The Countess Takes a Lover [Paperback]

Years ago, Countess Meredith du Chevalier was the victim of her brutal and sexually cruel husband. With his death, Meredith vowed to never let another man be in charge of her life whether it is in the board room or the bed room. A widow has certain privileges in London society and Meredith doesn't mind using her body to get what she wants, when she wants. When a nobleman comes to her asking for her to tutor his shy son in the ways of women so that the son can make an advantageous marriage, Meredith doesn't hesitate to use his request to her advantage. She doesn't count on falling in love with her student.

Christopher Whitby is highly educated and yearns to learn all he can. A social flop according to his father, Chris' social graces have just never been important to him. He likes women well enough but he loves science. Much to his father's consternation, Chris often forgets what he is supposed to be doing. Never having had a lover, and not really missing that aspect, Chris is dumbfounded when his mother's guest for tea, Countess du Chevalier, kisses him and exposes to Chris a whole new side of life. Agreeing to come to her country estate to redesign her greenhouse, Chris knows what is going to happen. He just doesn't count on falling in love.

Chris and Meri inevitably become lovers. What starts out as a job for Meri quickly becomes more and she finds herself floundering for the first time in years. When Chris inadvertently overhears Meri's reason for befriending him and becoming his lover he is crushed. Refusing Meredith's apology Chris angrily strides out of her life and Meredith is unable to fathom his leaving because the unthinkable has happened. She has fallen in love.

I love the aspect of an innocent young man being tutored by the jaded older woman of experience. And while Meri was certainly jaded, she wasn't the femme fatale that I at first envisioned. She was more like a vulnerable siren that would do anything to protect her heart. She tried - I have to give her that much. She tried not to love Chris but his love of nature and thirst for knowledge won me over and I in turn got to watch it win Meredith over.

Bonnie Dee has penned a delightful and very thoughtful novel with THE COUNTESS TAKES A LOVER. I found it utterly enchanting and quickly became overwhelmed at the emotions it invoked in me. I love historical romances that make me feel and THE COUNTESS TAKES A LOVER was just that type of book. I loved it.

La Comtesse de Chevalier has received a most interesting proposition. In exchange for Lord Whitby's support of a Parliamentary bill she wants passed, the sexually adventurous countess will "make a man" of his son. Intrigued by the offer and the sexily reserved Christopher Whitby, Meredith entices the botanist to her country estate with an offer to redesign her greenhouse.

Withdrawn from society for the most part, Chris has more interest in studying exotic plants than being the stereotypical wealthy gentleman his father wants him to be. Yet after one kiss from the alluring countess, Chris's passions are awakened. On Meredith's estate desire burns brightly between the two, but lust isn't the only emotion blossoming between them. Will Chris find out about his father's deal with the countess? Will Meredith risk her heart for a love that she never believed could exist?

At first glance, I was intrigued by the premise of The Countess Takes a Lover. It's rare to find a book where the heroine is the one sexually educating the hero. I was expecting a hot love story, and found that and so much more in Bonnie Dee's luscious tale. Meredith and Chris were two characters I was immediately drawn to. I found Meredith's survival of an abusive marriage, her inner strength, and self-possession admirable. Chris, though green at first, rapidly developed into an utterly delicious hero and I was enraptured watching his transition. Liking the characters as I did, I quickly become invested in the story, eagerly reading to see their relationship grow. By the end of this deliciously enthralling tale, I was left wanting a Chris of my own. The Countess Takes a Lover is a sexy historical romance I Joyfully Recommend!

Shayna
reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Over the past year or two, I have now read several Bonnie Dee books and this one continues to be a favorite. She has a fairly consistent theme of damaged or naive heroes with more experienced women. In this case, Meredith agrees to be a romantic and erotic "tutor" for withdrawn and scholastic Christopher. His awakening was hot and spicy, but it turned out to be a re-awakening for Meredith. Solid and interesting characters with enough back story and Regency period details to make it a delightful read.