Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Unwrapping a Guest Review by Connie Fischer of DECEIVED BY DESIRE, a Gilded novel by Marie Force

Greetings my darling readers, I know I’ve been remiss in providing you reviews of good reads this past year and I apologize. Life has a hold on me which does not allow me much reading time. I have tried to make up for that in publishing my own good reads for you and I hope you’ve given them a try. So to make up for my neglect, I will be offering up guest reviews for you enjoy. I hope to be back reviewing for you soon but in the meantime, I hope you’ll enjoy my dear friend, Connie Fischer’s reviews to guide you to good reads. Enjoy and Happy Reading!

I present to you a guest review of DECEIVED BY DESIRE, a Gilded novel by Marie Force, published August 27, 2019.


Blurb for DECEIVED BY DESIRE:


Wealthy American industrialist Aubrey Nelson has invited the Duke and Duchess of Westbrook to visit his family’s Newport seaside “cottage” for the summer. With his parents’ departure from New York delayed, Aubrey’s mother sends him ahead to oversee preparations for their guests. But when he arrives, he’s surprised to find the house and staff in disarray …

With much to do and little time, Aubrey comes to rely on the housekeeper, a lovely young Irish woman named Maeve Brown. And when he also finds himself confiding in Maeve about more personal matters, he tells himself it’s merely their close proximity that draws him to the compassionate, hard-working beauty. Yet when he suspects Maeve is in danger, Aubrey realizes his feelings for her have grown much deeper than they should have. For what will his mother, who dreams of a society match for her only son, have to say when she arrives to discover he’s lost his heart to a girl of the working class?

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Connie’s Review:

1903 - Newport, Rhode Island

Aubrey Nelson, 32, is observing the beauty of the housekeeper, Maeve Brown, who is cleaning his home called Paradis Trouve on Bellvue Avenue. His family had purchased the home from the Astor family.

Having just arrived to see the house opened for the season, he is shocked to see how filthy it is. His parents had wanted him to see that all was ready for the upcoming visit of the Duke and Duchess of Westwood.

Apparently, the staff had been angry at Mrs. Nelson, Aubrey’s mother, when they left last season and instead of closing the house up tight, they left windows open. Birds and rodents had come in and fouled up the rooms. Now, Maeve is doing all she can to scrub each and every room.

At first, Aubrey introduces himself as the new butler, but when the real butler shows up, Aubrey is caught in his lie and confesses who he really is. Aubrey pitches in to help, but Maeve does not feel that the owner should do that. He sees the huge mess that has been made so he hires a bunch of people from the village to help clean it.

Aubrey is taken with Maeve’s beauty and her cultured and graceful ways. Although she tries to tell him that he is gentry and she is not, he doesn’t care. He soon learns that she fled Ireland after killing her cruel husband in self-defense. That’s when Aubrey offers to marry her. She agrees and they marry quickly.

But when Aubrey’s family arrives to visit, they are welcoming to Maeve - expect for his mother. Her hatred is deep and Maeve is worried how far the woman will go to get rid of her.

This is a story of two people who fall deeply in love. Their affection for one another is well-written into the story and is totally swoon-worthy. I know readers will enjoy the book. The Gilded Age is a favorite time period of mine. Marie Force is a terrific author and I look forward to reading even more of her books.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

DECEIVED BY DESIRE, a Gilded novel by Marie Force, Zebra Books, available now in ebook, print, and audio at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobobooks

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