One Summer of Surrender

This is the third book in the Seasons series & at last it’s Lucien’s story. Lucien Danford, the Earl of Stenfax has been engaged twice, but only in love once. That was with his childhood sweetheart, Elise. When she threw him over for the Duke of Kirkwood who had more money and a higher ranking title, it broke him especially when she wrote to break their engagement. Now she’s widowed and he finds himself drawn to her again, like a moth to her flame.

Elise had her reasons for walking away from Lucien, reasons he doesn’t understand. Back in Society, she’s now financially desperate and is even considering becoming someone’s mistress as her husband left her destitute & his heir Ambrose threatens to turn her out. Elise visits well known courtesan Vivienne Manning (featured in the Mistress Matchmaker series) with a view to becoming someone’s mistress. Lucien has also decided to visit Vivienne & of course the former couple meet.

Another lovely book in the series which I’d been waiting for. The book could be read alone but I’d recommend reading the series from the beginning & then you’d be like me impatiently waiting for Felicity & Ashers story. Lucien has been heartbroken but after everything still loves Elise, he’s been working hard to restore the family’s fortune & is so supportive of his mother, brother & sister. Elise was painted as a gold digger & so very cruel in the earlier books & I was SO prepared not to like her.
However nothing is ever as it seems & a confession rocks the family to its core, there’s murder, hidden secrets & lots of regrets. The pace of the book was so good I found it hard to put down.
Lucien & Elise have had difficulties & I really liked the way their differences were resolved. I also liked that Vivienne from a previous series made an appearance. The whole series is a keeper & yet another of he author’s series I’ll read again