From Goodreads:
Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant fourth daughter of the Marquess of Needham and Dolby cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. Nearly engaged to Lord Castleton, Pippa wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen before marriage. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of The Fallen Angel, London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.
Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.
Like any good scientist, Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion—the experience of ruination without the repercussions of ruination. And who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? But when this odd, unexpected female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting . . . and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts—and giving the lady precisely what she wants.
From Me:
Love. This. Book.
Let me just say that I'm having a real good time 'researching' how the historical romance novels of today are different from the early RN of the late 1970's and 80's that I grew up reading. They have taken on a more feminist leaning. YES--feminist. That's what I said--and I said it because Sarah MacLean the author of One Good Earl said it, as well as many professors, scholars and students of women's studies.
Read this article:
There is a section on Romance Novels as a Feminist Act
Or this article:
The Romance Novels I grew up on, were --I don't even know how to put this---much darker and a lot of times they included non-consensual sex (rape) and kidnapping. (of course, not all of them, but a good deal of them did) But I loved them...as did millions of women... and there are reasons for that, but you'll have to take the Women's Studies class at Yale to understand all that. I'm sure if I went back and read them today, they would be quite bothersome to me.
Today's books are nothing like that. They have strong, feisty female characters, men who are strong, gentle, caring and don't treat women as property, but you know--the books still are a romance: he's not that enlightened! (and yet, by the end of the book he is)
There is still lots of brooding, yearning, mixed up messages, great banter and hot sex.
So, in the name of research, I am obsessively making my way thru a few in a few days to see how they've evolved.
And guess what---
I'm having a great time!
These are two of my favorites!
I loved them!
Truth be told tho, I still have a little bit of a problem with the covers. I don't feel they reflect the story within. But that's just me, I suppose.
I think MacLean and Enoch are great writers!
Anybody who has the talent and skill to extract such feelings from a reader is tops in my book.
If Stephen King can scare you just by the way he combines words on paper and is considered a great writer-- then the way these two authors put words on paper and can make you feel, so, so, so..... Ack! Happy, frustrated, sensual, sad, ecstatic, then they are writers on par with SK! And SK is my hero, so this is pretty high praise.
Isn't that the point for putting words on paper--to make a story to make you feel?
They've done a great job.
I don't usually read backlists, but I now what I'm taking to the cabin this summer!
From Goodreads:
Once upon a time, the notorious Viscount Dare charmed Lady Georgiana Halley out of her innocence ― to win a wager, no less! ― and now he must pay dearly. The plan is simple: She will use every seductive wile she knows to win Dare's heart...and then break it. But his smoldering gaze once again tempts Georgiana to give in to desire ― and when he astonishes her with a marriage proposal, she wonders: Is he playing yet another game...or could it truly be love this time?
From Me:
I loved this story!
The Rake turned out to be a great guy.
PS sorry I lumped them into one post. It probably wasn't fair, as they truly deserve their own accolades.
3 comments:
Ok, I added MacLean to my 2016 New Authors to Try shelf so I remember to try her out. I've requested Suzanne Enoch's The Rake from my library!
I enjoy MacLean's novels, but have not read Enoch. I've been reading a couple of late 70s early 80s romance novels to see how I like them now.
I love MacLean and I used to read Enoch all the time but it's been a long time since I picked up any of her books. I remember enjoying The Rake but it was awhile ago? Do you listen to podcasts? There's one called Avon on the Air that interviews romance authors and it's so interesting. They did a look back on The Flame and the Flower by Kathleen Woodiwiss which apparently was one of the first actual romance novels. The discussion was so fascinating!
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