A Dead Man's Debt [Kindle Edition]

Grace Elliot (Author)

Book Description

A Dead Man's Debt - a story of blackmail, duty and an unexpected love.

After publically humiliating a suitor, Miss Celeste Armitage is sent from the Ton in disgrace and resolves never to marry. But when she finds a sketch book of nude studies and discovers the artist is her hostess's eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing, she finds herself dangerously attracted to exactly the sort of rogue she is sworn to avoid.
Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf's life is a facade and he is being blackmailed over his late brother's debts. But just as the darkly restless Ranulf unexpectedly learns to love, the vengeful fury of his nemesis unleashed. In order to protect Celeste, Lord Ranulf faces a stark choice between duty and true love...
However Ranulf has underestimated Miss Armitage's stubborn resolve to clear his name, and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger....

Product Details

• File Size: 557 KB
• Print Length: 340 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1463742134
• Publisher: Solstice Publishing (October 10, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0046REKBS
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #344,159 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A breathtaking epic historical romance! April 16, 2011

By Great Historicals

Format:Kindle Edition

What a wonderful surprise this book turned out to be. I stumbled upon it quite by accident and it turned out to be one of my favourite historical romance reads this year. It stands apart from other novels of the genre for several reasons. First, the book is a little longer in length than most and this gave the author time to write with greater detail, bringing her characters truly alive. Secondly, it allowed plenty of time to write in more twists and turns and enhanced scenes. The result - a novel with tension that kept building and building, gaining momentum with every page turn. Thirdly, the story is just plain good!

Right from the start, each character is immersed in some kind of conflict. The hero, Ranulf, is faced with clearing his dead brother's debts and trying to make his way as an artist despite his family's disapproval. Heroine, Celeste, is striving to recover from a tarnished reputation after humiliating a suitor. And an evil villain and villainess are out to take what is not theirs and destroy the love blossoming between Ranulf and Celest. As you read along, just when you think the Ranulf and Celeste have suffered to the maximum extent, enter another twist that makes matters worse for them. The novel truly did keep me hook, providing me with one surprise after another - all unexpected.

This story has it all - love, betrayal, blackmail, illicit love, scandal, secrets, danger, and savagery. And the list continues. Couple all this with the author's artful writing, and you have a novel that is sure to delight. I'm not surprised it is getting raving reviews already. The characters are so real, so believable, I'm still thinking of them hours after the story ended.

The talented Grace Elliot is definitely a historical romance writer to watch in the future. I'm hooked and I'm already breathlessly awaiting her next novel. I hope she hurries!

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely and Charming Historical Romance! January 23, 2011

By L. J. Engelke

Format:Kindle Edition

A Dead Man's Debt is historical romance at its best. With this novel, you will find a poignant story about an untrusting woman, a notorious rake and the love that brings them both to their knees. This is a novel that should not be missed!

Poor Miss Celeste Armitage. After refusing the advances of a suitor who utterly disgusts her, she is sent away by her family to Hazeldene House to remain the companion of Lady Sophia Cadnum. Celeste is content as long as it means she will never marry. She has no desire to attach herself to any man and become his property. She dreams of a life spent traveling the world, seeing great art and freedom that would be denied her in any marriage. Celeste's determination remains true until she meets Lady Candum's son Lord Ranulf Charing.

Ranulf is known across London as a scandalous seducer of women. None had ever tempted him to anything more than a night of passion. That was true until he met Miss Armitage. Her brutal honesty and forwardness is an addictive serum Ranulf cannot escape from. After some time in Celeste's company and a few stolen kisses, he realizes his attraction is more than mere lust. She is his equal, his better half and a life without her as his wife is a life with nothing but grief and despair.

Unfortunately, there are obstacles in their path to happiness. Ranulf must convince Celeste that he is a man worth trusting...a man she would forever be glad to marry since she is so set against matrimony. Also, there is the woman from Ranulf's past, one who is obsessed with him and will do anything to have him.

Here is the simple truth about A Dead Man's Debt: It is wonderful! This novel presents a thoroughly enjoyable story with all the right elements. You have a forward-thinking, intelligent heroine who is ultimately sensible about all the decisions in her life. Celeste is level-headed, ultimately speaks her mind and is anything but fragile. While Ranulf is a lost soul who lived his life in his brother's shadow, even after his brother passed away. Still, as an artist, he sees the world in a different and beautiful way. He is compassionate and gentle, yet a skeptic when it comes to love and romance. He is an interesting contradiction and reading about his transformation after meeting Celeste is what makes him the irresistible hero.

Any novel that includes two characters perfectly matched for each other is a delightful read, but the novel also includes a evil villain that will make your skin crawl. This enemy is truly rotten to the core and you will cringe in despair for the hero and heroine, but appreciate the drama it adds to the story. It tests the bonds and strength of this developing love while making the romance more heart wrenching and fragile should this foe win.

Ultimately, the characters are delightful. You will not find two individuals who are more honest and truthful with one another. They both share a love of art, which brings them close together and exposes their feelings to one another. It is a refreshing change of pace from some historical romances where the silence of romantic feelings is upheld until the end. A Dead Man's Debt is also passionate. It is not blatantly sexy but a wonderful buildup of passion and sexual tension that true romance fans will love. Their attraction is about speaking volumes with a heated glance, or a simple brush of the hand. It is earth shattering, undeniable and will steal your breath away.

Ms Elliot is a wonderful talent, indeed. Not only is her debut story well written, but she magically weaves a creative and intelligent story that will entertain you from the first page until the last. She is a skilled storyteller that fills her novels with page-turning drama and breathtaking sensuality. Grace Elliot is an author to remember where you will anticipate any and all future novels.

If you have any appreciation for historical romance, you will not only enjoy this novel immensely, but will want to make a space for it on your keeper shelf! A Dead Man's Debt will charm you, surprise you, entertain you...and by the end, will warm your heart with the overall beauty of this story.

Overall Rating: 5/5
Heat Level: 3/5

Lisa @ Once Upon A Chapter

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars A dead man's debt October 5, 2012

By Bertie McNeil

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I started this story I thought it looked to be the type of book I enjoy. Lord Randulf was a misunderstood son, his mother preferred his younger brother Edmond, Edmond died leaving Randuf yo clean up his mess. Randuf meets Celeste,who is banished from London to be companion to Rudulf's mother, I like Ranulf but Celeste,is silly and stupid,the author goes on and on with both the hero and heroine both being foolish. terrible story I thought it would never end! I have never read a book like it before and I hope I never do again.needless to say I did not enjoy the story.

More About the Author

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. She is addicted to cats and is housekeeping staff for five adorable moggies; Wallace, Gromit, Pilchard, Widget (pictured) and her daughter Noni.
Grace started writing as an escape from an emotionally demanding job and believes all intelligent people need romance in their lives - as an antidote to the modern world.
You can find out more about Grace at her blog.
http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com
www.wix.com/graceelliot/grace-elliot

NEW release!
"HOPE'S BETRAYAL."
One wild, winter's night two worlds collide.
Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a smuggler, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.
With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat - his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-martialed, is not an easy destiny to follow.




"EULOGY'S SECRET"
In the four weeks since her guardians' death, Eulogy Foster has lost everything.
Penniless and alone she seeks the help of her estranged brother, Lord Lucien Devlin. But Devlin turns Eulogy onto the streets, where she is attacked and thrown onto the mercy of a passing stranger, Jack Huntley, who becomes her unlikely ally. As Eulogy seeks the truth behind her birth, she is drawn into the world of art and artists, where her morals are challenged and nothing is as it seems.

Jack Huntley: bitter, cynical and betrayed in love. He believes women are devious, scheming, untrustworthy creatures - and when he rescues a naïve Miss from being raped, his life is about to change forever. There is something about Miss Foster that haunts him and challenges his emotions. But despite their growing attraction, Eulogy will not share her secret, which means he cannot trust her. Caught in a deadlock, both denying their true feelings, events take a sinister turn as someone wants to silence Eulogy....forever.


"A DEAD MAN'S DEBT".
Celeste Armitage has a plan...and that plan doesn't include marriage.
After deliberately humiliating a suitor, Celeste's despairing parents exile her to the country. But once there she discovers a sketch book of daring nude studies and is shaken to find the artist is her hostess's eldest son, Lord Ranulf Charing. This darkly cynical lord is exactly the sort of dissipated rogue she despises most...if only her blood didn't heat at the thought of him...
Nothing is as it seems. Lord Ranulf's life is a façade. Only he can save the Charing's from disgrace as a blackmailer seeks to ruin his late brother's reputation. But just as Ranulf dares to open his heart to Celeste, the fury of his nemesis is unleashed... facing him with the stark choice between true love and family duty. However when Celeste guesses the truth behind his rejection, Ranulf underestimates her resolve to clear his name and in so doing places the woman he loves in mortal danger....