Joint Discussion: The Unfleshed

Hello all! Carole and I will be discussing "The Unfleshed - Tale of the Autopsic Bride" by Lisa Vasquez. I am in red and Carole in purple/black. 

Author: Lisa Vasquez

Title: The Unfleshed: Tale of the Autopsic Bride

Genre: Horror, Thriller, Historical Fiction, Paranormal

Pages: ebook

Published: January 21st 2017 

Where I Got It: My Shelf (Netgalley)

A plague has washed upon England’s shore, bringing death in its wake. While the sickness plucks the lives of the victims indiscriminately, something else moves in its shadows, using it as a cover. Victims without signs of infection have been brutally murdered and dismembered. Suspicions already surround the infamous Doctor Wulfe when his eccentric behavior takes a more sinister turn. His interest in the young Morrigan spirals into an unhealthy obsession. Angus manipulates her father, giving him hope of a cure in return for his daughter’s hand in marriage. But, when his bride-to-be awakens with an insatiable appetite, will she be forced to go through with the arrangement? Or will the plague save her from a deal made with a devil?

So this was Carole’s pick and all I am saying is that wow….this was a bad one ;)

Ugh - I had such a hope for this one.

Ha, I honestly do not know where to start. It was bad all over.

‘

Yessss. Good in theory...bad in execution. Let’s start with the historical issues. This is supposed to be set in 1300s, but it read like a 1800s or 1600s book.

The thing that made me lol the most was the the mother, a noble lady went all omg yay! A doctor proposed to my daughter.  JOY!!!! Haha, yes why not let one of the serfs marry her when you are at it.

Ugh that did kill me.   

Yes it was the worst one. But there were so many other things. Like how they acted towards each other greeted each other. Like when he called them Mr and Mrs and I was all wtf is happening here? Or yes greeted her by name. Everything really. Names! Oh the names. Who names their kid Morrigan in the 14th century! Do you want her burned at the stake!? A pagan goddess. Really *biggest eyeroll in the world* I could go on and on and on.

No mother with even the slightest bit of nobility or even a rich lady (especially in the 1300s) would even contemplate the idea. The father was the only smart guy. And the names killed me too. If this had been a fantasy novel or a what-if, I think I would’ve been okay with these issues. A different world might’ve been okay with this. So many issues with the accuracy that it was hard to overlook. A couple here and there never make a huge impact for me...but this was littered with issues.

A few things are easily overlooked, but when the entire book is riddled with error it’s hard. I honestly believe that the author knows only one thing about the Middle Ages and that is that the black death came. And she did not seem to know anything about the black death either. All those people in Morrigan’s house should be dead too. Why was she the only one sick. Did the author realise how many freaking people died? No one even lamented about how God had sent this purge upon them.

I think she took the general idea and ran with it. Zero research. Zero thought. She just wanted to make a serial killer during this time period. Which would’ve worked fine since he was a doctor and could’ve easily gotten away with it. So not a bad theory and idea. She needed someone to edit hardcore.

I am honestly not sure where it took place either? Do you know? Just some town?

I want to say England? All I really know it was a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere.

That was another thing that annoyed me. The yes everyone lives in this town. Morrigan lives in this town, what in some townhouse? If she is the nobility around there I would think they could do better than some townhouse. And then suddenly there was more things around that house. It felt like she wrote something, then forgot and then wrote something else. Like when Morrigan looked out throw like the livingroom window and saw him. Ok so do you even know what a house looked like then? *takes a pause* I just can not handle stuff like this!!!! RESEARCH!!!!!!!!

SO many examples. A quick google search would’ve been good. Oh! So what did you think of our main killer here? He was creepy and gross. The author did do a good job of making him gross and creepy. That is the one positive thing I can say without a hesitation. LOL

I think it could have been good, but then she went on how he was molested and all that and it was weird….Why was he even that obsessed with Morrigan?

She was pretty? His obsession with her was weird and made little sense. She was nothing but rude to him just like everyone else. Not sure why she was so special...I honestly wished we had zero to little background info on him. I didn’t want to get to know him.

Were we supposed to understand him cos he had been dealt a bad card in life? Euwww, he murdered women and cut them up. Who gives an f. Just kill him now. I expected horror, not some gross guy and yes a badly written book.

Oh and I thought it was YA first, before the raping and torture.

RIGHT? Like a little bit of info would be okay, but we are supposed to hate him. He is a murderer and psycho who turns an innocent into a monster. Which...wth was she supposed to be? Like a vampire...zombie thing? She wanted to eat people...so I was so confused by all that.

That was really bad. She ate people but she went all oh I wanna do you! Ehhh, no, you should eat him, and then I mean eat his flesh and kill him. It made no sense at all.

It didn’t at all. I was okay with the fact she was eating people but then when he got her she was all okay with not eating him. She could control herself? No sense at all.

And one would think she would go for someone else then. I guess the author wanted smex, but it was all srsly? Why...Why?!

Out of anything...I didn’t expect that. It was weird and out of place.

I only read it so that I could laugh at it, like my fav scene, Victoria goes happy with joy that her daughter will marry a doc. Oh good times! Good times. Cos I truly wanted to dnf this since it was utter rubbish. But I also wanted to see how many weird things I could spot.

I would’ve DNFed it as well, but it did have me curious how all of this was going to end. I wanted the ending to be good, but it was eh. It was supposed to make you feel a touch bad, but I didn’t. No sympathy, no caring. Does that make me a monster?????!!!!

Ha, oh right the ending, I was all who gives a fig. I am glad it is over. Maybe she is writing a sequel

Oh no. I hope not. LOL.

Anything more to add

Mhmmmmmm….nothing else. All I know is that I am bummed. This sounded SOOOOOOOOOOO good, but it ended up being….not good. The idea was fun and original, but the story itself and the writing was left to be desired.

My thoughts would be: Do not read this book, not even for a good laugh. Also I came to think of those words that guy says at the end, The auto bride. It still makes me groan, it was so bad.

Indeed, indeed. Well...you’re turn. Good luck!!

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Best of September

Happy October!! Here are our Best of's for SEPTEMBER!

(I am cheating and posting this today! I am reading two books right now, and nothing can beat the one I read earlier)

First, favorite movies:

First, MY favorite.....Peter Rabbit (2018)

"Best movie. Oh this was another bad month so I guess Peter Rabbit. But I am so old! That kid was a sociopath!"

Now, Carole's pick......Moana (2016)

"I enjoyed the music and story. So sweet and a good one for the family." 

Next, Book favorites:

First, Carole's pick.............The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan

"This was utterly cute and good. I enjoyed the characters. They were fun and it was nice to see this couple fall in love." 

Now, My pick......Priest of Bones by Peter McLean

"The Godfather meets Peaky Blinders in fantasy. One of the best books I have read this year!!"

Lastly, best covers:

Carole's is on the left and mine is on the right

About the Authors

Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging a long while now. The last couple of years the epic duo have been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.

Friday Night Horror Carole Style: The Undertaker and his Pals

Film Title: The Undertaker and His Pals

Length: 1h and 3 min

Released: (1966)

Genre:  Horror, Comedy 

Rating: R

Where I Got It: YouTube

SUMMARY:

An undertaker and his two friends, who are restaurant owners, drum up business by going out on the town and killing people; the restaurant owners use parts of the bodies for their menu, and the undertaker gets paid by the families to bury the remainder. Their racket goes awry when 2 detectives suspect that something isn't quite kosher.

TRAILER:
N/A

REVIEW:

So my friend decided this was the movie of the evening to watch. I like horror films and I like horror films with some comedy. They do not list this as a parody. In all honesty though…it really was a comedy with some bloody parts and some creepy men riding around. 

The story follows these three men who are hunting people down for their restaurant and morgue services. Honestly…a clever idea that ensures money made and money saved. Clever, brutal men. 

But yes, this was pretty bloody and scary, especially for the time period. I believe it was in the 1960s that this came out. I found it more creepy and funny at the same time. 

The film doesn’t take itself too seriously. There is melodrama, ridiculous scenes, stupid jokes, and hilarious moments. Ooooo Leg of Lamb….my goodness. The most hilarious part was when one of the men was chasing a girl up some stairs. I won’t say more, but I was on the floor!

A silly, but creepy old-time movie. A good one for Halloween if you need a lighter horror film that will make you chuckle. I’ll give this 5 stars. Why? It was stupid, but perfect in every way! 

What is there really to say? I am of course a lover of books, poetry, movies, plays, and music. Nothing is better than enjoying a cup of tea and immersing yourself in another world and forgetting about the world for just a little bit. My cat and chinchillas keep me entertained over here in Michigan (the mitten state of the USA). I'm game for any genre of book or movie. You can find me over at Carole Rae's Random Ramblings.

Audio: Cowboy, cross my heart - Donna Grant

Audio CD, 9 h

Narrator: Rebecca Estrella

Published September 19th 2018 by Tantor Audio (first published August 28th 2018)

Heart of Texas #2

Romantic suspense

For review

My Thoughts

I do not want to spoil too much here since it is not mentioned in the blurb, but there is a lot of suspense. Something sinister is going on at the rodeo and Bryce and Naomi will be caught in the middle of it.

Naomi loves taking photos and she is good at it. But then she comes back to Texas to visit her friend Whitney. And oh those cowboys. Horses! She sure misses it. And then she spots Bryce. Ok so it happened really fast! But it is romance, I can love with it. It sure is a time of turmoil so why can't they fall fast and hard. Something will connect them and I will not say what.

Bryce is actually someone you met in book 1, but that was 12 years ago. It was fun seeing his sister and husband again, and getting his story too. He wants a ranch of his own, he rides the rodeo, well you get it, he is a cowboy.

And boom sparks fly!

Whitney, well ...

<spoiler>Ok so I get it, I do not blame her. They were men of power, but you only had to leave the rodeo to be free! Is that crown really worth it!? Is your friend's life really worth it? Your friend!</spoiler>

The danger is real in this one. The bad guys are evil, and frankly pretty dumb. Omg plan better! You deserve everything you have coming.

Conclusion

A good thrilling book with both romance and suspense.

Narrator

I always like her cowboys book. She does them really well

Cover

He looks hotter on the print cover

Blurb:

New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant takes you deep inside the Texas rodeo scene in the second book in her Heart of Texas series, Cowboy, Cross My Heart, where danger and desire ride side by side . . . Naomi Pierce isn't the type to let a cowboy sweep her off feet. It's not her first rodeo, after all. But when she returns to her Texas hometown, she can't help but be swept up again in the rough-and-tumble world of hard-riding, bronco-busting good-ol'-boys she loved as a girl. She might be here to photograph her Rodeo Queen best friend. But it's one fine-looking cowboy who really captures her eye . . . Brice Harper is all man, all muscle, and all heart. From the moment he rides into the stadium, he can't help but notice the beautiful stranger with a camera watching him from the stands. It doesn't take a zoom lens to see the sparks of instant attraction. But things really heat up when he meets Naomi up-close-and he discovers that someone is stalking her friend. Brice wouldn't be any kind of cowboy if he didn't offer to help the ladies out. But can the rough rider keep this spirited shutterbug out of danger-without risking his heart?

Audio: Summer Bird Blue - Akemi Dawn Bowman

Audio CD, 9 h

Published September 11th 2018 by Tantor Audio

YA fiction

For review

My Thoughts

Why do I keep listening to emotional YA books? I have no idea, and here I am again. Another powerful book.

Rumi was in a car crash and now her sister is dead and she can not deal. She is angry at the world, at her mother, at everyone. She is depressed and she keeps thinking that she should be dead instead of Lea who had it all figured out. Because Rumi does not have it all figured out. She does not know what she wants to do with her life, she does not know what her sexual orientation is. There are so many things she does not know and she believes she has failed when she does not know them. I mean poor kid! Everyone wants to have it all figured out, few do. And it pains to see how she struggles with her grief. She both wants to feel Lea near, and to forget for a while. And to finish one last song...

The book takes place in Hawaii as her mother was from there. It's a beautiful setting to a sad book. It works so well. There are also great side characters. Like her next door neighbor Kai, who doesn't have it figured out either, but who is always there with a smile. And grumpy elderly George who yells at her. They are people she need in different ways.

There was a lot of pidgeon English. Most spoke like that and in audio it works well. I felt like I was there with them.

There is sadness, that is obvious. She has a lot to grief to deal with, and at times I did not know how she ever would pull through and find good things in life again. But she will move on to the next stage of grief eventually.

Conclusion:
A good book with an impact.

Narrator Em Eldridge

So I am not sure who great she was with the accents, but for me they sure worked! Her pidgin was good and I felt I was there with them all. From Kai, to Rumi to old George

Blurb

Rumi Seto spends a lot of time worrying she doesn't have the answers to everything. What to eat, where to go, whom to love. But there is one thing she is absolutely sure of-she wants to spend the rest of her life writing music with her younger sister, Lea. Then Lea dies in a car accident, and her mother sends her away to live with her aunt in Hawaii while she deals with her own grief. Now thousands of miles from home, Rumi struggles to navigate the loss of her sister, being abandoned by her mother, and the absence of music in her life. With the help of the boys next door-a teenage surfer named Kai, who smiles too much and doesn't take anything seriously, and an eighty-year-old named George Watanabe, who succumbed to his own grief years ago-Rumi attempts to find her way back to her music, to write the song she and Lea never had the chance to finish. Aching, powerful, and unflinchingly honest, Summer Bird Blue explores big truths about insurmountable grief, unconditional love, and how to forgive even when it feels impossible. 

TMST: Love your Library

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post on Rainy Day Ramblings where Rainy discuss a wide range of topics from books to blogging. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog.

September 25th: Love Your Library Post
I meant to do a cool post, and then suddenly it was the 24th!

When I could put S on my bike, and when she could walk we started going to this library which is the closest to were we live. 15 min by bike. I am trying to make her love the library like I do but for now she loves it more to say hi and wave to the librarians :) This was the library I went to as a kid and well you never forget your first library!

Of course when I was little I went to the bookmobile cos that one came close by, but going to the real library always felt like a treat

(photo taken by Korsholms Bibliotek)

I always feel joy going to a new library. And even though town is really close I had not been before I went to high school.

via GIPHY

Heaven! Now I seldom go there, instead I browse their catalog and order books that come to the bookmobile I can pick them up. Since we live close to the city limit it stops only a 10 min walk from us. I am just so rarely to town anymore and I love that I can do it this way. They are the best!

(photo by Vaasa Library)

Reasons to Love My libraries:

1. They listen to requests. And I have requested a LOT of books that they then have bought.
2. I like that I can request a book and go and pick it up at the bookmobile since that is closer to me. Before you had to pay for that but now it is free
3. I love that I have 2 libraries that are close to me. And that one has a bookmobile close too. The other one does not but that is cos we live so close to that library.
4. I love that I can borrow books. I love books, but to buy them all would leave me poor as a church mouse.
5. I love how friendly librarians are.
6. Go visit your local library today!

A Blade so Black - LL.McKinney

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: September 25th 2018 by Titan Books Ltd

YA UF PNR

For review

My Thoughts:

Alice in Wonderland. Wonderland being that what Dreams is made of, nightmares and all kinds. And Alice being a teenager who is attacked by a nightmare and saved by Addison Hatter. Yes the Mad Hatter is just some 20 year old (who is immortal and older) and not mad at all, or attending tea parties. Instead he is a fighter that protects us little mortals.

Alice was a normal teen, who is now a superhero of sorts. Her mum was SO over protective. I mean I am all for a mother who is present in YA lit, so many are not. But this mum worried all the time. And yes I get it, we d hear about the black girl who was shot by cops while doing nothing at all. So of course Alice's mum wants her safe and sound at home. But how much was Alice really home? Maybe her mum was right to be mad. Can't have your kid running wild now can we. Honestly how did Buffy do it?

Addison, well he is mysterious and we learn more later. He is in exile and at the same time he has to protect the Wonderland/Earth border. And of course they will hook up some time, what else is an immortal guy for...yes I do wish he had been 20 for real instead.

The bad guy, oh I fear he was the down part of the book. It was all good until the bad guy showed up. He talked like a modern snotty teenager. He was all over Alice. It was frankly weird. Why is she so special? I wish he had been scary or evil. Not so meh.

Personally I wanted more, more of something. A stronger book.

Conclusion:

But it was an interesting story, and a different Alice. More will come as the ending was evil. 

Blurb

The first time the Nightmares came, it nearly cost Alice her life. Now she's trained to battle monstrous creatures in the dark dream realm known as Wonderland with magic weapons and hardcore fighting skills. Yet even warriors have a curfew.

Life in real-world Atlanta isn't always so simple, as Alice juggles an overprotective mom, a high-maintenance best friend, and a slipping GPA. Keeping the Nightmares at bay is turning into a full-time job. But when Alice's handsome and mysterious mentor is poisoned, she has to find the antidote by venturing deeper into Wonderland than she’s ever gone before. And she'll need to use everything she's learned in both worlds to keep from losing her head . . . literally. 

Carole's Sunday Review: Be careful what you wish for

Author: A.C. Hutchinson

Title: Be Careful What You Wish For

Genre: Short Story, Horror

Pages: ebook

Published: October 31st 2015

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)

When David Patzpowski takes his breakfast at a motorway diner, he discovers the clientele to be a little on the strange side.

A random freebie from Amazon! Just what I was looking for. Something short and something a touch spooky. 

The story follows the man who gets everything he wishes for. I can’t say much else…but he is visited by someone who has a message to send him. 

I felt bad for him in a way because I do not really believe he truly understood he had a gift. I don’t want to believe he is a baddie….but still…maybe he did know? He had to have an inkling, but then a certain event happened and I don’t think he really knew that it was a gift. 

But yes, this was a short one. I would’ve liked a little more backstory and more about the power. Was it a power? Was it karma? Was it luck? I wanted more detail. 

Overall, though, this was a pretty good read. Didn’t scare me too much, but it does make you think. I’ll give this 4 stars. 

Audio: Cowboy Seal Christmas - Nicole Helm

Audio CD, 10 h

Published September 4th 2018 by Tantor Audio

Navy SEAL Cowboys #3

Narrator: Abby Craden

Contemporary romance

For review

My Thoughts:
I enjoyed the previous two and I was looking forward to reading Gabe's story.

Gabe was the one who was always smiling in previous books, but not really talking a lot about himself. And I get why, poor man. He has some issues that he carries around. And unlike his friends who has PTSD, he has other things on his mind. But I did like him, but oh how he struggled with his feelings.

Monica is a widow. She has a 10 year old who she is afraid to let out of her sights. And she is the one who will work with the soldiers and their trauma. So of course she does not want to get involved with Gabe. But then he has never come to her, since he has no trauma like that. Anyway, she is a good person and she needs to learn how to stop controlling everything and also to love again.

Which is perfect cos Gabe sure needs someone to love him ;)

They have known each other for a while now as people around them have fallen in love. I knew they would have some ups and downs and that they had. I enjoyed seeing them realise things. And it really was a lovely book that made me want Christmas.

Conclusion
A lovely book

Cover
Sweet

Narrator:
A great voice for this. With range from 10 year olds to men and women

Blurb:
Single mom and Revival Ranch's on-site therapist Monica Finley has dedicated her life to helping brave servicemen and women, but former Navy SEAL Gabe Cortez is the one man whose shell she just can't crack. Yet with the holidays fast approaching, she may finally have a plan. In a bid to get Gabe to open up, she'll ask for as much help as possible-cutting down the Christmas tree, stringing lights, the whole nine yards. Who could possibly be a Grinch with so much holiday cheer in the air? Gabe has always hated Christmas-the holiday never fails to remind him just how alone he truly is. But the more time he spends with Monica and her young son, the more he finds himself drawn to their cozy little family . . . and the more he begins to realize his long-suppressed Christmas dreams may finally be coming true.

Audio: The Secrets She Carried - Barbara Davis

Author Barbara Davis

Narrated by Tiffany Morgan

Publication date Sep 4, 2018 by Tantor Media

Running time 13 hrs 5 min

Sample

Historical fic/Women's fiction

My Thoughts:

I could not really put my finger on what was missing in this novel. I am still not sure. But I knew it was something when I fell asleep (not the first time), and did not rewind so to say. Instead I went forward and did not feel I had missed much. That is when I do know that something is missing for me. And I do not know what!

Maybe it was that it was two parts? I felt like the Adele story could have been a really good and tragic book. But now we had to read about Leslie too, and sure her part could have been good too, but maybe without the Adele bits. I never got Leslie's obsession and why Jay did not help her more.

And the end was the final nail in the coffin. There was still one road not taken and instead we got a haha, what a good book that would be. No, I want to see how that turned out!

So we have two stories that just do not flow well together...I guess. And maybe I did not take to Leslie. Adele I got.

I also wondered about so many things! Like yes I get that your mum died, but why did you stay away for 30 years? Why didn't your gran just come and visit you? Who did your gran marry? We never heard about that. Poor grandmother Maggie!

Conclusion:

Only ok from my point of view.

Narrator

I did like her, but maybe her voice was too smooth. I do listen a lot in the dark after all. She had such a pleasant voice and she did make the book better. 

Of course at the same time, her voice was very even since the book did not really go up and down either.

Blurb:

When a young woman returns to North Carolina after a thirty-year absence, she finds that the once grand tobacco plantation she called home holds more secrets than she ever imagined.

Though Peak Plantation has been in her family for generations, Leslie Nichols can’t wait to rid herself of the farm left to her by her estranged grandmother Maggie—and with it the disturbing memories of her mother’s death, her father’s disgrace, and her unhappy childhood. But Leslie isn’t the only one with a claim to Peak.

Jay Davenport, Peak’s reclusive caretaker, has his own reasons for holding onto the land bequeathed to him by Leslie’s grandmother. Before she died, Maggie hinted at a terrible secret surrounding Adele Laveau, a lady’s maid who came to Peak during the 1930s and died under mysterious circumstances. Jay is haunted by Maggie’s story, yet the truth eludes him—until Leslie uncovers a cryptically marked grave on the property.

As they delve into the mystery of Adele’s death, Leslie and Jay discover shocking secrets that extend deep into the roots of Leslie’s family tree—secrets that have the power to alter her life forever.

Audio: London's Wicked Affair - Anabelle Bryant

Audio CD, 9 pages

Narrator: Victoria Aston

Published August 28th 2018 by Tantor Audio

Series: Midnight Secrets #1

Historical romance

For review

My Thoughts

I thought for the entire book that his name was London...ooops, it was Lunden, well close enough I say.

Lunden has a dark secret and he has been away from polite society since he was 15 and his brother died, and the gossip said Lunden did it. Poor Lunden, all he wanted was to mourn his brother and the gossip mongers made it impossible to even be in the city. So he fled. And I get that he wanted to keep things secret, but at the same time, he suffered too.

Amelia must marry, her father is ill and wants to see her happy. But she is one of those oh so common heroines, lol, outspoken and a disaster. When I heard of things she had done I just wanted to laugh. he is also very protective of of her friend (and I am glad that her book is next cos what on earth is going on with Charlotte and her husband!?).

Lunden has things to take care of and visits his old friend (I know I know, Matthew made mistakes but I really wanted him to get a book too, hopefully he will. Poor guy!!!) And yes there is Amelia again, all grown up and beautiful.

He helps her find a husband and have a bit of fun. And obvi they will fall in love and the drama is that dark secret. And he is all brooding and no you deserve better than me! I wanted to shake him and say, but hello, look at what she is offered. You ARE the better alternative!

At one time I gasped and went around with a big grin on my face ;)

Conclusion

Secrets, wicked deals and romance. I enjoyed it

Narrator:

I always like Victoria Aston. She is perfect for his rom!

Blurb

Lunden Beckford, Duke of Scarsdale, has chosen to exile himself far from London, with its painful memories and cruel gossip. Forced back to town on business, he's eager to make his stay as brief as possible. But first, he must honor his promise to find a suitable husband for his friend's little sister. On one hand, Amelia Strathmore has grown into a stunning, statuesque beauty. On the other, the willful chit is more likely to scandalize a drawing room with her outspoken opinions than blush prettily. At least she agrees to accept his help—if he fulfills

certain conditions.

Though duty-bound to marry, Amelia longs to secretly enjoy some of life's freedoms first. In this, as in many things, Lunden proves an excellent guide. In fact, Amelia's girlhood admiration for her brother's friend is fast becoming something far less innocent. Lunden believes he's known too much darkness to offer any woman happiness. Yet Amelia is starting to see how much pleasure can lie within the right partnership—especially if one is willing to be a little wicked.