Synopsis:
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Struggling to support her family after her husband’s death, Caroline Harding attracts the attention of the ruthless Captain Francis Grafton who offers her a devil’s bargain to pay back her debts to him. Outwitting her enigmatic employer and unwillingly gaining his approval significantly changes her life for the better, but can she win his loyalty and his heart when he appears to care for nothing but profit?
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My Review:
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Little secret: my very favorite romance genre is the tiny little niche of historical erotic romance. There’s something about the prim and proper perception of historicals that gives an extra edge of naughty and forbidden when the sex is especially hot, and I just love the contrast and urgency that comes along with it. Kate Pearce is one of the big names in the genre, and you can always expect stories that push the limits, in a good way.
With The Lord of Lost Causes, Pearce strikes out on her own with a new series and a delicious, enemies-to-lovers tale caught up in the period between Regency England and the Industrial Revolution of the Victorian era. It’s a fascinating time not seen or heard of much in historical romance, and it lends a gritty backdrop to the proceedings, one that’s appropriate for the setup—one that shockingly begins with the hero Francis blackmailing Caroline, the heroine, into becoming his mistress.
Caroline is a widow and the eldest sister of a trio, along with their eccentric mother, and Caroline is essentially the head of the household. It’s a tough era, when women had little power to their name, and the family is in dire straits. So when Caroline learns just who her demanding landlord is, she may have to choose an unholy bargain to save her family.
In some ways, this premise strikes back to the days of the bodice ripper romance—so if that’s your thing, you’ll love it. Pearce doesn’t shy away from the unconventional or going outside the norm. She has a talent for getting to the heart of the characters and making less than desirable circumstances work out for good to craft a lasting, memorable romance. Francis and Caroline have an immediate spark and antagonistic banter, and their dirty secret makes for some steamy scenes! The circumstances behind the setting will speak to readers even today, as issues of class and society are woven seamlessly into the romance. It’s a time and a place that I want more of, since not all is rosy and Pearce is guaranteed to keep us on our toes.
If this is your kind of story, Kate Pearce is not to be missed, and The Lord of Lost Causes is a really wonderful start to a series I can’t wait to see more from.
Four Loves
Book Links:
About the author:
NYT and USA Today bestselling author Kate Pearce was born into a large family of girls in England, and spent much of her childhood living very happily in a dream world. Despite being told that she really needed to ‘get with the program’, she graduated from the University College of Wales with an honors degree in history.
A move to the USA finally allowed her to fulfill her dreams and sit down and write that novel. Along with being a voracious reader, Kate loves to climb the volcanoes and lie on the beach in her new home in Hawaii
Kate is a member of RWA and is published byNAL Signet Eclipse, Kensington, RipTide and Virgin Black Lace/Cheek.
Awesome review tiffany!! I love a good erotic historical romance too!! Have a lot of this writer on my tbr gr list!!