A powerful autocrat with a well-hidden rebellious streak, Malcolm MacCabe doesn’t need another beautiful mistress–he needs an obedient wife. Obedience is not one of Amelia’s virtues. But he’s too enthralled by her wit and passion to let her go–even if it means risking the political reputation he is building to save his clan.
Despite their intentions, every wicked embrace binds them together. But as their conflicting desires combust into insatiable hunger and unavoidable ruin, they must decide whether to pursue their personal destinies alone–or fight for the love that could destroy them both.
Comment: This is the second installment in the Muses of Mayfair series, about a group of friends who share specific and uncommon interests in a society where ladies are supposed to be all the same. In the first book we met Madeleine, who wanted to be an actress, and in this second book the heroine is Amelia, who secretly writes books the aristocracy people she interacts with would not approve.
In general, I did like this story and I've appreciated the elements used by the author to make it interesting, such as the secret Amelia has, the fact she and Malcolm were apparently reluctant to start something when that could hurt Prudence's feelings, but I will say that I was a little disappointed in how things progressed after this more wowing beginning.
Amelia is a very complex character because she likes writing and does it for pleasure and to prove she is able to accomplish something many would not believe she was able to. She is also a beautiful woman and is aware of how that impacts men so she has been successful in delaying an engagement because people more easily accept a refusal if she plays her beauty card. She has a group of friends in Madeleine and Prudence, and even on Madeleine's sister in law, but she also comes cross as being a bit aloof. I will have to say I didn't fully warm up to her and while I liked she and Malcolm eventually found their HEA, this story didn't marvel me.
Malcolm is a more likable person, in my opinion. He loves his Scottish lands and traditions and is even slightly put off to have to go to London and be in politics, but it's an annoyance he still will take on for the sake of those who depend on him. He is immediately taken with Amelia but would put that attraction aside if Prudence had shown any sign of interest in him, which convinced me he would do the right thing, in detriment of his own preferences. I also liked he was concerned about his family and the tenants in his lands.
To me, the issue of why this story didn't work as greatly as it could was how the relationship between Malcolm and Amelia progressed. On one hand, they take things slowly from the moment they decide they need to be married, but I feel there was no chemistry between them and the fact Amelia was more eloquent in speaking to him than Prudence was not enough to tell me they were that suitable. Also, a good part of the conflict was set on Amelia's writing and how that was a secret, but I don't feel the plot development portrayed this element in the best way.
As a matter of fact, it felt that Amelia's big secret was only a convenient way to justify why they would need to be at odds, or why Amelia had to feel she could not tell Malcolm something like that right away. It is true that many husbands would not accept the news well, but in my opinion, this was not developed very well, and Malcolm even has an out of proportion reaction about it mostly because of when he finds out, and not as much for the secret itself.
The romance was not very captivating to me. I feel they didn't really work out, or at least I don't think the author did the best to make it seem so. Their personalities were OK, I've liked Malcolm more, but as a couple I don't think they were that special. I think the romance development in the first book was better achieved because their feelings seem to be in better evidence. Besides, the romance between Malcolm and Amelia was only set on their physical attraction and how they could go head to head as equals. I've missed some more sweet scenes or situations where both their vulnerabilities would be one more reason for one person to want to help/support/defend the other.
Isn't it interesting how often it all comes down to how each reader perceives that a premise was executed? Because the premise sounds interesting enough, but if the main reason Amelia doesn't come clean to Malcolm about her writing is "because the plot needs her to keep her mouth shut", then all my interest is gone too.
ReplyDeleteHello!
DeleteThat was my impression from a certain moment on. At first I can accept she wouldn't say because she could not trust him right away, but once they were married, even if the marriage was one of convenience, why not? Or, perhaps, the author didn't write it in a way that I felt Amelia had to keep it a secret for fear.
That's exactly it; the reason the text gives has to be convincing and consistent with both characterization and, for lack of a better word, worldbuilding; if/when the author fails to convince readers that yes, this character would do this, under this circumstances, for these reasons, then the only thing left is, "they did it because I needed them to do it", and that's never satisfying to read.
DeleteLike you said, perhaps other readers saw it differently.
DeleteI'll read the third book soon, and I hope that one is more appealing.