MASTERED BY LOVE

Author: Stephanie Laurens ISBN: 9780061246371 8/2009 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Regency 1816

As the mysterious leader of the Bastion Club known as "Dalziel", Royce Varisey, tenth Duke of Wolverstone, served his country for decades, facing dangers untold. But as the holder of one of England's most august noble titles, he must now take on the gravest duty of all: marriage. Yet the young ladies the grand dames would have him consider are predictably boring. Far more tempting is his castle's willfull and determinedly aloof chatelaine, Minerva Chesterton. Beneath her serence façuade lies a woman of smoldering sensuality, one who will fills his days with comfort and his nights with sheer pleasure. Determined to claim her, he embarks on a seduction to prove his mastery over every inch of her body... and every piece of her heart.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Stephanie Laurens sets her historical romance MASTERED BY LOVE (the 8th in the Bastion Club series) in Regency era England near the border with Scotland, where Royce Henry Varisey, 10th Duke of Wolverstone, returns after a sixteen-year absence to bury his father and take up the reins of his dukedom. One of those duties is procuring a wife and securing an heir. While this should be a pleasurable task, it takes on a serious note when rumors hit the ton that the Prince Regent is mired in debt and looking for a way to seize Wolverstone’s assets, should Royce die without an heir. Word on the street is that there are toadies sufficiently loyal to Prinny that Royce should expect attempts on his life.

Complicating matters is Wolverstone’s chatelaine, Minerva Chesterton. She’s an orphan who was taken in by the family when she was a child, and now she is actually beyond a decently marriageable age, having put off any serious suitors—because she’s had a crush on Royce for decades. Despite her obsession with him, she promised each of his parents on their deathbeds to see him settled in his position and suitably married. And she doesn’t deem herself eligible to be on his list of possible mates. Will Royce be able to get beyond the expectation that all Varisey marriages are loveless legal contracts? Will Minerva be able to get over her seeming deficiencies in time to help Royce fulfill his ducal obligations?

Laurens finally reveals the master spy, Dalziel, a shadowy agent who served during the war with France (and boss to all those bad boys in the Bastion Club). Royce came up with the name Dalziel as an homage to distant relatives, and it suited him throughout the past sixteen years while serving his country. The only failure during his tenure was to miss catching the last traitor, one who had to be well-placed in government or society. He gets his chance to finally realize what love is and that he truly loves Minerva when, like all Bastion Club members, her life is threatened by the traitor.

Laurens balances plot, character development, action, sexual tension and resolution perfectly. It is a bit predictable for me, but that’s okay, because it’s good to know that when I read a Laurens novel, I will be entertained on so many levels as well as learn more about the Regency era. I do love how Wolverstone actually buys into the idea that he has to be just like his father regarding relationships, just because of genetics and how he was raised. He’s nothing like his father in any other way, so why would he believe that tripe? And Miss Minerva—she sells herself short so many times. I’m surprised Royce has the patience to keep his eyes on her for so long. Well, if he were just like his father he wouldn’t. Too bad his father exiled him from home for being a spy, albeit a good spy, for his crown and country. He could have learned a lot from his son about being a good man during those years. The men in Laurens’ novels all take the opportunity to grow and to take up good causes. It’s very satisfying to find such champions.

Laurens fans will be very pleased with this concluding novel in the Bastion Club series, MASTERED BY LOVE. There is plenty of love and seduction while still catering to our need for a good story with action, intrigue, and a bit of a history lesson.

Susan Barton