Afternoon Delight: An Illicit Engagement by Cecilia Gray

Posted October 16, 2014 by Sophia Rose in Afternoon Delight, Reviews / 6 Comments

Tags: An Illicit Engagement, Cecilia Gray, Historical Romance, The Gentlemen Next Door

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

An Illicit Engagement

by Cecilia Gray

Series: #2 The Gentlemen Next Door
Genres: Historical Romance
Published by Gray Life
Released on December 22, 2013
Pages: 54
Format: eBook
Source: NetGalley

The second book in The Gentleman Next Door series was another delightful romp. It features the best friend from the previous story as the heroine.

Chastity is determined to marry a man who can forward the family’s shipping business particularly in the South Pacific. Her family may be from trade, but she is still an heiress and invited to the best that society has to offer. She sets her cap for a man with clout in government in the area of shipping and trade. It is then that she encounters her next door neighbor, Lord Lucas Willoughby, known as the Matchmaking Baron because six of his fiancées found other men. Chastity feels Lucas’ reputation can help her get the man she has her eye on and it does, but in the mean time, Lucas himself has gained her attention and is interested in her.

The second story had the nice twist of Chastity coming from a working class family and having to decide what is more important to her whether it is the family business or a chance on love. She knows what it means to live poor so the choice isn’t that easy. I did feel that she ran roughshod over Lucas in the process though she did wake him up to what he had done wrong all those times with the ones before, but it was still a heartwarming story with its humorous moments. I did feel the romance needed a bit more teasing out, but it was a mild quibble.

Fast, fun and engaging with vast appeal for those who like their romance sweet and set against a historical backdrop.

My thanks to Net Galley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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Sophia Rose

I was born and raised near Sacramento, CA. I have read since I was four years old and developed tastes that run the gamut of literature. I went away to college and have a degree in education, a certificate in family history research, and a certificate in social work. I worked for a non-profit agency with low income families for 20 years which included being responsible for the children’s library and promoting/teaching adult literacy. I have lived in Southeast Michigan for the last 18 years and I am currently a book addicted homemaker with a cat and husband who keep me grounded. Recently, I made it a challenge to review each book that I have read as a favor to author friends who said reviews are important. I have done reviews for Good Reads, Amazon, eBay, and Smashwords, but mostly at Goodreads and Amazon.

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Lover Of Romance

6 years ago

lovely review!! I haven’t really heard much about this author, but I will have to look into these. I do love the historical’s.

Reply to Lover Of Romance

There four short sweet historical romances in this collection. If you’ve read Georgette Heyer or one of older Historical Romance writers, they are like that.