The Edge of Desire
2 Stars

This is the most disappointing installment in the series. While the mystery is interesting enough, the romance falls completely flat.

The heroine, Letitia Randall, is supremely unlikable. She is a shrew and a termagant who enjoys throwing temper tantrums, and the repeated excuse that her behavior, an apparent family trait, is acceptable and even welcomed by the ton wears very thin, very quickly. The hero, Christian Allardyce, seems quite happy to tune her out, which hardly adds to the romance.

Speaking of Christian, he has been on the fringes of the series thus far, and little information about his family and actions during his time undercover in France is forthcoming even in his own book. Most of the backstory revolves around his relationship with Letitia and the misunderstanding that serves as the basis for the second chances plotline.

The couple lack chemistry and their sex scenes are overly long, repetitive, and more mechanical than intimate. Aside from their physical attraction, it is difficult to understand what they see in one another.

The investigation into the death of Letitia's husband is much more interesting and the reason for my continued reading in the face of such an annoying heroine and lackluster romance. The locked-room-style mystery is entertaining and it is fun reading as the clues are uncovered and the villain is revealed. The ending is quite exciting, and the epilogue focusing on the enigmatic Dalziel makes me want to read his book right now. Alas, I have to wait for my hold at the library to come in.

On a final note, there is a factual error throughout the book that grates on the nerves. Letitia is constantly referred to as Lady Randall. This is inaccurate. As the daughter of an earl, her correct title would be Lady Letitia. Her husband, George Randall, was not a peer, and as such, she would not be Lady Randall. ( )

Cuando Christian Allardyce, sexto marqués de Dearne, lee la escueta nota que le hace llegar lady Letitia Randall, su mundo se desbarata. El día que la dejó para luchar por su país fue el más difícil de su vida, y jamás ha podido olvidar el roce de sus labios. Así que cuando surge la oportunidad de volver a acercarse a ella, no duda en aprovecharla…

The Edge of Desire - Laurens
3 stars

This was actually a good closed room mystery. The sexual content on the rug with the widow a day after the murder was not believable. The audiobook is read by Steven Crossley, a change from the first 5 books in the series. I spared him the embarrassment of reading those lines to me. I’m committed to the ongoing characters, so I’ll finish the series. It won’t take long. There are many pages worth skipping over. ( )

Continuing with the Bastion Club, Christian is called upon by his ex-girlfriend to investigate her husband's murder, which the Bow street runners are pinning on her brother. Christian untangles the situation, including why Letitia couldn't wait for him to return from the wars, and was forced to marry Randall. And since Randall is now deceased, he's free to pursue her again. ( )

We finally get Christian Allardyce, Marquess of Dearne story. This story is very different from all the others. Christian is already in love with someone but she is married to another man. In all his searching for a bride none has caught his attention. He is surprised when the woman that he thinks betrayed him is at the Bastion Club needing his help. What follows is a murder investigation and Christian and Letitia Vaux finding the love they both thought had long died. The members of the Bastion Club and Dalziel set to work to clear Letitia’s brother’s name and find the man that really murdered Letitia’s husband. We are led on a tangled investigation in the background of someone no one seems to really know and with each new revelation comes more questions.

Christian is the last of the official Bastion to get married. He is nursing a red hot anger about his love betraying him. It is nice to see that he is willing to find out what really happened and find the wherewithal to realize that he is as much to blame for what happen as she ever was. He is a warrior and a spy and he learned a very long time ago how to handle Letitia and her emotions. Like the others his training and years behind enemy lines has honed his instincts and his patience. That time has also taught him how to be a better lover and a better future husband. He is all alpha male and isn't afraid to let Letitia lead the way occasionally. His journey to reclaiming Letitia is a roller coaster ride from the very beginning.

Letitia married a man to save her family from ruin. She never loved the man and in many ways hates him. However she keeps her vows and stays doing her best to make the best of a bad situation. Letitia is intelligent and savvy of those around her. She knows how to handle the ton and uses that knowledge to help try to keep her brother’s reputation in one piece. She doesn't stand a chance once Christian comes back into her life. She has loved him all the time he was gone and all the time she was married to a man that she didn't love. Letitia also knows who Dalziel really is. It is so finny seeing all the members of the Club trying to get the information from Letitia and her brother.

This is one long roller coaster ride with all that is going on. We also find out who Dalziel really is at the very end of the book. Tristan, Tony and Jack are called in to help with the investigation of the murder. I guess the others are still in the country. It was wonderful to find out who Randall and his friends really were and that they were able to pull the wool over the ton’s eyes. As always there are plenty of steamy hot love scenes and they start very early in the book. There are some sad areas in the story and there are some funny places as well. Ms. Laurens continues to write wonderful stories that drag you into the story and won’t let you go until the last page. ( )