Maitland Spencer, the fifth Duke of Lyttleton, has never known romantic love, and only found the meaning of family when he became friends with his fellow Libertine Scholars. But an unknown madwoman is determined to destroy the Libertines, vowing that they should pay for the sins of their despicable fathers. And it seems the madwoman has set her evil eyes on Maitland's destruction. Waking up drugged and naked next to Marisa, his best friend Sebastian's innocent sister, Maitland will not abandon her to ruin, and they quickly marry.

A marriage of convenience suits his reserved nature. But Maitland is not prepared for the deeply passionate connection that flares to life between them, and this terrifies him. After his abusive childhood he vowed to never become like his depraved, sex mad father. Keeping tight control over his desires is the only way he knows how to survive, but in doing so he pushes away the one woman who has captured his heart entirely. But Maitland can never reveal the truth of his past for fear she would hate him forever.

Since marrying Maitland, Marisa finally knows what it is like to fall in love and to have her soul set on fire. If only her husband would open up to her and let her in. With rumours and an old flame resurfacing, Marisa feels helpless and fears she will lose the only man she has ever loved. But as danger threatens them both from the elusive villainess, their lives will be altered forever. And when everything he has come to hold dear is questioned, will Maitland finally embrace his past and open up his future to Marisa?

A WHISPER OF DESIRE by Bronwen Evans is the fourth instalment of her Disgraced Lords series, which are easily read independently. This Regency tale is scorchingly sensual, rich in emotions and completely addictive. Gritty and intense scenes of the abuse that many suffered, is effortlessly woven throughout the tale, in a way that tore at my heart while still encompassing me into the overall tale. Maitland and Marisa are perfect together, and as they suffer so many setbacks and downfalls, as a reader I was praying that they would find a way through together. The passion that exists between them is unbelievably hot and the author definitely knows how to write a steamy love scene. A WHISPER OF DESIRE by Bronwen Evans is a wonderful read, packed with romance, danger and suspense, and I cannot wait for the next book.

Book Summary

Sensual heat melts the ice in the new Disgraced Lords novel from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans, as a marriage of convenience leads to delightful pleasure—and mortal danger.

Lady Marisa Hawkestone’s nightmare is just beginning when she wakes up naked, with no memory of the night before, lying next to Maitland Spencer, the Duke of Lyttleton—a man so aloof and rational he’s nicknamed “the Cold Duke.” A scandal ensues, in which Marisa’s beloved beau deserts her. As a compromised woman, Marisa agrees to marry Maitland. But on her wedding night, Marisa discovers the one place the duke shows emotion: in the bedroom, where the man positively scorches the sheets.

Taught from a young age to take duty seriously, Maitland cannot understand his new wife’s demands on his love and affection. Marisa’s hot-blooded spirit, however, does have its attractions—especially at night. In retrospect, it seems quite silly that he didn’t marry sooner. But being one of the Libertine Scholars requires constant vigilance, even more so when the enemy with a grudge against his closest friends targets Marisa. Now Maitland must save the woman who sets his heart aflame—or die trying.