THIS BOOK GRABS YOU WITH BURNING HOT SEX AT ABOUT PAGE 7 AND PLAYS HELL WITH YOUR LIBIDO THE REST OF THE WAY THROUGH. EXCEPT THAT THE "GREAT BIG MISUNDERSTANDING" LASTED A LITTLE TOO LONG, THE STORY WAS GREAT. DRAKE, THE DEADLY DUKE IS AS ALPHA AS THEY COME. UNLESS MS BERNARD HAS WRITTEN PREVIOUSLY UNDER A PSEUDONYM, THIS IS A FANTASTIC FIRST ATTEMPT AT WRITING AND SHE HAS GREAT POTENTIAL. ( )

From the time she was a child Merriam Everett has blended into the background. But her outward meekness hides a deep yearning for a truly passionate encounter. When an arrogant earl insults her, she vows to have her revenge by seducing him at a masquerade - but she ends up in the arms of the wrong man!

Drake Sotherton has just returned from a self-imposed exile on the Continent. His long absence has allowed his former best friend to poison the ton with rumors that Drake was responsible for his wife's brutal murder. So when Drake learns that his seductive Merriam is connected with his former friend, he suspects the worse, but he still cannot resist her.

I truly enjoyed this book. I just want to state that up front. There were a lot of problems I had with it, but it was a fun read and VERY steamy. In fact, I'd say this one is probably best read for the sex. The plot needs indulgence from the reader.

For starters Drake has a serious persecution complex (understandable perhaps, but irritating nonetheless), and the Great Misunderstanding underlying their love story could have been cleared up amazingly quickly had the two ever simply talked about her relationship with Julian. But that was not to be.

Unfortunately his jealousy and possessiveness seeped into some of the sex scenes. I don't do "sex with issues". I don't really do angry sex, I don't do jealousy sex, I don't do 'punishment' sex. So that bothered me some - especially since it seemed like most of the sex scenes involved characterizations like 'ruthless', 'brutal', 'merciless'. Those aren't exactly the descriptors I prefer to see in my sex scenes. That said, the sex (even those scenes where I was annoyed with the motivation/descriptors) were really, REALLY hot. I was impressed.

Sadly, I was less impressed with the solving of the mystery. The culprit was unexpected enough, and there were hints as to motivation throughout the novel, but it just didn't really seem to be fleshed out. I certainly had trouble believing it.

But I did like the theme of the meek widow coming into her own as a sensual, passionate woman. It was developed well - she had problems with leaving her comfortable, if dreary, life behind to court societal ruin. Her ambiguity was portrayed convincingly, and I truly felt for her.

On the whole - definitely worth a read through once. For the masquerade scene at the beginning if for nothing else. ( )