Customer Reviews

The Earl of Her Dreams (Spies and Secrets)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An over crowded Inn forces two people hiding their real identities to share a room for the night. Kate Simon is disguised as a boy, running from her brother and a forced wedding. Christian is an Earl on his own mission for a friend and posing as the average Joe.

He recognizes Kate to be a woman in disguise immediately and being someone who likes puzzles makes up his mind to solve this one and find just exactly what she is about. When a snow storm and a murder forces them together a little longer than originally anticipated, the sparks fly.

I really liked this story. I liked both Kate and Christian immediately and they eased into a relationship beautifully. There chemistry was instant and fun, natural and believable. Kate has some issues both physically and mentally that has left her a little insecure and frightened. Christian deals with her in a caring way, but lets her keep her secrets for awhile until he feels she is ready to tell. He never forces her into confiding anything.

Christian also has some personal issues, but doesn't let them get in the way of what he feels for Kate. The two of them work together to solve the murder and the reader is gifted with plenty of laughs and no shortage of sex along the way. The murder mystery is solid, the romance beautiful. This was a well rounded tale with wonderful characters and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. Anne Mallory is an author I will seek out again, Enjoy!

But don't get me wrong, I actually enjoyed the mystery. This is the first Anne Mallory book I've ever read and I'm wondering if she's ever, or has ever considered, just writing a straight up mystery novel. Strangely, I felt that Christian and Kate had more chemistry between them when they were working together on the case than when they were, er, working on each other. The secondary characters were all interesting in their own ways. The book moved at a good pace and kept my interest until the end. I would recommend this book more for mystery fans than romance readers.

*** Back cover synopsis ***
They could hide their painful pasts and true identities...
Facing the choice of flight or a wedding she cannot abide, Kate Simon has chosen to flee. Disguised as a boy, she takes refuge in a roadside inn, and finds herself rooming with intensely secretive Christian Black. Kate is breathless in the presence of this handsome, mysterious rogue whose piercing gaze seems to strip her naked. But neither suspects that a savage storm and a murder will draw them closer together still.
But not the passion in their hearts
Christian dares not let anyone learn of his haunted past--or that he is, in truth, the Earl of Canley--especially not a slip of a girl whose masculine attire cannot disguise the exquisite female form beneath. But now that destiny and a dastardly crime have united them, Christian can no longer contain his desire to taste the nectar of Kate's sweet kiss. Danger certainly abounds, but the gravest peril might be resisting a once-in-a-lifetime passion that can heal all wounds.

*** Personal opinion ***
It's an okay book to me. Although the idea of having Kate Simon disguise as a boy and shacking up at inn room with a rogue is in enticing plot, however, the book lacks some good chemistry between the two main characters. The "investigation" that happened at the inn was worth following and I must say Christian's character does portray some good traits of a mischievous rogue, however, I see lots of space for more development to Christian's character to become a more enticing and loveable rogue. Only if the author would put in a little more effort in developing her characters' personality with more details instead of simply wording like: "a sly grin" "his best charming smile" etc. etc., this book would've been more enjoyable.

As a relatively newer author, Anne Mallory is making her mark in taking a well used plot and putting her own spin to it by making it a delightfully original, suspense filled and delicious romance.

Kate Simon is running from a despicable half brother who intends to marry her off to an equally despicable cohort with the intention of splitting with him the modest dowry her deceased father had left her. She is disguised as a young man, posing as a tailor and taking a room at the Dragon's Tale Inn at a reduced rate by helping out with the inn's mending. Because she is somewhat of an employee, the inn keeper convinces her to share his/her room with another gentleman for one night, only the gentleman is no `gentleman'.

Christian Black, the Earl of Canley is traveling incognito on an errand to save his best and only friend Anthony from ruin by retrieving a lost journal. He is more than willing to share a room, especially when he sees right through Kate's disguise to the very lovely and delectable bit of muslin he plans to seduce. His plans go awry when they are both trapped by a blizzard and thrust into a murder investigation. Taking advantage of the situation, Christian poses as a Bow Street runner in order to search the inn for the missing journal, discover the guilty party, and learn all of his lovely roommate's secrets.

*** This was a delightfully robust romance that comes complete with a plethora of interesting and colorful characters, a bounty of likely suspects, and two sensitive and wounded protagonists just made for one another. The chemistry sizzles between Kate and Christian right from the start though neither are ready to admit to the attraction, especially as Christian has spent years building a wall around his heart as protection from the mental anguish received from a frigid and contemptuously abusive father.

In very telling examples, Mallory did an exceptional job of showing how wretched Christian's father was simply by a line or two in the beginning of several chapters. By the time you finally get to meet his father the reader knows exactly how controlling and miserable the man would be. In an equal fashion you will be able to gauge the depth of love Kate had received from her father -- a complete loving polar opposite to Christians'.

The mystery of the murder as they unraveled clues and each others secrets completed the story making for a very entertaining and a very sensual read. The subtlety the author inserted in allowing Kate to slip through the defensive wall of bravado Christian had erected to ward off any chances of becoming vulnerable to hurt was superb! I suspect and hope now the Canley Investigation Detective agency has put out their shingle for business that perhaps the readers will be able revisit them in future books! Brava Ms. Mallory - very cleverly done!

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization for
[...]

I had a lot of fun reading this book. There were a few things that I would have liked to have more depth, but overall it was a lot of fun. I really think this book could have done with more pages. I wanted more focus on the relationship, but I would have hated to lose any of the details about the investigation.

Has anyone played clue? I, personally, love Clue. (I also loved the movie version they made of it.) I think the premise is fun. A group of strangers are all staying in a house (or an inn) when there's a murder. Suddenly everyone is a suspect! You learn complicated little plots and side dramas while you hunt for the answer to the larger question of who the murderer is. I just find it a blast. So, this book was already a winner for me in that regard.

Christian got involved in the investigation while they were snowed in and dragged Kate in too. They ended up being the sole investigation team so a lot of time was spent running around discovering clues. It really made the book seem like a romp. There was funny dialogue and an assorted mix of characters to add to the fun. The murder plot wasn't very complicated, but I still had fun watching it unfold.

I really love the way that Anne Mallory writes her characters. They just seem like such likable people. Christian was a fun character with hidden depths. He had some issues caused by his childhood but he never really sat around and moped. When he was an ass he would admit to it and apologize. Unless he was intentionally trying to irritate Kate, of course. I really liked him and thought he had a great sense of humor.

Kate was a very levelheaded, cautious person. There was no useless hysterics or drama from her. She was suspicious of Christian and was the straight man to his funny man role. She was the polar opposite of Christian in terms of fathers, but they complimented each other.

My favorite part of the relationship was the sense of camaraderie and friendship they had. It got to the point where it felt like they knew each much longer than they actually had. When I actively recalled the time frame it was a surprise to realize everything had happened that quickly.

That's actually where my issue with the book comes into play. I think I would have been more satisfied with the relationship if it had stretched out longer and if there had been more of a passionate feel to it. I have no doubts that they cared about each other and that they were great friends, but the actual passion felt a bit missing.

It was a small gripe overall. I had too much fun with the book for it to have bothered me too much.

One other thing that I forgot to mention that I really enjoyed were the quotes at the beginning of each chapter. It alternated from Christian's father to Kate's father. It really helped me get a good picture of their childhood without having to be told.

I wanted to love this book, because the love scenes were great. But other than that, the story was so concentrated on the mystery. It's like, when they weren't talking about each other or the passion between them or anything, there was nothing but conversation about the mystery thing. I only felt the sensuality when they were kissing or touching each other or something.

This was the first book by Anne Mallory I read, but I want to read others by her because I think maybe this one was just written too quickly or something. Her other stories are probably more passionate. Every author has a dud book.

The Earl of Her Dreams by Anne Mallory is a mystery with twist of romance. Kate is pretending to be man and finds herself sharing a room at the local inn with another man (Christian aka Earl of Canley). Christian was sent to the inn to steal back a journel so is dresses in his servants clothes but he finds himself mixed up in solving a murder with Kate... Check out all Anne Mallory's books Masquerading the Marquess, Daring the Duke , The Viscount's Wicked Ways and coming in August 2007 What Isablla Wants.

After an afternoon tryst, Christian Black stops at night at the Dragon's Tale Inn only to be told by the proprietor that all the rooms are taken. Not wanting to go on, he persuades the owner to allow him to share a room occupied by an orphaned tailor's apprentice Mr. Kaden on his way to London to find work. However, Christian, who enjoys solving puzzles, realizes his night's roommate is female.

Kate Simon fled the odious machinations of her brother Teddy, who wants her fortune and is willing to do anything to gain control of it including a forced disgusting marriage. Christian immediately asks "Miss Kaden" her real name. Besides hiding from her sibling until she can reach her solicitor, she finds she must hide her desire for her new roommate. Unable to resist assisting the damsel in distress, Christian fails to inform her he is an earl. As they fall in love, a storm strands them and others at the inn with one of the guests being a killer.

THE EARL OF HER DREAMS is a wonderful brisk Regency romantic suspense thriller with a delightful investigative subplot into the homicide. The story line is fast-paced and filled with action from the moment that Christian challenges Mr. Kaden's masculinity and never slows down until Teddy is put in his place. Fans will appreciate this fine historical as the sleuthing augments a fine romance so much so that readers will demand more cases by the newly formed Canley Investigations; perhaps with a secondary player Anthony as the lead sleuth.

Harriet Klausner

Anne Mallory keeps getting better and better. I loved this book. It was the perfect mystery romance.

From page one the characters in this charming book reached out and grabbed me. Page after page I just got sucked in deeper until I closed the book with a happy sigh. This book is both a great romance and mystery in one. Both characters felt "real" and made me believe they were in love with one another deeply. This book had everything you need to create a good romance: a dashing hero, a beautiful heroine and, most of all...PASSION! This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and not too heavy action-mystery twists. Plenty of heart warming moments. The reader will feel the despair, the heartbreak, passion and the joy of Christian and Kate in this very excellent character driven romance. I found the characters to be multi-dimensional and the author weaves a mystery into the story without slowing it down or interrupting the romantic flow. It also kept you wondering who the killer was. The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. Full of enjoyable supporting characters and stories. I love this book. The relationship between the leads is endearing. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable and exciting characters. This was a very entertaining book. This book was a pleasure to read and I couldn't put it down until it was finished.

Wonderful love story, great characters with an emotionally scarred hero and strong but vulnerable heroine, unique setting, intriguing plot, heart-tugging emotion, excellent writing, intense sensual love scenes, and a superb ending.

I can't wait for the next book from Anne Mallory.

The plotline was weak, and I found the relationship between Christian and Kate (repeated physical intimacy out of marriage, without a care that Kate would get pregnant), to be very unrealistic. Also I just found it disturbing that Christian in one of the scenes, seduces Kate inside the room where the murder had taken place. And both Christian and Kate did not have a strong enough motive to investigate the crime the way they did in the story. This story had so much potential, it could have been really good, but it's not.