Allura/remade Now Allura's Secret Free On KU
REVIEW: Allura's Secret
Reviewer: Chrissy Dionne Reviewer
Email: RJChrissyDionne@yahoo.com
Christine Young’s ALLURA is a
delightful historical novel full of suspense, lovable characters, humor and a
budding romance between two characters determined not to fall in love. Allura
and Hunter’s stubborn, determined natures allowed for some interesting scenes
as they attempted to get one up on each other. As a modern day woman I felt bad
for Allura because technically her husband would dictate every aspect of her
life and the freedom she loves would be a thing of the past. Hunter is
unbending as far as to how he believes a wife should behave but falling in love
changes him and his perception of Allura. Hunter and Allura are the main focus
of this story but there are secondary characters whom I absolutely adored and
would love to revisit in future novels (hint, hint). Especially the youngest
sister Aiden and Hunter’s trusted friend Blade. He doesn’t believe in love and
she’s determined to do whatever’s necessary to get him to notice her. SNIPPET—
Allura has come to treasure her freedom and the adventures she shares with her
sisters and her cousins but her father’s decision to find her a husband
threatens that freedom. He’s placed an ad in the times in search of a man
strong and smart enough to discover where exactly it is that the girls venture
when they leave the safety of the castle.
EXCERPT: Allura's Secret
He turned her in
his arms. Her hands rested on his chest and she gazed into his eyes. Their
crystal-blue clarity never ceased to surprise him. More beautiful than any
woman he’d ever gazed on, she stole Hunter’s breath. He wondered how he could
have been such a fool to have fallen, even for a moment, for her ugly duckling
ploy. Blade had seen through her game, too. Hunter’s hands tightened around her
waist. She lowered her lashes then looked back into his eyes. Within his chest
his heart thundered. Lightly, he brushed his lips across her forehead. The
sanctity of the moment surprised him. Emotions flew like wildfire between them,
and he felt the magic of Allura deep in his soul.
As if he needed
to share a part of him he pulled back, watching the waves lapping against the
shoreline. "I worked all my life to prove myself." He paused,
tenderly tracing the line of her hair across her forehead. "As children,
Guy would taunt me, but I didn’t let his words change my plans. I knew what I
was and what I wasn’t. I understood what would and would not be given to me.
The world doesn’t give much to men who are born bastards." He smiled at
her, traced the line of her jaw. "I don’t want your sympathy."
"I
know," she said, her voice soft, almost admiring.
She moistened
her lips, her lashes fluttered across alabaster cheeks. Slowly, he lowered his
head. Their lips brushed tentatively. It was a sweet, languid kiss, a kiss that
promised so much more.
Yet he forced
himself to stop.
"I sold
myself to armies. I stepped into the boxing ring letting the rich bet on my
prowess, and I’ve saved everything I have earned. Blade found a failing estate
in the north of England. I had enough money to buy it, but then we saw the ad
in the times your father posted.
In his arms she
stiffened.
"I thought
heaven sent me a miracle. I didn’t know what this land and this castle would be
like. I knew I had to find out. I had to try."
"For the
heiress," she said, her fingers weaving into his hair.
"But I’ve
been pleasantly surprised."
"Why did
you stay?"
"Enough,"
he said, unwilling to waste another moment in useless talk. Measure by measure
he brought his mouth down until his breath mixed with hers. With a care that
cost him dearly, Hunter touched his lips to Allura’s in a feather-light caress
that stung his skin exquisitely. He traced the seam there, urging her to open
for him. She rose on her toes, pulling him closer. Despite the animosity
between them, she was so very passionate, so willing. Her response to him was
so innocent. She made a small, whimpering sound and her eyes flickered shut.
Irresistible magic flowed between them when they touched.
Yet in other
ways, she fought him so hard. Hunter drew back and studied her heartbreakingly
lovely face. The lines were drawn tense, her lips moist and slightly parted.
Tendrils of her hair moved softly around her face, encouraged by a sea breeze.
"I would
know more about you," she whispered.
"You
would?" He wanted to win her heart, to hold it so tightly she would see
everything his way. Yet he knew deep inside she would always have an opinion of
her own, and he would have to learn to deal with that.
A sigh raised
her breasts, and Hunter clenched his hands more tightly around her waist.
"Yes,"
she said.
"There is
little of interest to tell."
She appeared
startled. "I don’t believe you, Sir." But then her attention suddenly
settled on his mouth, and she leaned ever so slightly even closer.
"Your
disbelief does not bode well for our marriage. I would have your trust if not
your love," he told her, challenging her, knowing in his heart he’d just
given her opportunity to swear her love--knowing too she would not do so.
Hunter felt
sweat break out on his brow as they slowly drew together.
He knew what he
would do, what he must do. He would work his way into Allura’s life until she
thought only of him, obeyed only him. He would become the center of everything
for her, then he would get her with child. She would be so immersed in her life
with him and a new babe she would never think of the island sanctuary again.
He’d wasted too much time discovering her secret.
Now he must win
her heart as well as her trust.
She pressed
against him innocently, moving more and more insistently. Hunter shifted his
hands to her neck and stroked her there, touched his fingertips to the
sensitive hollows behind her collarbones, found the delicate spots beneath her
ears. Her breathing grew faster. He bent to kiss the places his hands had just
explored and saw the rapid rise and fall of her breasts.
Allura moaned
softly against his throat, and he realized that following his example, she was
tentatively kissing his neck. Her hands had found a way beneath his shirt, and
she kneaded his chest with feverish intensity.
Raising her
chin, he kissed her fully, passionately, holding nothing back this time. He
opened her mouth with his lips and felt her shudder. Barely a second passed
before she responded, imitating the thrusts of his tongue with hot little
forays of her own.
"You are so
sweet," he said against her cheek. "So absolutely exquisite."
"Hunter,"
was all she said and her voice broke on his name.
He had entered
into a realm that very nearly overwhelmed all his senses. It was a world Hunter
was not used to, but meant to explore. Control was the ultimate word, because
he meant to take this seduction at least one step farther than before. A few
kisses were all they had shared. This time he meant to show Allura just how
much pleasure she would find with him and give her a hint of the marriage bed
as well.
Excerpt: Allura's Secret
Eddington, Scotland 1815
"You can’t plan to wed me to
that--that man down there!" Allura McClellan’s heart thundered and lodged
in her throat. Balled into fists her hands trembled. "You promised I could
marry for love. I thought when the last man failed to discover this imaginary
secret you think I have, you would stop this craziness. I thought you would
take the ad out of the Times and the other papers."
From the boxing ring below, fist met
flesh, the sound echoing throughout. Hunter Gray whirled and ducked. He guarded
his face to block the stinging blows his opponent rained down upon him. He spun
and ducked again. The man he fought countered the attack, but he did not move
fast enough. Hunter’s next jab was so fast and so hard the other man didn’t
block the punch. The man staggered backwards, blood running from his eye. Men
yelled and cheered for the two combatants. Hunter paused and spoke to the man
he practiced with before the match continued once more.
Allura saw her life as she had planned it
slip away as if it was grains of sand in an hour glass. She stopped pacing and
watched the men below. She turned on her father. "The ad in the
Times--giving me away to any man--you have gone too far. A marriage of
convenience is barbaric. You promised." For a moment, she closed her eyes.
She did not want to acknowledge anything that went on here. It was not her
fault she could not find a man she loved. What horrific bit of bad luck had
found her?
The laird cleared his throat.
"Perhaps I have not gone far enough or soon enough. And the ad did not
promise you to just any man. He must be strong enough and smart enough to win
your hand."
It was not Allura’s nature to allow
others to rule her fate. “These men,” she waved her hand in the air,
frustration sweeping recklessly within. "They don’t want me. They come for
one reason only. They are greedy and hungry for power. You have taught me
everything I need to know. I can run your estate and all of your holdings. I’ve
studied endless hours. I know the men who work for you. I swear I’ll defy your
wishes. At the altar I will say no."
The McClellan’s grin faded as quickly as
it had appeared and without further thought, he said, "Perhaps not, you
are beautiful lass--one with rare promise. And," he stroked his chin,
"no matter how much book learning a woman has she cannot dictate her own
life. It is up to the men in her life to make sure she is happy and provided
for."
A strained silence followed. She sagged
against the stone wall. As if sensing her vulnerable position, she stiffened.
Outraged and furious she looked upon her father. "They are money grubbers
and want your land--our land. They have no right to any of your estate."
The McClellan held back for a moment,
seemingly aware there was more than just a little truth in what Allura said.
"How indeed?" he questioned her. Yet his smile was tight, forced.
"I grow old. I only want this land secured and my daughters happy before I
die. You are twenty-two. I have given you ample opportunity to fall in love. I
thought it time to bring new blood to this land, a new man. I thought perhaps
one would take your fancy."
"That man," she began. Her hand
shook when she pointed at the man who danced and whirled avoiding each blow as
if he dallied in child's play. She trembled so violently she could not speak.
“Is an Englishman.”
Also by Christine Young
When the duchess decides to
wed her to a wastrel and a fop, Ravyn Grahm takes matters into her own hands
and declares her engagement to another man. Instead of fessing up and telling
her great aunt what she has done, she goes through with the pretense. Aric
Lakeland is the bastard son of an earl and has a dangerous reputation. But
Ravyn is willing to do most anything to keep the duchess from discovering the
lie.
He'd bought
land in America, looking to put down roots and end his life of adventure, but
Aric Lakeland got more than he bargained for when he encountered a beautiful
heiress who made a promise she didn't want to keep. But the promise could not be undone and standing
between them were more obstacles than either ever dreamed. Aric had made plans
to spend the rest of his life in America and that was at odds with Ravyn's plan
of living in England and running her father's estate. Now, he'll have to choose
between his dreams and the woman he loves more than life.
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