Thursday

The Wicked Gift by Courtney Milan

July 17, 2014
And now for a cleansing breath.

http://www.courtneymilan.com/

So, Courtney Milan released a whole bunch of 99-cent books over the weekend and there was one in that group I hadn't read. So what the hey, you can't beat 99 cents (well maybe if it were free you could). Anywho, after my traumatic experience with The Black Lyon it was great to read The Wicked Gift, which just so happens to be a short story and also the prequel to the Carhart series (Proof by Seduction, 2009, and Trial by Desire, 2010).  As with all Milan's books, there is some great writing; I especially love how her short books never seem slapped together and the characters are always fully-developed. That is true with this one as we meet Lavinia Spencer, who is poor and survives by running her family's lending library/book store. She is the full support for both her father and her fifteen year old brother. For a while, she has been mooning over one of her customers, William White. Unbeknownst to her, he's been mooning over her, watching her from the bookshelves. And guess what - neither one of them are aristocrats! William is a poor bookkeeper who can barely pay rent. While there may be what seems to be a little coercion on William's part, don't let that stop you from reading this lovely tale. 
 
William and Lavinia fit together really well. They complement each other and they teach each other lessons on honor, trust and letting go. This story also made me want to reread the sequels, which I just may do.
 
P.S. For those of you who have a younger brother, I think you will be able to identify with this story.
 
Time/Place: England 1822
Sensuality: Hot

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