The Stranger I Married

Another Top Notch Erotic Historical

Sylvia Day comes through with another well-written and developed story with characters so interesting and passion so sensual that leaves the fan of the erotic romance wondering how it can ever get better. Isabel, Lady Pelham, 'Pel' and Gerard Faulkner, the Marquess of Grayson, 'Gray' are The Ton's most beautiful and scandalous couple. They marry for the simple convenience of being able to keep their paramours and lead simple lives and although they lead lives of sexual scandal with others, they are friends. These two sensual people have anything but simple lives, as they both fell in love and were hurt at a very young age and did not realize until years later that life was not as convenient and simple as it seems. When Gray's young love Emily dies in childbirth he run off and Pel does not hear from him for four years when he suddenly returns a changed man. He has spent these years at his estates taking stock of his life and growing up and discovering that he wants a real marriage with Pel. When he returns, Pel is shocked and discovers she is sexually attracted to Gray, now the stranger she has married. She has always felt he was like her first husband, Lord Pelham, her first love who hurt her deeply when he did not return her love, but instead turned to a long string of other women, leaving her by dying in a duel over one of his paramours. Gray is determined to prove his love for Pel and feels he will begin by showering her with sensuality and passion, not realizing that this only reminds her of Pelham, but at the same time, while Pel enjoys and relishes his wild passion, she wants some sign that Gray will be committed only to her. There are family characters, Gray's mother and brother, and ex-paramours who try to put a wedge inbetween Gray and Pel's relationship that make the story interesting. The secondary side love story of Pel's brother Rhys is passionate, sexy and sweet, although a bit short and should really have its own story. Overall the book is sensual perfection and not to be missed.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

VERY ANNOYING MARCHIONESS

i am on page 154 of 248 and i have already grown tired of Isabel's "i want him, I don't want him" way. i gave it 2 stars because so far i like Grayson's character. I find myself rooting for Grayson's mother to be successful at her attempt to get Isabel separated from Grayson.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Her Usual Stunning Best

Lady Pelham and Gerard Faulkner, Marquess of Grayson, have a marriage most scandalous. Flouting the thin conventions of unions of convenience, they openly flaunt their preferences for other people in their respective beds. Not only that, but they dare to rub along well together, like rascally brother and doting sister. They strike a bargain--to never let love pollute the fine arrangement they have. Isabel has learned her lesson well regarding notorious rakes while Gerard is determined to enjoy his youth to the fullest: parties, routes, paramours and all the best inanities his money can buy. Why fix what isn't broken?****** But when tragedy strikes, Gerard disappears from Isabel's life completely. Fours years after, he returns home a changed man. Indeed, it is as if he is one for the very first time. Isabel isn't quite sure how to handle the serious, almost melancholy gentleman and soon his blatant interest in her turns her set routines into more of a crush than the Ton's famous balls. Everywhere she turns, Gerard stands, cajoling, begging, and teasing her body into unraveling its will to resist him. Suddenly, life's not as black and white as she'd like it to be and she begins to fear Gerard may have found a way into her guarded heart. When she begins to bend to the sway, will he know how to keep her heart safe?****** Ms. Day consistently pens storylines populated with characters readers can understand, sympathize with and grow to enjoy over the course of the book. The sensual atmosphere that is so much a part of her latest undulates beneath the surface constantly, occasionally boils over into full blazingly carnal delights and then simmers once more, teasing readers till the next exquisite encounter. Their passion is toe curling and yet at other times it is a dueling, one in which neither can fully give their hearts. At least not right away. The pacing works well throughout and there is a very interesting subplot involving Isabel's brother and a spinsterish miss. As wonderful as the writing was, I was left in wanting of more of their story. Other than that, The Stranger I Married is more than worthy to grace Ms. Day's bookshelf along with her previous installments. This is an auto buy author, a stunning mistress of sensually charged romance with characters of depth, engaging emotions and plots. Look for her next sensual historical, 'Passion for the Game', coming June 1, 2007. Reviewed for The Mystic Castle

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A fresh and very interesting regency romance

In 1815 Lady Isabel Pelham and Lord Gerard Faulkner agree on a marriage of convenience as friends in which they can continue to pursue their ¿outside interests¿. She would remain Markham¿s mistress and he would continue to dally with Lady Sinclair, who carries his offspring. Months later he learns from his nasty mother that his beloved Emily died giving birth to his stillborn offspring. Shocked as he loved the married Emily, Gerald flees England.---------------- Four years later, Gerard returns to London no longer the carefree youth who enjoyed scandal. Instead he is gloomy and demanding. He informs his wife that he wants a real marriage with her. Stunned Pel prefers her freedom though his kisses are like none she ever tasted before. As Gerard seduces his wife with rough sexual encounters, they fall in love but neither will hand the power of that emotion to the other because trust outside of the bedroom remains lacking in their relationship.------------------ This is a fresh and very interesting regency romance that focuses on an older woman with a younger man scandalizing society when they married and more so when they fall in love. As a warning the hardball sex is graphic though well written and a major segment of the relationship that develops between this likable lead three dimensional (in and out of the boudoir) couple involves exploring sex. Sylvia Day spices up the sub-genre with her hot THE STRANGER I MARRIED historical relationship drama.------------- Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A cute period piece-somewhat slow

This was definitely a good weekend read. It had all the components of a good classic romance. I know others who came before me in these reviews loved it but I can't say it's the best of it's particular genre. As you've most likely guessed if you read the synopsis two broken people find new beginnings in what they thought would be a marriage of convenience. Nice premise but I found myself getting sick of the two main characters who constantly second guessed themselves and each other. Yes, Ms. Day, you've shown us they're flawed people just like people in real life, now stop bashing us over the head with it. Real rating would be 3 1/2 stars but it is a good book for a slow Sunday.

Thoroughly enjoyable!

Isobel, Lady Pelham, and Gerard, Marquess of Grayson, are kindred spirits. She vowed never to marry again after she is widowed from her rake of a husband; he has no desire to wed other than for duty to the title. Both are busy pursuing pleasure; neither believe in love everlasting. However, Gerard proposes the outlandish idea of wedding each other to solve her problem of paramours eventually proposing and his need for a wife, while also goading his mother with his choice of bride. There's no need to change their behavior; they go on as before - that is until Gerard receives devastating news and disappears for 4 years without any word. Now, he's back but no longer the man she married in so many ways. Who is he? And why does he suddenly seem to want her and no other? She can't trust in a future, and he can't go back. Their struggles as a couple, and a sub-plot involving Isobel's brother Rhys, kept me interested and turning the pages.

I love a brooding hero

Sylvia Day is a new author for me and after looking at this book several times I finally broke down and bought it. I loved it! The hero has a slight darkness to him (that brooding thing that I love) and I was entranced in their story. Now I hope that the other S.Day books are as good as this one.

A reviewer

The characters, Pel and Gray, were perfect. I liked the storyline and the sensual scenes were vivid and scorching! I couldn't put the book down. A must-read

Loved it!

This is a must-have for any romance lover's library. Loved Grayson and Isabel - they're likeable characters with depth to them. Can't wait to Sylvia Day's other novels!

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