Guilty Pleasures

Prim and plain, Daphne Wade has spent her life traveling with her father around the world, assisting him in the work he was renowned for, restoring ancient antiquities. After her father's death, she was able to secure a position in England with Anthony Courtland, Duke of Tremore, restoring the priceless Roman mosaics and antiquities excavated from a site on his estate. Anthony is quite passionate about the artifacts they are recovering, and works daily at the site himself. The heat often forces him to remove his shirt during his labor. Daphne finds she can't help but spy on him during these times, because he looks like a Greek statue come to life. It's her one guilty pleasure.She's secretly in love with him, and he doesn't know she's alive beyond her consummate skill at restoration. In his presence, she becomes shy and tongue-tied. Anthony's sister, Viola, comes to visit and befriends Daphne. It doesn't take long for her to realize Daphne's in love with her brother, and she decides to do a little matchmaking. Viola discusses with Anthony her plan to sponsor Daphne for a London season, so she can make social contacts, and meet eligible young men. Anthony claims it's a lost cause, because Daphne has no feminine appeal. Little does he know, she's on the other side of the door during this conversation, and hears his comments. Daphne's pain and anger causes her to emerge from her shell, and Anthony is shocked by the woman he's now beginning to take notice of. He doesn't want to lose her skills for his project, but he comes to realize in trying to keep her employed with him, his thoughts of her go way beyond what he hired her for. In the end, he'll openly pursue, and do anything to convince her to stay with him in an entirely different capacity. When I found this book, I was unfamiliar with this author, but the premise sounded interesting, and one of my favorite authors had a recommendation on the cover. I was definitely not disappointed! This was such a beautiful, romantic, and touching love story that I stayed up way too late reading it. I just couldn't put it down. The archeological angle was a unique plot element, and the fact the whole story was about the two main characters works well here. No other storyline or intrigue was needed. Even though it was basically an ugly duckling transforming into a beautiful swan type of story, it was unique because the change was mostly in the eyes of the beholder. He fell in love with her because he began looking at her differently, not because she made outward physical changes. Needless to say, I definitely recommend this book, and will be looking for this author's backlist titles. I'm also hoping Ms. Guhrke will write the story of Dylan Moore, Anthony's outrageous rogue of a friend introduced here. I would love to know more about him!

Daphne Wade has been left virtually destitute after her father's untimely death. Luckily, the knowledge she gained by living and working alongside her father, who was a famous and respected antiquarian,has gained her a position working to unearth a Roman villa at the Duke of Tremore's estate. Daphne is immediately dazzled by the Duke's good looks and falls in love with him agaisnt her better judgment. Daphne knows nothing could come out of her hopeless fixation with Anthony but heartbreak but how can she resist him especially when he insists on taking off his shirt and exposing his gorgeous chest. To make matters worse, she is either struck mute or starts stammering wildly whenever he comes near her. The inevitable eventually happens when she overhears the Duke conversing with his sister and comparing her to, among other things, a machine and a stick insect. Daphne is devastated but her spirit is unbroken. She finally regains her senses and hardens her heart agaisnt Anthony and vows to leave her post and start life anew with the help of Anthony's sister Viola, who can see the strong, vivrant woman beneath Daphne's plain exterior. On the other hand, Anthony is flabbergasted when Daphne presents her resignation. He cannot afford to lose her valuable skills when he is so close to realizing his dream of opening a museum displaying his impressive collection of Roman artifacts. Furthermore,Anthony is unused to hearing the word no and refuses to accept the fact that for once in his life he is not getting his way. He begins a concerted campaign to keep Daphne from leaving him. Anthony brings out the heavy artillery and begins to charm and disarm Daphne. The only problem is that Anthony didn't count on his previously mousy ol' stammering employee turning into a strong, smart, sassy woman who is determined it seems, to be rid of him. Slowly but surely Anthony finds himself captivated by this new woman with her flashing eyes and the body of a goddess and begins to see her in a new light. Before long he starts to wonder how he could have ever thought her plain. For her part, Daphne thought she had steeled her heart against Anthony's charm and even though she knows that his sudden interest in her is purely for his own selfish reasons she cannot help but be captivated by him and by her discovery that beneath the haughty aristocratic demeanor lies a warm loving, man who is deeply afraid of falling in love.I absolutely loved this author's version of the ugly duckling theme because unlike other books I have read with this theme the heroine doesn't turn into a swan by the end of the book. In other words, Daphne doesn't undergo any physical transformation except in Anthony's eyes. She is not a beautiful woman, in fact she isn't even described as pretty just merely attractive in her own way. The way Anthony begins to slowly see beyond the surface and begins to fall in love with the woman beneath made for an absolutely amazing reading experience.If you are a hopeless

Guhrke's prose are as usual flawless in this ugly duckling turned swan tale. Beneath the watchful eyes of the cynical Duke of Tremore, Dahpne Wade blossoms into a beautiful young woman. This is my favorite romance theme, and I loved this one. Daphne is an intelligent heroine and Anthony is Hot Hot Hot!!! Do not miss this one!!

Handsome Anthony Courtland is excavating Romance ruins on his estate. He pays little attention to Daphne Wade, the woman he has hired to restore the precious artifacts he unearths from the ancient villa. He may pay her little notice, outside of the work, but Daphne is having a hard time keeping her eyes in her head as he strips to the waist, laboring on the dig. Only, Anthony's sister is itching to play faery godmother to the wide-eyed Daphne. Much to Anthony's annoyance, not only does his sister create a swan from the ugly duckling, but she is determined to see Daphne married.This begins to upset Anthony because he does not want to lose his valued worker. In order to keep her on, he begins to help polished Daphne's edges, such as dancing lessons, to keep her from slipping away completely. Slowly, a vivacious Daphne is really becoming "Cinderella" before Anthony's eyes, and he is determined not to lose her - and not only for the expert work she does. Sparks fly as Daphne comes into her own, with the repartee between the two wittily crafted. Anthony and Daphane create sexual tension that sizzles.So, a Guilty Pleasure??? No, just Pure Pleasure from start to finish.