Lady Derring Takes a Lover audiobook

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. No one, particularly not her late husband, had ever valued her for wits. Oh, but she possessed them. Starting off the Palace of the Rogues series, Lady Derring Takes a Lover, is a magnificent return to historicals for Long. The first thirty percent of the book was perfection with our heroine Delilah being told by her solicitor that her late husband was in massive debt and eventually winding up going into business with said late husband's mistress. Their Grand Palace on the Thames boarding house becomes the setting for smuggling intrigue and romance. “Derring never laughed at my jokes. But I laughed at all of his, even though I didn’t find him amusing. He sulked if I didn’t,” Delilah said. “It’s a small but killing thing, isn’t?” Delilah and the mistress, Angelique, start off very wary of each other but with fantastic telling some truths and learning lessons story writing, Long gives us a female relationship that you will ship hard. This tandem of women from different social levels and impoverished by the same man bonding together was just brilliant. Long played them off each other beautifully, they had their separate strengths and weaknesses but ultimately, their hearts beat for the same reasons. If looking for a immensely satisfying female relationship in your romance, this is it. “I am the king’s favorite hunting dog.” Our hero, Captain Tristan Hardy, is all that is strong, contained, and eventually burning. Delilah and Angelique start off with more of the focus and are so strong, that Tristan ended up a little bit to the edges of the spotlight. It takes a little bit before Tristan and Delilah really get going, around 40%, which I know will make some antsy, but while their time seems a bit shortened by how full this first in series book is, they tended to make the most of it. From the first time Tristan sees Delilah, to the mandatory drawing room nights, and finally to the last 10% of their story, they had chemistry. Tristan might not have felt as fully fleshed out as I like, but let me tell you, the man can grovel/make things right with the top tier of romance heroes. The notion of seducing her made him breathless, because he thought it was both possible and inadvisable for a dozen reasons. While Delilah is living at and running the boarding house because it was the only thing not repossessed, Tristan arrives there because he is the captain of the blockade. His investigation into a cigar smuggling ring has led him to believe Delilah's husband was involved, along with The Palace of the Rogues, renamed The Grand Palace on the Thames by Delilah and Angelique. I thought the cigar smuggling investigation worked to get these two together but it moved very slowly and tended to feel almost ignored at times, not the strength of the novel. It is obvious the history of the former Palace of the Rogues is going to be the plot thread stringing the series together as we get a couple hints and clues here that will probably add to the building of an eventually completed puzzle (series). It was nearly as much a collision as a kiss, at first, fierce and hard, as if they were both intent on punishing themselves and each other for wanting this. Long did a great job interweaving secondary characters to create a full ensemble cast but I did think it took away from time I would have preferred to go to Delilah and Tristan. I loved Tristan's relationship with his Lt., providing a wonderful showing and not telling insight into his personality and character, wouldn't change a thing about Delilah and Angelique's friendship, but a very small secondary romance and some other minor focuses on characters could have been taken out. There is some on fire commentary dealing with women's rights but I did almost cringe at a very close to feeling forced mansplaining moment. There is some definite first in a series fullness happening here but again, Tristan and Delilah's moments are impactful when they have them. “Oh, now I see. You’re that Captain Hardy.” The beginning was 5 stars, the middle 3.5ish, and the ending brought it back to 5 stars, for me. All in all, I was highly impressed with this first installment and am dying to read the next in the series, which I think will be about Angelique and a mysterious stranger that arrives late in the story. A brilliant female friendship, a loaded chemistry couple, and an ensemble cast that pulls you into their world, don't miss this one. “Know that I am at your mercy, now and forever.”

READ MY REVIEW ON THE BLOG (live on February 26th) “Delilah . . .” he said softly, suddenly. And her name almost sounded like a song. Ahh how long I've been waiting for Julie Anne Long to return to Historical Romance. Finally, FINALLY she gives us a delightful story that will have any fan of this sub genre laugh and swoon.Lady Delilah Derring makes an oath: never again she will be dependent on a man. Her late husband left nothing but debt and a bitter taste. Except for a shabby, old house with a bad reputation on the Thames she has nothing much to call her own. Together with her new friend Angelique, her husband's former mistress they clean the house, furnish it and give it a grand name.When the boarding house "The Great Palace on the Thames" opens its doors Captain Hardy is highly interested in renting a room. Not because he needs a place to stay but because Lady Derring's late husband seems to have been involved in smuggling goods and thus cheating the crown of tax money. Tristan is the king's enforcer, a blockade commander. He is the best and immensely valued by the crown. When he meets Delilah he is instantly drawn to her. But being a potential smuggler's widow makes her a suspect, too. For now.Delilah's need for independence is a theme that takes you through the whole story. She has always been a means to an end, for everyone, and for once in her life she doesn't want to need anyone and especially not a man. She's fiercely independent and proud, intelligent, witty with a finely honed tongue and when hurt, she lashes out and kills with words. I couldn't be mad at her, not once did I fault her for it because, while it sometimes felt unfair for the receiving end I never felt that she was malicious. She has a kindness about her that Captain Hardy finds irresistible. “I think that the reason the world contains people like you and people like me is so that I can keep you safe should your kindness land on people who do not deserve it." Tristan is a right badass. Taciturn, seemingly stoic and unmoved there is a big amount of mischief that made me fall head over heels in love with him. He has a subtle, dry sense of humor that made me laugh quite a bit. “The pillow was fluffy and the fire most warm.” “I’ve little use for fires that aren’t warm, myself,” Tristan said. But there is also a vulnerable side about him that you will see later on in the story. I loved how smitten he was with Delilah, how he didn't hide it, that he respected her and boy, the man was quite the sensual seducer. His smiles, so rare and far between felt like something profound just happened. He allowed her space in which to be herself. He did not assume that what she had to say could possibly have no merit, because she was a woman. There are some side characters that add to the depth of the story and the epilogue gives you a hint who we'll see next in this series. Angelique, Delilah's new friend and business partner is her husband's former mistress. This in itself is an unusual constellation but they make it work and grow close and along with the main characters I fell in love with Angelique, who was astute, clever and a little jaded but at the core she had a buttery soft spot for Delilah. I'm looking forward to learning more about her.Julie Anne Long returns with a bang to historical romance. LADY DERRING TAKES A LOVER makes for an entirely delightful and entertaining read which, admittedly may be a little slow in the beginning, but the deeper you delve into the story the more it draws you in. The romance is at the heart of this story but spun around it is a little bit of a mystery about the smuggling ring Captain Hardy is trying to break up. I can't recommend this author enough. Her dry humor is understated and maybe that's why it's all the funnier, her writing style is so beautiful and the more you read, the more emotional it becomes. If you want to try a new historical romance series don't hesitate to pick this one up. It's definitely worth it. “I love you because here you are standing patiently, and you are waiting for me to speak because you want to hear what I have to say because what I say and think matters to you. Because you have a tender heart, whether you know it or not, and a magnificently tough hide. Because your soul is fathoms deep and you speak in poetry and you don’t even know it."

Solid 3.5 Stars I love JAL’s books, the humor, her writing and dialogue is what usually makes it a hit read for me, but I just wasn’t as engaged with this story the way I wanted to be. It definitely has that first book in the series syndrome. But with that said, I’m very excited for book 2!🙌🏽________________________________________OMG she's writing historicals again!!!!🙌🏽

This was a fun historical romance! The heroine's husband dies and she teams up with her husband's mistress and her maid to open a boarding house from the only property she was left by her husband when she realizes her husband was in crippling debt. Tristan is determined to figure out who is smuggling cigars and his investigations lead to the heroine's deceased husband. He decides to rent a room at the boarding house to see if the women running the house are in on it. Of course, Tristan starts falling for Delilah. The people who stay at the boarding house were so fun and I do enjoy a good romance of someone trying to get close to someone else for a purpose and falling for them in the process. I really enjoyed this! There was the mystery of who was smuggling the cigars and, of course, the romance! This was a fun book from Julie Ann Long and I'm excited to read more from her!

This book was simply delicious. I loved everything about it. I loved the set up, the conflict, the characters, the setting, the twists and turns, everything. I loved that I didn't know how it would end. I loved that every character reacted and behaved in believable ways. I loved that these people *felt* like they were of their time rather than modern characters in a historical setting. Julie Anne Long is so funny and clever, I found myself chuckling and laughing out loud several times, and then sighing the next. The lady and her captain gave me those wonderful pangs in my chest that are so difficult to conjure. The hero was a damn delight and the heroine was expertly and perfectly drawn. They were both so loveable and imperfect.I loved every moment of this wonderful novel and I'm so grateful that this is the beginning of a series! WOOOT!!

Title: Lady Derring Takes a LoverSeries: The Palace of Rogues #1Author: Julie Anne LongRelease date: February 26, 2019Cliffhanger: NoGenre: historical romanceThis is my first Julie Anne Long book! I know, I know. Where have I been? Thanks to my girl Astrid (once again) I've found another author to faithfully follow in the genre. I think this is going to be the year I fully get back into historical romance because I have been enjoying an amazing run in the past couple of months with them! Julie Anne Long has such a distinct style to her writing that sets her apart from other authors. I was honestly one of the most refreshing discoveries I've had in a long time because of it. This first book in the Palace of Rogues series centers around Countess Delilah and Captain Tristan Hardy. Delilah has just been widowed and discovers that her husband has been keeping some very important things from her. But then, it doesn't really surprise her, because she's always been treated as if she's just a means to an end. A commodity for other people to make use of, rather than seen for the bright and brave woman she is. First she was auctioned off to the highest bidder to save her family from ruin, and then she was only useful to her husband to produce an heir. Spending so long feeling invisible has made her somewhat bitter towards men, and even though she's in a desperate situation, she can't help but feel like a caged bird who has finally been given its freedom. No one, particularly not her late husband, had ever valued her for wits. Oh, but she possessed them.She has debt collectors knocking at her door to repossess anything they can get their hands on. Her meeting with his solicitor is already grim, and then things sink comically worse when her husband's mistress barges in asking for her share of his estate. To say she was having a bad day would be an understatement. This is where you get the first taste of the heroine's strong character, because not only does she not fall apart, but she seeks out her husband's mistress and invites her to become her partner in a risky business venture. Lady Derring is the proud new owner of a shabby property in the sketchy part of London, the sole item she gains from her unsatisfactory marriage to a man fifteen years her senior. It may be filthy and neglected, but it's hers. Previously an establishment of questionable morality named the Palace of Rogues, she envisions transforming it to a respectable boarding house called The Grand Palace on the Thames. That in itself is pretty funny, but they way Delilah always tells everyone, "Here at the Grand Palace on the Thames..." in such a ceremonious way always made me laugh. She so seriously expected people to believe that the boarding house isn't in a crime ridden neighborhood by the docks, but rather an elite place where anyone who is anyone wanted to stay. The rules they concocted to make the place more comfortable for the guests were also hilarious, especially the swear jar and the rules forcing guests to eat and spend time together. Captain Tristan is as taciturn and unsociable as they come, so it was highly entertaining to see him attempting to converse with the quirky characters staying there. Tristan is an unobtrusive character that sneaks up on you. His droll, dry humor is snarky but not in an in your face kind of way. As a career military man, he's very strictly regimented, staunchly honorable, and self-possessed. Then his playful side comes out by the beautiful Delilah and you see him blooming right before your very eyes. She's able to loosen the tight control over himself that he's held so rigidly for his entire life. He isn't the type to reveal what he's feeling, so when she earns a tilted smile or a slip in his composure it's meaningful. When he'd devilishly tease her in that subtle sarcastic way of his, I couldn't get enough. “I don’t suppose you often lose at anything, Captain Hardy.” “Not since that one time, lo these many years ago.”“You and I are very alike, I think, Captain Hardy.” “Ah. Does your beard begin to darken at about five o’clock, too?”The romance is a slow burn build. I'm definitely a fan of that because the tension and chemistry hold a lot of heat when they're forced to simmer. These two had a fantastic burn that built in intensity in a way that I wasn't expecting. They're all about the teasing, hot glances, and daring comments that make the other just a little weak-kneed. Though it did take a while to surface, you did see the attraction and her effect on him immediately. And he's totally incapable of understanding the unfamiliar feelings he stirs because he's never had that type of reaction to a woman before. She makes him feel out of control and way out of his comfort zone. I loved all of the characters, even Angelique. She and Delilah built an unlikely friendship, and they were very much opposites in personality, but they also felt a bond because of how they'd been wronged by the men they loved. The boardinghouse was their opportunity to stand on their own two feet and work for their independence so they'd never have to be dependent on anyone ever again. Delilah's lingering naivety and desire to see the world through a rose colored glasses was in direct contrast to Angelique's cynical and distrustful nature. Though she wasn't unkind, she hadn't been as sheltered as her friend, and she'd experienced a world of heartache. I'm very excited to read her book after meeting her hero at the end of the story!There was a little mystery involved which I thought was well done. As the Captain works in secret to ferret out the criminal he's hunting, he realizes that the end of his investigation could break sweet Delilah in ways he didn't intend. I loved this one so much! I only shaved a bit off my rating because it did take me a little while to engage in the beginning and get sucked in. It was far from boring, but it did feel a little slow and that's somewhat expected with the first in a series. Also, I would have liked to learn more about his past because we only learned the bare minimum, and I was expecting him to open up and reveal more about himself. Overall, I loved Tristan and Delilah together and he even showed a romantic side in the end that I had no idea he had in him. If you're looking for a new HR series to follow, give this one a shot! I'll definitely be reading the next installment as well as exploring her backlist as soon as I can. Never had pleasure so owned him. So fully consumed him. Never had it so thoroughly relieved him, if momentarily, of the burden of being himself, the man who held up the world.FOLLOW SMOKIN HOT BOOK BLOG ON:

This was an interesting story that mostly worked. I loved Delilah pretty much from the start. She finds herself penniless after her husband dies and I loved how determined she is and resourceful and courageous. I particularly liked her efforts to create a family from those willing to stick with her—including her husband's equally-destitute mistress. Seriously, the friendship between her and Angelique was outstanding and the secondary cast of mismatched characters was delightful.The mystery at the heart of the story was weak tea with lamesauce. But since I didn't really consider this a mystery I didn't really care that much. Tristan was a harder weakness to overlook. He's not awful, or anything. He's just very much the stoic self-made man with a dedication to doooty that drives him to be hard. And successful. And ruthless. And suspicious. And junk. I'd have liked this story much better if there had been any hint of his softening through the course of the story as he gets to know Delilah. But the author saves it all up for a major transformation at the end and I found that much less engaging. His transformation was gorgeous, don't get me wrong. And his tortured poem at the end was simply perfect.So I ended up liking this story very well. I loved the little band of congenial misfits and Delilah is a delight. So this is a solid four star read for me and I look forward to more in this series.A note about Steamy: There are two explicit sex scenes putting this in the middle of my steam tolerance. I wish they had been better integrated into the emotional arc of the characters/story, but no. Sadly.

On Kindle sale today 21st Sept 2020 for USD 1.99(Tropes: Widow, Riches to Rags, Opposites Attract, Class Difference, Unstarched (heroine)Julie Ann Long is always a bit hit or miss for me – or rather super-hit or super-miss – so I started this a little sceptic. But it’s without a doubt in historicals JAL shines.** - “What brings you back to The Grand Palace on the Thames, Captain Hardy?” His small, intimate smile removed the bones from her knees. “So you do remember me, Lady Derring.” She ignored the smile and remembered that her blood was blue, even if keys jingled at her hips now.**Quick plot: After her husband has died, all that is left to Lady Delilah is a derelict building down by the docks and no money. As a solution she joins forces with her husband’s mistress, Angelique, and they open a boarding house to make a living. It attracts all kinds of characters, and Captain Tristan Hardy unsettles Delilah in ways she has never experienced. I love how Delilah grabs a bad situation and really turns it around, slowly discovering strengths and weaknesses she has never known she possessed. While she doesn’t meet Tristian until the 20% (which is really a bit late if you ask me), their interaction is fantastic.- He paused in the doorway. “Perhaps a rag affixed to a pole or a mop would help with the top of the window. And perhaps it would be wise to lock the door behind me.” She cast a glance over her shoulder again. “Thank you, sir. I should never have worked any of that out on my own. Thank goodness a man came along.”He closed the door gently behind him. If he was not mistaken, she’d just taken the piss out of him.- She could not recall ever before meeting a man who reverberated after he was gone. She wasn’t certain it was entirely pleasant; she did not like the realization that her senses could be so easily overcome without her permission, because she didn’t like being reminded of vulnerabilities. But she was also oddly regretful, as if a stirring piece of music had been interrupted.- Drinking, spitting, or smoking will not be tolerated in the drawing room when ladies are present, and rough language will be fined one pence per word. We’ve a jar, you see.” “A jar.” He said this with every evidence of fascination. “But we also have a withdrawing room for gentlemen, in which they can unleash their baser impulses in case the effort of restraint becomes too much to bear.” Lady Derring was very dry. “What a relief to hear. Tethering instincts wears a devil out.”- (Angelique) “Well, did it work? Did Captain Hardy emerge from his shell like a vulnerable, fluffy baby chicken?” Delilah was reeling as if she’d run headlong into a wall. “I mentioned childbirth,” she said dazedly. “Quite irritably. And I don’t quite remember why.”- “It’s just that he’s so very irritating,” she said rather vehemently, in a low voice. “One wants to combat his certainty.” (Angelique) “You do. I don’t. I know better. And by irritating I think you mean desirable in a frightening way.” “Nonsense.” It was exactly what she meant.- “You seem to excel at so very much here at The Grand Palace on the Thames. Yet you can’t seem to disguise how much you want me.” “Well, Captain Hardy, I must take issue with your assessment, on the grounds that I’m not trying to disguise it at all.” Holy—! His breath left him in a gust.- His fingers traced the pulse in her throat. He let his breath play over her skin as he whispered, “Imagine how you feel now . . . and multiply it by a thousand. That’s how it would be.” He stepped back. “Because you’ll have to imagine, you see, as we agreed we shouldn’t do anything about it.”I do wish they had spent more pages together, because the book does focus on a lot of the other characters and a smuggling plot.Still, I got heavily invested in this boarding house, its’ lovely atmosphere, quirky characters and Delilah’s relationship and contrast to her partner Angelique (book 2).*****- A few moments later, he said, “Massey?” “Yes, sir?” “How did you, er, know?” Massey’s brow furrowed. “Know, sir?” And then something in Tristan’s expression, in his demeanor, made it clear. “Ah! Know. Well. That I loved her?” Tristan held very still. Didn’t Massey know the word love belonged in a class with words like grenade or typhoon? It was not to be bandied about lightly. 3.5 - 4 stars

Very nice!I liked the idea of wife and her late husband's lover joining forces to survive in the men's world! Well done!I liked also how little things were introduced to make lighter the otherwise difficult moment in both women's lives! Like the maid, Dot! Or like the rules they have for the guests of the boardinghouse!The romance between Delilah and Tristan was credible and their banter was great! I just could see them!What I didn't find particularely interesting was the mystery about cigar smuggling.The edn got me intrgued very much and now I'm looking forward to Angelique and the mysterious man's story! ;-)

This was everything an HR should be: subtle, charming, moving, sensual and witty. When Lady Delilah Derring is widowed, she discovers that she is not the only one who has been left penniless and alone, as she discovers her husband’s estate was ruined. His mistress is also in a similar position, and the two women have the misfortune (or so she believes it to be, initially) to meet at the solicitor’s office where he has unctuously just informed her of her impecunious state. Her shock at there even being a mistress is tempered by a feeling of kinship, and when the women run into each other at an inn next to the only piece of property Delilah has been left with- a run-down former brothel on the docks- they begin an unlikely partnership. How refreshing to see them work together, instead of fighting over a man who was never worth it in the first place!Firstly, I had to leave my prejudices at the door. I don’t normally enjoy books about mistresses, as the power imbalance always makes me cross. In this case, both women are intelligent, sensitive people who have been battered by life and are determined to bounce back. Most of all, they plan to do it without a man. Having learned the hard way that a woman should not depend on a man, because he will invariably fail them, they turn the building into a boarding house and work hard to make the business a success.At the same time, the handsome but hardened Captain Hardy is hunting the smuggling gang that caused the death of a whole family, when they burnt down the family’s house. This, all because the father refused to allow them to use his property for their smuggling activities.I have to say, the slow burn and sexual tension in this story was masterful. The contrast between this and a lot of CR, which is often all about the ONS and the determination to “hand in the V-card” (What the hell are these authors thinking- even the expression “V-card” is repugnant) is stark. And welcome.Delilah and her friend Angelique’s relationship had an intriguing dynamic, with the cynical and disillusioned Angelique a foil for the more tender-hearted, kinder Delilah. Make no mistake, Delilah was not weak or bland. In many ways, she was fierce and passionate, even tough when required to be. Both she and Hardy longed for a place to call Home, for a family. Hardy refused to think of it initially, clashing as it did with what had always been his purpose in life. Delilah could not afford to think of it, now that she was no longer a lady but rather, the proprietress of a boarding house on the docks. She was determined to finally be true to herself and not beholden to any man for her happiness. After all, look how well that turned out last time.The two main characters are wonderfully complex. It was marvellous to read about a man who had finer feelings and a depth to his thinking that went beyond where to stick his penis. There were moments of great humour (I actually laughed out loud several times during reading, and that has not happened in a while) and the minor characters were lovingly drawn. I wiped away a quiet tear and struggled through the emotions tingling in my chest. And I smiled for the pair and their HEA.I have read most of JAL’s work, and have enjoyed much of it, but this book was a stand-out for me. How these two damaged, lonely, people find their Home in each other was truly moving. I warmly recommend it for lovers of high-quality HR. You won’t be disappointed.

It’s great to have JAL back in HR Land. She does Romance so very well that I forgive the occasional History flubs. Delilah and Tristan’s romance was lots of fun; the mystery that brings them together was mildly interesting, and the possibilities for adding to this series are endless. Pennyroyal Green lasted ten years, so perhaps Palace of Rogues will have a similarly long run. Justine Eyre is a competent narrator but not my favorite. Her main weakness is performing male voices, but overall I enjoy her audiobooks. In fact, the cliffhanger epilogue inspired me to download the next book.

Oh, hi, it's me again, and yes I loved another Julie Anne Long book. Surprise! JAL writes some of the best character-driven romance—historical or contemporary—out there, and Lady Derring Takes a Lover was no exception. Tristan and Delilah were nuanced, 3-dimensional people whose backstories, wounds, fears, and hopes were richly developed and so easy to sympathize with and love them for. Their chemistry was HOTTTT and the delightful ensemble cast of guests and staff at The Grand Palace on the Thames that we're introduced to felt like friends by the time I finished reading.Thankfully, while I'm reading out of order, I still have Angelique's story left and I can't wait to see the man who finally convinces her to take a risk on love and romance once again!

Regency. 3 romances. Tristan was orphaned at age 8 in seedy St. Giles & worked his way up to become a Royal Navy Captain. He now served as blockade commander, charged with catching smugglers. He had no room for sentiment or tender feelings. Delilah's late spouse, an earl, left her in debt. Del & the earl's mistress Angelique, pooled their funds to open a building (near the docks) left to Del, which they transformed into a boardinghouse. This story had wit, heart and love. And 2 other romances: Sgt. Massey (hero's subordinate) + his sweet (readers finally met her later) and a 3rd man + his sweet. Once again Ms Long wrote a clever, winning story! Kudosto the heroine helping the unyielding, all-business, hero bend a little.

This review was originally posted on Addicted To RomanceI received this book for free from Avon in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Lady Derring Takes A Lover is the first book in her latest series “Palace of Rogues” and I am so happy that Julie Anne Long is coming back to historical romance. She just does fabulous work in writing historical romance, especially since she does a decent job with the dialogue and setting up the regency. I was curious how her new series would go and how she would introduce us to this new series and I was pleasantly delighted with this book and even though it wasn’t quite the full page turner I was expecting, it was a fun read and I had a blast with Lady Derring Takes A Lover.Lady Derring Takes A Lover, when our heroine, Delilah, the Countess of Derring’s husband dies, and she learns that her husband was in deep debt that she didn’t know about and she is now destitute except for a handful of jewelry and a building near the docks. Delilah, knows that her whole life has changed and she will have to be creative in order to survive. While on her way to the only building she owns, she runs into a woman she doesn’t know, but admires after having a conversation with….her husband’s mistress. They decide to join forces and create a boarding house, she has a dream to create a haven for those coming into London from the docks and even though it could be a better neighborhood, she is determined to make a success of it.Then we bring in our hero, Captain Tristan Hardy, who is on a mission, to discover if Lady Derring is innocent of her husband’s crimes and to figure out what Lord Derring was up to with the secretive shipments of cigars so he goes to the boardinghouse that Lady Derring is showing, takes a room and works undercover to find out the truth behind the building and behind the mystery of Lady Delilah Derring. But as he gets close to the truth their relationship turns into something more than just a business deal and secrets could destroy the fragile trust between them.This book was simply delightful and I enjoyed every moment. I have to say that the one aspect of this Long’s writing is her sexy bantering that she displays. I just love seeing what she has done here and so well done for sure. It was very interesting to see the series set up as a boardinghouse on the London Docks. I am not sure how realistic that is, but it was written very well so it did work for me. It was fascinating to see Tristan and Delilah come together and yes Tristan has a lot of secrets including his work for the foreign office. Now of course, there are secrets so you know that there will be backlash from that especially since its the scenario where the secret is dragged out. I wasn’t a big fan of this happening, but this author made it work without having it drive me crazy and I have to say that Tristan does a great job in his grovel in the end, PERFECTO!! I got all sorts of good feels seeing this story wrap up so nicely and we get a lovely teaser for the second book, so you do have some great things to look forward to here.I adored the romance that builds between Tristan and Delilah. Its not a perfect romance by any means, but its quite enjoyable and highly entertaining. I love how well these two get along in and out of bed. Their characters are very charismatic in different ways so I loved seeing how they make a relationship work. It has a whole bunch of give and take that occur between them before they find the balance they need in their relationship. I do want to mention that the chemistry between these two are explosive, my goodness, this author knows how to write sexual chemistry and does it so well so that it doesn’t overtake the relationship. We also have a fun mystery about Lord Derring and this mysterious house on the docks.Overall I found Lady Derring Finds A Lover to be a stimulating, sensual and empowering romance!! A SEXY ROMANCE TO DELIGHT IN!