Publisher: St. Martins (2010)
Format: e-book | 320 pages
Genre(s): Historical Romance
Description (GR): "Notorious, handsome, and decadent, the Lords of Vice prowl the glittering ballrooms of Regency London— breaking rules and hearts with equal aplomb. But even the wildest rogue must eventually meet his match…Seduce Lady Juliana Ivers and then cast her aside: Those are his sister’s instructions. Alexius Braverton, Marquess of Sinclair—known as Sin to the ton—is happy enough to oblige, especially when he catches a glimpse of his target. Juliana is completely unlike the empty-headed chits who barely hold his attention for a week. A true gentleman would leave her to find a worthy suitor. But then, a Lord of Vice would never claim to be a gentleman.Juliana is expected to marry well to improve her family’s finances, even if she secretly longs to make a living through her musical compositions. A dalliance can only complicate matters, though not even practical Juliana can help succumbing to the aptly named Sin. But one unforgettable night will draw her into a scandalous affair—and a seduction begun as sport will soon become deliciously, dangerously real…"
WARNING: this review contains some spoilers, is ranty and may offend sensitive readers. Maybe. Probably. (?)
No. Just no, no and NO!
This is one of the worst books I've read in a while. I did not want to say this, but it is true. This book was so annoying.
Let's see if I can write something that isn't too ranty (yeah right).
So, this book takes place in 1820, in English society. The heroine (if you can call her that), starts the book pretty well, fleeing from the unwanted attentions of a lecherous guy. She even climbs a tree, which I kind of thought was cool.
Then... she meets the hero. His name is Sin(clair) and he is a rogue. He looks up while he is getting a blowjob from a woman, sees her, thinks he'd like to bang her (trust me, I'm being way more subtle and less rude than the book itself) and there you have it.
Next day his sister tells him she wants him to seduce this young girl named Juliana, because she is totally stealing her beau. He is like, ok and lucky! Juliana happens to be the girl in the tree.
"Seduction" for this "rogue" is basically half-stalking the girl and sort-of-mauling her even after she said "no". It was so freaking disgusting. I mean, WHAT???? Then, to help matters, the author decides she doesn't really care how Victorian society was and she is going to write a scene where Juliana's mother lets her unmarried daughter enter a carriage alone with a known rogue (damn, it was a man). She also decides that everyone will coo when Juliana, an unmarried woman receives an expensive present from a man (who is a bachelor and a rogue). Hello? Are we in alternate 19th century England?
Well, after he "bangs" her they decide to be lovers, but we're never shown the development of their relationship (yep, it's a sentence telling the reader that they had a torrid, sex-based affair). Because soon new villains that are intent on having our heroine appear out of nowhere.
And that's it... they're in love (not the villains, the hero and heroine).
So. As you can see I thought the plot was the most contrived, annoying thing ever (well, not ever, but...). It was ridiculous, it made no sense and some of the scenes were creepy. As much as a "rogue" is a player I don't want to read about a creepy man (that is the hero). Sin, the "hero" promises the heroine he will bed her. He takes advantage of her (innocence), mauls her and I'm supposed to think that is romantic? Sorry, people are free to think it is, but I sure don't.
Character development was null. Oh wait, the heroine was sort of spunky for the first few pages, but then she noticed the hero was hot and she turned into a whimp. Sin was an idiot, there was no reason for his stupid behavior and he only slightly redeemed himself at the end.
Chemistry between the characters: there was none. As I mentioned above it wasn't even explained how they fell in love. The author just told us they did, but from the sex to the drama there was no development at all.
The supporting characters were equally lackluster.
Overall, very weak. Definitely not my type of book. I like my heros with some redeeming qualities and my romance to be actually romantic. Oh and heroines with some backbone. I will say though, that I thought the writing was ok.
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