THE COUNTESS TAKES A LOVER - Bonnie Dee
Samhain - www.samhainpublishing.com
ISBN: 1-59998-937-9
May 2008
Erotic Historical Romance
Rating: Red Hot!

London, England – Regency Era

Lord Richard Whitby has come to the infamous Madame la Comtesse de Chevalier for help. He believes she can make a real man out of his son, Christopher, who is twenty-five and has never been with a woman. He has no experience with women in general and would rather keep his face in a book or go to lectures at the Botanical Gardens. If the Madame seduces Christopher, Lord Richard hopes that his son will take the women of the Ton by storm and perhaps seduce a few beauties. The Madame will only do this if Whitby helps support a particular bill in Parliament. Whitby agrees to her conditions, and they make their deal.

When Christopher meets Meredith, the Comtesse, he is dumbfounded by her interest in botany and her questions about his plants. Meredith, in turn, enjoys their talks and can't wait to have him in her bed. As things progress between the two, she introduces him to the delights of kissing, which lead to an offer in her bed. Christopher is floored, but there is something about this lovely widow that makes his heart pound and certain parts of his body to throb. Why not take Meredith up on the offer and see what he has been missing all this time?

Meredith is a great teacher, and Christopher becomes the willing student. As these two experience passion and some lovemaking that is considered taboo, Christopher knows he is falling in love with his Comtesse. Meredith wonders if she could possibly continue her affair with the young Christopher even though he may find out about her bargain with his father. A woman in her position must do only one thing, and that is to break his young heart even if it means breaking her own in the process.

Bonnie Dee is becoming one author to watch, and THE COUNTESS TAKES A LOVER is the perfect story to showcase her talents. This erotic Regency tale has everything I look forward to in romance, from a virgin hero, a love affair with an older woman, and some scorching love scenes that will make you hot under the collar. We also get enough insight about Meredith and Christopher as to why they live their lives the way they do. These two are total opposites, but when they talk and come together in the bedroom, we soon see they are perfect for each other in every way.

It was truly refreshing to see a mature female character in that of Meredith. She makes no excuses about her reputation or her lifestyle. She is a woman of the world, but when it comes to Christopher, all the walls she has built up tumble down. Christopher is a beta hero who loves deeply but is also intelligent and respectful. If I were Meredith, I would grab him and hold onto him for all he is worth!

THE COUNTESS TAKES A LOVER is a near perfect romance, and any fan of an older woman seducing the innocent younger man should definitely pick this one up.

Kate Garrabrant