Ethan MacCarrick makes a mistake when he accompanies a married woman home and is caught by her husband. Ten years later, he's scarred and bent on revenge when he meets the couple's daughter Maddie. However, he doesn't find it so easy to forget Maddie after they share a night together. Maddie is strong and doesn't much put up with Ethan's waffling which leads to lots of angst.
This is the third book in the series and can be read as a stand-alone book. Both Ethan and Maddie are multi-layered characters with lots of charisma and strength. Kresley Cole is more known for her paranormal books, but she's equally good when writing her Scottish historical romance. ( )

A barely-veiled rape fantasy. It's Outlander all over again. Just...no. Is there some sort of niche romance subgenre for women who like to fantasize about being abused by Scottish lairds?! I mean, honestly, I try not to yuck other people's yum, but this is ridiculous. ( )

4.75 Stars

I think this was the best of the 3 book series.
You really never knew what was going to happen next.
The romance & passion between Ethan and Madeleine was searing hot.
Awesome read! ( )

I think my heart stuttered a few times in this book. It was just that good! My emotions were all over the place, mostly hating but loving Ethan at the same time. He was such a vengeful asshole!


Ethan MacCarrick had a grievous wrong done to him ten years ago which left him with an ugly scar on the side of his face. He took his revenge but is still angry over it. The scar put a serious damper on his callous womanizing ways. Now, women run from him so he has stopped even trying.

When he sees Madeleine Van Rowen at a masked event, he takes an immediate interest which is unlike him. He decides to go toy with her for his own amusement but it turns into something more sinister when he learns she is the daughter of the people responsible for his scar. He decides to make her pay while he amuses himself.

Madeleine has had a hard life. She's in London for a last-ditch effort to get a rich husband to take her out of the French slum she lives in. She meets a huge masked Scot who takes her breath away but has her running right back to the slums the next day.

Maddy was a survivor and she had me laughing at some of her antics. If anyone deserved a better life, it was her.

This was the final booking the trilogy and I was sad to see it end. ( )

Wonderful angsty story. Great characterization, great pacing, great plotting. There wasn't a slow moment in the whole book. It didn't have a lot of outside stuff going on, no lame spy plot or silly ton stuff. Just a good solid relationship story as Ethan learned to love and Maddy learned to trust. Nice feel for the times and nice details of the slums etc., in Paris in the mid 1800s. Beautiful love story with some wonderful quotes. I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Highly recommended for historical romance readers. ( )