Desires of a Perfect Lady

Optimistic and Romantic Tale of Lovers Reunited

I thought Victoria Alexander's latest novel Desires of a Perfect Lady, the second story about the charismatic and adventurous Harrington brothers, was absolutely fabulous! Ms. Alexander shines again by delivering to historical romance readers a brightly optimistic and wonderfully romantic tale of lovers reunited, that's neatly blended with an exciting, high-stakes treasure-hunt-adventure story. With Ms. Alexander's smooth writing, talent for brisk dialogue and witty banter, and marvelous storytelling abilities she effortlessly captures her reader's imaginations as she pulls us into the story and takes us--along with her delightfully charming characters--on a captivating and intriguing expedition from the drawing rooms of London to Egypt and Italy and back. The daring journey abroad provides us with refreshing settings and some lively exploits that allow Olivia and Sterling an appropriate amount of time to complete their complex treasure quest, fulfill the difficult stipulations of Lord Rathbourne's will, and help Olivia regain her rightful inheritance, and more importantly, her well-deserved freedom. And their time spent together also inspires exploration of a more sensual nature and the reawakening of their earlier feelings of attraction, desire... and love.

Sterling Harrington, Earl of Wyldewood, is a good man and a charming, likeable guy, even if at times he acts the stiff, stodgy and boring Earl too well. We know Olivia really still loves him but his failure to act--and at least try to fight for the woman he supposedly loved--made him seem a little less than heroic at first. In my mind, Sterling needed some redeeming to make Olivia (and ME) happy. He needed to prove that he truly loved Olivia and would never fail her so thoughtlessly and unforgivably again. And he needed to grovel very humbly and very prettily too because I wanted it ALL. I felt that as the story unfolded, the author succeeded in showing readers all of Sterling's many favorable qualities vs. his flaws, while at the same time allowing us to clearly see the good ones far outweighed the bad. By the end Sterling was redeemed and transformed into a steadfast, committed and supportive mate--and eminently desirable hero.

I thought Olivia Rathbourne was a superb heroine. She was good and kind and loving, and yet, a very strong, determined woman and a real survivor; she was genuinely easy to love and empathize with. I understood her desire for independence. All the men in her life had failed her so it was understandable that she didn't want to depend on a man again. With Rathbourne's death she thinks she'll now have the opportunity to live her own life but when the stipulations of the will are read, she's forced to realize Rathbourne was determined to have his Machiavellian influence on her life extend from the grave. But he underestimated his wife because Olivia's going to fight to gain control of everything she's due: her money and comfortable lifestyle, her choice of friends, and once and for all, the freedom to choose her own course for the rest of her life.

Desires of a Perfect Lady is a tender and poignant story, yet one that's very emotionally uplifting and hopeful. Sterling and Olivia were able to work through past misunderstandings and heal their wounded hearts. By the end of the book I was sure they were meant to be together. And I was overjoyed that these two gentle lovers were finally ~blissfully~ reunited in mind, and body, and soul.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What a terrific book.

No, it doesn't have the danger of 'The Virgin's Secret' but it has adventure - lot's of adventure! And, of course, with any Victoria Alexander book, it's funny. The characters are always sarcastic, zany, and witty - for me that really is what makes the book. Well, first there has to be a plot... but she handles those as well.

READ IT! It's a terrific book.

Disappointing

The end was really disappointing. You have this heroine who fights for her freedom and at the very end the hero blackmails her. There was an ending that was earned but that's not what was written.

A quest for treasure leads to a quest for love!

Olivia was forced to jilt Sterling Harrington & marry the odioius Lord Rathbourne. Now she's a widow trying to fulfill the conditions of her late husband's will in order to gain her inheritance and her freedon. But the quest for treaure also leads to a quest of forgiveness and love.

Deja Vu

I have to say that i'm only about half way through the book but about 3-4 chapters into it i felt like i had read it already. So i've been looking back to find what book it is because it's practically the exact same as one of her other ones. Once I find it i'll come back and write down another review. This is quite dissapointing as i still have to finish the book since i started it but i've lost all the enjoyment out of it as i know everything now.

superb Victorian romantic suspense thriller

In 1885 Lord Newbury orders Earl Sterling Harrington to protect his daughter Olivia. He fears the person who murdered her spouse Rathbourne will kill Olivia next.

Sterling loathes Olivia whom he was betrothed to when she married Rathbourne a decade ago. She sent him letters of explanation that he refused to open and used his hatred of her to remain ignorant of her being prisoner in an abusive marriage that her father fostered on her. Olivia learns her late husband's will contain three stipulations she must meet within a year of his death or she gains nothing. She pleads with Sterling to help her and though he is filled with rage, he cannot deny his beloved Livy anything.

This is a superb Victorian romantic suspense thriller that hooks the audience with the opening pointing of Newbury's cane in the chest of the Earl and never slows down as the action and second chance at love blend nicely into a strong historical. The lead couple is a wonderful pairing as both remain hurt with what happened and more important did not happen ten years ago. With several twists and adventures, Desires of a Perfect Lady is a fabulous tale that sub-genre fans will fully appreciate.

Harriet Klausner

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