About the Book:

For a duchess with practical desires, falling in love is an inconceivable part of her plan…

As owner of the Elysium Club which caters to women’s fantasies, Aiden Trewlove is accustomed to introducing adventurous ladies to sin and vice. But he is uncharacteristically intrigued by the mysterious beauty who visits his club one night, yearning to indulge in the forbidden—with him. Drawn to her indomitable spirit, he breaks his rule of never becoming personally involved with his clientele and is determined to fully awaken her desires.

A recent widow, Selena Sheffield, Duchess of Lushing, has never known passion, not until Aiden’s slow, sensual seduction leads her on a journey of discovery and incredible pleasure. But her reasons for visiting the notorious club are not all that they seem.

As Selena’s motives become complicated by love, she finds herself with a most unexpected choice: forge ahead with a secret plan that could secure her future—or follow her heart which could prove ruinous.

Click on title below for direct Amazon buy link:                                                                    The Duchess in His Bed (Sins for All Seasons)

My Review:

Selena Sheffield, Duchess Lushing, has been widowed only three days from her husband of seven years, yet she’s on the hunt for a man.  During her marriage, Selena was never able to get pregnant, and she has only about ten months now to produce a child which can be legally passed off as a legitimate heir of the late duke.  The reasons for Selena’s urgent desire for a child are a combination of financial and family loyalty.  She will be provided a comfortable living, but a child would ensure a much larger share of the dukedom.  Selena’s brother’s earldom is in danger of financial collapse, and her three younger sisters have to make their debuts and hopefully secure advantageous marriages.  Hence, Selena’s venture to the Elysium Club, with hopes of catching the attention of its owner.

Aiden Trewlove is the illegitimate child of the Earl of Elverton, and if the earl had his way, Aiden would have been killed shortly after his birth.  Instead, Aiden and other unwanted children were secretly kept alive and raised by Ettie Trewlove, who created a loving family with the children as close as true siblings.  The Elysium Club, a gaming club for women, is a place where society women can gamble, flirt, or even have liaisons secretly, or, if they’re daring, unmasked.  Aiden is expert at flirting and keeping his customers happy, but he’s not accustomed to having trysts with them.  However, when he sees Selena, even though she’s masked, he’s tempted to break his own rules.

Though Selena makes it obvious that she’s ready and willing, Aiden decides to slow things down.  His caresses and touches make Selena long for the fulfillment she never found in her marriage, but he won’t be rushed.  They continue meeting, each time taking their lovemaking a little further.  When they finally come together, it’s done with Aiden using protection, determined to prevent the very thing Selena desperately wants.  What’s a girl to do?

I have to admit that I did not like Selena for a good part of the book.  Although she is convinced that her motives were not for herself, but for her family, it still felt so deceptive and dirty to me.  As she and Aiden grew emotionally close, she came to see what her ruse would cost him – he’d either never know he had a child, or he’d be in a position of not being able to be a true father.  With the circumstances of his birth being what they were, this is a particularly painful area for Aiden.  With time running out, Selena grows more desperate.  Will she go forward with her plan to trick Aiden into giving her what she wants?  Will she change her mind and tell him the truth?  If she does, will Aiden be able to overcome his own values to provide her with a child?  Will he reveal her secret?

Despite my misgivings about Selena, there is much to love about THE DUCHESS IN HIS BED, which is a truly captivating story.  Aiden is such a likeable and honorable man.  He’s strong, charming, sexy, yet determined to do the right thing, and I love his relationship with his adopted siblings.  It was gratifying to see Selena do some serious soul searching and consider the value of the love she and Aiden have come to share.  There is a wonderful twist near the end of the story, which results in a much deserved comeuppance for Aiden’s sleazy father.  I swear that Lorraine Heath consistently can bring me to tears and tug at my emotions like no other.  THE DUCHESS IN HIS BED is an emotional, steamy, sometimes heartbreaking, yet ultimately beautiful story that will appeal to historical romance lovers, and it’s one that I can heartily recommend.    ~Rose