ARC Review: The Runaway Countess by Leigh LaValle

When Mazie is captured by the Lord Lieutenant, Trent Carthwick for aiding the local highwayman, she knows that she must try whatever she can to help him stay hidden. If that means attempting to seduce the sexy Trent Carthwick, Earl of Radford she sure will try. She never suspects that when she kisses him in an attempt to escape, that she her body would want more and she finds herself constantly thinking of the kiss. 

Trent, still can't believe that his prisoner would rather face the gallows than tell him what he wants to know. What's more, he can't believe she kissed him. He too can think of nothing else and when it comes time to send her to the gallows he decides he can't. She would be ruined and the spark of innocence he senses in her will die. When Trent decides to take Mazie on an outing to gather more information from her, he finds out about her hidden past and that she is really Lady Margaret, daughter of a Duke. Mazie quickly goes from being a prisoner locked in the attic to house guest.  

I liked the sexual chemistry between the characters but for me that's all there was between them. I never really felt like they loved each other. It just didn't come across that way to me. Don't get me wrong, there were definitely sparks between Trent and Mazie but I never felt like their relationship grew into anything more. I never felt them bond with each other. I thought that the book focused more on everything else, rather than the relationship between them both.

Sometimes I just felt like shaking Mazie. I understand her loyalties to Roane, and I completely understand where she is coming from in regards to him, but I just wanted to yell out at her a few times. It became a little aggravating. I just wanted her to talk to Trent and trust him with the truth. Because of her lack of faith I found myself frustrated quite a few times. 

As for Trent, I understand that he just wants to do what is right but I found him a little hypocritical. He is constantly telling Mazie that he has to do what is right by the law, yet he never turned her over because he was attracted to her. How much sense does that make? But besides that, I really liked Trent. I liked getting to know him. He's smart and sexy and he really takes care of Mazie. I also, loved the relationship between him and his sister. They had such a strong bond. Trent really was a good man and I just wished that Mazie would have realized it a lot sooner than she did. 

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book. I like the chemistry between Mazie and Trent and I really liked getting to know Trent. I found that he was good and honorable and all he wanted was to make his father proud. He is kind and takes the law very serious. I also enjoyed the relationship Mazie made with Trent's sister. I know that Mazie had the best intention when it came to everything I just wish she had more faith. 

I also liked getting to know Trent's sister and I really hope she gets her own book. I found her story very interesting and I would love to learn more about her. 

All in all, this was a pretty good read. I definitely want to read more from this author and I hope that she writes stories for some of the characters that we met in this book. 

**ARC copy provide by author**

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