Betrayed
by Your Kiss by Laura Landon
It should have been the
happiest night of her life…
Lady Olivia Sheridan
knows one thing: she has loved Lord Damien forever. But when her beloved is
accused of fathering another woman’s child, Olivia’s world is shattered in ways
she never thought possible. Especially when Damien’s accuser sets a huge price
on his head, and Olivia discovers Damien’s death will be the only
outcome…unless she does the one thing he will never forgive her for doing.
When Olivia’s plan to
save him goes disastrously, dangerously awry, Damien doesn’t think he’ll ever
see the light of day again and, with bitterness, he realizes that the woman he
loves is capable of the ultimate betrayal.
Now, four years later,
Damien has returned. His eye is on one thing: seeking revenge for what Olivia
did to him. Only his heart may get in the way…
Because hell hath no
fury…like a man betrayed.
Published & Release Date: Montlake Publishing, March 24,
2015
Time
and setting: Victorian England
Genre:
Historical Romance
Heat
Level: 1 Scorching Flame
Rating: 4 Gold Crowns
Vikki’s Musings
I was so pleased when I received an invitation from
the publisher to review Laura Landon’s upcoming release, Betrayed by Your Kiss. I
discovered Ms. Landon several years ago and found her writing so compelling
that I quickly read her entire back list and have been a fan ever since. Betrayed
by Your Kiss is another emotionally-charged story that kept me flipping
the pages on my Kindle well into the night.
The story begins with Lady Olivia at her engagement
ball, and what should be the happiest day of her life, turns into a nightmare
with consequences beyond anything she could ever imagine. Her betrothed, Lord
Iversley is accosted by the Earl of Strathern. The earl accuses him of being
responsible for his daughter’s death and challenges Damien to a duel.
Lady Olivia overhears men talking of a ten thousand
pound reward on Damien’s head if he survives the duel. While he is gravely
injured, the doctor says he will live, but Olivia dares not have Damien remain
in England and while he is unconscious, she sends him away on one of her
father’s ships bound for the Indies.
Four years later, Damien returns as her father’s
will is read. Her father leaves her everything—not entailed—on the condition
that she marry the Earl of Iversley. Damien is obviously not the same man from
four years ago. He has horrific scars, an unsteady gait and hate glows in his
eyes. It is apparent to Olivia that he will never forgive her for the decision
she made when she sent him away.
Can she marry this vengeful man and keep her lands
and ships, or should she give them up for the safety of another who offers her
a calm sedate marriage and future children?
What a rollercoaster of an emotional ride this book
is! The plot pulled me in from the beginning and kept me until the end. Ms.
Landon has such a way of building sexual tension between the hero and the
heroine that it takes my breath away.
Lord Iversley is filled with angst and the need for
revenge for the wrong he feels Olivia did when she took away his choice. His
pride is deeply wounded as much as his body has been. He is so determined to
make Olivia suffer for this that he refuses to forgive her to the bitter end. At
one point I greatly feared this couple could not resolve their problems. Talk
about taking it down to the wire!
Lady Olivia also despairs of ever having Damien’s
forgiveness and is just as determined to thwart his plans. She refuses to enter
into a marriage, one where she could never have his love again. Olivia is a
strong-willed heroine, yet still has a vulnerable side and my heart ached for
her throughout the story.
While I remained riveted and totally enmeshed in
this tug of war, I felt there was almost too much conflict between Olivia and
Damien, neither one of them would give an inch to the other. At times it was a
bit draining. I would have preferred if Olivia had set out to win Damien’s love
and forgiveness when she realizes how angry and vengeful he is, but that is
just my personal preference and for the most part, it did not take me out of
the deeply emotional tale. That is why I have given this book 4 gold crowns,
along with a few minor discrepancies, such as one character being a marquess
most of the time, but then referred to as an earl twice. That should have been
caught during edits. There were a few other inconsistencies as well. This was
an ARC, so hopefully these small errors can be corrected before release.
Nonetheless, a riveting read, and I’m glad I had the
chance to read this story of love conquering insurmountable difficulties. Betrayed
by Your Kiss has a great ‘happily ever after’, thank goodness. If you
have never read any of Laura Landon’s books, I highly recommend them. I am confident
that you will find her ability to give her readers an emotional story as
satisfying as I do. Happy reading!
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