WhiskeyintheJar Romance

"Besides," he added, "we're engaged."

"Not...really."

His gaze locked with hers in the mirror as he stroked one finger along the edge of her bodice. "We could be."

She was so intent on what he was doing with his finger that his words didn't quite resister. "We could be what?"

"Really engaged. To each other." His finger dipped just beneath the edge to skim over the rise of her breasts in a slow caress. Watching him do it in the mirror made it so erotic that she had to plant one hand on the dressing table just to keep steady. "Why... Why would we...do that?" she choked out.

I never fully warmed up to our main characters Edwin and Clarissa, although I thought they were less high and mighty in their thinking they were witty and better than everyone else later in the story. Their marriage of convenience hampered the natural romance feelings and a lot of resolution was left until the last 20% or so of the story, again missing a feeling of natural progression. The villain was a little over-the-top and it's resolution was also rushed at the end. I've read a few other books by this author and not had a problem but this particular one, had a style that felt more dry to me.

And like I said in a reading update, love the hero's thoughts and feelings on a woman's right to say no in any circumstance but there were times where their conversations made me feel like I was reading a pamphlet on teaching women's rights and explaining rape. The word natural again comes to mind and how it didn't feel like this aspect flowed naturally so much as I felt lectured to. However, since some people still don't get it, these statements/ideals can never be said or printed enough.