Passion and Propriety (Hearts of Honour, book 1), by Elise de Sallier

Format: e-book, 270 pages

Publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House

Published: August 7, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-61213-261-7

Genre: Historical romance

Back cover blurb: A hidden beauty. A wounded beast. Can the curse threatening their happiness be broken?

There is absolutely nothing improper about Hannah Foster, the vicar of Hartley’s eldest daughter, nursing the badly wounded Viscount Blackthorn back to health—that’s if the returned officer can be saved. At twenty seven she is two years the man’s senior, a confirmed spinster, and far too sensible to develop feelings for her patient. The fact he was once her childhood friend and has grown into a fine specimen of a man—his terrible scars notwithstanding—has no bearing on the matter.

Even if the unthinkable were to happen and William was to see past her plain exterior and recognise the caring, intelligent, passionate woman beneath, he is determined to break the curse that has plagued his family for generations by letting his bloodline die out. Her best friend, Grace’s, warnings are moot. A man of Lord Blackthorn’s wealth and position would never be interested in a woman like Hannah . . . would he?

My review: I really enjoyed this, and Elise de Sallier is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I love a good bodice-ripper, and this reminded me very much of the series I enjoy by Courtney Milan, Tessa Dare and others. It’s well-written with interesting, fleshed-out characters the reader can feel for. There is UST in spades, and it’s nicely done with lots of good showing rather than telling.

William is just lovely. The absence of love in his childhood made him prickly at the start, but Hannah’s caring brought him around. His willingness to help his fellow soldiers showed he wasn’t such an uncaring brute even in the army. I love his arc, coming to accept the curse is broken. And he’s yummy.

I cannot wait to read more in the series. Now that there are a few ex-military men at the big house there’s bound to be one to catch a girl’s eye 😉 Rawr!

My rating: 5/5