I have read all of L. Heath’s books and I would anxiously await the next one. However, lately I have been very disappointed with her writing. Don’t get me wrong, Ms Heath is a great storyteller but lately instead of the plot and character development being in the forefront its sex that has taken over. I enjoy sex scenes as an integral part of the story but not when the story revolves around sec and it’s pages and pages. Her previous books were amazing. This last one not so much. The h was hard to like. Who goes to have sex with a stranger when a spouse has not even been laid to rest. And it was a spouse that she cared for. Even the reasoning behind it was shallow. The H was a really good person who could have done better. I really hope next one is better than this one

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When deception is in the balance, can feelings stay true.

« The heart did as it wanted, loved who it would love. And seemed to have a penchant for choosing those who provided the most difficult of challenges. »

This was one unexpected ARC I was granted by the publisher Avon, and Mrs Lorraine Heath is part of the many authors I wanted to discover works. So once I finished my already due reads, I jumped in this new release.

I confess I am not fond of betraying/scheming characters, whatever the circumstances are. And early reviews left me with some doubts about this read.
But Mrs Heath’s talent erased my worries, I fell in love with all the main characters.
Sure Selena, The now widow of a duke, is at fault, following her brother’s silly scheme. She appears as very selfish, and in some way she is as with her lies she will provide her family but also herself a better future. Her marriage was one of convenience , an other choice she was robbed when she had to think about her family welfare, and even if she has not loved her husband with passion, she has cared for him.
Aiden Trewlove like all his sibling raised himself from the gutters, he has built a business of his own but the woman whom reared him made sure he has all the right cards in his hands.
He is such a caring, respectful and worthy man, always with due regards for not only the women surrounding him but also all the women and the weakest.
So was it Selena’s sadness and the mystery of her presence that drew him to her?
So soon their main problem was their two different agendas, he to introduce her to the pleasure of the flesh and she to get pregnant.
Hopefully the ruse was discovered at half mark.
It is a tale with aplenty of musings, each reflecting on each of their encounters, what to expect next or what transpired genuinely.
The author plays with her characters’ introspection as each has to rethink its past expectancies and decides what she/he wants for her/his future.

I should have be angry at Selena’s deceit, but I liked her and then loved her when she couldn’t abuse his trust anymore and going too far to have no way to turn around, even if she was close to carry out the unthinkable.
Their romance was quite doomed from its beginning, I wondered how the author would stitch everything together, but she did it with a harrowing scene close to the end of the book.

The side characters added to the story even if it was more a huis-clos or closed door narrative than a boulevard play. While I had no doubt about Aiden’s mother, I adored the way the vilain of the story received his right due by the person he lest expected it. So exquisite.

In all, I loved this book and I am very curious about the other Trewlowes siblings. Now I long for Fancy’s tale.

I was granted through Edelweiss an advance copy by the publisher Avon. I so loved this book I purchased my own copy.
Here is my true and unbiased opinion.

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This was a hard book to read - not because it was bad but because it hurt so much to see how these two lovers were facing separation when they had just found each other. Selena, the recently widowed Duchess of Lushing needs to produce an heir or the whole estate will be lost and she will not be able to care for her sisters. She goes to Aidan Trewlove, owner of the Elysium, a sanctuary for women to do what men have always had available to them a chance to enjoy themselves.
As a bastard, one thing Aiden knows how to do is prevent creating more bastards so when Selena presents him with her problem he isn't happy with the idea. If he would give her a son, it would be raised as a Duke but he would forever never know who his true father would be.
There were many tears throughout this book and while you understand why Selena is doing what she does it is hard to see two hearts broken by placing responsibility over love. The last few chapters provide the happy ending that these two lovers deserve and make the whole heart-wrenching read worth it in the end.

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Lorraine Heath is a wonderful writer, and in 'The Duchess in His Bed' she has once again created compelling characters. She develops an emotional story for Aiden Trewlove and Selena Sheffield, Duchess of Lushing. I don't usually have an issue with the sexual content in romance novels, because developing intimate relationships is usually a part of the story. However, I thought that the sexual encounters at the beginning of this story were needlessly long and over drawn. I understand why these encounters were needed for the development of Selena's character due to the lack of sexual passion in her marriage (her relationship with her deceased Duke was more of a friendship than a passionate connection, and Aiden wanted her to experience real passion). These scenes were still too long. Nevertheless, the story between the main characters develops in a compelling and emotional manner. Although the outcomes of romance stories are a 'Happy Ending' there is a 'real' tension in the story surrounding how, if, or when this will be achieved for Aiden and Selena. In spite of my minor criticism of the telling of Aiden and Selena's story I do recommend it as both a standalone novel, and as part of the 'Sins for All Seasons' series.

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Lorraine Heath is an auto buy. I don't read reviews, her books are always a great red. The Scoundrel Series:Surrender to the Devil, Lady in Red.. all of them awesome which I have read and re-read MANY times.
Aiden was the perfect hero, the scenes with his family, "mother" were the best part of the story to me!
Selene was just unlikable from the start. The sisters were better. Even didn't like the attitude towards the dead husband, Aiden, her sisters etc... nothing. The story line about heirs 9 months after the husband dies is not my favorite, but maybe we cared for her like Aiden it would have worked. She just did not work at all.
Aiden deserved better.
Saying all that I would still buy auto buy Heath always.
Can't wait for Fancy.