The story line was good. The only problem the I had was the heroine of this book a bit in mature.

The dedication was my very first clue that the author would be making every effort to avoid anachronisms of speech, dress, and motivations--not the major ones of love and greed, family and country, but the minor ones of trying to jump class (one simply didn't unless one moved to the colonies and even then one largely knew one's place) or behave with impropriety. The language used was, in fact, the somewhat stiff and proper style then in vogue, with appropriate vocabulary sprinkled with French as one might expect from the haut ton--the more so since the protagonists are French. Set during the horrors of the French Revolution's senseless and excessive violence (and yes, be cautioned that some of the descriptions are quite graphic), an emigre of somewhat rakish bent encounters a vivacious compatriot who captures his fancy. Smuggling, highwaymen, kidnapping, chases, balls and cotillions abound, enwrapped in stifling propriety, overlaying the underbelly of vice and poverty of the times. I can see Disney overlooking the one somewhat steamy sex scene and having fun with this one.

Clever and diverting romance between tw survivors of the revolution in France.

I did not like this book. The plot was a little ridiculous and the characters were really annoying.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I wanted to enjoy this book. I really truly wanted to enjoy this book but I just couldn't trudge through it. I intensely disliked the heroine who, to me at least, read like she was closer to twelve or thirteen rather than an adult. Her interactions with the hero seemed rushed. The plot with the smugglers and the hero's various female companions just didn't do it for me either.

In the end, this was one that I just couldn't finish.

4.25 stars
Jean de Lacey, Vicomte de Landreville a qualified & respected lawyer is a jaded French émigré who reluctantly decides the only way to revive his fortunes is by marrying a wealthy wife. But before he proposes to anyone, he must free himself of the smuggling gang he has been involved with since his arrival in England & who violently resist his wish to quit.
He woos young, beautiful Eugenie Ponnette, a fellow émigré, however Jean resists agreeing to the love match she insists on, even though his passion for Eugenie is different to anything he has experienced before.
A well written book with strong characters & a well paced plot. Jean & Eugenie are both very likeable, he once thought himself in love & now thinks he can’t feel that again nor remain faithful to one woman, she believes in love & will only marry for a ‘grand passion’. The pair are attracted to each other & their attraction grows but Jean also feels very protective of Eugenie. He decides to court her but things are anything but smooth, he wants to stop his smuggling, there’s a lover who wants him for herself, so the course of true love certainly doesn’t run smoothly. The verbal sparring is very good & often had me smiling. I thoroughly enjoyed the book & look forward to more from the author

Jean and Eugenie have a steamy romance that I enjoyed reading. Both are immigrants from France and are trying to make their way in society. I liked that Eugenie would not settle for anything less than a man who loved her and would stay loyal to her. I liked the H, Jean, less because although I like rakes in my stories, I do not like when they still have mistresses after meeting the h. I like new more loyalty in Hs. That being said, I enjoyed the steamy romance between our characters and look forward to the next story!

Publisher's Description:

From the parlors and ballrooms of London, through to the wild, open coastline of Kent, this tale of romance and adventure will have you spellbound.

Jean de Lacey is a jaded French émigré who reluctantly decides the only way to revive his fortunes is by marrying a wealthy wife. But before he proposes to anyone, he must free himself of the smuggling gang he has been involved with since his arrival in England.

He woos young, beautiful Eugenie Ponnette, a fellow émigré, however de Lacey resists agreeing to the love match she insists on, even though his passion for Eugenie is different to anything he has experienced before.

Before he can offer marriage, they are both caught up in danger – he from the smugglers he once called friends, and she from de Lacey’s deranged ex-lover.

But Eugenie is no damsel in distress – except from the suppressed memories of the horrors she experienced in Paris, and her own discoveries about de Lacey’s none-too-salubrious past.

Can de Lacey admit his feelings before it is too late?

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I have read from this author and I felt it dragged along and became bogged down in places. I didn't care over much for either the hero or heroine and found it difficult to finish. It did have it's moments though so I would give the author another chance.
French Revolution and the premise of this book just did not appeal to my reading taste.
In places this book was rather comical and I did enjoy those parts of the story. I read a lot of Historical Romance and this was not among my favorites.
I gave this book 3.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.0 of 5.0 flames.
I received a complimentary digital ARC via NetGalley from the publisher to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.