2.5 stars

I love the heroines in these books, they are put through horrific circumstances but their strength is always evident, even when they are at their lowest; this author writes women phenomenally. The atmosphere and over reaching story is wonderfully darkly atmospheric and breathtakingly triumphant. However, I'm having a problem with the middle of the story sagging and when it comes to our hero and heroine's relationship, I just don't feel it. I'm fully locked into the heroine's story but not getting the emotions of the hero and heroine forming a romantic/loving relationship. I want to really like these books but I'm just not fully getting there. Reading the next in the series because I want to believe! ( )

DUAL REVIEW: Lady Mary, daughter of the Duke of Duncliffe, has just escaped from an insane asylum where she had been placed by her father after the death of her mother, Esme. He put her there after she witnessed him murdering her mother. Subjected to unspeakable treatment, rape, swill for food and constantly dosed with laudanum, her body and her mind are very weak. Mary travels by foot to her mother’s friend, Yvonne, in hopes of finding shelter.

Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, is a tormented man filled with guilt over many crimes that his father committed.

Yvonne feels that Mary will be safer staying with Edward who takes her in and strives to help her adjust to normal life again and to help her get over her dependency on the laudanum. In helping her, Edward finds a feeling of salvation in payment for his father’s crimes.

This novel is dark at times and will make the reader cringe at the abuse that Mary suffered and the evil of some men. However,....We thank you for hopping over to b2b to finish our dual review!

http://bookworm2bookworm.wordpress.com/2013/10/15/lady-in-red-by-maire-claremont...

Connie & Melanie for b2b
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LADY IN RED by Marie Claremont is an exciting Victorian Historical Romance. #2 in the "Mad Passions" trilogy, but can be read as a stand alone. See, "The Dark Lady". Fast paced, with engaging characters and an intriguing story line. Filled with mental, physical, and sexual abuse,drug addiction,passion, grief, secrets, revenge,forgiveness, healing and the power of true love. An intense but compelling and dark tale of abuse and healing. A powerful romance with secrets, scandal, heartbreak and drama. Loved it! Ms. Claremont is the Queen of the dark side of drama and romance. A must read! A powerful,wicked tale of love and passion. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.

RATING: 4.5

HEAT RATING: HOT/VIOLENCE

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More ( )

In the second Novel of Mad Passions, Lady Mary Darrel, who we met in the first book as an inmate of Mrs. Palmer’s asylum, has escaped and gone to find an old friend of her late mother’s. Quickly they realize that in Victorian England, the only protection for a woman is a powerful man, a man more powerful even than the father who sent her to her nightmarish confinement. The moment he laid eyes on Mary, Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh, knew he had found a kindred soul and that he would give his life to protect her and restore her to health. Can Mary ever learn to trust a man after the hell she endured at the hands of the asylum’s keepers? Can Edward, who has never been loved by anyone, open his heart and see his own goodness?

In many ways, I liked this one better than the first Mad Passions novel. Mary is even more of a fighter than Eva was, and Edward is even more broken than Ian was. Mary also suffered much more and for much longer in the asylum than Eva did. I definitely thought that Mary’s father had a fitting end, although I must say I was a bit disappointed that neither Mary nor Edward seem too concerned about Clair—wasn’t she as much deserving of a rescue as the girls in the asylum? Mrs. Palmer is not forgotten in the end, and it appears we have seen the last of her asylum. This does make one wonder what turn any future volumes will take, although the teaser for the next one, The Dark Affair, does give us some clues. ( )

Lady in Red by Marie Clarmont tells the story of a courageous woman in the Victorian era who escaped her brutal captors and dared for not only a better life but also revenge. Mary was put into an insane asylum after her mother dies by her father. He claims it's because he's afraid she'll turn out like her 'whore' mother. While at the asylum, Mary endures terrible cruelty and sexual assault. She escapes with one thought--revenge.

Mary goes to the one person she can trust, her mother's dear friend. However she can't stay with her for long. So she arranges for Mary to stay with the Duke of Fairleigh, Edward Barrons. In exchange for his protection, she'll become his mistress.

From the moment that Edward meets Mary, he's drown to her. He can't get her out of his mind. He knows she's been through something terrible. He also knows who she really is--the daughter of a duke. But he vows to keep her safe no matter what. And in saving her, he might save himself.

This book can act like a standalone for those who have not read the first book in the series. I suspect some of the characters from this book make an appearance in that book as well. However, there's nothing that will confuse as to the story line. I did like this story line as well as Mary. Mary undergoes some heinous events. So much so, she'll probably be scarred for life if she were an actual person. However I did appreciate that Claremont didn't give the heroine a quick recovery. Mary was damaged physically and mentally and those wounds take longer to heal. In this story, Mary struggles with her past, trust, and dealing with the future. She finds comfort in learning how to defend herself. It empowers her, and with it, she's able to battle some of her demons. She comes to care for Edward, but she's still standoffish. I like that there were walls that she had to break down to deal with her past. I wouldn't have liked this book any other way.

Edward was a different story. Overall I liked his character, but I thought he was a little too broodish for me. He had demons in his past that haunted him, and felt responsible for things that were out of his control. His situation was understandable, but he blamed himself for other's mistakes. He's a charming character with a big, gentle heart. Also he's very stubborn. Together they make a great pair. They help each other learn to live again. Overall this is a good book. As I pointed out it does deal with sensitive issues, so this book won't be for everybody.
Read more at http://www.2readornot2read.com/2013/10/review-lady-in-red.html#EpP03oTPJPVH3CZQ.... ( )