you sign up for her newsletter. There are a couple of minor formal address errors and even though the author gives enough backstory that you will not feel completely lost, but I think I would have enjoyed this book much more if I had read the series in order. That said, if you have been following this series, you will definitely want to read this book, but, if like me, this is your first foray into the Half Moon House, I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series for maximum understanding and enjoyment.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an e-ARC that was provided to me.*
