Rating: 
Summary: Flawlessly Flawed
Review: Artistically, this book was flawless. Tightly plotted, believable characters, exact pace, interesting secondary characters(and even though there were two sequel baits thrown in, the weren't as obtrusive as they have been in other books), great dialogue and just a sweet,and subtly sensual love story.
Emotionally, this book was flawed. I never felt very connected to Anthony and Daphne for some reason. The emotional tension felt lacking, and the tension of "will he or won't he fall for her and win her hand" was missing until Anthony arrived in London. The slower pacing was beautiful, but it also poked holes in the emotional bonding between Daphne and Anthony, and between the characters and the reader. After I finished this book, I was pleased, but it didn't shake my world up or make me want to instantly re-read it.
But if you want a lyrical historical romance about a completely uncliched ugly duckling transforming into a swan and winning a supposedly loveless man's heart, this is the story for you. I didn't obtain what I had hoped from this story, but I look forward to reading more from Guhrke.
Rating: 
Summary: Eh?
Review: Daphe is a 24 year old woman who had spent her life working with her archeologist father. When he dies, she is left with almost nothing. Her mother's family does not acknowldge her because her parents eloped and were not a suitable match. She returns to England to work with the Duke of Tremore in her fathers place and the romance begins. She hides behinda prim exterior. They both come from parents who were deeply in love and are afraid to love that deeply themselves. It was an enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and bright. Worth my time.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Romance
Review: Daphe is a 24 year old woman who had spent her life working with her archeologist father. When he dies, she is left with almost nothing. Her mother's family does not acknowldge her because her parents eloped and were not a suitable match. She returns to England to work with the Duke of Tremore in her fathers place and the romance begins. She hides behinda prim exterior. They both come from parents who were deeply in love and are afraid to love that deeply themselves. It was an enjoyable read. The characters were likeable and bright. Worth my time.
Rating: 
Summary: Incredibly romantic story
Review: Daphne Wade has been left virtually destitute after her father's untimely death. Luckily, the knowledge she gained by living and working alongside her father, who was a famous and respected antiquarian,has gained her a position working to unearth a Roman villa at the Duke of Tremore's estate. Daphne is immediately dazzled by the Duke's good looks and falls in love with him agaisnt her better judgment. Daphne knows nothing could come out of her hopeless fixation with Anthony but heartbreak but how can she resist him especially when he insists on taking off his shirt and exposing his gorgeous chest. To make matters worse, she is either struck mute or starts stammering wildly whenever he comes near her. The inevitable eventually happens when she overhears the Duke conversing with his sister and comparing her to, among other things, a machine and a stick insect. Daphne is devastated but her spirit is unbroken. She finally regains her senses and hardens her heart agaisnt Anthony and vows to leave her post and start life anew with the help of Anthony's sister Viola, who can see the strong, vivrant woman beneath Daphne's plain exterior. On the other hand, Anthony is flabbergasted when Daphne presents her resignation. He cannot afford to lose her valuable skills when he is so close to realizing his dream of opening a museum displaying his impressive collection of Roman artifacts. Furthermore,Anthony is unused to hearing the word no and refuses to accept the fact that for once in his life he is not getting his way. He begins a concerted campaign to keep Daphne from leaving him. Anthony brings out the heavy artillery and begins to charm and disarm Daphne. The only problem is that Anthony didn't count on his previously mousy ol' stammering employee turning into a strong, smart, sassy woman who is determined it seems, to be rid of him. Slowly but surely Anthony finds himself captivated by this new woman with her flashing eyes and the body of a goddess and begins to see her in a new light. Before long he starts to wonder how he could have ever thought her plain. For her part, Daphne thought she had steeled her heart against Anthony's charm and even though she knows that his sudden interest in her is purely for his own selfish reasons she cannot help but be captivated by him and by her discovery that beneath the haughty aristocratic demeanor lies a warm loving, man who is deeply afraid of falling in love.I absolutely loved this author's version of the ugly duckling theme because unlike other books I have read with this theme the heroine doesn't turn into a swan by the end of the book. In other words, Daphne doesn't undergo any physical transformation except in Anthony's eyes. She is not a beautiful woman, in fact she isn't even described as pretty just merely attractive in her own way. The way Anthony begins to slowly see beyond the surface and begins to fall in love with the woman beneath made for an absolutely amazing reading experience.If you are a hopeless incurable romantic like me you will not want to miss this book. I highly, highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Eh?
Review: Guess I was a little disappointed in the book. Read the description on the back, thought to take a chance. The book was tedious for the first 200 pages, from crushes to the temptation of rain to just being a teaser from both of the main characters. Then after the grand passion, the flower flirtation, dances and the rumour mill was a little tedious at times. Sorry, just couldn't dance to it.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful love story
Review: Guhrke's prose are as usual flawless in this ugly duckling turned swan tale. Beneath the watchful eyes of the cynical Duke of Tremore, Dahpne Wade blossoms into a beautiful young woman. This is my favorite romance theme, and I loved this one. Daphne is an intelligent heroine and Anthony is Hot Hot Hot!!! Do not miss this one!!
Rating:
Summary: The allure of GUILTY PLEASURES is hard to resist!
Review: GUILTY PLEASURES delicious plot is reminiscent of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice with an ugly duckling/Cinderella-ish twist and is absolutely enchanting! I was enthralled from page one to the last and would have liked the author to continue with the story. The characters are strong-minded, determined, affable, and completely endearing. If you are familiar with Pride and Prejudice (a must read classic-romance doesn't get any better than this!), Anthony somewhat reminds me of Mr. Darcy and Daphne somewhat reminds me of Elizabeth Bennet. Almost from the beginning, sparks fly between the haughty Anthony and the intellectual Daphne. The dialog between the two is continually emotional with snappy, quick-witted dry humor. Their physical interaction is constantly sensual and always with a dynamical zing. Through many trials and tribulations of the heart and the eventual meeting of the minds, a tender love story emerges.
A definite keeper to be enjoyed again! Don't miss it!
Rating:
Summary: very enjoyable Regency Cinderella
Review: Handsome Anthony Courtland is excavating Romance ruins on his estate. He pays little attention to Daphne Wade, the woman he has hired to restore the precious artifacts he unearths from the ancient villa. He may pay her little notice, outside of the work, but Daphne is having a hard time keeping her eyes in her head as he strips to the waist, laboring on the dig. Only, Anthony's sister is itching to play faery godmother to the wide-eyed Daphne. Much to Anthony's annoyance, not only does his sister create a swan from the ugly duckling, but she is determined to see Daphne married. This begins to upset Anthony because he does not want to lose his valued worker. In order to keep her on, he begins to help polished Daphne's edges, such as dancing lessons, to keep her from slipping away completely. Slowly, a vivacious Daphne is really becoming "Cinderella" before Anthony's eyes, and he is determined not to lose her - and not only for the expert work she does. Sparks fly as Daphne comes into her own, with the repartee between the two wittily crafted. Anthony and Daphane create sexual tension that sizzles. So, a Guilty Pleasure??? No, just Pure Pleasure from start to finish.
Rating: 
Summary: A Sweet Story!!
Review: I found this book to be a real sweet read. The main characters Anthony and Daphne had a great chemistry that Ms. Guhrke was able to create through a different type of storyline that we seldom see in historical romances without it being to clichéd. That storyline is "the handsome Duke, and the not obvious beauty that tames his heart." Anthony is not sure that he believes in love and does not plan to marry "the love of his life" since he does not think she exists. He is more interested in opening his museum on Roman artifacts then finding his "true love". Everything is going according to plan until Daphne his restorer decides that she would rather go off with his sister (read the book!!) and enjoy polite society, then finish what she started. Of course this is not a decision that she makes lightly. She has overheard Anthony what he thinks of her (she's a machine that he needs to fulfill his dream)and now the tender feelings that she had for Tony are now gone....or are they. What follows is a sweet story of how what you think you want is not exactly how you imagine it, and that the challenge is deciding you may have been wrong. Ms. Guhrke has penned a very sweet read that fans of historical romance will not want to miss.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful ugly duckling story
Review: I really enjoyed this story since I could relate to Daphne's awkwardness with Anthony because of her crush and her pain and humiliation when she overhears him likening her to a stickbug. I liked that Anthony falls in love with her only after getting to know her instead of the tired love-at-first-sight cliche. The scenes between them get incredibly steamy even when they're only dancing. Now THAT'S a good romance!
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