Book Title: Betrayal
Author: Jaimey Grant (http://www.jaimeygrant.com/)
Pages: 170
Publisher: Smashwords
Genre: Historical Romance
(Scale Explanation: 1) Meaning awful, 5) Meaning not good, but not bad, equal, 10) Meaning wonderful)
PLOT - 10
CHARACTERS – 9
BEGINNING - 10
ENDING - 10
FLOW - 9
OVERALL – 9
What I liked about this book: I really enjoyed the story as a whole. The plot was a great idea and Jaimey had a wonderful way of letting all of the information make itself known. The characters were all very in-depth and in the time that you read the story, they each make their pasts known. I enjoyed the character of Raven, she was very different from the rest of the characters, though in one way the same. I really enjoyed Conner, because he brought a brightness to the story, especially his relationship with his wife.
What I disliked about this book: The only things that I didn’t like about this book were attributed to how I viewed one particular character. The lead character on the female side, Bri, was annoying at times. I could see how one would really grow to despise her. But do not fear, the way she is, is central to the story, so all in all, I can’t say that I didn’t like her, because she had to be this way for the story to come together so well. I did feel for her for what she had to go through as it was very rough to read about her problems, but it made her character stand out above the rest as well. And it also helped the reader close in on why she acted the way she did at certain times. The only other issue I had, it may be because I read it very fast, was that there was a discrepancy, at least, as I remember in the ending chapter. In the beginning of the book, it seems as though the female lead has known the male lead for a while, seeing as how she knew his name and she spoke to him like they were old acquaintances, then in the last chapter they are speaking to one another and she says something along the lines of if my family hadn’t hired you to find me, we would have never met. This struck me as odd, but I will consult with the author to see if I missed a detail.
Who I would recommend this book to: Anyone that enjoys historical romances. Anyone that enjoys stories with a dark plot or flow.
What I felt the book was about: Bri has been running from her family and her title. She is the Countess of Rothsmere, though she doesn’t want to be. He family is a disgusting vile bunch of creatures that intend to marry her off to a scoundrel of a bastard, then a man who supposedly holds a family secret, just so that they have her money. She gets rescued by Adam Prestwich, a rake with a LOT of hidden and not-so-hidden secrets that make him quite a cynical rescuer. He finds a way to nurse her back to health, using his exotic Ebony Swan mistress to take care of her. He enlists the aid of his dear friend Conner, the Marquess of Beverly. Bri tried to get him to allow her to escape before he takes her to her family, she confesses that they had her institutionalized and he is insensitive of the matter, due to the fact that he believes women are only good for one reason and they aren’t to be trusted. He takes her back to her family anyway, then regrets the choice very soon after, finding that she is all he can think of. Bri is having problems herself as she is set up to marry another man, the one mentioned above as having a dirty little secret of the families that he is black-mailing them with. He rapes her and beats her along with her family beating her, so she is in pain and refuses to ask for help, but everyone can see that she wants help because her eyes give her away. It finally comes about that Conner finds out about her rape and Bri’s only friendly relative wants to fight to get her out of the situation, Levi, the Earl of Greville, her cousin. He goes to Conner for help, and they call upon Adam who is busy preparing for his wife from the past to die at his estate in Cornwall. No one knew about the estranged wife. It just so happens that his estranged wife that is dying was lured to bed by Steyne, the man that is set to marry Bri. So, Adam has a problem with the man already. He comes back to help Bri, and so he beats up a few people and Conner, his wife Verena, Adam, and Levi get her out of her estate. She stays with Conner and Verena for a while, but then they are attending a musical and on Adams way to the event, he is pulled into an alley and beat within an inch of his life. Once Bri finds out about the problem she confesses to Adam that she loves him and can’t live without him while she thinks he is passed out. After he is on the mend, Bri insists that he see is his wife before she dies so that he can truly be at peace before Bri even tries to get him to marry her. They go to his Cornwall estate, all of them, and eventually, Adam sees his dying wife who confesses to him that the first time she slept with Steyne was the only time she truly wanted it, and the other times, he had threatened her life and Adams. This makes Adam a little less cynical knowing the whole story, and it also allows him to move on, which he had already done, but in this case without most of the hurt. Then as she dies, she confesses something about her daughter, but doesn’t finish before she dies. Adam is distraught, ordering his relative to care for the child, but that he is never to see her. Bri forces him to see her and wonder of wonders, she looks exactly like him. They go back to London and Adam is the most peaceful that he has ever been, everything is happy and great, though everyone is wondering why he hasn’t proposed to Bri yet. Finally, he does and they confess their love for each other and the ending is very happy.
Favorite excerpts or quotes from the book: “Connor glanced at Adam. “There have been very trying times, as you know very well, but the good times have more than made up for them. I recommend marriage to any man with the courage to fight for what he loves.” He threw a meaningful look at Adam and strode away, calling over his shoulder, “My wife expects a dance with you, don’t forget.”” – Page 75
