Rating: 
Summary: 4 & 1/2 for lack of emotional depth in a sweet story
Review: I truly enjoyed this story and chose not to give it 5 stars because I try to reserve that for books of astounding quality and/or amazing emotional depth. Nevertheless, I really liked both Anthony and Daphne and found her transformation, which was more of a revelaing, to ring true. Perhaps our experiences and insights color our perceptions of such things.
The tension was not very high, but then one always knows the outcome of a romance--that's one of its charms. The question is always how we get there. In the case of this book, the road is sweet and slow, punctuated with the uncertainties of a plain, always-in-the-background woman and the roll-over-everyone insensibilities of a duke. She learns confidence, and he learns both a measure of humility and the positive power of love. Together they learn that rarest of gifts--a deep love between people who understand and respect each other, and who recognize their faults and the struggles they will face, but deem their love worth the effort.
It's a quick read that is throughly pleasurable. It may not be a book you'll remember forever or one that wrings your heart with its emotional impact, but it is utterly enjoyable, well-written, and a delightful way to spend a few hours.
Rating:
Summary: Book had a great "feel" to it
Review: I wish I could explain why these two characters got to me so badly, but I can't. Something about them just resonated, though. Few books give me that tight sternum breathless feeling, but this one did. Other reviewers have complained of a lack of emotional depth, but I found just the opposite with this book. It really spoke to me. I've already reread it once, and it has a permanent place on my keeper shelf. The writing wasn't the strongest, but the characters just sang. I'll certainly be buying her next book.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm so glad I found this author!
Review: I'm an avid reader of historical romance, and a friend recommended this writer. What a find! Very well written story, great characters and definately a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: pleasurable Regency romance
Review: In 1830 Hampshire, when her father, a renowned antiquarian dies, Daphne Wade replaces him at the Roman excavation of Trimoire, England. She will repair the artifacts and sketch the items for a catalogue. Her employer, Duke Anthony Courtland finds her work exemplary, but does not see her beyond that of an artistic drone and definitely not as a woman. On the other hand Daphne dreams of Anthony as her GUILTY PLEASURES.However, when Daphne overhears Anthony disparage her as a woman to his sister, she decides to resign and accept his sibling's offer of a season. Anthony obtains Daphne's agreement to remain as his archivist for one more month, but also informs her that he plans to change her mind about leaving. However, soon he wants her beyond a dig as he falls in love with his formerly mousy employee. Though she has doubts about his feelings, she has loved him since she first saw him shirtless at the excavation site. The cast makes the story line hum as this is a delightful group especially the lead couple and his sister. Though the change in Daphne seems unreal, readers will root for her new found feistiness that soon has Anthony reconsidering the mouse that roared as a desirable woman. Regency romance readers will find GUILTY PLEASURES quite pleasurable. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Sweet Fairy Tale Satisfies the Hopeless Romantic
Review: Prim and plain, Daphne Wade has spent her life traveling with her father around the world, assisting him in the work he was renowned for, restoring ancient antiquities. After her father's death, she was able to secure a position in England with Anthony Courtland, Duke of Tremore, restoring the priceless Roman mosaics and antiquities excavated from a site on his estate. Anthony is quite passionate about the artifacts they are recovering, and works daily at the site himself. The heat often forces him to remove his shirt during his labor. Daphne finds she can't help but spy on him during these times, because he looks like a Greek statue come to life. It's her one guilty pleasure. She's secretly in love with him, and he doesn't know she's alive beyond her consummate skill at restoration. In his presence, she becomes shy and tongue-tied. Anthony's sister, Viola, comes to visit and befriends Daphne. It doesn't take long for her to realize Daphne's in love with her brother, and she decides to do a little matchmaking. Viola discusses with Anthony her plan to sponsor Daphne for a London season, so she can make social contacts, and meet eligible young men. Anthony claims it's a lost cause, because Daphne has no feminine appeal. Little does he know, she's on the other side of the door during this conversation, and hears his comments. Daphne's pain and anger causes her to emerge from her shell, and Anthony is shocked by the woman he's now beginning to take notice of. He doesn't want to lose her skills for his project, but he comes to realize in trying to keep her employed with him, his thoughts of her go way beyond what he hired her for. In the end, he'll openly pursue, and do anything to convince her to stay with him in an entirely different capacity. When I found this book, I was unfamiliar with this author, but the premise sounded interesting, and one of my favorite authors had a recommendation on the cover. I was definitely not disappointed! This was such a beautiful, romantic, and touching love story that I stayed up way too late reading it. I just couldn't put it down. The archeological angle was a unique plot element, and the fact the whole story was about the two main characters works well here. No other storyline or intrigue was needed. Even though it was basically an ugly duckling transforming into a beautiful swan type of story, it was unique because the change was mostly in the eyes of the beholder. He fell in love with her because he began looking at her differently, not because she made outward physical changes. Needless to say, I definitely recommend this book, and will be looking for this author's backlist titles. I'm also hoping Ms. Guhrke will write the story of Dylan Moore, Anthony's outrageous rogue of a friend introduced here. I would love to know more about him!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Loved This Book!
Review: This is one of those books that you wish would never end and you are sad to turn the last page. This was such a believable love story- you could see how these two characters could fall in love. I also like the way the author was able to tie things together throughout the novel. There is no intrigue or suspense story line-just pure romance.
Rating: 
Summary: Great beginning, boring ending
Review: What a wonderful set-up for a romance: Daphne, a plain bluestocking has an incredible crush on Anthony, the Duke, who doesn't even know she's alive. After overhearing Anthony's true feelings about her (or lack thereof), Daphne decides to quit working for him and become her own woman. Anthony then tries to convince her to stay, at first because he doesn't want to lose a good worker and then because he doesn't want to let her go. The set-up is wonderful and the first half zips along. The problem is that the book goes about 75 pages too long. It becomes very repetitive - Daphne plays hard to get to Anthony's wooing over and over. The wooing itself is repetitive and... kind of boring. I would have been much happier if there had been a swifter resolution to all of it. Instead, it just made me lose my interest entirely.
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