"A new enchanting historical romance from a 'superb storyteller' (Booklist) and New York Times bestselling author featuring a handsome, brooding Earl who finds himself drawn to his prim and proper housekeeper.
"Maximillian Burke has always prided himself on being the man that every mother would want her daughter to marry. But after his scoundrel of a brother makes off with Max's bride, Max discovers it's more satisfying to be a rogue than the perfect gentleman. Forced to flee London after a duel gone wrong, he seeks refuge at Cadgwyck Manor on the lonely coast of Cornwall, a place as wild and savage as his current temper. The tumbledown manor comes complete with its own ghost but oddly enough, it's not the White Lady of Cadgwyck who haunts Max's heated dreams - but his no-nonsense housekeeper. The last thing Anne Spencer needs is a new master, especially one as brooding and gorgeous as the Earl of Dravenwood. Even as she schemes to be rid of her new employer, she finds herself irresistibly drawn into his strong, muscular arms. When Mac vows to solve the mystery of Cadgwyk's ghost, he doesn't realize it will put both of their hearts at risk and tempt them to surrender to a pleasure as delicious as it is dangerous."
This is yet another after-the-fact review. Unfortunately, I don't have the exact date I finished this book, but I believe I'd already finished it before the end of June of 2019. This review was penned on May 19, 2020, so please forgive it's brevity as I do my best to do it justice so long after I finished reading it.
I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in this series and was so looking forward to the second that I immediately began reading it. Max's character changed quite a bit from the first book. Gone was the totally level-headed, staid man of the first book; in his place was a more emotional, angrier one. He'd lost out on a woman he cared for, and cut off his brother in the process. Max felt betrayed and he lashed out quite a bit, even causing a scene in London Society which created the need for some time out of the limelight. He purchased a new, far-flung estate in Cornwall and retreats there to get away. Little does he know what he is about to encounter... Not only do the villagers seem terrified of his new manor, he finds it rather rundown, understaffed, and the hodgepodge of those willing to work there, quite odd, to say the least. The one he finds most intriguing is his pretty housekeeper, Anne. There's something about her attitude, her confidence, and her wit that intrigue him. Max, however, can be just as intelligent, and he quickly catches onto the fact that he is not wanted at Cadgwyck Manor. The staff seems to be doing whatever they can to make his stay miserable. He doesn't think things can get worse, until the White Lady begins to make her presence known... Max knows there must be something more to his "haunted" manor than meets the eye. When he finally learns the story behind the ghostly apparition, he cannot help but be enthralled by the stunningly beautiful woman whose painting graces one of the walls, and he yearns to know more about her.
Anne is determined to be rid of the Max. She and her friends have successfully run off a number of would-be owners in the past; how difficult could one more be? She didn't count on a new master as intelligent, brave, stubborn, and handsome as Max. She remains determined to maintain her freedom and run the manor as she sees fit, but Max does not seem to want to cooperate. Drastic times call for drastic measures...only the more time Anne spends with Max, the harder it is for her to want to see him leave. She struggles to keep him at arm's length when all she wants is to feel his touch. The undeniable spark between them could be catastrophic if Max is allowed to snoop around the manor..and learn Anne's darkest secret...
Cornwall seems to be a favorite of Medeiros for creating ghostly, eerie settings -- I can clearly recall at least one other book set in Cornwall with similar ghostly tales swirling about. I supposed I can't blame her. The gloomy area and spooky moors create the perfect atmosphere for the supernatural. It also happens to personify Max's moods quite well -- perfect for the brooding male lead.
The secondary characters were wonderfully lively and lent some fun to the plot. The story could have turned far too dark and brooding, but they helped keep it light and airy. This makes for a good contrast between the seriousness of the haunted manor and the very realistic relationships between the characters.
It was entertaining to watch all of the characters develop over the course of the book. Max and Anne had a lovely relationship and I truly did enjoy this book. The passion was sizzling and the overall story was extremely well-written. I did not see the plot twist until it was staring me in the face! Kudos to Medeiros because I think it was handled brilliantly and it was extremely creative.
I definitely recommend this book, as well as its earlier counterpart. As much as I enjoyed the first, I think this one was my favorite of the two; I think a lot of this had to do with the fact that there was more equality in the narratives of Max and Anne -- it did not feel as one-sided. Happy reading!
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