Josette by Kathleen Bittner Roth

Posted October 1, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

JosetteTitle:  Josette
Series:  When Hearts Dare #3
Author:  Kathleen Bittner Roth
Genre:  Historical Romance
Published:  September 29, 2015
Publisher:  Kensington Books, Zebra
My Rating:  5 stars
Source:  NetGalley
Cover Description:

“Monsieur Andrews, welcome to my home.”

At the smoky, velvet sound, Cameron swung around. Every function in his body—heart, breath, blood ceased to function.

She was lovely. More than lovely.

Tendrils of raven hair framed a face so exquisite, it disarmed him. Her mouth, a soft, dewy pink, parted. And those eyes, as dark as Creole coffee, intelligent and assessing, roamed over him and then back to take hold of his. He needed to step closer, to stroke her skin. To possess her. But would his wealth and worldly experience be a match for the free-spirited Cajun-born widow?

Across the oceans, between worlds old and new—two lost souls find themselves at a crossroads.

Read on for my thoughts on Josette.  No true spoilers, promise.

Josette is the newest edition to Kathleen Bittner Roth’s When Hearts Dare series.  Set in New Orleans in the mid 1800’s, Josette is rich in flavor and history.  From the high society of New Orleans to the Voodoo Queen of the Bayu, this is a delightful tale that brings so much vivid detail of several different worlds within on city’s boundaries.

So many secrets.  Love lost.  Family feuds.  History in the making.  Long held resentments.  A young girl who must learn what being a privileged young lady means.  Boundaries to be drawn, rules to be obeyed.  And a desire that overwhelms and perhaps will lead to the love of a lifetime.

I enjoyed Josette very much.  She is such a strong woman, one who could  have been bowed under by her past or even her present.  But no, she will stand tall and work to have her life , her way.

Cameron is a lost soul.  With the death of his wife and newborn he might as well have been put in the ground with his family.  Now his attraction to Josette, a new young lady to watch over and enemies from his past – Cam is beginning to return to life.  And perhaps to love again.

Josette is not a London ballroom setting, but it is the tale of another type of independent royalty, American style.  Give this one a try, I believe you will find a fascinating story, in a setting that’s unexpected with lively characters and a solid plot that will keep you turning pages.

*I received an e-ARC of Josette from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Available in paperback and for the Kindle