Lily Dalton

A ONE SCANDALOUS SEASON NOVEL A Marriage Beyond Hope Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a shocking encounter with him in a crowded ballroom-and a single touch-are all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most? A Love Beyond Reason Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires. As the snowdrifts deepen outside their ancestral home, can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever? (95,000 words)

Never Desire a Duke

dija

“I’m begging you,” he murmured. “Ask me to stay.”
His hand moved behind her head, closing on the nape of her neck, a gesture of possession. Staring down, he pierced her through with his gaze.
“Sophia, say you want me to stay.”

I love failed marriage and men begging and this book has both 👍

Lover of Romance 

So I didn't realize until I started reading this one, that is was a Christmas themed story. The blurb does really give that away in any way, so you don't expect it, but as I was reading, I found that the Christmas theme really added a flair to the story. This story is about Lord Claxton and Sophia, who fell in love and got married. But things went downhill very quickly, mostly judgements and miscommunication and making presumptions. Which can happen in any relationship especially in a romantic relationship. Then the book starts off after they have been estranged for almost a year. At this point the author does a bit of background information on the couple., so that you aren't at a total loss. Then they end up stuck at a manor in the country while they get snowed in, and they are forced to resolve differences. Claxton wants to reconcile with Sophia, he loves her and is willing to do anything to get her to soften toward him. Sophia is a bit stubborn like a mule, and doesn't believe there is any hope for them. All she wants is a child and then be separated for the rest of their lives. We see the ways that Claxton goes about to convince Sophia to listen to reason.

What I really enjoyed about this story, was seeing Claxton and Sophia interact with each other. They tend to get very intense with each other, and boy do they tend to say hurtful things, no wonder they are estranged...you see why they have been separated for a time. But you also see the sincere feelings that they have for each other. I found that I liked the hero way more than the heroine in this story. I found Sophia to be a bit full of herself at times, as the story progresses you see how much she has gone through, but so has Claxton, they both have been hurt, but she does have some good qualities, but I didn't really like her all that much through the story. She rubbed off me the wrong way, which was a little sad since she seemed to have great potential in the beginning. Claxton, now he was so great, I adored his character. He is a fighter especially when it comes to keeping his marriage together, I loved how he refused to give up on it, no matter how Sophia could be about it.

All in all though, this was a charming and romantic story that drew my attention. The writing is engaging and pulls the reader, the story line is simple yet complex at times, and the plot gives you some sexy twists and turns...a tender love story with a holiday twist.

Never Desire a Duke

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