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Product Description
Spunky English girl overcomes impossible odds and outsmarts heathen villains. That's the headline when Zoe Lexham returns to England. After twelve years in the exotic east, she's shockingly adept in the sensual arts. She knows everything a young lady shouldn't and nothing she ought to know. She's a walking scandal, with no hope of a future . . . unless someone can civilize her. Lucien de Grey, the Duke of Marchmont, is no knight in shining armor. He's cynical, easily bored, and dangerous to women. He charms, seduces, and leaves them--with parting gifts of expensive jewelry to dry their tears. But good looks, combined with money and rank, makes him welcome everywhere. The most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde can easily save Zoe's risquE reputation . . . if the wayward beauty doesn't lead him into temptation, and a passion that could ruin them both.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By CJ
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I was getting really excited about this book and absolutely loved it until about 3/4 of the way through. Both hero and heroine are great characters, its extremely well written and very witty, great dialogue, excellent scene setting and period detail and some very moving insights into their backgrounds and past history but for me there was not enough tension between the two characters to make a really great love story. They were obviously made for each other, they were attracted to each other, they got married, they acknowledged their love. There were not ever really any serious obstacles in their path. The drama/tension is provided by a rather unbelievable baddie who never really threatens either the heroine or the relationship. Thus the declaration of love when it eventually comes lacks any kind of emotional punch. Not very satisfying in the end although it seemed so promising at the start.
PS: I should add that this only gets 3 stars from me because Loretta Chase is generally so brilliant that my expectations are very high. By most other measures this would be a four star book but I want more from LC.
PS: I should add that this only gets 3 stars from me because Loretta Chase is generally so brilliant that my expectations are very high. By most other measures this would be a four star book but I want more from LC.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Helen Hancox
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Mass Market Paperback
It's been several days since I read this book and initially I couldn't remember what it was about - not a good sign! It's an enjoyable enough book, if clearly a little forgettable.
Zoe Lexham isn't your average young girl. She has spent twelve years in the exotic East, having been kidnapped and forced to live in a harem. When she escapes and returns home to London, it's clear that her shocking history might have an effect on her family's reputation.
Lucien de Grey is an old family friend. Zoe's father is like a father figure to him and he decides to use his position as Duke to try to reduce the problems that Lexham faces. Plus Zoe was a childhood playmate before she disappeared.
But Zoe doesn't know entirely how to behave, and when spending time with her Lucien seems to forget too. Can they find a happy ending?
I usually like Loretta Chase's books - Lord of Scoundrels is absolutely excellent - but this one wasn't quite as memorable. Although both Zoe and Lucien were good characters, some of the plot felt a bit forced, such as an attempt at a mystery. However it's a good read for those who like their historical romances.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
Zoe Lexham isn't your average young girl. She has spent twelve years in the exotic East, having been kidnapped and forced to live in a harem. When she escapes and returns home to London, it's clear that her shocking history might have an effect on her family's reputation.
Lucien de Grey is an old family friend. Zoe's father is like a father figure to him and he decides to use his position as Duke to try to reduce the problems that Lexham faces. Plus Zoe was a childhood playmate before she disappeared.
But Zoe doesn't know entirely how to behave, and when spending time with her Lucien seems to forget too. Can they find a happy ending?
I usually like Loretta Chase's books - Lord of Scoundrels is absolutely excellent - but this one wasn't quite as memorable. Although both Zoe and Lucien were good characters, some of the plot felt a bit forced, such as an attempt at a mystery. However it's a good read for those who like their historical romances.
Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Loves Reading
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I thoroughly enjoyed this story, amusing, well written, good sense of place/history. A previous review gives the book only 3 stars but I believe it deserves the 5 stars I have given it. The heroine, Zoe, was amusing and the hero, Lucien, masterful but reserved and somewhat bewildered with Zoe, the story seemed historically accurate. Loretta Chase is getting back on form.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Review taken from my blog in August 2011, after borrowing a copy from the library:
Zoe Lexham, daughter of Lord Lexham, had always been a bolter, but at the age of 12 that was her undoing ... a maid sold her into white slavery in Egypt by convincing everyone that she had simply run away ... and of course, with Zoe's history she was believed.
12 years later Zoe manges to outwit her captives and return to England to her family, however Lucien de Grey, Duke of Marchmont who is a close family friend is determined to prove that she is an imposter.
Although as soon as he sets eyes on her, realises that it is the very same Zoe Octavia that drove him to distraction when he was a young boy.
As you can imagine Zoe's reputation, and thereby her family's is now standing in tatters, and she is being hailed as the "Harem Girl" in the press. Lucien therefore takes on the task of making her respectable and accepted enough to be presented at Court, thanks to his title and friendship with the Royal Family.
He's the most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde, but can he pull it off and remain heart whole?
A 4.5 star read.
Zoe Lexham, daughter of Lord Lexham, had always been a bolter, but at the age of 12 that was her undoing ... a maid sold her into white slavery in Egypt by convincing everyone that she had simply run away ... and of course, with Zoe's history she was believed.
12 years later Zoe manges to outwit her captives and return to England to her family, however Lucien de Grey, Duke of Marchmont who is a close family friend is determined to prove that she is an imposter.
Although as soon as he sets eyes on her, realises that it is the very same Zoe Octavia that drove him to distraction when he was a young boy.
As you can imagine Zoe's reputation, and thereby her family's is now standing in tatters, and she is being hailed as the "Harem Girl" in the press. Lucien therefore takes on the task of making her respectable and accepted enough to be presented at Court, thanks to his title and friendship with the Royal Family.
He's the most popular bachelor in the Beau Monde, but can he pull it off and remain heart whole?
A 4.5 star read.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Kristin
Format:Mass Market Paperback
First, read ALL the reviews, take the positives out of all of them, take the negatives with a little pinch of salt, read and enjoy. I enjoyed the lack of irritation that comes with stupid misunderstandings that we normally have and it was comfortable for once.
This is a light read but skilful as ever, with real English. It filled in three nights before sleep for me and I it was lovely.
This is a light read but skilful as ever, with real English. It filled in three nights before sleep for me and I it was lovely.
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Zoe Octavia Lexham was always the problem child - she never obeyed the rules, she only wanted to learn what the boys learned, and she was forever running away. But for the young Lucien de Grey, she was the bright spot in his life. Until Zoe went travelling with her parents... and never came back.
Twelve years on Lord Lexham still looks for his daughter's return. Lucien, however, has long given up hope. Which is why when he hears of Miss Lexham's miraculous return he's eager to prove to the world that she's a fake and a fraud.
Until he sees her... and she asks him to marry her.
Zoe's spent twelve years locked in a harem, but now that she's home and free she wants to take her true place in society. And it just so happens that the boy she liked so well in her youth is now a grown-up, fashionable duke. Even better, Lucien says she doesn't have to marry him to regain her place.
Except that he's terribly handsome these days, and Zoe's learned all these skills about how to please a man. And herself. How's a girl - who's never been taught to say no - to resist? How can a duke - who needs never deny himself anything - not be tempted?
Loretta Chase is a master at unusual situations and/or settings for her tales. And this is no different. She brilliantly evokes Zoe's differences and the troubles she faces after being away for so long. At the same time she focus on the strictures and high stakes of Regency society at its height, and the prices to be paid for success - and failure.
Having said that I did find Zoe a little tiresome and childish at times, and Lucien sometimes fell flat. All the ingredients are there for a classic Chase story, but for me it never quite meshed (although Zoe definitely improves in the second half).... Read more ›
Twelve years on Lord Lexham still looks for his daughter's return. Lucien, however, has long given up hope. Which is why when he hears of Miss Lexham's miraculous return he's eager to prove to the world that she's a fake and a fraud.
Until he sees her... and she asks him to marry her.
Zoe's spent twelve years locked in a harem, but now that she's home and free she wants to take her true place in society. And it just so happens that the boy she liked so well in her youth is now a grown-up, fashionable duke. Even better, Lucien says she doesn't have to marry him to regain her place.
Except that he's terribly handsome these days, and Zoe's learned all these skills about how to please a man. And herself. How's a girl - who's never been taught to say no - to resist? How can a duke - who needs never deny himself anything - not be tempted?
Loretta Chase is a master at unusual situations and/or settings for her tales. And this is no different. She brilliantly evokes Zoe's differences and the troubles she faces after being away for so long. At the same time she focus on the strictures and high stakes of Regency society at its height, and the prices to be paid for success - and failure.
Having said that I did find Zoe a little tiresome and childish at times, and Lucien sometimes fell flat. All the ingredients are there for a classic Chase story, but for me it never quite meshed (although Zoe definitely improves in the second half).... Read more ›
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