Lady Deception by Mandy Rosko

 

Published on October 22, 2014

357 pages

I read the paperback version

Back cover

She would do anything for the money.

Though Elizabeth Holton is the daughter of a wealthy knight, she was raised in poverty after her mother ran away before she was born. ‘For your protection,’ she would say, but Eliza’s mother had to sell her body to cruel men to provide for her daughter.
After her death, Eliza made up her mind to become the lady she believes herself to be. She arranged for the local lord’s son to have an accident while out riding. But the men she hired were too severe. Instead of merely robbing Blaise Gray, they beat him and left him for dead.

Except fall in love.

For saving his life, Eliza is brought to live in Blaise’s castle where she fights her attraction to him, terrified of the pain she will feel should he discover it was her who nearly ended his life.
Though Blaise cannot deny his heated lust for the beautiful peasant girl who saved his life, he also cannot halt his suspicion that she may have had something to do with his attack. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone from the lower class attempted to use him, yet he finds himself falling in love with her anyway. But the confirmation that she had nearly killed him to become a lady could be his undoing.

My review

In general, I liked the book. I am not sure if I could say it’s a historical romance because except that you feel that the story is in the middle age, I didn’t saw lot of historical background. The major point of the story is the fact that Eliza wants a better life and she does everything she can to get it. While I was reading, I had to remember that back then the only way for a woman to stay safe is to choose the right husband. I will let you discover if it’s actually the case. 

If I have to choose my favorite character, I have to say that Blaise have something more than Eliza. I had the feeling that Eliza was hiding something the whole novel and even though he had a bad temper, I prefer Blaise for this reason. I have to admit their relationship evolve really fast, but it was the case in the middle age and people died in their 30’s, so you have to live one day at the time. I felt the romance was a little hot-cold, with no in between.

I have to admit that sometimes it was hard to read because of the mixt of American prose but the dialog changed into Scottish or Old English. It’s the type of book that I will read once just to forget about my ordinary life and have a great moment. I think the author did a good job for that.

Excerpts

Eliza shook her head. " Tis very generous, milady, but my father died six years ago. I don’t believe he even knew I existed. I am a bastard. " (p.39)

Elizabeth’s entire body seemed to hesitate. She wished dearly to reach out and take his hand, to make the animosity between them vanish, but she knew ‘twould take more than that. (p.65)

" Do not speak of impossible to me! Before arriving here, I was no better than a serf! Poor, filthy, and constantly in fear of the men who would lurk outside of my hut at night. " She hesitated a moment, allowing Olma to absorb her words. " Now, I am here. Ye are my friend and equal. " (p.95)

" What is so unsuitable about her? She is very intelligent for a sewing maid, has a warm hart, and is a good listener. Are you those not the qualities one should search for in a mate? " (p.240)

My interview with the author