I think it is safe to say that I like Lorraine Heath's style. This book features her signature writing style and one of those twists that she does well. I think she likes to hide surprises for her readers. And I have not been so surprised by a book in a long while.

I think that is enough hint about what happened in the book. If I said anymore it would spoil the surprise. I was floored when I realized what was actually happening. Most definitely did not see that coming.

This book is about James Swindler, whose name has been said to be "rather unfortunate" by Luke's wife Catherine from book 1. An inspector from Scotland Yard, he was called upon to watch the comings and goings of Eleanor, whose sister Elizabeth commited suicide after her disastrous experience in the ton. An evil marquess put Elizabeth through hell and Eleanor had come to London to avenge her sister.

James watched Eleanor in secret but somehow decided that it would serve his purpose better had they become acquainted with each other, which they did. They fell in love with each other and one night Eleanor asked James to spend the night with her. We all know what happened but the next day hell broke loose.

I like both characters well enough but this book was not as heartbreaking as I wanted it to be. lol James was honest about his feelings and quickly decided that Eleanor was THE ONE. He was all prepared to propose around 40% into the book. The rest of the book was about how to solve the mystery and get the woman he loved safely out of the mess. All the previous characters made a return in this story. As usual, I enjoyed reading about Luke and Catherine best.

This was a romantic mystery kind of story with a heavy emphasis on mystery. Both lead characters were equally in love with each other and wanted to be with each other. I regret to say that I have troule picturing James. I am not certain about who he was, unlike Luke or Jack, whose characters were more defined. James seemed a little wishy-washy to me. Somehow this book is less "heated" than other books. I don't know whether that was me, or it was the book. 2 people so in love and both wanted to be together, where is the struggle?

I recommend this book to readers who want an easy and comforting read with reasonable characters who fall in love early in the book.

Personally, I like a hero or heroine with a gift of the gab. A stealth warrior. Peacekeepers.

 

Here are great Romance Heroes and Heroines who are Diplomats and Ambassadors. 

 

My lists are never in any particular order.

 

1.  An Illicit Temptation by Jeannie Lin

 

Tang Dynasty China, 824 A.D.

 

Dao was raised as a servant, but when her half-sister flees an arranged marriage to a chieftain, Dao is sent in her place as Princess An-Ming. Such a future is better than she could have hoped for, yet she dreads a passionless union with a stranger.

 

Taken as a virtual hostage to the Imperial court, Kwan-Li is torn between his people and his duty to the emperor. He is bound by honor to escort the princess safely across the wild and untamed steppe, but the greatest danger they face on the long journey may be the forbidden temptation of each other…

 

2. Dark Stranger by Susan Sizemore

 

A twist of fate made Zoe Pappas heir to the Byzant throne. Bound by duty and devotion to keep the Empire safe, Zoe is captured while on a secret diplomatic mission and sent to an underground prisoner-of-war camp. In this strange, shadowy place, residents are governed by fellow inmate General Matthias "Doc" Raven, whose powerful magnetism rouses an urgent desire in Zoe. But the intensity of her attraction is matched by her surprise at discovering that Doc has a secret of his own: he is a vampire.

Zoe's presence puts everyone in the camp in danger. Doc knows it, and knows too that Zoe's royal status makes it impossible for her to bond with a vampire. The only way to save her is to help her escape, and lose her forever. But some fires are impossible to quench, even when following your heart is the ultimate taboo....

 

3. Private Melody by AlTonya Washington

Music was her whole life…until he came along

Former child prodigy Kianti Lawrence has struggled hard to become a major force in the performing arts world. Music is her life…until the beloved, world-renowned pianist meets a man who shows her what she's been missing. Something about handsome, powerful ex-Ambassador Therin Rucker strikes a harmonious—and seductive—chord.

When Therin connected with Kianti, all the notes suddenly came together. He's more in tune with her than with any other woman he's ever known. But first he has to persuade Kianti not to be afraid of life…or love. Can he make her see that the passion they're making is the truest music there is?

 

4. Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton

 

A Marriage Beyond Hope

Lady Sophia has long been estranged from her husband, Vane Barwick, the Duke of Claxton, whose rumored list of amorous conquests includes almost every beautiful woman of the ton. Yet a shocking encounter with him in a crowded ballroom-and a single touch-are all it takes to reawaken her furious passion for him. But how can she trust the man who crushed her dreams and took away the one thing she wanted most?

A Love Beyond Reason

Claxton has never forgiven himself for the youthful mistake that ruined his marriage to Sophia. Now, after nearly a year abroad, the reformed rogue vows to win back the only woman he's ever truly loved. He'll do whatever it takes to prove he can be the honorable husband she deserves-and the passionate lover she desires. As the snowdrifts deepen outside their ancestral home, can they rekindle the flame that burned so bright and find a new path to forever?

 

5. Alien Diplomacy by Gini Koch

 

Being newlyweds and new parents is challenging enough. But Jeff and Kitty Martini are also giving up their roles as super-being exterminators and Commanders in Centaurion Division while mastering the political landscape as the new heads of Centaurion's Diplomatic Corps. Enter a shadowy assassination plot and a new set of anti-alien conspirators, and nothing will ever be the same...

 

6. Finding Destiny by Jean Johnson

 

The slave...Chanson, a privileged Arbran dyara, discovers an unexpected connection with the excitingly different Eduor, a bracingly sexy war-slave who desires his freedom.

The knight...The Arbran diplomat Sir Zeilas must turn the Guildaran people from former enemies into allies. But in the case of their intriguingly beautiful leader, perhaps something more intimate is in order.

The mage...Gabria never expected to become a Guildaran envoy to Aurul. But the most stunning surprise was what waited for her in His Majesty's winter palace-and why.

The pirate...Captain Ellett would do anything for his king-even hunt down the pirates plaguing the Jenodan Isles. But he never counted on the seductive powers of the pirate's captain-beautiful, tempestuous, and impossible to resist.

 

7. Midnight Pleasures by Eloisa James

 

To her legions of adoring suitors, it comes as quite a shock when Lady Sophie York rejects an offer of marriage from the dashing, rakish Patrick Foakes in favor of amiable but dull Braddon Chatwin. He may be an earl, but it is Patrick's stolen kisses that sear her lips.

When Patrick, in disguise, scales a ladder to retrieve his friend's fiancŽe, he never expects the elopement to be his own. Neither does Sophie, Braddon, or the rest of the tattling ton. One hasty wedding later, the passionate innocent and the sophisticated rogue play out their own intricate dance as Sophie masters what it takes to keep a man where he belongs. And Patrick learns the ultimate lesson in love.

 

8. Her Only Desire: by Gaelen Foley

 

Ian Prescott, the Marquess of Griffith, is a cool-nerved British diplomatic renowned for his integrity, and famed among the British debutantes for his striking good looks. Much to their dismay, the handsome marquess has no use or love. He conceals a dark secret surrounding his disastrous first marriage and the death of his wife and has vowed never to marry again. On a diplomatic trip to India, Ian is asked to watch over the daughter of an old family friend, Miss Georgiana Knight. He is instantly intrigued by Georgiana's striking beauty that conceals a sharp mind and a shocking independence. A ruling belle of local society in India, Georgiana is out of her element in London and yet she's determined to conquer the ton on her own, refusing Ian's protection every step of the way. Ian is infuriated by Georgie's willful defiance, as much as he is captivated by her natural charms

 

9. Married to a Perfect Stranger by Jane Ashford

 

Quiet and obliging, Mary Fleming and John Bexley marry to please their families and John immediately leaves on a two-year diplomatic mission. Now John is back, and everything they thought they knew about each other was wrong...

 

It's disconcerting, irritating-and somehow all very exciting...

 

10. Close Contact by Katherine Allred

 

Close Contact—the second Alien Affairs adventure (following Close Encounters) from exciting newcomer Katherine Allred—is a winning blend of science fiction and passionate love story that will send fans of Linnea Sinclair and Anne McCaffrey over the moon! This terrific futuristic tale of a party girl-turned-intergalactic secret agent with extraordinary abilities seamlessly combines exotic locations, never-before-seen alien species, diplomatic relations, a sexy hero, and a romance that is almost too good to be true.

 

 

Did I miss your favorite? Let me know!

 

Go to my Goodreads list and vote: Ambassador and Diplomat Romance Leads.

Meh. I skimmed this more than the last. A good editor for these would have helped. But as an author, Eloisa James has matured so much since these first books.

 

Originally published on GR May 2013

The 1 star was just for Sherillyn Kenyon's story.

A mixed bag of short stories by some of the big names of the parnormal romance genre. Fun reads even if they're a bit light.