Book Review #bookreview #thecounterfeitscoundrel #lorraineheath #avonbooks #happilyeveravon #readavon #netgalley #ARCreader
Lorraine Heath is always a prolific and inventive writer, especially when it comes to breathing fresh and interesting takes to historical romance. Heath’s writing is eloquent, thoughtful and beautifully crafted. Heath knows how to poetically weave together words to perfectly describe the heartache and lure of love. The Counterfeit Scoundrel is the first in her new series-The Chessmen, and this novel is a lovely example of Heath’s strengths. Lorraine Heath’s characters are always the heart and center of her novels, and our hero and heroine in this novel are built with care and understanding. When looking for a historical romance with rich and real characters, an interesting and intriguing plot, and a romance to swoon for, then look no further than Lorraine Heath!
This novel can be read as a standalone, but Heath has done a really interesting job of growing and expanding the world she is writing in, that most of her English Victorian romances build and expand upon each other. Heath starts this book off with the fascinating plot line of an aristocratic young woman working undercover as a maid the house of an intriguing gentleman she believes to be the lover of her client’s wife. The heroine is industrious, bold and independent. I love that she wants more out of her life and she is not afraid to work hard to make her dreams of being a sleuth a reality. I adore the hero, he is kind hearted and smart, and he is using the past trauma of witnessing his mother’s abusive relationship to fuel is passion in helping other women escape this reality. These two both start of their relationship on high alert of the other, they are both attracted and suspicious of the other which creates some early interactions fueled with wit and banter. Lorraine Heath is a master at building tension and chemistry between the hero and heroine and watching these two dance around each other, then learn to trust and work together is proof of Heath’s genius.
The romance between these two builds steadily throughout the novel as they try to resist temptation. As they begin to embrace the chemistry between them, they enter into a physical relationship. Through these interactions the reader is able to see the trust and understanding these two are building together. I just adore how the relationship progresses and how it our heroine and hero both learn what a marriage between them could be. I love that the hero also leaves a lot of the progression and decision making to the heroine when it comes to the stages of their relationship, it really shows a beautiful layer if consent and openness.
Lorraine Heath is always a must read author to me and someone I will always highly recommend. I think any truly romance lover will find something to love in a Heath novel. Definitely pick this novel up, as well as any Lorraine Heath work!
Thank you to Avon Books and NetGalley for an eARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.