My Heart's Desire: 25th Anniversary Edition

Sometimes I wish I wasn't so "easy" with my 5 star reviews because when something really special comes along, all I have is the 5 stars to give it! This is certainly in a league of it's own and I really couldn't say a thing negative about it! I love a great "ship romance" and this is really the quintessential ship romance. Drake and Alex were really incredible people, and I couldn't get through this book fast enough. It is one of those "all nighters" so beware! Drake and Alex are both running from the same thing...responsabilities and social system that they hate. Alex stows away on Drake's ship in order to get away from the "season" and get to her father. Drake is, of course, not pleased when he finds Alex on board his ship. The attraction is instant and the chemistry is undeniable. The friendship that develops between Alex and Drake is the strength of this novel. Drake vows never to love a woman because he sees them as unfaithful and untrustworthy, but the reader "sees" him falling in love every step of the way. Alex is a wonderful lady. Kind, compassionate, faithful, and trustworthy. She is the gem of this novel and no one knows it better than Drake. Throw in one of the sweetest secondary characters...Smitty (Drake's valet/steward), a very jealous and sick brother, and a sweet and funny sister, and you have found yourself a "must read"! I enjoyed every minute!

I've read a lot of Andrea Kane's books and she's definitely one of my favorite historical romance authors. Kane always writes delightful heroes and heroines, interesting plots and mystery subplots, and engaging well-written secondary characters. Also, she doesn't employ a lot of the ploys and tactics other authors use that often drive me crazy: her villain subplots never detract from the book, only add; she doesn't have huge misunderstandings that overtake the book and leave the hero and heroine not speaking or being dishonest with one another for eons; her heroines aren't annoying, immature, haughty, or bratty and her heroes are never mean, bordering-on-abusive, or unlikable. My Heart's Desire is the first of two Barrett Family books (it precedes Samantha, whose heroine is (you got it!) Samantha Barrett, Drake Barrett's younger sister). MAIN CHARACTERS, Alexandria (Alex) and Drake: Lady Alexandria Cassel (18) is a wonderful heroine: honest, guileless, loyal, kind, intelligent, and adventurous. I knew I would like her right away just from how the book starts off - with her sneaking out in the middle of the night and stowing away on a ship because she doesn't want the life of an everyday-society-miss. Despite her youth, Alex is a very mature young woman and just dreams of a life very different from that which she seems bound to have - marriage to some titled gentleman who cares nothing for her and has no interest in getting to know her. While on the ship, she is determined to help out in whatever way she can to make up for being allowed to stay aboard and the crew's reaction to her and the relationships that develop between them and Alex is great fun to watch. I loved her romance with Drake (both a friendship and great chemistry/sexual tension) and it's great to watch them fall in love. She's forthcoming about her feelings for Drake and even though he doesn't verbalize that he loves her in return, she suspects that he has deep feelings for her before he's able to say the three little words; she doesn't let herself be put off by his defenses and his attempts to push her away, knowing that it is because of past hurts that he is acting that way. Captain Drake Barrett (32) is also the Marquis of Cairnham and the eldest son of the Duke of Allonshire (he inherits during the story). He deplores the ton because he sees them all as being duplicitous and deceitful and more particularly, he sees all women this way (except his younger sister, Samantha, whom he adores). His mother repeatedly cuckolded his father and was not even ashamed of her many affairs and ever since he discovered this when he was young, he has had a low opinion of women. Drake doesn't trust them and sees them as being only useful in bed; he has no plans of ever getting emotionally involved with a woman or (god forbid!) giving any woman his heart. He's a great hero though and despite this chip on his shoulder, he's never abusive towards Alex - he does sometimes say hurtful things to he

I am an avid Romance reader, and i especially enjoy regency romances. This is the first novel i have read by Andrea Kane, and i enjoyed it so much that i plan to purchase all her novels and read them as well. In My heart's desire, Kane is not afaraid in letting the couple go through experiences together, feel adventure, travel. Many regency romances are the same, with the hero and heroine staying in London. This book was a breath of fresh air. The love scenes are also exceptional.

I have never been so completely enveloped into a story! Andrea Kane's writing is phenomenal. I fell in love with both characters. I would recommend this book to every historical romance lover!

This is just as great as all of Andrea Kanes' books. Great characters with personalities that fit that time in history; wonderful romance. Anyone should read all Ms.Kanes books. I have.