Customer Reviews

The Naked Earl (Zebra Historical Romance)

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

 

 

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I liked it so much I'm going to try to get my hands on the rest of the Naked series. Perhaps the biggest asset of this novel is the cast of characters. The two leads, Lizzie and Robbie, are completely charming and likeable, and a welcome departure from your usual hellion/rake combo. I found it refreshing to read about a hero that hasn't bedded half of London, though I guess the level of lovemaking skill the author gives him is unlikely, given his lack of experience. I will freely admit that this is a book for which you need a robust suspension of disbelief, between the anachronistic diction and a couple rickety plot points. However, those failings did not seriously detract from the enjoyability of the story, because the characters are so engrossing. The author didn't just focus on the relationship between Lizzie and Robbie, but also gives us glimpses of several other relationships, the most prominent of which is a budding romance between two of their friends (which is going to be developed in the next book, I think). One of the other reviewers mentioned a gratuitous amount of sex in this book, but, while I agree that there are many random racy scenes, I do not think they detracted from the progress of the story, likely because they are fairly brief and only occasionally the focus of the narrative -- it's not like the book is nothing but a series of clothes-tearing hair-grabbing sheet-crumpling bedroom encounters. Overall, this book is a very light-hearted adventure (I suppose one could say "romp," but that word is so over-used) which never takes itself very seriously. It is definitely not for those who want historically accurate Regency romance: though it is set in Regency England, the author never successfully envelops you in that environment; indeed, it's easier to picture the story taking place in a modern-day American highschool than a 19th century English manor. With such a funny and engaging bunch of characters rampaging about, though, I never minded the lack of authenticity: I was too busy laughing :) While the author might not have as much technical or historical polish as a more experienced writer (such as Stephanie Laurens), she seems to have a real talent for characterization and humor, making this book one of the most enjoyable out of all the books I've read. In short: Buy it and read it!

Lady Elizabeth (Lizzie) Runyon has been in love with Earl Robert (Robbie) Hamilton for years--so much so that she's in her fourth season and has declined any number of marriage proposals. When Robbie has to flee naked when his bed is invaded by a naked woman, he jumps in the nearest available window--that of Lizzie. Lizzie is certain that a marriage proposal must be forthcoming--after all, Robbie certainly put her reputation at risk--but when Robbie not only fails to make the proposal but denies any intention of making one, she's forced to confront the possibility that Robbie doesn't see her the way she sees him.

Clearly her plan has to be, find a way to rivet Robbie's attentions--and flirting with other men offers an attractive means of letting Robbie know that Lizzie is not a woman to treat lightly. What Lizzie doesn't realize, though, is that Robbie is hiding a horrible secret--a secret so horrible he's willing to give up his own feelings for Lizzie and spend the rest of his life single.

No proper Regency gentleman, let alone an Earl, can be allowed to remain single and Lady Felicity, the woman who's surprised Robbie in his own bed, intends to trap him into marriage. Unless Lizzie can persuade Robbie to be honest about his feelings, he's likely to be forced into marriage with her, while Lizzie is dragooned into marriage with one of the many men who want her money if not her affection.

Author Sally MacKenzie continues her 'naked' series with an entertaining romp. Set largely in an English house party, a group of aristocrats scheme at seduction, marriage, and love. MacKenzie introduces interesting subplots, including one involving the party's host and one involving Lizzie's chaperone--who is in love with her own butler, but the primary story is that of Lizzie and Robbie. Robbie's problem, the result of a hazing incident, has persuaded him he's of no use to women--and everything Lizzie can do only makes him more certain he's the wrong man for her. MacKenzie manages to treat Robbie's problem with a degree of sympathy, while maintaining a light tone.

Although THE NAKED EARL is a sexy story, MacKenzie brings back the battle of wits that made so many readers love the regency novel. If you're looking for a fun and sexy romp, sit back and prepare to enjoy yourself. THE NAKED EARL is a lot of fun

And they are ALL in this book.

The top ten countdown is as follows:

10) Non-traditional sexual preferences being the distinction of a villain.

9) Having one character "ruined" if she was manhandled by a bad guy, but another isn't, even when she shows up half naked with a stranger.

8) "Love scenes" between a 60 and 65 year old man and woman who spend the whole time talking about the main characters.

7) "Love scenes" involving a secondary 20 something year old woman and either a) her lover whom she hopes will impregnate her so that she can pass said child off as her 80 something year old husband's heir or b) said 20 something year old woman and her 80 something year old husband.


6) Not having the characters "flesh out" their differences at SOME point in the book, if you get what I mean. The be-all, end-all of a novel should not be the culmination of a sexual relationship -- there really should be more to it than that.

5) Having the "innocent" and "inexperienced" woman have to practically force the man to either a) marry her or b) be intimate with her in any meaningful way.

4) Having the main character spend countless pages obsessing over erectile disfunction. What, they didn't have viagra, huh? Oooookay. And this is romantic, how?

3) Anal sex between secondary characters. Look, it's not like I think it's gross or disgusting (really -- I'm an openminded person), but it's not what the general public usually wants or expects.

2) Non consensual touching/psuedo rape. Rape is never, ever erotic. It was bad enough in her other books, but it's getting a bit repetitive, dontcha ya think?

And finally, the #1 thing that you should NEVER, EVER include in your romance novel (drum roll, please)...

1) References to the main character's genitalia in the following manner: "shy little member", "cooked carrots", a "dog's tail tucked between its legs" or a "cowering maiden".

So, dear readers, I leave you educated now, and allow you to make your own choice as to whether you want to read this book. I do, however, think it is extremely important that you be able to make an educated decision.

I would recommend this book to anyone who reads romance novels. This was the first book I read by this author. It was so good I had to get the first book, which is a hard to find. The book was so good I finished it in one day. And I have two children and a job outside of the home!

An entertaining premise quickly lost in a story about conniving secondary characters and perverted sex scenes. Why was innocent Lizzie even at this party? On second thought, why was anyone at this party where the characters did not have anything in common and did not like each other? I did not see any humor in the hero's "problem" or the giggly terms used to describe it. There was no romance in this story. I tossed it in the trash can.

I'm not much of a Romance reader (though I read a few, mostly K. Woodiwise) but the "Naked" in the title got me interested. Robbie (is that his Christian name? I don't think anyone called him anything but that as a first name) is and Earl, and loves Lizzie, his best-friend's sister. Lizzie has been in 4 seasons (so she is 20 or 21) and doesn't accepts any proposel of marriage because she is waiting for Robbie to propose. Of course, neither knows the other loves him/her. Robbie has a problem though, and is practically as chaste as the virgin Lizzie. Both attend a house party. There are a lot of secondary characters; one is aunt Bea, who is in her 60's and never married. But she knows more about men then a spinster aunt should know. And it might be a good idea that more authors portray older people having sex. There is the harpy Duchess of Hartford, who hates Lizzie; the Duchess wanted to marry Lizzie's brother, Duke of Alvord, but wasn't able to so she marries another Duke who is freakin' old. The baron who is holding the house party wants to get this Duchess in bed, so I'm surprise that a person who is a villian actually has something good happen to her. Though there is other villians, Felicity, who will do anything to get Robbie to marry her. The other is Andrews, whom Lizzie turned down his proposal. Andrews almost rapes Lizzie in the book. But many of these secondary characters (even main ones) appeared in other books by the same author. The disappointing thing was that in the beggining of the books I thought both Lizzie and Robbie would get caught (he hides himself in Lizzie's room, after Felicity tries to compromise herself with him) and almost get caught again. It takes Lizzie almost getting raped, but caught with her drawers down (as it were) before Robbie proposes. Though I'm curious with what will happen with Aunt Bea. Maybe next book.
The book isn't too agnsty, and most of the book's events take up less then a week (though at the end it takes 1 month for the mains to consumate their marriage). I really hate books that takes months for the mains to get together. Also, I really couldn't tell this was a regency romance, except for the mention of the ton.

I've read Sally Mackenzie's first two "Naked" books and unfortunately had to force myself to finish reading this one. The beginning of the book started of funny enough but after that it fell flat. I can only give her two stars.

I have to say I bought the entire series after "The Naked Baron," and "The Naked Duke" did not disappoint. I would give them both five stars, even though not unflawed. However, I have found that I don't really mind a few flaws in books that truly engage my interest.

This one was actually difficult to get through. First of all, after the trick Robbie (the Naked Earl) played on his friend in "The Naked Duke," I found his lack of sexual experience hard to believe in this one. (Not to mention that the duke himself lacked sexual experience; why would he and Robbie be playing tricks on each other with whores under these circumstances?).

But what bothered me the most was that literally EVERYONE knows that Lizzie loves Robbie--even Robbie--and that she sticks around so long after he makes it so clear that her feelings are not returned. They are both dolts: he for continually pushing her away and she for taking it.

And why anyone would allow an innocent young lady at such a house party without a competent chaperone. . . anyone knowledgeable of the Regency era would see through that immediately. It is mentioned many times that Lizzie is no longer young and "can take of herself," but she's only 21--not 30--with only four seasons under her belt. Considering that at one point she wonders if she could be with child after having a man's tongue in her mouth--I think it is obvious that she is naught but a babe in arms.

Now, the problem with the way Felicity Brookton was trying to trap Robbie into marriage by being discovered dangling her huge breasts at him in bed: sorry, not believable. While such a scenario would quickly ruin HER, it wouldn't ruin Robbie at all to refuse to marry her. The rules are different for gentlemen. Now her nearest male relative might challenge him to a duel, but frankly, even death would be preferable to marriage to that vicious woman. No, it is much more likely that Felicity would be bundled off to the country and end up married to some country squire who doesn't care that she seduces every man in the county.

The oddest thing about this book is that I found two minor romances MUCH more interesting, including one between two very unprincipled, anti-heroes. Yes, it's true: I found the romance between Lady Charlotte the adulteress (a villainess in "The Naked Duke") and Edward, the licentious host of this ill-conceived house party to be fascinating. Could it be that these two characters might be redeemable in future books? I will definitely read them in hopes of finding out. And the other unlikely romance, between Lady Beatrice and her butler. . . well, I would like to hear more about THAT as well.

In retrospect, I am not sorry I read this book, because I liked the first two so well and at the very least I got to see glimpses of beloved characters here. If the romance between Robbie and Lizzie had been more believable, I could have forgiven nearly everything else, but it just did not happen. Here's hoping the others will be more like "The Naked Baron" and "The Naked Duke."

I believe I have a new favorite author when it comes to romance! Sally MacKenzie's second edition to The Naked series was awesome. I love how she has incorporated past characters into the current story! Awesome read!

Most of this book is well written and the two main characters engaging, however, that being said, the ending was horrible. It just sort of ended, very anticlimatic. Oh well, I did enjoy it mostly.