Ecstasy [マスマーケット]

Except it's subversively darker in tone. Fans of Ms. Jordan will remember Lady Vanessa expiating for the mistakes of her brother in The Seduction. Ths time round it is the egregious gamester Kell Lasseter who atones for his brother Sean when he abducts the beautiful Raven Kendrick on her nuptial day with the Duke of Halford by proposing a marriage of convenience.

The trio of characters are heartbreaking creatures. Victimized by his paedophilic uncle, Sean Lasseter turns deranged and vindictive towards his brother Kell for failing to rescue him. Kell Lasseter blames himself for his brother's plight and connive at his misdeeds but when a lady's honour is ruined by his brother's hands and that Sean may be incarcerated for the kidnap, he offers Raven his protection even as he feels contempt for the English prigs who harshly discriminated against his mother of Irish origins and left her to languish in poverty. Raven is disillusioned with her mother's tragic death in her quest for grand passion which was never requited. Her mother made her promise to marry for good station and not love. She represses her passion by conjuring up a dream-lover and is afraid to love. Haunted by her stepfather's label as a bastard, she buries her past in the Caribbean to search for acceptance in London.

A simple story allows the full rein of character development. Ms. Jordan blends her fusion of poignant romance and searing passion seamlessly like that of The Seduction. The love scenes seeth with erotic virtuoso from the genesis of Raven's imaginary pirate lover and Kell's determination to realize the fantasy. Their relationship blooms from sexual chemistry to admiration and ulitmately trust. Raven finds Kell's chivalry and honor - as well as his care for orphans which stems from his tortured past worthy of emulation. Kell is fascinated by Raven's uniqueness in her tart and sass and strong display of affection for him despite her feigned nonchalance.

The impassioned couple has a love so sincere and strong that it will make you weep through the lacerating epilogue. Ms. Jordan crafts the characters with a scherzo of emotions that leaves none of them caricatured. The villain Sean earns equal sympathy and hatred; Raven's grandfather relents with forgiveness for repudiating his daughter. Though the love scenes are delightfully scorching and an abundance of indulgence, it is ulimately the couple's enlightenment and triumph over adversity that renders Ms. Jordan's romance as this year's most ecstatic experience. Forget the euphoria from Ecstasy pills. This is pleasure of the highest order.

We have the ever tortured hero & heroine who both have a past they are trying to hide or live down & both have sworn never to let love ruin their lives! But as in all romance that just doesn't happen. They start off thinking they can just have SEX ... and that they can keep it that way, only to find that is NOT the case! The deep feelings in this book will have you on the edge of your seat from page 1. You're given the ride of your life waiting to see just how they come to accept and understand each others secrets and how they will find a life together! You will laugh, cry, dream and just plain come to LOVE with Kell & Raven!

Nicole has done it again & all I can say is I'm dying to have my own copy to add to my keeper shelf.