Customer Reviews

The Club

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The Club by Sharon Page
Historical Romance- Regency - February 24, 2009
4 1/2 stars

The Club is a deliciously decadent novel that in many areas shocked me. (This book explores the seedier side of the Regency era that was salient to the story.) If you haven't read books by this author before, be prepared for sensuous scenes as well as strong characters that will make you root for them!

Recently widowed, Lady Jane is a woman with a mission. While she couldn't save herself from an abusive husband; she is determined to save her missing friend. Unfortunately, her friend Del was forced by her husband into participating at the Club, a place where the unsavory world of sexual excess reaches the powerful and wicked desires of London's higher society.

Lady Jane visits the Club and finds herself stonewalled by Del's long lost brother, Christian. Dubbed "Lord Wicked" for his well deserved reputation, Christian is the antithesis of all she believes. Although she finds him devastatingly handsome and charming, Lady Jane is fearful of the passion she feels for him. But even as she tries to keep herself aloof from his wild disregard for society, she realizes she feel most safe in his arms.

Christian has always admired Lady Jane even as she cuts him with her remarks. She makes him want to be a better person and although it is dangerous for her to be embroiled in Del's disappearance, he can't help but be happy that it allows him to spend time with her.

Sharon Page's writing kept me on edge, as the mystery behind Del's disappearance is slowly and expertly revealed. While many writers would revel in the shock value or focus purely on the sexual attraction between the characters. This author takes the time to slowly develop the relationship between the two main characters. Lady Jane and `Lord Wicked' felt like real characters with very human frailties. I really enjoyed the interaction between them and each seemed to compliment the other perfectly. The riveting love between the two characters rises above and in stark contrast to the scandalous behavior at the Club. As the main characters find redemption and acceptance, they are healed by their love and adversity. The romance between them was moving and by the end of the book I knew they had to be together!

The Club is not the typical Regency romance, but one that will definitely keep you up all night to discover the end.

Reviewed by Steph from Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I picked this book up while at the bookstore and thought it looked promising. I have read previous books from Sharon Page, which were okay reads. However, this book I really enjoyed. Yes, there was a darker element to the tale, but if you have read Robin Schone's books, this is tame in comparison. I really liked the hero who was not shown sleeping all over the place, as some authors show their rakes (Susan Johnson). He was a womanizer at one point, but you see his behavior change and his love for the heroine seemed genuine (he proposed three times). The ending was also very touching and beautiful after what the heroine had suffered before. All I can say is that it was a wonderful story and I look forward to the next one.

Jane St. Giles, Lady Sherringham has ventured where no lady of good breeding would go. She has entered the secretive world of one of London's most scandalous clubs in order to find one of her dear friends that has gone missing. There is something dark and dangerous about this establishment and she will do what she must in order to save her friend. What she doesn't count on is one of London's wicked rakes coming to the rescue of his sister, Lady Delphina, Jane's, best friend. Now, Jane needs to not only work hard at finding her friend at all costs but she also needs to put her passion and desire for Christian in its proper place. But when passion runs high and Jane is forced to make a decision, will she chose to hide where it's safe, guarding her heart, or will she give into the love and desire that makes her feel alive for the first time in a very long time?

I found this to be a very engaging and fast paced read. Christian and Jane were entertaining characters and their growth throughout the story was enough to keep the reader firmly tied to the book. Combined with the passion and intrigue, Ms. Page has crafted a page turning read that fans of historic romance will devour. Highly sensual without being obnoxious, THE CLUB is a title I highly recommend.

In 1818 Widow Lady Jane St. Giles enters the notorious gentlemen's Club that welcomes couples. Run by Mrs. Brougham, Jane is a rarity as an unescorted lady of quality, but though she is prim and proper, she risks the scandal in hopes of finding her best friend Lady Delphina Treyworth who has gone missing. Del's spouse insists his wife ran away with another man for France. Jane believes Treyworth is a liar and abuser. She blames Del's brother Christian Sutcliffe, Lord Wickham, for fleeing overseas while his sister was forced into an odious marriage. Inside she is shocked by the depravity she witnesses until Christian becomes her escort; she was unaware that "Lord Wicked" is back in London.

As they work together to find Del, Christian feels guilty that he was not there for his beloved sister when she was forced to marry by their detestable father and Jane fall in love. Each fears for Del's life as increasingly the evidence they find inside the Club points to foul play since other women have been murdered. As they continue their desperate search, they learn of four special club members whose abuse goes beyond the depravity of the normal couples who belong.

THE CLUB is an engaging erotic Regency romantic suspense starring two individuals who were in love as battling teens and remain in love as adults, but though they share the common goal of rescuing Del, they also remain combatants. The story line is at its best when a shocked Jane sees the goings on inside the Club. The investigation into the disappearance seems too easily resolved, but sub-genre readers will relish this page turner with a terrific final twist that is in the audience's face, but most if not all will not see it coming.

Harriet Klausner

I wasn't sure I'd like this book when I ordered it. I wanted to read about heroes. The front cover of `The Club', published by Dell and written by Sharon Page, says "Behind closed doors, nothing is forbidden." Hmmm.

I love historical reads, but I was open for something different. I was pleased with my purchase! Intrigue and kinky sex can be found inside the club, yet Jane St. Giles, Lady Sherringham, must get inside in order to search for friend Del, who has gone missing. She is joined by Del's brother, and London's wickedest rake, Christian Sutcliffe.

I wasn't prepared to like this Lord Wickham, our hero. But I did. I loved his wit, sensitivity to the more innocent Jane, and his concern for his missing sibling. Okay, okay, he sounded HOT, too!

Sharon described the inner workings on an exclusive gentleman's club and brought its visitors to life in all their naked glory. `Highly arousing' is one way to describe how the relationship between the meek, unassuming Jane flourishes under Christian's touch. This was a great can't-put-it-down page turner especially for any lover of the Regency historical.

When Jane St Giles, Lady Sherringham, discovers that her good friend Del has vanished, she knows she has to try to find her. Del's husband has been violent towards her and Jane knows that he forced Del to attend 'The Club', a secret gentlemen's club. So Jane goes there in order to try to find out what may have happened to Del, and bumps into Del's brother, Lord Wickham, who has returned from India. Jane and Wickham were childhood friends but their lives moved in separate ways, with Jane marrying (and then being widowed) and Wickham gaining a reputation as a rake.

Jane and Wickham begin to investigate together, both at the Club and elsewhere. They believe Del may have been locked away somewhere but they have few leads. As they uncover the seamy underworld of London together, their childhood friendship rekindles; but there are shocks in store for Jane and she may have to re-evaluate what she knows of Wickham's character.

This book was enjoyable in terms of the mystery plot and the variety of settings in London. What didn't work for me were the scenes in the club which felt like they were written almost entirely for the titillation of the reader and didn't serve any real purpose. I liked both Christian (Wickham) and Jane in terms of their characters but I had to suspend belief occasionally in terms of historical accuracy. It was a reasonable read but not something I am likely to turn to again.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2009

Sharon Page's latest novel is decadent, dark and mysterious. It has all the wow factor of a handsome yummy hero but the heroine was sadly not as vibrant nor as engaging as her male lead.

Heroine lady Jane is an impoverished widow heartily glad to be rid of her sadistic husband. She is fiercely loyal to her friends and when her best friend Del goes missing she is on the hunt to her whereabouts. Also searching for Del is her brother Christian, Lord Wickham recently returned from India after receiving a letter from his sister that spoke of her fears. Del is married to an unkind man who claims that she has run off with a lover but neither Jane nor Christian believes such a story.

Together they try to to find Del which leads them to a sex club that is anything but ordinary. Jane is flabbergasted at what she sees at the club and Christian kind of takes it all in stride. They are reluctant partners, having a past full of arguments but they do have chemistry.

Jane is to be commended for her loyalty to her friends but not her rashness when it comes to facing dangerous situations. In the beginning of the novel she panics in situations requiring calm and throws herself into danger without thinking through the consequences of her actions. Fortunately, she recognizes her behavior is detrimental to the investigation and listens to Christian albeit she warns him that she will be at his side every step of the way on their search for Del.

As stated earlier this novel has some dark undertones namely some s/m at the club and other sexual acts that are more explicit than your average regency. The club itself has a ruthless air about it and Christian and Jane have to maneuver through the hedonism that permeates every room of the establishment to find the truth about his sister.

Jane and Christian's romance takes some time to develop mainly due to Jane's real fear of intimacy thanks to her brutal husband. This was realistic and appropriate to the character. Christian is patient and caring. Once they do act upon their feelings these two are smoking hot but their conversations are stilted and not always truthful. Christian is reluctant to share his past and Jane is hesitant to chart a new future. She has chanted the mantra I-don't-need-a-man-to-be-happy so much since her husband's departure that she can't see a good thing when it comes along.

The book is enjoyable largely due to some clever plotting by the author. The mystery of Del's disappearance proves to be just the tip of the iceberg in dealings with the Club. Furthermore, Christian is brilliant as sleuth, protector, friend, lover and caring brother. He is nigh irresistible and due largely to his wonderful charm, I was kept very interested in the story. This story is almost a four star read; I liked it mostly but found heroine Jane just not up to par with her hero.

This is a historical romance with a background in a sex club, murders, spousal abuse, sexual deviant characters, a mystery but the center story was a great love story. Lady Jane a recent widow (husband was evil abuse man) decides to find her missing best friend Del with the help of Del's brother Lord Wickham sparks fly and the pages heat up. If you enjoy Cheryl Holt genre of books I would read this book - if you are looking for a PG-13 book I would say you have been warned. Looking forward to her next Regency England Romance The Last Seduction: A Novel due out August 25, 2009.

If you like this genre I would also suggest; Forbidden Fantasy , Caine's Reckoning (Hell's Eight) and Everything Forbidden (Avon Red).

Is this story a regency romance? An erotic thriller? Is it a scathing review of the seedier side of the Ton? Even after finishing the book, I'm still not sure.

Like many other reviewers, I had a difficult time really liking the main characters. Of course they were strong and 'heroic', but there were also flawed - intentionally and otherwise. You could see the climactic ending coming from a mile away! It just felt as if this story could have been stronger; it seemed to drag on and on like the author had a page-quota to meet or something.

If you are a fan of erotic fiction, this story is NOT that. If you're a fan of romantic thrillers... also not entirely that. Page's 'The Club' (of which there are actually two... gasp!) is somewhere in between - erotic undertones, very sexual (and at times distasteful) scenes and imagery, a search for the missing Lady Delfina, and a sappy love story.

Even a beginning historian knows that much of English history has a sordid underbelly. Dickens shared what he saw and many used those images to scare English citizens to stay on the straight and narrow. This book takes a realistic view of how many rights a married woman lost--including to her own body!--in the barter that was marriage. Great characters, couple of good red herrings and smashing heroes all make this a delightful and unpredictible read. Grab up this novel and double check the date on your calendar being thankful we live as free women in the 21st century!