BOOK REVIEW: The Heart of a Scoundrel by Christi Caldwell

BLURB

Ruthless, wicked, and dark, the Marquess of Rutland rouses terror in the breast of ladies and nobleman alike. All Edmund wants in life is power. After he was publically humiliated by his one love Lady Margaret, he vowed vengeance, using Margaret’s niece, as his pawn. Except, he’s thwarted by another, more enticing target--Miss Phoebe Barrett.

Miss Phoebe Barrett knows precisely the shame she’s been born to. Because her father is a shocking letch she’s learned to form her own opinions on a person’s worth. After a chance meeting with the Marquess of Rutland, she is captivated by the mysterious man. He, too, is a victim of society’s scorn, but the more encounters she has with Edmund, the more she knows there is powerful depth and emotion to the jaded marquess.

The lady wreaks havoc on Edmund’s plans for revenge and he finds he wants Phoebe, at all costs. As she’s drawn into the darkness of his world, she risks being destroyed by his ruthlessness. And Phoebe who desires love at all costs, has to determine if she can ever truly trust the heart of a scoundrel.

MY REVIEW

5/5 STARS

I. Am. In. Awe. I've craved and raved for Christi Caldwell's genuine, sweet, and light romances but she absolutely shocked me in The Heart of Scoundrel. For the first time, she ventured into a darker character and a sexier plot. This story just totally stole my heart away. 

His kiss and actions were not the ones of a gentleman gently loving a delicate lady, but rather a primitive male who sought to brand a woman forever his.

Edmund, the Marquess of Rutland, knew revenge and control flowed with the black blood in his veins. He will never tolerate any breathing soul who would dare hurt him. Damn, I love Edmund's character. I've always had a weakness for broken heroes but Edmund was more than broken. He was ignited with strong (although wrong) emotions that drove his actions. Strong emotions that could potentially ruin a lady....or love a lady truly if the strength of that emotion was diverted to love. 

“You deserve a gentleman, a lord with pretty words and an honorable soul, and I know there is little use with the heart of a scoundrel, but I’d give it to you, anyway.”

With Phoebe's scandalous family background that placed her in the least marriageable women in the ton,  all she hoped for in life was a man who would love her truly and travel with her. I loved Phoebe's uniqueness. Her quick wit and desire for knowledge was quite a great source of entertainment. She had the mind of an explorer. She has a capability to see more than just the surface, love more than just the surface. 

With her effervescent spirit, she was spring to his dark winter.

I was completely drawn to this story! Once I started it, I was stuck and couldn't put it down. I've read a almost all of Christi Caldwell's book and yet this one stands out among others. There was a new Christi Caldwell here, a daring, angsty, and  sexy Christi Caldwell. And I looooved it so much! She maintained the easy-flowing vibe that she is known for but this time, she added fire and made the story burn.