Nightingale by Cathy Maxwell
Fate has brought them together—again.
At one time, Jemma meant
the world to Dane Pendleton, but then she betrayed their young love.
Now Time has turned the
tables. Dane is wealthy, respected, and knighted, while Jemma has nothing but
her pride.
His honor for hers …
Dane's name is on the
lips of every beauty in London. They whisper that he learned "tricks"
while he was in the Orient. But has he forgotten Jemma and what they once meant
to each other?
And will he accept her
devil's bargain?
In every woman's life, there is that one flame who slipped away.
The man who makes her wonder "what if?"
But is this a momentary madness or a chance to rekindle a love
that could last a lifetime?
Published & Release Date: Avon Impulse, August 26, 2014
Time
and setting: 19th century Regency England
Genre:
Historical Romance
Heat
Level: 2
Rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns
Reviewed by Vikki
I always enjoy a second chance love story,
especially one that is well written. Ms. Maxwell has written an interesting one
with a twist—a naïve and immature, young girl turns her back on the hero
choosing money and prestige over love, instead of the other way around. But,
was it as simple as that? You’ll want to read this delightful and moving story
to find out.
On the eve before Sir Dane Pendleton is to fight a
duel, he pens his last will and testament as a precaution, not that he expects
to die. However, one can never be too confident. It’s better to be prepared,
than not. His past has come back to haunt him. He will duel with none other
than the brother of the woman who betrayed him ten years before, Jemma Carson.
The only woman he has ever loved.
Jemma, now Lady Mosby, a widow, is desperate to stop
the duel between her brother and Dane. No matter what she has to do. She goes
to visit Dane, hoping to convince him to withdraw his challenge, only to find
out her brother is the one who issued it. The attraction between them is alive
and well, and it’s apparent when their eyes meet as she pleads her case.
Dane tells her he is honor bound and must meet her
brother, though he promises that he will not kill him. Jemma does the only
thing left to her, she offers herself. Can she rekindle the love he once had
for her, or will they share a night of unbridled passion, then go their
separate ways?
I thoroughly enjoyed this intensely passionate love
story. It’s a quick and easy read, yet very satisfying with a lovely HEA. While
the youthful Jemma was immature and a bit shallow, she was loyal to her family
to the point she turned her back on the man she loved. That is her saving grace
and why I loved her character. She grew into a mature woman with strong
characteristics. Dane has become a self-made man and even though he has a huge
chip on his shoulder, he is a very romantic hero, easy to fall in love with. I
always love a brooding, yet honorable male character.
Ms. Maxwell does a brilliant job of weaving the back
story for the couple, allowing it to unfold in small snippets as the story
progresses. She writes with deep emotion that stirred me and kept me turning
the pages. Her character development is really quite remarkable for a short
novella. I’m so pleased I had the chance to read this delight story. I’ve
enjoyed reading Cathy Maxwell’s books for years and look forward to reading her
new series. Happy reading!
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