Ravishing Romances: Undone, Fiery Tales series #4 (by Lila DiPasqua)

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Release Date: May 28, 2012

Undone rating: 4 out of 5

Fiery Tales series rating: N/A (haven't read them all)

"Undone" is book #4 in the Fiery Tales series,

but can be read as a stand-alone novel.

(And was read as a stand-alone novel for this review)

How are the sex scenes?

DiPasqua adds more depth to their relationship by showing the intimate moments and mentioning others that happened behind closed doors.

And the steamy scenes we do see definitely push the story.

How are the story lines?

Really loved those. The hero has a plan, the heroine has a plan, the hero interferes with said plans and all romance breaks loose.

Would you read it again?

Yes.

Back of the Book

Rescuing this beauty from the ‘tower’ is only the beginning . . .

Maintaining her ruse as a commoner, and trusting no one has kept Angelica safe. But a chance encounter with a handsome stranger lands her right where danger lies. Now, this sinfully handsome man with arresting blue eyes and a polished manner thinks he’s saved her life, when in fact he’s placed her in great peril. She’s intent on keeping him and everyone else at arm’s length. Yet, the smoldering attraction between them is difficult to deny. And impossible to ignore . . .

As commander of a number of privateer ships, Simon Boulenger dresses and speaks like an aristocrat, and has obtained wealth. But he is still not a noble. Or an officer in the King’s Navy. His lifelong dream to elevate himself from his station of birth and attain a respectable place in society is dead. Worse, he’s ensnared in a deadly scheme, and must get out. But how is he to stay focused on his dangerous mission when the mysterious beauty has him utterly intrigued? He can’t afford the distraction any more than he can resist the carnal hunger she stirs. Simon soon discovers that she’s not only a passionate soul mate, but a woman born into privilege. A woman he can never have. But they’re in too deep. Their hearts are at risk . . . as well as their lives.

Review

Undone by Lila DiPasqua is a full length historical romance novel set in France and the Republic of Genoa in 1660.

"It is a convent, sir."

Never would hero Simon Boulenger guess those words would inspire lust, yet after heroine Angelica straddled him while dressed in a habit he reconsidered.

Wait, what? The promiscuous hero is seduced in an instant by a nun?

LOVE it!

Detailing the plot, for this novel, is a spoiler. From the beginning DiPasqua layers meanings and readies readers for one of many reveals.

Angelica is wonderful. She's so strong and incredibly clever. She doesn't take the 'easy' way out nor does she ask for help, because she can trust no one. Her secret is that dire.

Simon is the classic playboy pirate who wants the new shiny toy and refuses to stop pestering until he gets it. He's not always this childish with women, don't worry. This is just where his character arc begins. Despite his man-whoring activities, he is a loyal friend, dedicated captain and holds his duties, and others' safety, above his personal needs. His upbringing is tragic and the man he is today reflects a person wanting to save the world.

Simon often has an inner dialogue about how "he'd never done a rash thing in his entire life." Odd for him to think this, because when readers meet Simon he's in a precarious position and I can't imagine he planned that.

But let's talk sexy. Tension. Burning. Yearning. Chemistry. Supply a few more adjectives and we'll begin to scrape the tip of Angelica and Simon's physical attraction. Simon sports a hard-on 90% of the book because Angelica is near.

Undone is a bit choppy in the beginning. The sentences are shorter and more to the point - like what you'd expect at the end of a story or during an action scene. But man can she write descriptions:

"Raw lust licked up his spine."

"She placed her hand over her agitated heart, willing it to calm."

"Every inch of her quaked."

The beginning of black moment (you know, those scenes where the couple can never be together because of this and this and this...) is GENIUS. For the third time in Undone, DiPasqua creates a conflict that no one can remedy. (And DiPasqua doesn't stop at three.)

What an adult approach to romance. Real people reap the consequences of situations and in Undone Simon and Angelica do, too.

The only slight criticism I can give is that the 'start' is resolved too easily. It wasn't easy to write, but a slight plot tweak would have hurt a few feelings, broken a heavy heart and added a bittersweet resolution instead of a neat and tidy one - making the black-moment-start all but forgotten.

Well done, Lila. Your books deserve much love.

Learn more about Lila DiPasqua and her upcoming titles on her website, Facebook and Twitter.

This review provided by Musing Sallie