Title: Less Than A Lady
Series:
Author: Eva Devon
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: December 28, 2015
Publisher: Entangled Publishing / Select Historical
My Rating: 4 stars
Source: NetGalley
Cover Description:
To win a lord, you can’t be a lady…
Darcy Blake, Earl of Chase, is a solider, rogue, and a loyal King’s man. Commanded to spy on the luscious actress Amelia Fox, Darcy must pretend to be her student for a court theatrical. He is certain he can school her in the art of seduction while discovering if she is a traitor. But to his shock, he finds Mrs. Fox teaching him an entirely different kind of lesson.
As London’s most popular actress, Amelia is famous at court, and she doesn’t have a husband to tell her what do. Unfortunately, the king has ordered her to train the rakehell, Lord Chase to act for the court. Before long, the Earl is driving her wild with desire and awakening her heart to love. As an actress, society dictates she can never be more than Lord Chase’s mistress, and Amelia has vowed never to be less than a lady.
When Darcy learns the witty actress is indeed linked to a traitor, he’ll have to decide if love or loyalty will rule the day.
Read on for my thoughts on Less Than A Lady. No true spoilers, promise.
Amelia has been given the daunting task, and admittedly somewhat amusing task of teaching the Earl of Chase how to be a woman. Apparently the King is expecting Darcy to take part in a production for his own amusement – and that will require Darcy to know how to put on a corset (everyone knows he is quite talented at taking one off of a woman). Normally this role reversal would not amuse Darcy in the least – but he is on a mission for his King and he is hoping very much that the King is wrong about Amelia’s traitorous activities.
Less Than A Lady is set in the time period of King Charles I. And although not unheard of, it is a unique time with far different events, rules and expectations. But then love is timeless.
I enjoyed Darcy and Amelia’s romance. During this time period the real danger of traitors to the Crown was very vivid and real. Unfortunately just as many innocent people were caught up in the protection of the monarchy as were actual traitors. Amelia’s younger brother is foolish but no traitor, unfortunately his actions could land them both in a lot of trouble. Darcy had a mission, the last thing he expected was for Amelia to capture his heart – or the lengths he would go to in order to protect her. Amelia enjoyed her freedom but never intended to give up her virtue in vain. There is one man she would give everything to – as long as he loved her and believed in her. Circumstances weren’t always truth and she needed to know where Darcy’s heart truly belonged. With his King… or with her.
*I received an e-ARC of Less Than A Lady from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*
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