His Wicked Heart by Darcy Burke

His Wicked Heart
by Darcy Burke
Publisher: Intrepid Reads

Publication: June 5th 2012
ISBN: 0985455810 (ISBN13: 9780985455811)

It’s hard to be respectable, when you'd rather be wicked

Jasper Sinclair, Earl of Saxton, made a bargain with his devil of a father to marry in one month’s time. But instead of shackling himself to an acceptable debutante, he indulges his baser needs. He joins a fighting club and pursues a delectable woman who may not be what she seems. Soon he finds himself battling addictions that threaten his already wicked heart.

Orphaned seamstress Olivia West wants the chance to lead an honest, respectable life, but the arrogant Earl of Saxton launches a daunting campaign to make her his mistress. Destitute and desperate, she agrees to one night with the dangerous lord, hatching a scheme to take his money and keep her virtue. However, Jasper uncovers her deception and vows to claim what he's owed—not his money, her.

My Thoughts:

This is the second in a series, but quite honestly it can be a stand alone book. We met Jasper in "Her Wicked Ways", we saw that he placed his sister's happiness over his own.  This book has so much going on, so hang on tight you in for a wonderful time.

I was looking forward to reading Jasper’s story, just the little tease that Darcy gave us in the first book  was enough temptation me. In  Her Wicked Ways  the readers learned that Jasper Sinclair, Earl of Saxton, made a bargain with his devil of a father to marry in one month’s time.

Jasper is out trying to secure an evening of pleasure. He comes to the aid of a woman who was being accosted by a rather forward bloke, unhindered rage poured through Jasper as he tried to master his control. After the ordeal, he insists on walking the strikingly redhead home. The entire neighborhood is filled prostitutes, not knowing if this was her profession, he propositions her, only to be turned down. Bits of Jasper's character begins to develop and we learn that Jasper has a darker side and finds his release in fighting. As the rage he still is feeling is bubbling up in side him, he stumbles upon a fighting club audition, a club ran by a outcasted viscount, Sevrin. And surprisingly to all, he befriends Sevrin, a viscount who was notorious for ruining a girl, his brother’s fiancée and refused to marry her.

The sounds of fighting—of fists striking flesh, of exertion—moved through him like the finest symphony, a balm for his frayed temper.

Olivia, I immediately loved her. Her mother came from one of the oldest professions and Olivia is trying to rise above the life that she was born into. All Olivia is searching for is a family to call her own. In a turn of fate she befriends Jasper's loving and eccentric aunt, Lady Merriweather believes that Olivia is the daughter of her late husband. This just sets the stage for a worldwind of events, hold on tight you are in for a wonderful ride.   You will love the final showdown between Jasper and his father, and with a little help from his friends in the end, true love wins and Olivia finds the family she was looking for..

I also came to appreciate Lady Phillipa, she will have her story told in the next book in this series, To Seduce a Scoundrel. What a surprising leading man, Ms. Burke picks for this independent and strong willed heroine.

I enjoyed this book, and if you like historical romances you will love this one, the story line was fresh, you have a cast of well developed characters. Darcy Burke is a new author for me, but she has found a place on my auto ordering from now one. She is an author on the move!!

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thanks again, Darcy!!
My Rating:

           

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