Guilty Pleasures (Guilty, #1)

by Laura Lee Guhrke

[Angie]

I knew I had to read Guilty Pleasures for two reasons: It's set mostly at an excavation site rather than in a ballroom and the heroine likes to watch her shirtless employer. Scandalous! Daphne has been working for the Duke of Tremore for five months and admires him from afar. Then one day she overhears him say that she's pathetic and not a woman but a machine. Needless to say, Daphne is hurt by his words and chooses to resign from her position as the restorer for his upcoming museum exhibit. But the Duke needs her to stay and the Duke always gets his way.

Guilty Pleasures made me so happy. I think this is only the second Historical Romance I've read that involves archaeology and I really need more! Dig sites are an infinitely more interesting setting than balls, dinners, and the opera! Anthony's land has Roman ruins on it, and he has plans to build a museum that all people can come to admire. So of course, he is not pleased to have his most important employee say she's leaving in a month! It'll be impossible to replace her on such short notice, if at all, and he's really not use to people not doing exactly as he says. But Daphne is not under his spell anymore. She loves her job, but she cannot work with someone who doesn't respect her. You go, girl!

I super adored Daphne. She is not the typical society miss at all. She was raised all over the world! Her father is the one who trained her to restore antiques and artifacts, so she's never had a "normal" life. He's also the one who was hired by Anthony, but died, so Daphne went to take his place. She had absolutely nothing to her name: no family, no money, no friends, no home. But she made it work! She would not let a man tell her that she's not the one for the job, when she knows she's actually overqualified. She may look meek with her drab dresses, tight bun, and spectacles, but she's not. She's a woman who knows her mind and will not let anyone tell her otherwise.

On the other hand, Anthony is the most arrogant, infuriating man ever! He wields his title like a sword to make sure everyone does exactly as he says. He thinks love and marriage should not go hand in hand, and is aiming to marry the woman with the best looks and highest title. Someone plain with a brain, like Daphne, simply never crosses his mind. He's not all bad though. We do see how he treats his tenants who cannot afford their rent. But he really doesn't see anyone else beyond what they can do for him. At least until he starts spending time with Daphne, teaching her how to dance for her debut into society at his sister's suggestion.

Guilty Pleasures was just so great! It's not just the unique setting, but I loved the characters as well. It's a kind of hate to love romance, as Daphne truly begins to detest her prior crush after he says such awful things about her. But the two must play nice in order to get the museum open on time! Anthony must also set aside his arrogance and negative notions of love if he wants the woman he winds up admiring and loving. She'll accept no less!

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.