"This is an exhilarating heated regency romance"

In 1811 her brother Philip catches Lady Isabella with her lover and informs her she will marry odious Lord Stirling in a loveless match. She feels guilty and hopes to regain her place as Philip's sister and acquiesces to his demands. Her abusive spouse dumps Lady Bella Stirling on his most isolated Scottish estate Bowhill Park to live by herself soon after their vows.

For five years now her life is that of a hermit though she enjoys working her rose garden and the visits from her cousin Esme Marceau. Worried that Bella is alone with no companionship, Esme sends her male prostitute Mr. Gideon Rosedale, who is renowned for bringing satisfaction to his wealthy female clients. Bella quickly digs past the surface hunk to the intelligent gentleman he hides from his customers. Gideon digs past the prim and proper aristocrat to the seductress she hides from society. As he mentors his customer on lovemaking, Bella falls in love with Gideon, but his time with her is coming to a climax.

This is an exhilarating heated regency romance starring two obvious opposites as she is an aristocrat and he is a working class male prostitute whose customers are wealthy ladies of leisure. Their love has no chance for several reasons yet it blossoms like her roses. Sub-genre fans will relish the relationship between the lady and her companion as a refreshing historical with a torrid seductive edge.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted May 7, 2009

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Summary

His job was to please her. Not to steal her heart.

In the Scottish countryside of Selkirk, Lady Isabella Stirling resides at Bowhill Park, serving penance for a sin that nearly ruined her family. For five years she has been condemned to a loveless marriage and confined to the estate where she does little more than tend her rose garden. With her husband absent for months at a time and few visitors, Bella lives a lonely existence, denying the passions that burn within her very soul.

Then her cousin comes for a visit and makes an outrageous suggestion: what Bella needs is a lover. A hired lover. Despite her need, Bella says no. But soon Mr. Gideon Rosedale arrives—and he is at her service for two weeks. Indulging in what she intends to be a harmless flirtation, Bella is overcome by Gideon's intoxicating presence. And when she at last permits him to satisfy her desires, she discovers she's done the unthinkable—she's fallen in love.