A Dangerous Love

Loved the book and the characters. Read it twice.

I LOVED IT! Having been newly introduced to romance novels about a year ago, I started out with a unstoppable hunger to read every romance book I saw. It was a big mistake. Lisa Kleypas is my favorite romance writer, and since reading all 19 of her books, I have been searching for another that was similar. This book is the only romance novel since last year that has truly compared to any of Lisa Kleypas' novels. I Loved it.

In a life of confusion, denial and shame Vscount Emilian St. Xavier if out for one thing revenge - against the "gadjo's" when he learns that his beloved mother was stoned to death. Taken from his mother and way of life at the age of twelve, to live with his father, he was enjoying the lifestyle he has come to appreciate and value. When a gypsy camp arrives to impart the news of his mother's death, he is filled with regret, remorse and a deep need for revenge. Willing to throw his title away and travel with the caravan provides him the perfect plan and Ariella de Warenne, a young independent, smart and intelligent woman provides the opportunity. But when a night of reckless and wild lovemaking causes nothing but pain and devastation, Emilian is forced to examine his motives and true desires. They say that when a de Warenne falls in love it's for keeps and Ariella de Warenne is proving just that. When a gypsy camp settles on her land Rose Hill she has a natural curiosity about this lifestyle, customs and people. Sneaking out of the house she ventures to the camp and spies a very erotic dance and suddenly locks eyes with who she thinks is their leader Emilian. Taken aback with the intense and very passionate emotions she is experiencing; Ariella seeks him out at Woodland on a dare. She thinks this is the start of something beautiful, she believes he is wildly in love with her since she concluded she was with him. But the next morning she wakes up glorious and quickly sees that the passionate and kind man she surrendered her virginity to was telling the truth after all...he would seduce, ruin and forget about her all in one night - tearing her heart and world in two. Humiliated she confides in her cousin Margery, and tries to forget about Emilian but he is not willing to let her. Casting these two into a very turbulent and fiery relationship as neither is ready to let the other go. A Dangerous Love is an intense and wild read. It starts off with a bang and does not let up. While I was thrown for a chapter or two at the sudden and complete change in Ariella, I could understand it. She was a smart and sensible woman unprepared for fate to throw a deeply scarred and very angry man her way. Brenda Joyce has a unique way of exposing her characters flaws and bad traits in her novels. But she also takes the care to show the regret and remorse, as guilt took a hold of Emilian while he worked through his grief and life of bigotry and shame. She is also an author that follows her muse and allows bad things to happen to good people, which may upset sensitive readers who do not like any type of abuse or misfortune to befall the main characters. I enjoyed A Dangerous Love it was a exciting, passionate and emotionally charged novel, I enjoyed the characters and chemistry between them and look forward to reading more about this new generation as Brenda Joyce moves her de Warenne Dynasty in the Victorian Era. There were some questions about some c

In my opinion, this is one of Brenda Joyce's best...I have read almost all of her books including all of the de Warenne Dynasty, and I was not dissapointed with this story at all....can't wait for the next de Warenne Dynasty story.

Lately Brenda Joyce novels are a hit or miss with me. Well, this time she hit a homer. I really liked this novel. Her hero, Viscount Emilian St. Xavier, is not your typical romance hero. He is half English and half Gypsy. He was legitimized only after his father's legitimate son and wife died when he was twelve. His mother handed him over to his father because she knew Emilian would have a better life. Emilian has lived with incredible prejudice his entire life. He is scorned by his neighbors privately and sometimes publicly. He has no desire to marry and his past trysts with noblewomen have been unfulfilling since they would never want to marry a Gypsy but it is fine to bed one. Ariella De Warenne, the heroine of this delightful novel, is also unique. Her mother was a Jewess and her father Captain De Warenne is a forward thinker. Ariella is open minded, kind hearted and passionate about justice. She would be the perfect friend. When these two meet it is during a confrontation with her father and the rest of Emilian's gypsy band. Arialla has no idea he is a nobleman. He appears to be the leader of the gypsy band and there is instant attraction between them. It is palpable and Ms. Joyce never turns the heat down a notch. Emilian is incredibly angry. The English have caused his life to be one of misery and loneliness. Recently his mother was stoned to death by villagers and his sister was nearly raped by locals. He is incensed and so full of hurt that he lashes out at all things English, including Ariella. He plans to seduce and ruin her. Ms. Joyce does an excellent job of fleshing out Emilian's character. He is not one dimensional. He has a real attraction for Areilla and his very British upbringing is at war with his Romany childhood. Most of his family still travels with the gypsy wagon and he hopes to find peace with them, even leaving his estates to do so. His feelings for Ariella are complex. He knows she is good and kind and too far above him even though he is a peer himself. Ariella knows she can help him heal but he pushes her away again and again. She sees his hurt and has the unshakable faith that love can conquer his bitterness and hurt. Though some would see Ariella as weak because she continues to love Emilian after his rejection, I saw her as strong in her conviction and it went right along with her character to stand up for the underdog whether supporting union and child labor reform or healing a deeply hurting gypsy noble. These two have a rocky romance but an incredibly passionate one. Areilla is strong in her convictions and Emilian is determined to resist her friendship. When he does finally recognize her incredible spirit, it's absolutely satisfying and his transformation from embittered gypsy to loving friend and confidant is complete.