Dark Fancy

'Scuse me while I fan myself. Wawaweewa! This book was gnaw-tee! Naughty naughty naughty. Having read Sabrina York's Untamed Highlanders series, I wasn't quite expecting to delve into a saucy bit of historical erotica. I may have not started reading it on my lunch break if I would have known ahead of time. Awkward!

James Tully, Earl of Darlington has just signed a marriage contract, agreeing to marriage a bride sight unseen in exchange for the Trueglove stables and estate, which were part of his ancestral lands. Shortly after the betrothal documents are signed, James comes across a tiny elfin girl hiding in his potting shed. Lady Helena Eloise Simpson has just run away from home after learning that she was to be married off to a decrepit and grotesque neighboring earl. Wanting to escape the betrothal, she asks James to ruin her. And, well from that point it it devolved into sex over substance. But what delicious debauchery it was. James has dark desires and Helena is drawn to him like a moth to a flame. While he was worried about introducing her to his baser instincts, Helena had a natural curiosity and bloomed under his tutelage.

After a good amount of sexytime, there is some relationship drama and we are introduced to secondary characters who will have their own books in the series. I am particularly excited about the Duke of Moncrieff, known as the Dark Duke... and may have immediately grabbed the next book off Kindle Unlimited for some late night reading.

I know this is a short review, but its a novella with lots of steam. The non-steamy parts of the plot are minimal so I can't say too much without giving spoilers. I received a copy of this book at no cost via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Helena Simpson flees an unwanted marriage to a revolting disgusting lord whom she has never met. Lady Helena runs away and spends the night unknowingly on Lord James property. Lord James finds Eloise on his property and he’s instantly attracted to her, he’s betrothed to Lady Helena whom he’s never met. Eloise is attracted to James and asks, begs James to ruin her, to show her what passion is like before she must wed an ancient old man. She is devastated when she finds out James is not the gardener, but a “Lord” instead, the worst kind of man, like she the one she is running away from. The erotic scenes were very steamy, but will the two every find common ground in their dark fancies as Helena awakens his desires as no other. You cannot help but fall in love with the two strong witty characters.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchanged for an honest review.

Description:

When Lady Helena Simpson flees an unwanted marriage to a revolting lord, she finds refuge with James, a charming, handsome man unlike any she’s ever known. Helena concocts the perfect solution to her problem. She asks—begs—James to ruin her. Surely her betrothed will repudiate her if she is no longer pure. And if all her efforts fail and she still ends up married to a horrid man until the end of her days, she will at least once have known true passion.

But James is not all he seems. He is, in fact, a wicked lord with a dark fancy. When Helena awakens his desire, he becomes determined to take everything she has to offer and more.
No matter the cost.

This book was originally published in 2013 and has been re-edited, re-covered and re-published
2014 NTRWA Carolyn Reader Choice Award Winner


My Thoughts:
This is a very sexy short novel with the expected HEA ending. It has a little more sex than I'm accustomed to from this author but the erotic nature is good rather than overwhelming. I see why it was a 2014 NTRWA Carolyn Reader Choice Award Winner after original publication in 2013.
I would give it 4.25 stars and recommend the read.
I received a digital ARC of this re-publication in exchange for an honest review.

Dark Fancy by Sabrina York is a steamy Regency Historical Romance. Book 1 in her steamy "Noble Passions" series.
Well written, fast paced, steamy romance from the beginning to the end.

Lady Helena Simpson(Eloise) flees an unwanted marriage, right into the arms of the James, the newly Lord of Darlington, her newly betrothed, although, neither is aware of whom the other actually are. The rest they say is history....

Filled with witty banter, a spark of humor, spankings, bondage, sexually explicit, coarse language, passion and the power of true love. Very much, an Erotic, steamy Regency Romance!

I felt Helena was a bit childish, and she lies about her true identity, she finally shows she Spunk at the end. James is a typical Lord, a bit selfish, however, he does tell a bit of a lie, as to who he is, Helena thinks he's the gardner. Helena asks him to ruin her, of course, James agrees.
Then there's cute, Uncle Andrew, a bit eccentric, he thinks Helena is a fairy princess, running from the fairy king, he's hilarious. I absolutely adored him.
A nice escape from reality.

Can James and Helena find they way to a HEA? Or lose all due to the games they played?
A great steamy Regency Romance! I can't wait to read Book 2, "Dark Duke".

*Contains explicit content, suitable for adults only, 18+. Contains bondage, dominance, spankings, and coarse language.*
Received for an honest review from Net Galley. However, all opinions, insights and thoughts are my own personal opinions.

Rating: 4
Heat rating: Hot /Steamy/Sizzling
Reviewed by: AprilR

For your convenience. ...(from Amazon )
"This book was originally published in 2013 and has been re-edited, re-covered and re-published.

Check out all the stories in the Noble Passions Series:

Dark Fancy, Book 1
Dark Duke, Book 2
Brigand, Book 3
Defiant, Book 4
Folly, Book 5"

This short book is over the top sexy with very well written sex scenes. Besides being very entertaining and educational it has a delightful romantic story. It has charming moments of laugh out loud humor with Helena (Eloise) surprising James with her enthusiasm for his various fetishes. It is apparent from the beginning that these two are meant for each other but, of course, there are some problems thrown in to make their HEA in question. If you want to read a historical erotic book then you can’t do better than Sabrina York’s Dark Fancy unless perhaps you read the rest of the books in this series.

I am giving an honest review in exchange for this ARC. I really enjoyed this tale however it does have slightly dark eroticism that potential readers should know. Didn't bother me one bit. I did manage to finish it in one day and look forward to the others in this series!

Dark Fancy is a historical erotica at its finest and is the first in Sabrina York’s Noble Passions series. This book tells a compelling story and packs a lot of heat in just 160 pages. If you like erotica in a historical setting - not an easy thing to find - then you do not want to miss Dark Fancy.

Lady Helena Simpson is feeling her sheltered live to avoid an arranged marriage with a nobleman, who she believes is an old, fat and pompous. During her attempt to escape and catch a mail coach to London, she seeks refuge at a country estate where she meets James, a man she assumes is the estate’s gardner.

James is all that Helena imagines her fiancee is not. He is young, good looking and charming. She decides to ask him to take her virginity in the hopes that she will be considered ruined and abandoned by her fiancee. James is extremely attracted to Helena and he is happy to comply, but he also has his own secrets that will threaten any potential relationship they might have together.

When I read historical erotic, I do not have an expectation that societal norms and conventions of the time period will be honored and I suspend disbelief. If you are looking for historical accuracy, this is not the genre for you. The time period is more of a setting to the story.

Ms. York writes beautiful, passionate and sensual erotica. You will not be disappointed if you are looking for a short read with a cute story and characters who share incredible chemistry. I look forward to book two in the series!

(This is actually a reissue of the book that was first published in 2013.)

LOVED this book! This author is the queen of sexy romance! The pages of my kindle were sizzling as I was reading. Naughty and so much fun to read. If you are uncomfortable with explicit scenes or anything beyond vanilla, pass this one by, but if you enjoy a whole new level of hot, this book is for you. The characters are well developed and I felt invested in their lives. This is not your typical regency romance and stands alone within the category. Once again, the author has outdone herself. A must read for fans of sexy regency romance.