Passion by Lisa Valdez

Passion by Lisa Valdez
Why I read this: It was in a box of books that I got a yard sale for $2.00. It's been sitting in my TBR pile since the summer, but I hate the cover so thats why it took so long for me to read. When I wasn't sure which book to read next, I told my dog to pick one. I brought her to my TBR shelf, and picked the first one she licked. LOL

A woman called Passion. A man who would make her true to her name.

In her second year of mourning, lovely young widow Passion Elizabeth Dare never dreamed she would be with a man again--and certainly not a complete stranger. But amidst the crowds of London's Crystal Palace, Passion finds herself discreetly, yet insistently, pursued by a sensual gentleman who awakens her long-supressed desires. After a loveless marriage of restrained propriety, Passion abandons herself to true bliss for the first time.

Intoxicated by his encounter with the beautiful stranger, Mark Randolph Hawkmore, Earl of Langley, cannot wait to see her again. As a series of rapturous rendezvous follows, he and his mystery lover find something rare and wonderful blossoming between them. But a blackmail scheme against the Earl threatens to destroy everything. As a scandal brews, each will have to choose between duty and desire...their love for their families--and their love for each other.

Oh, wow. I was not expecting such a sexy read. Truly, I was shocked! What a pleasant surprise :)

I understand why readers are so up in arms about the release of the second book. I'm dying to read it, too. Can Lisa Valdez pull off another Passion? Some say no, and that's why Patience is so far behind in its release. I have no idea what the the truth is behind Patience is, but what I do know is that I enjoyed Passion, a lot.

Our Heroine, Passion, meets the hero, Mark, while she out in public. The attraction is instant, and that very same day they have sex, hidden behind a big Chinese screen, while people mill about.

Passion is a widow, and even though her name is Passion, she lacked that type of intimacy in her marriage. Her husband was more of a wham bam thank you mam, type of guy. In their years of marriage, Passion was never even naked in front of him.

Passion and mark meet daily behind the screen to make love. Mark want to know about her, but Passion would rather they keep their identities secret. She wants to enjoy her time with him, and then go back home.

Mark isn't having any of that, though, he wants more from her. More than just wild sex, he wants her heart.

Things take a turn for the lovebirds when Mark is blackmailed into becoming engaged to Passion's cousin. Passion is heart broken, Mark is angry, and since Passion doesn't want to be Mistress, nor betray her cousin, she breaks things off with Mark.

It is a romance, so the two do end up together, but it takes a time for them to get there. I was in tears reading some the scenes in this book. I wanted them to be together so bad, I didn't want them to have to wait, or sneak around, or have any troubles at all. It's always nice to like both the hero and heroine in a book.

Passion is an A read for sure. I will now sit back and see how patient I can be for Patience to come out.