Review: Heart's Desire (Lords of Chance, #2) by Wendy LaCapra

Print Length: 324 pages

Publisher: Entangled: Scandalous (May 13, 2019)

From Goodreads.com: Lady Clarissa has decided to live life on her terms. After the end of a ten-year betrothal, she wants nothing to do with marriage or the men of the ton. Least of all her friend’s brother, the very charming Lord Markham, or Hearts, as many ladies call the oh-so-handsome earl.

Markham pursues relationships with no ties that bind. Acting the rake leaves everyone satisfied...until he overhears a wager that could lead to Clarissa’s ruin. He can’t help but step in and claim she’s his intended bride.

Clarissa is appalled. She did not need to be saved. Reluctantly, she agrees to the fake courtship, if only to experience what the rakish Markham can offer. But when lust becomes love, Clarissa must make up her own terms and bet it all on Hearts.

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My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

While I didn't find this novel to be as good as the first in the series, it wasn't without its charms. The steady pace keeps the reader invested, making this the perfect read for a rainy day, and the characters are in their own way interesting. 

One of the things that kept me from enjoying the story more was the tunnel vision that seemed to plague Clarissa. While it is easy to understand why a young woman would be weary of men, I hated the way she lumped them all into the same category. I also found it very hard to believe that she could be a virgin simply by the way she spoke to Percy. For someone who claimed to no next to nothing about the art of being with someone, she certainly had no qualms pushing his boundaries. 

There are some points in this story that reference the first novel, and while it is easy enough to understand what is going on without having read it, doing so will give this second book more depth. 

Overall, I believe this novel will appeal to those who like historical romances with strong characters - and I would read more from this author. In fact, I am super excited for the third installment in this series.

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                 Heart's Desire is available from Amazon.com