My favourite romance of all... Whitney My Love... *sigh*

The story begins with Whitney Stone. She is a feisty, independent fifteen year old and stubborn to a fault. She is more than her father can handle so he writes her aunt and uncle and pleads for their help in transforming Whitney from a defiant tomboy into an acceptable lady of the ton. They are more than willing to help Whitney become acceptable in society but there is one problem, they live in Paris. Whitney is devastated with the prospect of leaving her home, after all Paul Sevarin is there. Whitney has been infatuated with Paul for some time and has made a spectacle while throwing her desperate self at his disinterested feet. Before she leaves for Paris she makes one final plea for him to wait for her but he quickly squashes all her hopes of ever becoming Mrs. Paul Sevarin.

When Whitney arrives in Paris she dedicates herself to becoming the perfect lady, takes her studies seriously (wish I had! haha) and learns all the fine arts of a lady of quality (fine arts of being a lady y'all hear!!). She does all this hoping against all hope that when she finally returns to England she will blow everyone away with her transformation.

When she finally makes her debut in Paris society she quickly becomes the most sought after beauty in all of France but her heart remains in England with Paul and she refuses offer after amazing offer. She becomes a challenge to every suitable male around and still she refuses.

The only man she will allow to accompany her anywhere is Nicholas Duville (whom apparntly is a handsome devil!!). He is urbane, sophisticated and extremely jaded when it comes to matters of the heart. He is the perfect man to have as an escort if you don’t want the trouble of a proposal. But Nicki is fast becoming enchanted with the elusive beauty and he finds himself wanting her for his own. They are in the middle of an argument at the Armand’s masquerade ball where Nicki had escorted Whitney into the garden and he began to press her about marriage. A stranger steps forward and offers her the escape she is looking for. He invites her to dance. He is dressed all in black and wearing a black demi-mask and all Whitney can think of is how this man reminds her of Satan. He and his roguish ways intrigue her but she understands that he is indeed a very dangerous man, the kind that could break your heart if you allow him to. It doesn’t matter because her heart still belongs to Paul Sevarin.

When her father sends word that he wants his daughter to come home to England and to him Whitney is ecstatic and terrified. She knows her place in Parisian society but how different will it be in her homeland?

The reason her father has requested that Whitney return home posthaste is because of a man. A duke actually, Clayton Westmoreland, The Duke of Claymore, one of the most sought after titled gentleman in all England and Paris. Clay has met Whitney on several occasions but she was so distracted with her friends that she scarcely spared him a glance, until the Armand’s masquerade ball. He was the stranger in the garden and it was then that he knew she was going to be his and there was nothing that could stop him.

He contacts her father and makes him an offer he absolutely can’t refuse. Now he is living in disguise, a common county gent that just moved in next door to Whitney’s property. It is the only way he can think of to properly woo her and make her his and so their tumultuous journey begins, full of spicy arguments, witty bickering and outrageous stunts.

This novel is one of my all time favorites. I adore the story with all its fiery conflicts and clever dialogue. The struggle between these two amazingly written characters is not only entertaining; it’s charming as well. Every skirmish lends more insight to the depth of the character and the underlying attraction they both feel for each other. This is one of those books that you just feel the need to scream at some of the stupidity and stubbornness both characters display but can’t help but enjoy yourself throughout the novel

Clayton was written as the ultimate alpha male, proud, arrogant and dominant, he can be one of the biggest jerks on the planet but he loves Whitney with a ferocity that you seldom ever come across. Whitney, with her stubbornness and independence, plays off his pride and drives him insane with her antics to try to hold off the inevitable. Both characters have so much zest and life that you feel you are reading about real people.

McNaught is truly masterful with this novel, wreaking havoc on your emotions and pulling at your heartstrings, creating amazing battles of the wills and writing one of the most poignant and emotionally charged love stories you’ll ever find.