Two Weeks with a Stranger [Hardcover]

Debra Mullins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2007

Wedded and bedded, Lucy is devastated when she's abandoned by her new husband the very next day. Though it was a marriage of convenience, their heated wedding night gave her hope that it would turn into something more. But she refuses to be the demure bride left behind on a country estate while the stranger she married goes gallivanting about London-even if she has to create a scandal of her own. Simon, the Earl of Devingham, would prefer his exquisite young bride remain at home where he left her. Instead, she follows him to London . . . seducing him with her fiery kisses, enchanting him with her scorching touches, and awakening in him an insatiable hunger. His duty to the Crown demands that he remain in town, but Lucy has entered a most perilous game-and she will not forfeit without Simon's total surrender. About the Author Debra Mullins is the author of several historical romances for Avon. Her work has been nominated for the Golden Heart and RITA awards from Romance Writers of America and the Holt Medallion from Virginia Romance Writers. In 2003, she won the Golden Leaf Award from NJ Romance Writers for her book A Necessary Bride. A native of the east coast, she now lives in California.

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Avon books; 1ST edition (2007)
• ISBN-10: 0739478974
• ISBN-13: 978-0739478974
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,448,713 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Debra Mullins is the award-winning author of over a dozen historical romances from pirates to cowboys to Regency England to the Victorian period. Born and raised in the New York area, she moved west as an adult and loves old swashbuckler movies, Star Trek and cats.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars strong premise, weak delivery, April 12, 2007

By 

S. Lin "SL" (Wellesley, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Weeks With a Stranger (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not going to summarize the novel since many other reviewers have already done so. I also haven't reviewed on Amazon for a while, but I had to come give this book a review since I bought it based on all the great reviews...and was very disappointed.

*Might contain spoilers*

I felt that the heroine is highly inconsiderate of the hero and the requirements of his job. In my opinion, it would be very dangerous to tell your new wife that you're an English spy as they still knew next to nothing about each other. No one can predict how the marriage would turn out, so why risk telling Lucy that? I think it's a practical and logical decision on Simon's part. However, ever since she discovers the true reasons behind his flirtations with another woman, Lucy declares that she can no longer trust Simon since he did not share every single detail of himself with her. I hardly think anyone in his position would.

And although he explained everything, gave her his private journal to read, and professed his love, she is still unable to get past the fact that he lied...in order to protect himself, her, and England mind you! I think that's not only childish but also irrational behavior on her part.

In addition, when she still thought he was courting another woman (not only did he leave Lucy to follow the other lady out into the garden, he employed his friend to distract Lucy), the best idea to pop into her head was to seduce her husband back...

All the while though, Lucy claims that the marriage cannot survive on only sexual passion, yet she cannot be strong enough to refuse him her bed. If she is always willing, then why would Simon be the one to refuse? However, she continually makes him feel guilty about sharing sexual relations with her.

Finally, some of the heroine's actions in general are idiotic. During the climax at the end, Lucy "bravely" runs into a room where an enemy is pointing a gun at her husband so she can reveal the enemy's secret identity to him. Simon is clearly already in a dire situation and him knowing would not have changed anything. Secondly, it is kind of ridiculous to simply run into a room unarmed. Granted, it gave Simon the opportunity to make a move while the enemy's attention was diverted. However, the enemy could've easily killed Lucy...and frankly, part of me wished that was what happened.

I adored Simon and that is the only reason this book was given more than 1 star. Lucy is selfish, inconsiderate, and a hypocrite. Overall, I enjoyed the secondary romance MUCH MORE than that between the main characters. Fox and Gin's interactions are a lot more electric and attention-grabbing; I wish they were the main characters instead

Note: As reference, I love novels by Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Laura Lee Guhrke, and Sabrina Jeffries among others.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Started off strong, but fizzled at the end, April 6, 2007

By 

K. Hinton "avid reader" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Two Weeks With a Stranger (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

The new Countess of Devingham is looking forward to life with her husband. Lucy is the daughter of a squire and when the Earl of Devingham asks her to marry him, she agrees. She knows Simon as a bookish man who grows roses. She assumes that they will be happy together in the country and that perhaps she will fall in love with him. She does not expect that after their wedding night, and the passion it contained, she would wake up to find that her husband had left for London, leaving her behind at their country estate.

Simon Severton, Earl of Devingham, is in need of a wife. He wants a simple, country miss who will remain at his country estate to raise his children and tend to his home. He picks Lucy because she is a simple country girl who will not want to engage in the gossip and balls of the ton, but will be content with life in the country. Meanwhile, he will continue to reside in London and carry on his work as a spy for the British government. What he does not expect, is that Lucy will not be content in the country and will instead follow him to London in an attempt to save their marriage.

Two Weeks With a Stranger started off strong. There was no long wait for the hero and heroine to get together, because when the book began they were already married and our first glimpse of them was on their wedding night. Lucy seemed a sweet enough heroine, if a bit innocent for my tastes, and she honestly believed that her marriage would be a happy one and that she and Simon would one day grow to love each other. Her surprise when he ran off and left her the next day was understandable. When she traveled to London win him back, I was all for it. Good for her for sticking up for herself. But shortly thereafter, I stopped caring. Simon was not a hero I could root for and fall in love with. He treated Lucy like a stubborn child, ordering her back to the country and refusing to give their marriage a chance. Throughout the book, his condescending tone and arrogant attitude made him difficult to like. As much as I liked Lucy, and enjoyed the beginning of the book, the fact that Simon's character never seemed to grow was a big drawback for me.

Similarly, the subplot with Simon's role as a spy and how his secrets affect their marriage was never fully developed. I understood Simon's sense of duty, and I sympathized with Lucy's sense of betrayal, but I never felt enough of a connection to the characters to care much beyond that. I've read so many other great romances lately, I'm not able to recommend this so-so one. Instead, I'd recommend you check out And Then He Kissed Her by Laura Lee Guhrke or The Raven Prince by Elizabeth Hoyt.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Two Weeks With a Stranger, February 16, 2007

By 

M. Nix - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Two Weeks With a Stranger (Avon Romantic Treasure) (Mass Market Paperback)

Earl Simon Devingham can't believe his luck. Just married to Lucy, he finds himself enjoying his marriage bed immensely. Though he married Lucy for pragmatic reasons, Simon is pleasantly surprised to find her just as captivated with consummating their marriage as he is. He can't wait to teach her everything he knows. That is, until his supervisor sends an urgent message and Simon must leave his newly wedded wife immediately without any explanation.

Lucy Heathpot, the new Countess of Devingham can't believe her luck. While she is fully aware that Simon proposed for reasons other than love, Lucy knows that the wonderful wedding night she just experienced couldn't have been faked. Waking up deliciously sore, Lucy goes in search of her new husband only to find that he has left her for London; without telling her why.

Simon knows duty before pleasure but is having a difficult time with his latest assignment because he can't stop thinking about his wife. When Lucy shows up on his doorstep intending to stay, he does his best to keep her at arm's length. When she suspects his infidelity, he is unable to explain just how wrong she is because to explain would mean surrendering his mission for the Crown and that is something Simon refuses to do.

Two Weeks with a Stranger was a delightful book to read. Full of intrigue and sensual situations, I found both characters extremely stubborn but much suited to each other. Then, I have to admit that Ms. Mullins stumped me with the antagonist in the book and I love when an author does that. Two Weeks with a Stranger would be a great additiolibraryn to anyone's library.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed