Review: A Love to Remember (The Disgraced Lords #7) by Bronwen Evans

Print Length: pages

Publisher: Loveswept (August 29, 2017)

From Goodreads.com: For Rose Deverill, one husband was enough. As the wealthy widow of the Duke of Roxborough, she has cultivated an unsavory reputation meant to discourage wife hunters. Thanks to a string of steamy affairs, Rose is perfectly content to be known by polite society as the “Wicked Widow”—until she’s reunited with the man she fell in love with at age fifteen. Their bedroom encounters are scorching, but it breaks Rose’s heart to wonder whether her reckless behavior ruined her for Philip Flagstaff.

The second son of the Earl of Cumberland, Philip never wanted the title. But after Philip’s older brother, Robert, follows him into the Battle of Waterloo, his worst fears come to pass. Now Robert lies in a soldier’s grave, and Philip is determined never to pass on the inheritance to children of his own. Then Rose appears, soothing the pain with her delightful curves and passionate kisses. The notorious Duchess seems to want nothing from him—and yet Philip has never ached to give a woman more.

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My Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Although this is the seventh installment of this series, you do not need to have read the the others in order to enjoy this story. Each of the stories in this series for the most part are considered "stand alone" stories that feature their own beginning and ending (although the first books in this series did contain one overall arc that was featured throughout the stories, this one does not). Some of the characters from previous stories are mentioned, but there is nothing in this series that would be considered a spoiler for the others. 

I will admit that the synopsis of this story is a bit misleading. Going into this story, I thought it was feature some of Rose's more "debauched" behavior leading up to her being reunited with Philip. However as soon as the story begins you are told that she and Philip have in fact been lovers for the past two years. This is easy enough to overlook however, and I think works out better because you can see they have feelings for each other - even if they can't admit that to themselves. 

I very much enjoyed all of the characters in this story, but Rose stands out by far as my favorite. So often I've read novels where the widows, even young ones, would never entertain the thought of taking a lover, much less a string of them as Rose has done. It is her willingness to openly express her sexuality that makes her feel more real. She is a woman - and is not afraid to show it. Thankfully, due to the high ranking friends she has, she needn't worry about the ton shunning her as they might otherwise do either. 

The romance between Philip and Rose was red hot like you may expect, but it was his tender relationship with her son Drake that was most endearing. He treated the boy with the utmost care, as if he would a child of his own, when even today, that isn't something commonly found. 

One of the things I enjoy most about the novels done by Ms.Evans is the beautiful way she tells a story. You are immediately drawn into the world she has painstakingly created, and your attention is kept until the very last word. I have a hard time getting anything done when I have a book of hers, I simply must finish it. 

In closing, I believe this novel will still appeal to those who enjoy a well written "friends to lovers second chance" historical romance that has just the right amount of mystery thrown in. I would read more from this author! 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                A Love to Remember is available from Amazon.com