Gabriel Ludlow, Viscount Everhart will never marry, and thus is sure to win the bachelor’s wager against his friends. Assuming, of course, that his deepest secret—a certain letter containing a marriage proposal made in a moment of passion—doesn’t surface. After all, without Calliope Croft to tempt him, there’s no danger in losing. Or in falling in love.
Calliope wants revenge. Five years ago, an anonymous love letter stole her heart and ultimately broke it. Now, Casanova has struck again, and Calliope vows to unmask the scoundrel, stopping him from breaking any more hearts. Yet, time and again, Gabriel distracts her from her task, until she can no longer deny that something about him calls to her…
Gabriel was a fool to deny the depth of his feelings for Calliope, but the threat that kept him from her five years ago remains. Now, he must choose between two paths: break her heart all over again or finally succumb to loving her…at the risk of losing everything.
Feeling like a voyeur, she pretended a sudden desire to check the state of the coals inside the brass foot warmer. No rise of warmth penetrated her limerick gloves. Regardless, she lifted the lid only to find a bed of finely sifted ash. Closing the lid, she sat back. Then, adjusting the heavy woolen blanket over her lap, she reached for the fur muff on the seat beside her. Beyond the fogged carriage windows, heavy gray clouds shrouded the snow-covered countryside. The scenery should have appeared picturesque. Not bleak and desolate. But suddenly that was how she felt. Bleak, desolate… alone. In fact, if she were the lead character in one of the novels she read, she might expect castle ruins looming in the distance.
Although, much the same, barren trees and scraggily shrubs marked the rutted landscape like scars along the Great North Road. Since the copses of evergreens did not suit a bout of melancholy she chose to ignore their beauty and wallow for a moment longer. Because if one thought about snow-laden boughs, one naturally thought of sleigh rides. And no one could be unhappy while whisking through the brisk winter air with snowflakes kissing one’s cheeks. Calliope’s sigh fogged up the glass, obscuring her view completely. Perhaps, she never should have refused Brightwell’s proposal. She’d genuinely liked his company. When he’d begun to court her all those years ago, she’d known the likely outcome.
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author VIVIENNE LORRET loves romance novels, her pink laptop, her husband, and her two sons (not necessarily in that order … but there are days). Transforming copious amounts of tea into words, she is proud to be an Avon Impulse author of works including: “Tempting Mr. Weatherstone”, The Wallflower Wedding Series, and the Rakes of Fallow Hall series.
Jennifer’s Review of The Elusive Lord Everhart
Review (4 Stars): I loved the fact that Calliope was a dreamer who believed in a fairy tale romance with a secret admirer being her true soul mate. She knew that she was being silly for believing in this but her heart wouldn’t let her settle for someone that wasn’t right for. Gabriel has loved Calliope for a long time but had sworn that he would forever remain a bachelor so when he sees Calliope after five years, the sparks fly and he falls in love all over again. The two of them fit together but it took a few bumps for them to see their way back to each other. I loved the humor and sexual chemistry between these two and you could definitely see that they would have a happy ever after. This is the first book in the The Rakes of Fallow Hall series and I can’t wait to see which bachelor is up next for his happy ending.
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That excerpt made me feel cold (in sympathy). Brrr…
Vivienne Lorret you are a new author to me. Which book of your do you recommend I start with?
Your books all sound wonderful and I’m looking forward to reading them. I’m wondering if you’re interested in writing in different historical periods, or would just prefer to stick with one particular period?