Intimate Betrayal

Lady Alyssa is a hardworking no nonsense noblewoman. Her no account father has her selling off all kinds of treasures from her beloved estate to pay gambling debts. So when the Duke of Gillingham Lord Morgan shows up at her country estate, of course, she believes he there is settle an IOU. She is surprised to discover that her father has sold her home out from under her. Not too worry. She has money set aside to live in a small cottage. That is even taken from her to pay her father's debts. Morgan is appalled at her circumstances. He decides to keep her as the steward of the house until his brother and his wife take residence. She is relieved. There is a powerful attraction between independent minded Alyssa and Morgan. She firmly believes he loves her and wants to marry her. He is of the ilk that marriage is not for him and proposes to set her up as a mistress. Alyssa flatly refuses this offer. She is honorable. Interwoven into this story is Morgan's search for British traitors. He does not reveal this to Alyssa. She actually is unaware of his clandestine dealings until almost the end of the book. Both the leads acted reasonably and more importantly they never let a lot of misunderstandings get in the way of their romance. How refreshing for people to forgive each other quickly and for them to say those important words, "I am sorry." Even though Alyssa is very independently minded she is not stupidly stubborn. She thinks through her situation with logic and has the sensibilities of a woman living in the 19th century This is one of Ms. Basso's best.

...with this well written novel. Independent Alyssa Carrington had run her father's english estate for years. But before his death, he autioned carlton house to the highest bidder leaving her penniless. With no means to support herself, she was at the mercy of the new lord of the Manor- The dashing duke of Gillingham. Now the ladies man welcomed Alyssa into rooms that were once her own especially the master's bedroon. Captured in his hunting gaze, the copper haired beauty felt her strong will weaken as ashe was torn between the illicit passion and her dreams of wedded bliss. She would need to risk both to capture the reckless peer and become the mistress of his heart...... oh but there's more, you find yourself interwoven in this love story as well as the tying plot that brings it all together. This book is indeed a most pleasurable read, one of Adrienne's best work!

Lady Alyssa Carrington was an independent woman growing up under the care of the family servants and a string of governesses and taking the responsibility of her father's misdeeds from a tender age. She was never introduced into society, never been to a ball and the gentry around Westgate Manor shunned her because she was too good - being a woman - in managing the estate. She always dreamed of having a husband and children of her own, so naturally after one light of illicit passion, when Duke of Gillingham offered for her, she gladly accepted thinking it was a marriage proposal. But for Lord Morgan Ashton, Duke of Gillingham, now the owner of Westgate Manor, it wasn't a marriage proposal, but a proposal to be his mistress. Morgan previously had a disastrous marriage and after the death of his wife, he vowed never to marry and put himself through the pain and humiliation again. He was attracted to Alyssa and after that one night he believes Alyssa is attracted to him too. But later, his marriage proposal made to correct her misunderstanding was soundly rejected and he was requested to stay away for her forever. But don't worry dear readers, they do get back together. How and why? You have to read the book to find out for yourself. I convey my kudos to Adrienne Basso who does a wonderful job for brining the characters to life. Morgan plays the role of the arrogant duke to perfection, effectively hiding his wounded and tender heart; with Alyssa in the role of the a strong headed female with a stubbornness and giving heart needed to show Morgan that love heals all wound. Besides the passion and romance, Ms. Basso also introduces a subplot which is a delight and sometimes causes friction between the two characters which is enjoyment for the readers. She does a wonderful job of showing us how women were treated in Regency high society and that if love is involved - albeit unknown to the characters at first - it brings them together and they finally find the true contentment that they really deserve.