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Unrivalled Regency #4
Dangerous Deceptions
Lavenham has been waiting for its new Earl. Crippling debts and years of neglect have transformed the once genteel mansion into a crumbling ruin. If its heir doesn’t come home soon, there will be little but the title for him to claim.
Sent to Jamaica as punishment for attempted murder, Lord Edward Ellesworth had a lot to learn about himself and his beyond arrogant attitude. Now, standing on Lavenham’s imposing doorstep, where there once stood a plump and pompous prig, five years of almost unendurable misery and overwhelming responsibility have changed him beyond recognition.
But have they changed him into the Earl he was always meant to become, or could the unconditional love of a mute, orphaned boy, change him even more?
With treasure hunters and kidnappers beating a path to his door, Edward knows he must find the strength to fight his tormented emotions and leave his young companion in a place of safety, but though his feelings are so wrong, the barren void left in his heart is almost too high a price for him to bear.
Simon hadn’t meant to love Edward, but taking the flogging meant for himself had secured far more than Simon’s everlasting devotion. He only needed to open his mouth and tell the man the truth. A truth he’d kept well hidden under ragged and baggy garments for almost seven years. His only friend on the Jamaican plantation had warned him to trust no one. Now installed in the adjacent bedroom at Lavenham, can Simon entrust the new Earl with his secrets as well as his heart?
He might not have a choice. Seven years of near starvation might once have meant his clothes swamped his slender frame, but since returning to England’s welcoming shores and eating three good meals a day, his body was changing in certain important areas at an extraordinarily alarming rate, and his previously capacious shirt was unquestionably loose no longer!
Dangerous Deceptions is an endearing love story suitable for anyone age 16 and upwards. As part of the Unrivalled Regency series, Dangerous Deceptions is a stand-alone story, but the series is best read in order to fully appreciate the depth of the characters and previous situations.
Silence of Scandal (Unrivalled Regency book 1)
A Murderous Masquerade (Unrivalled Regency book 2)
A Gallant Gamble (Unrivalled Regency book 3)
Sent to Jamaica as punishment for attempted murder, Lord Edward Ellesworth had a lot to learn about himself and his beyond arrogant attitude. Now, standing on Lavenham’s imposing doorstep, where there once stood a plump and pompous prig, five years of almost unendurable misery and overwhelming responsibility have changed him beyond recognition.
But have they changed him into the Earl he was always meant to become, or could the unconditional love of a mute, orphaned boy, change him even more?
With treasure hunters and kidnappers beating a path to his door, Edward knows he must find the strength to fight his tormented emotions and leave his young companion in a place of safety, but though his feelings are so wrong, the barren void left in his heart is almost too high a price for him to bear.
Simon hadn’t meant to love Edward, but taking the flogging meant for himself had secured far more than Simon’s everlasting devotion. He only needed to open his mouth and tell the man the truth. A truth he’d kept well hidden under ragged and baggy garments for almost seven years. His only friend on the Jamaican plantation had warned him to trust no one. Now installed in the adjacent bedroom at Lavenham, can Simon entrust the new Earl with his secrets as well as his heart?
He might not have a choice. Seven years of near starvation might once have meant his clothes swamped his slender frame, but since returning to England’s welcoming shores and eating three good meals a day, his body was changing in certain important areas at an extraordinarily alarming rate, and his previously capacious shirt was unquestionably loose no longer!
Dangerous Deceptions is an endearing love story suitable for anyone age 16 and upwards. As part of the Unrivalled Regency series, Dangerous Deceptions is a stand-alone story, but the series is best read in order to fully appreciate the depth of the characters and previous situations.
Silence of Scandal (Unrivalled Regency book 1)
A Murderous Masquerade (Unrivalled Regency book 2)
A Gallant Gamble (Unrivalled Regency book 3)
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2016
17 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
About the author
Jackie Williams
79 books120 followersI was born in Essex England during the mid sixties but I missed all the fun. Being only young I assumed that all Beatles were six legged creatures and Flower Power was something to do with the vigorous way my mother kneaded the bread dough.
My wonderful parents brought me up with a huge love of books. We read anything and everything. Bedtime stories were a treasured time of adventure and mystery. My sister and I sat wide eyed in wonder and to this day I worry about Dinah and Dorinda being pricked with pins because they grew so fat, and I never pull faces at the a waning moon (or was it a waxing one?) just in case my chops stay that way . (The Wind On The Moon)
I began reading romance while still at school. The fuel for many a teenage fantasy leapt from between the covers of wildly romantic books and my passion still lingers now for all those dark haired heroes.
My own beautiful teenage daughter persuaded me to write my first romance. She was only fourteen at the time and between books for children and adults. She couldn’t find anything that ticked all her numerous and particular boxes and so she asked me to write a book, with all the exact ingredients just for her. Though not just a book for teens, she enjoyed the resulting tale so much that she shared it with her friends and I eventually published A Perfect Summer as an ebook on amazon.
But I have discovered that writing is not easily stopped once you start. It has turned into a grand passion that I just cannot hold back. The fingertips start tapping the keys and ideas suddenly come flooding, far too many for just one book and so I began another and then another. Nine books later I am still nowhere near done. Book ten is on its way and only just the other night I woke from a wild and wonderful dream with book eleven fully formed in my head.
Romance will always be my first love but recently I was so influenced by a tiny polished plaque on a sea wall that I gave paranormal romance a try. (Echo Beach) Mixing the two genres was a real challenge for me but I was delighted with the result. Historical romance is going to be my next genre. All those fabulously titled and passionate men are impossibly hard to resist.
All of my books are Easy Reading Romance, intended only to while away a few hours with some light entertainment.
They are not meant to teach you anything or to stay with you for years after reading. Please do not read or review them if you are expecting anything deeper or more meaningful.
I hope you enjoy all of my efforts and I look forward to your comments and reviews.
My wonderful parents brought me up with a huge love of books. We read anything and everything. Bedtime stories were a treasured time of adventure and mystery. My sister and I sat wide eyed in wonder and to this day I worry about Dinah and Dorinda being pricked with pins because they grew so fat, and I never pull faces at the a waning moon (or was it a waxing one?) just in case my chops stay that way . (The Wind On The Moon)
I began reading romance while still at school. The fuel for many a teenage fantasy leapt from between the covers of wildly romantic books and my passion still lingers now for all those dark haired heroes.
My own beautiful teenage daughter persuaded me to write my first romance. She was only fourteen at the time and between books for children and adults. She couldn’t find anything that ticked all her numerous and particular boxes and so she asked me to write a book, with all the exact ingredients just for her. Though not just a book for teens, she enjoyed the resulting tale so much that she shared it with her friends and I eventually published A Perfect Summer as an ebook on amazon.
But I have discovered that writing is not easily stopped once you start. It has turned into a grand passion that I just cannot hold back. The fingertips start tapping the keys and ideas suddenly come flooding, far too many for just one book and so I began another and then another. Nine books later I am still nowhere near done. Book ten is on its way and only just the other night I woke from a wild and wonderful dream with book eleven fully formed in my head.
Romance will always be my first love but recently I was so influenced by a tiny polished plaque on a sea wall that I gave paranormal romance a try. (Echo Beach) Mixing the two genres was a real challenge for me but I was delighted with the result. Historical romance is going to be my next genre. All those fabulously titled and passionate men are impossibly hard to resist.
All of my books are Easy Reading Romance, intended only to while away a few hours with some light entertainment.
They are not meant to teach you anything or to stay with you for years after reading. Please do not read or review them if you are expecting anything deeper or more meaningful.
I hope you enjoy all of my efforts and I look forward to your comments and reviews.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 13, 2020
My heart! I have just finished this book but I feel like it’ll stay with me for a very long time. It starts with a terrible tragedy aboard a ship that will not only change the entire course of young Simone’s life but scar her to such an extent that only a very gentle touch will be able to bring her back from the nightmares of the past. Such a gentle “handler,” she - a malnourished girl who’s been passing for a cabin boy for years now - finds in the disgraced English aristocrat, Edward, who is serving his “term” on the same plantation as she is. But only when their ordeal is over and both are back in England do both of them realize that they can’t be apart from each other.
I thought the charade, which Simone had to keep up with against her will, played out in an absolutely adorable way once she and Edward found themselves back in the safety of his familial home. Their relationship and interactions were so sweet and touching, it pulled at my heartstrings with every new page turned. There’s enough tragedy and trauma in the story, but at the same time there’s much more hope, love, and forgiveness, and that’s what makes it such a beautiful read. I’ve been a longtime fan of Ms. Williams, but this story of hers is perhaps my new favorite. Five huge stars!
I thought the charade, which Simone had to keep up with against her will, played out in an absolutely adorable way once she and Edward found themselves back in the safety of his familial home. Their relationship and interactions were so sweet and touching, it pulled at my heartstrings with every new page turned. There’s enough tragedy and trauma in the story, but at the same time there’s much more hope, love, and forgiveness, and that’s what makes it such a beautiful read. I’ve been a longtime fan of Ms. Williams, but this story of hers is perhaps my new favorite. Five huge stars!
June 5, 2018
Great book!
Intriguing story and characters. Absolutely loved this book! Sad, exciting and romantic. Finished this book in one day. Wonderful writing style! All the characters were awesome.
Intriguing story and characters. Absolutely loved this book! Sad, exciting and romantic. Finished this book in one day. Wonderful writing style! All the characters were awesome.
June 6, 2019
I haven’t given 5 star on a historical novel in a long time but this is ohhh soo perfect.
September 16, 2019
2.5 stars
September 9, 2021
Loved loved loved it!
You go Simon/e!
Edward❤️Simone
You go Simon/e!
Edward❤️Simone
January 1, 2024
4.5✨
I love this trope.
Mmm the pining, delicious!!
I love this trope.
Mmm the pining, delicious!!
March 12, 2017
I think this book was a good read. It was hard to like Edward at first. There was not as much of a connection to these characters as there was in the previous book, but the story was intriguing.
February 25, 2022
I loved this book so much.
When I read a description of a book, sometimes they really grab me and before I even start reading I already have impressions and hopes and expectations about how the story will go. More often than not I’m slightly disappointed. But not this time. This lived up to my expectations and more!
The part about Simon actually being Simone wasn’t revealed too soon and it didn’t drag on for the whole book either. That is the part that the reader looks forward to and anticipates. The part where Edward finally finds out the truth. And it was so great! I loved his reaction. I also liked that the author kept the ruse going long enough for Edward to be super uncomfortable about his feelings for Simon.
I loved how strong Simone was, but I loved her innocence too. I loved how protective Edward was of her and I love that even after he found out he was a she they still worked side by side, he didn’t suddenly see her as weak because she was a woman and not a boy like he originally thought.
I did think that the writing could have been improved slightly with the dialog. Sometimes it sounded a little too modern and not so much 1800’s, but honestly, that didn’t diminish the story for me at all. I really loved it.
When I read a description of a book, sometimes they really grab me and before I even start reading I already have impressions and hopes and expectations about how the story will go. More often than not I’m slightly disappointed. But not this time. This lived up to my expectations and more!
The part about Simon actually being Simone wasn’t revealed too soon and it didn’t drag on for the whole book either. That is the part that the reader looks forward to and anticipates. The part where Edward finally finds out the truth. And it was so great! I loved his reaction. I also liked that the author kept the ruse going long enough for Edward to be super uncomfortable about his feelings for Simon.
I loved how strong Simone was, but I loved her innocence too. I loved how protective Edward was of her and I love that even after he found out he was a she they still worked side by side, he didn’t suddenly see her as weak because she was a woman and not a boy like he originally thought.
I did think that the writing could have been improved slightly with the dialog. Sometimes it sounded a little too modern and not so much 1800’s, but honestly, that didn’t diminish the story for me at all. I really loved it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews