ARC Review: The Dark Affair by Máire Claremont

I read a novella by Máire Claremont so I was really looking forward to “The Dark Affair”. It did not disappoint. The beginning scene was fantastic. Lord James Stanhope, Viscount Powers is in a dungeon. He is thought of as mad and his actions portray that of a madman. Lady Margaret is very frighten but she tries to be strong and stands up to him. Lord James has lost everything he once held dear to him and doesn’t care if he lives or dies.

Lady Margaret Cassidy was really a fascinating character. She was a mixture of sensitivity and vulnerability but also very strong and honest. I love that she was upfront with Lord James and that she explained their mutual benefit in marrying. There is a strong attraction to each other but she clearly understands that he is an addict. Lady Margaret has endured a lot. She fled her homeland of Ireland under political uncertainty. She is constantly afraid and worried for her brother as his life is in danger. Maggie tries to protect her brother but the people he associates see her as a traitor. It is only a matter of time before she is placed in danger. The author really portrays the tension felt with the political unrest of the Irish.

Lord James was so wounded and so broken it was heartbreaking to see how he’s lunacy unfolded. One great aspect of the author was how real she portrayed this situation. There were many elements of the story that were very dark and disturbing-she in no way romanticized Lord James addiction or the extent of his emotional wounds. James is overcome with violence and anger at just the mention of his wife and his lost child.

When Lord James and Margaret’s marriage becomes real they have to learn to get over their mutual pasts. Both bare very deep wounds. When Lord James becomes aware of Maggie’s efforts to send money to the starving people he can’t helped but be moved. My only regret is that I didn’t read the previous two books in the series. Although this novel can easily stand-alone I would have liked to know the story entirely with the previous characters. This was a fantastic story. It was gut-wrenching and heart-breaking and beautiful. I highly recommend it and will be reading more in her past books in the Mad Passions series.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Twelve Days of Seduction by Máire Claremont

I generally try to stay away from novellas because I always feel like I don’t have a good understanding of the characters. The Twelve Days of Seduction by Máire Claremont provided to be an exception! Alexander Hunt, Eight Duke of Berresford is threatening to throw out his governess, Anna Grey, on the street. He discovers that Anna Grey is an alias and that her real name is Adriana Flint. Besides the deception of her name he also discovers that she is an authoress. Anna, or Adriana as is her real name, is distraught. She has grown attached to Georgiana, Alexander’s ward. Adrianna is devastated and tries to convince her employer to let her stay. Unfortunately for her, she also has no other place to go. Her parents do not have any money and she is all by herself. The reasons for her deceptions are many. She grew up on the street, begging for food. She has no relations to turn to. Besides these reasons, she has deep affection for her employer. For the past year in his employment, she has hidden her feelings. When she offers up a bargain, she is shocked to discover that the feelings were reciprocated.

Adriana and Alexander strike up a bargain. He will allow her to stay if she becomes his mistress, but she has conditions of her own. Although as Anna Grey she played the role of meek and demure, with her reestablished identity as Adriana, she is setting her own terms. If Alexander wants her as a mistress he has to be able to seduce her. As Adriana and Alexander spend the Christmas holiday together, as mutual love interests, they grow to know each other. Adriana, no longer afraid of being discovered admonishes Alexander for his lack of empathy for his employees. Alexander realizes that because he has always had a life of privileged he has not suffered the need that Adriana did. He also reads her books where she speaks up for the lower classes and the disadvantage. There are two big secret’s that are revealed in this cute and short novella. These two big secrets have a big impact on their future and the future of Georgiana.

I really loved this story. It is a perfect read if you’re looking for something that is fulfilling and enjoyable. The only reason I did not give it a five star is because Alexander changes so quickly. He goes from an arrogant Duke to an advocate for the lower class. This is completely understandable because it’s a novella, but I still would have liked more time for growth and evolution. Also, even though their pasts are alluded to, it would have been great if there had played bigger scenes in the novella. This is a perfect treat for the holidays.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

Purchase: | Amazon | Barnes & Noble |

ARC Review: Lady in Red by Maire Claremont

Let me start by saying that Lady in Red (Mad Passions series #2) is a dark book. Very dark. Very Gothic. This is not to say that it isn’t a good book because it is quite good. But do not look for a sweet, heart-warming story. Every character in Lady in Red is tortured in some way, including the secondary characters. Each has a troubled past that is complicating the present. The book is so dark that we don’t see much light at all until nearly the very end, yet it is a romance with a happy ending. I found myself intrigued by the story and was very wrapped up in the characters. I also read the book very quickly which is a sure sign that I enjoyed it.

Set in Victorian England in 1865 the book picks up where the first book (The Dark Lady) left off, with Mary Darrel on the run after escaping from an insane asylum. Mary seeks help from the only person she can think of, her mother’s friend, a whorehouse madam named Yvonne. It is there that she meets another damaged soul, Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh. He is immediately drawn to her plight and envisions saving her as offering redemption to him. He takes her to his home and helps her begin to recover from her physical and emotional traumas. But soon her father, the Duke of Duncliffe, who had imprisoned her and told everyone she was dead, finds where she is and comes after her. Edward engages the help of his friend, Viscount Powers, to empower Mary to fight her father. Will revenge satisfy Mary’s need for resolution? Can Edward release himself from his tormented past and more forward? Can two marginal people somehow rebuild each other?

Lady in Red was a strangely compelling book. Even though I like really tortured characters this was almost too dark for my taste. There was a considerable degree of violence, torture, insanity, and serious opium and alcohol addiction surrounding the events. One high point of the book for me was the character of Viscount Powers. I loved his sarcastic wit and was touched by his damaged spirit. It is exciting to know that he is the hero of book #3 (The Dark Affair, coming March 2014). This was one of the best set-ups for the character in the next book that I have seen. As I progressed through the book I was somewhat overcome by all of the troubles, but I rooted for the characters nevertheless. The ending was satisfying, but a little abrupt and it shifted gears perhaps too quickly. The sudden leap into lightness was appropriate, but felt just a bit strange. I think that Claremont did such a good job with the darkness that it was hard to see the characters any other way. All in all, I really liked the book and am looking forward to the next one.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |

Guest Post with Author Máire Claremont and Giveaway

Today I would like to welcome back to the blog, author, Máire Claremont. Máire is celebrating the recent release of her book The Dark Lady and has stopped by to tell us why she adores Victorian romance. Please give Máire a warm welcome.

2011 Golden Heart winner Máire Claremont first fell in love with Mr. Rochester, not Mr. Darcy. Drawn to his dark snark, she longed to find a tortured hero of her own… until she realized the ramifications of Mr. Rochester locking his frst wife up in his attic. Discovering the errors of her ways, Máire now looks for a real-life Darcy and creates deliciously dark heroes on the page. Oh, and she wants everyone to know her name is pronounced Moira. Her parents just had to give her an Irish Gaelic name.

Places to find Máire:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |

Sealed With a Kiss: Máire Clairmont and Giveaway

2011 Golden Heart winner Máire Claremont first fell in love with Mr. Rochester, not Mr. Darcy. Drawn to his dark snark, she longed to find a tortured hero of her own… until she realized the ramifications of Mr. Rochester locking his frst wife up in his attic. Discovering the errors of her ways, Máire now looks for a real-life Darcy and creates deliciously dark heroes on the page. Oh, and she wants everyone to know her name is pronounced Moira. Her parents just had to give her an Irish Gaelic name.

Places to find Máire:

| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |