Series: Bareknuckle Bastards (Book 2)
The Lady's Plan
When Lady Henrietta Sedley declares her twenty-ninth year
her own, she has plans to inherit her father's business, to make her own
fortune, and to live her own life. But first, she intends to experience a taste
of the pleasure she'll forgo as a confirmed spinster. Everything is going
perfectly…until she discovers the most beautiful man she's ever seen tied up in
her carriage and threatening to ruin the Year of Hattie before it's even begun.
The Bastard's Proposal
When he wakes in a carriage at Hattie's feet, Whit, a
king of Covent Garden known to all the world as Beast, can't help but wonder
about the strange woman who frees him -- especially when he discovers she's
headed for a night of pleasure . . . on his turf. He is more than happy to
offer Hattie all she desires…for a price.
An Unexpected Passion
Soon, Hattie and Whit find themselves rivals in business
and pleasure. She won't give up her plans; he won't give up his power . . . and
neither of them sees that if they're not careful, they'll have no choice but to
give up everything . . . including their hearts.
This was a terrific addition to the series. I love the
fact that, like the first book, this takes place mainly outside the usual
setting of ballrooms and house parties. Instead, we see the world of the London
docks and the poor of Covent Garden.
Hattie is the daughter of a man who, through his successful
shipping business, earned the title of Earl. Intelligent and feisty, Hattie has
turned her back on society and wants to run her father's shipping business.
Unfortunately for her, her father doesn't agree and wants her married. She
plans to take control of her life by first making herself unmarriageable, then
actively pursuing her dreams. Her plans hit a snag when she finds a breathtaking
man unconscious and tied up in her carriage.
Whit, also known as Beast, is one of the Bareknuckle
Bastards who run the underworld of Covent Garden. He's convinced that Hattie
knows something about how he came to be in her carriage and is determined to
discover what it is. He is also intrigued by Hattie herself, especially when he
discovers her plans for the night.
The first encounter between Whit and Hattie sucked me
right into the book. Whit is not accustomed to being at a disadvantage, and he
does not take it well. Hattie, on the other hand, thoroughly enjoys having the
upper hand. The back and forth between these two was awesome, right up to when
he kisses her - right before she shoves him out of the moving carriage.
Undeterred, Whit manages to escape his bonds and follow Hattie to her
destination. He intrudes on her plans, determined to get the answers he seeks,
and ends up striking a bargain with the unintimidated Hattie.
I loved both Hattie and Whit. Hattie is bold and
determined, brazen in her actions, though her outward confidence covers up some
deep-seated insecurities. She has reached the ripe age of twenty-nine with no
suitors because she does not match up with Society's requirements. She is tall,
outspoken, and a bit on the plump side, and is completely convinced that no man
will find her attractive. Whit is gorgeous to the extreme, powerful and
intimidating. He is also protective of those he cares for, and that includes
the denizens of Covent Garden. Some sweet scenes show just how much he cares. I
especially loved the ones with the children. He also has some baggage of his
own, thanks to the events of the past, baggage that makes him believe that he
isn't good enough for her.
The development of the relationship between Hattie and
Whit was great. They are well-matched from the beginning, and the sparks between
them are intense. It was fun to watch Hattie stand up to Whit and blow all of
his expectations out of the water. There's nothing like rushing to the defense
of a woman only to discover that she has her attacker well in hand. Their
"business" arrangement of him helping her with her plans while she
arranges for the return of what was stolen quickly falls by the wayside as the
attraction between them burns hotter. I enjoyed seeing Whit's growing respect
for Hattie and her abilities and how his attitude helps her overcome her doubts
about herself. There are some obstacles, not the least of which are threats
against Hattie from a ducal nemesis of the Bastards, which leads Whit into
actions that he thinks will protect Hattie. I laughed out loud at her reaction
to this, as she shows herself to be Whit's equal in deviousness. There's an
emotional and heart-wrenching scene as Hattie makes it clear that she will
accept nothing less than what she deserves from Whit. It takes a near tragedy
for Whit to realize the truth about his feelings for her, and I ached for him
as he feared for her life. His big moment at the end was awesome, and the
epilogue was a perfect ending.
The continuing storyline of the feud with brother Ewan
provided some interesting moments. His encounter with Whit was intense and
showed a man who was on the edge of desperation. But his scene with Hattie had
a twist I didn't expect. I can't wait for the next book to see how the author
redeems him.
I also enjoyed the secondary characters. Devil and
Felicity make several appearances. I especially enjoyed Devil's advice to Whit
regarding his revenge plans. Hattie's friend Nora was terrific. I loved her "take
no prisoners" support of Hattie. It was also interesting to see her
attitude toward Society. There's a story there, and I'd like to see more of it.
Once again, the brothers' coworker, Nik, has some interesting input into
events.
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