I do enjoy a good historical, and a rake and this one kept me turning the pages, but is Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton really a rake, his life is about to be turned upside down when he meets the beautiful, delectable twin Arabella Fleming in her first season, sit back and enjoy the ride as I did.

Arabella and her twin Isabell are set to have their first season both hoping to meet and fall in love with the man they can spend the rest of their lives with, but when Arabella meets the notorious Collector of Hearts and feels a very strong pull towards him and wants to get to know the real man behind the moniker, this starts a very interesting and up hill journey to a HEA that is beautiful, Arabella is such a strong caring lady and she is going to need all of her strength to get Robert to open up.

Robert Mallory was hurt so badly by a woman that he decides that he will make a name for himself and collect all the hearts he can, he is notorious for duels and he always steers clear of young virgins, married woman that want a fling are much more to him, that is until he meets Arabella, strong and feisty she hits a nerve in him that may just change him. Or bring him back to who he really is.

This is a really good story so many emotions flying from the pages, I loved the strength shown by Arabella and the way Robert finally opened up, let himself believe again in love and Arabella did that for him as no one else could before. A moving sensual story, MS Samuels has bought the characters to life on the pages, had me turning the pages and left me sighing and smiling thank you MS Samuels for a fabulous story, this is one that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a story that will pull them in. Bonus is that we have two HEA’s with Isabell and Robert’s best friend Quinn.

* Book received from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review *

Despite the fact that I requested the book from Netgalley, I didn't expect a terrific story mainly due to the title. However, I got hooked and discovered a new to me author, yay !
I didn't like Shelton at first, but he grew on me. I loved that Arabella fell for him in spite of knowing who and what he was yet gave him the brush many, many times. And even when she told him she loved him, she didn't relent on what she wanted. I guess he expected her to be a lot easier, but no ! And I enjoyed that very much.

The final obstacle and the way the story would end was a bit predictable, yet it didn't deter me from loving every single minute of that story. Very recommended !

And now, I'm on to read other books by this author.

THE COLLECTOR OF HEARTS is a beautifully complex book, exploring the intricacies of falling in love— or falling out of love.

Robert Mallory, Marquess of Shelton, has no time for love. He was cruelly betrayed when young and can no longer believe in such an emotion meaning anything. Because of this harsh betrayal and his angry response to it, he has become “The Collector of Hearts,” using his astonishingly handsome looks to find women for whom he offers no fine sentiments, only physical enticement. He collects hearts without ever giving his in return.

Things begin to change when his best friend, Quinn, Viscount Shacklesbury, begins to court Isabelle Fleming, a stunning young woman who just happens to have an identical twin sister, Arabella. Robert cannot help but be drawn to Bella, but old insecurities and swagger make it difficult to find common ground. A great deal of soul-searching must be done, on both their parts. This gradual dawning of love, understanding, and acceptance makes for a rich story.

5Mary Lynde
My Books
Browse ▾
Community ▾

Mary Lynde rated a book really liked it
29 days ago
Collector Of Hearts by Cassandra Samuels
Collector Of Hearts
by Cassandra Samuels (Goodreads Author)
Read
This is sweet, dramatic, amusing and entertaining. Robert is determined, bold, c*cky and stubborn. Bella is spunky, confident and caring. Robert is fascinated by Bella after she denies him, he see her as a challenge, and decides to teach her a lesson about life. Robert ignites Bella's fire by assuming that he can make her fall for him, and she decides to play him game, and win. Neither imagined that they would fall in love, and both fought it. The relationship is intense and very entertaining, filled with drama and angst. The side story between Isabelle and Quinn is romantic and sweet. Finding out who Catherine is is a shock. I enjoyed reading it and I look forward to reading more books by this author.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest and voluntary opinion of it.

A very enjoyable historical romance. With a good plot and likable characters to keep you entertained, this book kept my interest well. It was fun to witness the interaction between Arabella and Robert. As the simmering attraction pulled them toward each other they both fought it until they couldn't. With a good amount of humor to balance out the drama and sweetness, this book is a good read. T

Collector Of Hearts by Cassandra Samuels is the story of Arabella Fleming and Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton.
Arabella and her twin sister Isabella haven't had a easy time of it with their parents and with only one chance to find a husband they will settle for nothing else but love. So when Robert takes a interest in Arabella she knows he can't be the man for her because his nickname is ' Collector of Hearts'...a love them and leave them man. Robert too has had a terrible past that has left him sworn to never love a women and so he has taken to using and leaving the women he encounters. So he thinks no different when he set his sites on Arabella but she insn't fallen for his charm and something in him feels different around her.
Loved reading how their story played out!!

Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton, had fallen in love with Catherine, as did his friend Lord Faulkner. They had a duel and his friend did not make it. He swore he would never love another woman, his name around the ton was Collector of Heart.s. Women swooned around him, he spent a lot of time climbing in and out of beds and duels.
Isabella and Arabella Fleming, wre twins , this was their first season and they were excited.
I loved the way the two girls depended on each other, they were inseparable.. and they never abandon the other.
The characters were well fleshed out and the humor was great. The plot was interesting in that he was so confused. At one time he could not believe he was in love with her, that he was not good enough for her. There are some twists but the author did an excellent job of putting it all together. I don't think I have ever read her before, but I did enjoy this book and wait for next one.. It was well written, and moved smoothly. It was a delight to read.
I received this ARC from Net Galley and voluntarily reviewed it.

I was unable to make it through this book. It was dry and did not captivate my attention at all. I was hoping for more with the title and blurb.

Publisher's Description:

A heart worth collecting just might be a heart worth keeping.

Thanks to a wastrel father and a laudanum-addicted mother, Arabella Fleming and her twin sister have one – and only one – season in London in which to find suitable husbands.

Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton, is not suitable. Known as the Collector of Hearts, Shelton is a master of seduction, and he never fails when he sets his sight on a new target. And this season, he wants Arabella.

Arabella is too clever to be swept up in Shelton’s wicked amusements, but she finds herself unable to resist the temptation of his company. And when she tastes his kiss, she discovers there’s more to him than a mysterious past and an infamous reputation. Arabella soon realizes that, in order to protect her own heart, she has to collect that of another – the heart of the most notorious rake in London.

My Thoughts:

This book has an interesting twist to the regular Lord and Lady stories. Robert most certainly has a death wish. After he caused the death of his friend over an undeserving lady he carries on as if duels and hopefully his own death is the only way towards forgiveness. After all he can't forgive himself for being duped. He didn't kill his friend on the field of honor but he died as the result of the wound.
Now after meeting Arabella will the tables turn on the collector of hearts? After meeting this enticing pair of twins both Robert and his longtime friend and rescuer each have a lady to pursue and love.
Will this impetuous beauty be the one to change the course of Robert's life?
I gave this romantic tale with an unusual twist 4.5 of 5.0 stars for storyline and character development and a sensual rating of 3 of 5 flames. This pair actually stay away from anything more than heavy petting in their premarital relationship.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this title which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

A heart worth collecting just might be a heart worth keeping.
Thanks to a wastrel father and a laudanum–addicted mother, Arabella Fleming and her twin sister Isabelle have one season in London in which to find suitable husbands.
Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton, is not suitable he’s known as the Collector of Hearts, Shelton is a master of seduction, and he never fails when he sets his sight on a new target. Robert is riddled with guilt & only his close friend Quinn Braxton, Viscount Shacklesbury keeps him on an even keel. The twins stand out in society & Arabella catches Robert's eye & challenges him at every meeting.
A delightful read of enemies to friends to lovers, the story flows very well & kept my interest throughout. The characters are well drawn & have plenty of depth, I particularly liked Robert with his tortured soul, I thought he’d finally redeemed himself before he has a lapse. Arabella isn’t a simpering miss but meets Robert head on in each encounter. I also liked the secondary romance quietly progressing. Overall a very good enjoyable read from a new author to me

My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

I received a copy of this book thru Netgalley. Loved the book. The story of Arabella and Robert is a good read and I enjoyed the bantering that occurred between the two of them. He was so determined to seduce her, then he was determined to save her from rakes like himself and then he falls in love with her but does not know how to control or accept these feelings. When she tells him she loves him, he does not believe himself worthy of her love but he can’t distance himself from her. There is a HEA but there is a lot of drama before this happens. The book is well written but tends to drag in sections of the book. I love epilogues but there was not one in this book. Overall I would recommend the book for a good read.

I was excited to read Collector of Hearts and wanted to like it - but I just didn't. Maybe it was me and not the book but the story dragged. Robert - said Collector of Hearts - is just an unrepentant rake who crosses over into being a jerk. He isn't a rake with a good heart that only needs to find his love, he's just a jerk.
Arabella's character is much better than Robert, but I didn't see her as clever. She was mostly just whiny. She seems about ready to have a fit of the vapors at any point.
This book wasn't for me. As a reader, I was lost or bored most of the time. Writing is good if a little overblown, no grammar or spelling errors.

I loved the Collector of Hearts. It is a great story of twins at a gathering where Lord Shelton otherwise known as "the Collector of Hearts" first sees them. Isabelle is funny and sweet but doesn't have the fire that Arabella has. After Lord Shelton makes some remarks that she doesn't care for, she tells him off. Seeing Arabella and keeping the other young men away from her is his plan In the meantime, Isabelle also meets someone. It is a great story with misunderstandings and duels but the girls eventually get their HEA. The cover of the book is gorgeous, ok it is the model I received this book from Net Galley for an honest review

Arabella is a feisty character full of wit and stubborn determination. Upon sighting Robert they immediately engage in a battle of wills that continues throughout the entire book. This sets up for a very interesting set of circumstances full of humor and unexpected circumstances. Eventually they realize their hearts cannot beat without each other and start out on their journey of happily ever after.

Of all the rakes in London, Robert Mallory, the Marquis of Shelton had earned the dubious distinction of being the COLLECTOR OF HEARTS. A love ‘em and leave ‘em man, he took what he wanted and moved on, the scoundrel. Naturally, when he set his sights on the beautiful Arabella Fleming, imagine the damage to his ego when she refuses to be swept up in his “charm.”

Arabella and her twin sister, Isabella are determined to marry for love and they are determined that this Season will be their chance to find a man of honor. Isabella may have found her match, but Arabella finds the Marquis to be like a burr in her heart, he is NOT what she needs, but somehow, the arrogant cad has burrowed his way into her heart. Fortunately her head is harder than her heart and, although she knows who she wants, she will not become another notch on his bed. No matter how much he pours on the charm, if he won’t give his heart, Arabella won’t give her favors…

Cassandra Samuels hasn’t created the typical historical romance with heaving bosoms, or the taming of a mildly rakish Marquis with a sketchy past. Our Robert has some truly dark and devastating events in his past that have left him damaged and afraid to care about any woman. He is afraid of love, so we are shown his less than attractive side and I have to be honest, I really didn’t like him at first. But leave it to Cassandra Samuels to redeem him, and to give us a little humor, some wonderful characters with heart and some slightly crazy ideas to prove to one man he does have a heart and it belongs to one Arabella Fleming! Pretty sure I have never seen a male character so emotionally rendered into a puddle of goo for the right woman who has what it takes to show him the truth of the man he really is!

Lots of tension, romance and denials going on here! History comes alive when love is in the air and the heart collected this time is for keeps!

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Escape Publishing!

Publisher: Escape Publishing (June 12, 2018)
Publication Date: June 12, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance
Print Length: 318 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com

I received this novel from net galley and the publisher for an honest review. Thank you!!
I enjoyed this novel. It had a good plot, with some twists I did not even expect, well written characters, and romance all around.
Arabella and Isabelle Fleming finally get to have a London season, even though their parents are not exactly keeping an eye on them. They are identical twins and both agree to marry for love. When Arabella meets Robert Mallory, Marquis of Shelton, the "Collecter of Hearts", she sees why women flock to him, but refuses to to become one of his collection. Robert is intrigued by Arabella's attitude towards him and decides to add her heart to his collection and believes he is preparing her for how men of the ton truly are. Robert has a mysterious and hurtful past, which explains why he is the way he is. His hurt is so deep that he does not understand the feelings he has towards Arabella. Arabella wants to understand Robert and help him, but she needs some help to get Robert to admit his feelings. Arabella falls in love with Robert, but cannot handle her heart being added to his collection. Robert needs to forgive himself of his past mistakes to move forward with his life. Robert fears Arabella will not accept his past and is afraid to give away his heart again. Only someone who truly loves you will love you completely despite your faults. However, when Robert's past emerges, it will shake the foundation he and Arabella have begun to build. When Robert discovers a secret Arabella has been hiding, he is hurt and angry with her. Will they be able to overcome their own insecurities to have an everlasting love?

The repetitive thoughts of the virginal twins was a bit much. This romance was just "ok". It was not a "can't put down".