Customer Reviews

Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady (HH896)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Julia had no intention of being forced into A marriage with the despicable man who needed A virgin to wed. Since she's heard that Paine Ramsden is the notorious rake of the ton, she sets out to have him ruin her. Paine was shocked to see the beautiful woman asking for his assistance in her ruination, but with such A delectable prize, how could he resist? The man she is running from is also his hated enemy, so why not kill two birds with one stone?

I liked most of this book. It was A fast paced read. The writing was simple but the storyline made the book interesting enough to read. I liked watching the hero and heroine fall in love. I also liked the fact that Julia wasn't the average prudish heroine and she wasn't afraid to explore her desire for Paine even after she was ruined. I also thought Paine stayed true to his character as A rake because he had no qualms about ruining Julia because he had selfish motivations. He wanted her because he was attracted to her and he wanted to get his revenge on the man she was running from and that is one of the characterization of a rake. I also loved the fact that paine got the help of his family to battle the villain. It was refreshing to read about A family helping each other out in A romance novel. you never really see that, even though the family is suppose to be powerful.

The book started to unravel when it was close to the end. It was A bit unbelievable that the villain, A commoner, could have taken such liberties with an earl's brother. He tried to kill Paine even though his brother the earl and his whole family would have known about it and he still expected to be rewarded with A knighthood! He didn't even expect repercussions. Another thing that had me scratching my head was that no one called the authorities on this crazy man! Didn't they have Bow street runners back then or people in charge who could have been told of the villian's misdeeds? Another problem that I had was that the whole Sheath thing was not very romantic. In real life it is A must, but in A historical romance it is just not romantic. There was only one major love scene and the sensuality was about 5 out of 10. I enjoyed most of the book and didn't really start to lose interest until It was close to the end so I would still recommend it to someone who wants to read A fast paced book.

Several people have summarized the book really well, so I'll just say I bought this book because I liked the idea of the plot where a strong young woman living in this time had the gall to take matters into her own hands and now I'll list my issues.

1. The story was all over the place. There was just way too many present and past issues being resolved that there was no room for real romance and love. They had sex quite frequently, but that was because the plot hinged on that. But their lack of any type of intimacy besides having sex made me have a very hard time accepting that in such a short amount of time (a matter of days) they'd found true love. How could they have when they'd spent so much time either apart or doing things completely unromantic while together.

2. This could be just me, but I didn't find the sex to be very passionate or interesting. The first couple times they did it it was drawn out and explained, but not in a good way. Instead of Paine using seduction and caresses to get Julia ready, he kisses her a little, then removes their clothes and uses oil on her then slips on a sheath. Now if that doesn't get your heart fluttering, I don't know what will.

3. I had a hard time knowing what to think of our notorious rake of a hero. In one passage he was described as a man free with his affections who has slept with so many woman it would be impossible to have an accurate guess then a little later he denies such a thing, claiming he's selective in who he choses to share his bed. He's also described as charming and has the women fawning over him, but I couldn't seem to figure out just why. I assume it was for a chance to spend a night in his bed with him, little did they know how romantic that experience would really be.

4. The end was so confusing I actually had to re-read a few pages to understand exactly what was going on and I'm still not sure I have it right. Something about a madman villain wanting to kill Paine and expected to be rewarded for such an action, and not because Paine had done anything against England or person of high importance or infulence, but because this villain had a complaint against him. Or at least that's what I understood as I was trying to make sense of the poisons and other homicidal attempts while wondering in the back of my mind just why the authorities weren't involved. Maybe it was to make it all seem more heroic in the end, I have no idea.

5. I didn't much care for the heroine after the first quarter of the book. I didn't hate her, but I just didn't like her. She made no sense to me. At first she's strong and takes charge of the situation, but then once she sleeps with him she loses her backbone for a while and only rediscovers it when it's convenient to her and inconvenient to the plot! I know it's fiction and that's what helps keep the book moving/interesting, but for some reason the changes in the heroine's personality like that irritated me.

As I said, the book was painful for me to read. I think there was just too much jammed into less than 300 pages that the H/h's relationship really didn't move or seem believable, nor did much else in the book.

Julia's Uncle Barnaby is broke and 'sold' her to Mortimer Oswalt who uses virgins in a sacrifice cult fashion to cure him of his 'disease'. Julia decides that running away will not work but maybe loosing her virginity will stop the marriage. She seeks out worst rake in London who ends up being her savor! Great story and complex characters - Enjoy!

If you enjoy this genre check out the following novels; To Wed a Wicked Prince , The Naked Gentleman , Double Fantasy and Every Night I'm Yours (Zebra Historical Romance) .

Downloaded the book upon the recommendation of friends. What a dry read this was - could've been a great premise of a story, with a strong, brave redheaded heroine and a irresistably sensual rake with a wide moral streak but the story just went flat after their first sexual romp. What a waste.

Fast paced with a wonderful hero, this novel has charm but the heroine was a little too naïve and just a little too stubborn.

Julia is astounded that her Uncle is marrying her off to a commoner three times her age. In front of her, these men bargain over the betrothal contracts and her virginity becomes a term in the contracts. Julia decides if she is ruined she will be worthless to Oswalt.

She has heard about the reputation of Paine Ramsden, the younger brother of an Earl, and believes he would bed her without any regrets. Paine meets Julia and is attracted to her, and when the whole story comes to light about her betrothal, he does in fact ruin Julia but he also wants to protect her too because he has a past with Oswalt and knows how devious the man is.

Julia at first rejects his help but then goes along with it as she has no help from her family. During this time they continue to engage in lovemaking. Paine knows all about the Kama Sutra and Julia is a willing student; however, the author does not describe these interludes in any detail.

Paine realizes he needs his brother's help and he and Julia go to the Earl's home. This causes Paine no lack of anxiety as he has had no contact with his older brothers since his exile twelve years ago. With the help of his family, Paine intends to keep Julia from harm.

Julia is a bit stubborn and feels that Paine has already gone through so much to help her that she will just handle this on her own. Julia is illogical and flighty throughout this portion of the novel, she has no plan and no resources. Fortunately, there are others to save her from herself.

The ending was a bit strange with crazy poisons and druids that just seemed to pop up out of nowhere. Julia is almost stubborn to the end, clearly not able to see what is right in front of her but Paine is dashing and a worthy hero.

In Bronwyn Scott's hot, new Regency novel, Notorious Rake, Innocent Lady, we have one beautiful young maiden, Julia Prentiss, aged 19, who discovers that her aunt and uncle have signed her over in marriage to one wealthy but odious, old, wrinkled merchant, Mortimer Oswalt.


Julia is outraged because her uncle is a Viscount in the House of Lords, and he has sold her as if she were a common animal to the highest bidder: Oswalt, a mere merchant, a man beneath Julia's station -- the niece of a Viscount. In no uncertain way does Julia want this arranged, forced marriage, and she cites the new English law that forbids marriage under duress, but this line of reasoning falls on the deaf ears of her aunt and uncle.

Seems that Oswalt's previous wife failed to bear a son for Oswalt, and Oswalt, ridden with illness but charmed by the beautiful Julia, is certain that her youth would bring him the male heir he needs before he turns sixty years of age. Provided, of course, that Oswalt's personal physician certifies Julia as an intact maiden.

Julia is shocked to her core when her uncle agrees to the fifteen thousand pounds in payment for her - five thousand now - and ten thousand pounds after Oswalt's physician certifies her purity. An additional five thousand after the birth of their child.

Julia declines Oswalt's offer as respectfully as she can. But Oswalt leaps to the occasion to inform her that beauty such as hers is an asset, an asset that her uncle very much needs. And that this asset does not come without a price.

Again shocked to learn that her uncle is destitute, Julia steadfastly refuses to marry this worthless, vile, old man (of obviously base intent) whom she does not love and to whom a marriage would be a "certain lingering death."

What does Julia do? After quickly surveying various options and discarding them just as quickly, she seeks out the most famous rake in all of London society, for one task and one task only: to deflower her so that Oswalt will no longer want her. In so doing, she believes she will escape her fate and her marriage to Oswalt.

Of course, life is never as easy as we imagine it to be.



***

Julia enters a famous gambling hell where she knows notorious rake Paine Ramsden not only frequents, but also owns.

Ramsden sees Julia.

Here is an excerpt from the book:


BEGIN EXCERPT:


"The girl was stunning. One look at her generous invitation of a mouth, and his mind was awash with images of bedding her, of stripping her out of the turquoise silk that hugged her curves exquisitely...

He gave her one of his rare smiles, and offered his arm, drawing her inside. He felt her gloved hand tense where it lay on the sleeve of his linen shirt as she took in the surroundings and he saw the place through her eyes while they wended through the tables; the smell of stale smoke mingled with alcohol and unwashed sweat; the worn garb of the patrons, the faded upholstered chairs and scarred tables.

...'Can I get you a drink? I have ratafia or sherry.' She shook her head and Paine shrugged, fixing a brandy to give himself something to do....

She did not speak and Paine felt obliged to fill in the lengthening silence. `Since we have not met, let me introduce myself. I am Paine Ramsden. However, you already know that. I feel distinctly at a disadvantage, for I have no idea who you might be.'

`I am Julia Prentiss. I thank you for agreeing to see me.' ...

`This is a rather unusual time of evening for a business appointment. I must admit I am quite curious as to why you're here.' ...

... `I need you to ruin me.' The words came out in a rush; a light blush colored her flawless alabaster cheeks..."


END EXCERPT



Julia's and Ramsden's escapades lead them on a journey in which they must flee the ever tightening clutches of the scheming Oswalt, who seems determined to ruin Julia's uncle, and for him to profit handsomely by such ruination, with Julia a victim of his base intents and selfish scheming.

The prose is saturated with luscious details, apt characterizations, witty dialogue and the romantic and sexual tensions one would expect in a first-rate Regency romance.

There is so much more to tell, but that would spoil the fun for everyone.

My Rating: A+

I so thoroughly enjoyed this fine Regency historical by Bronwyn Scott, who is also a communications instructor in Washington State. You can visit her on her websites www.bronwynscott.com and www.nikkipoppen.com

I adore Nikki's fine writing style. It is both sophisticated and accessible, a rare feat to achieve.

She has another fine Regency out, "The Pickpocket Countess" that I will soon be reviewing.

Nikki also has historical romances published under the name, Nikki Poppen.



***

Look for Bronwyn Scott in a new e-book series that debuts in November by Harlequin, the Undone Short.

In November, four authors will be kicking off the Undone Short e-book series.

Bronwyn Scott: Libertine Lord, Pickpocket Miss.

And other authors, Amanda McCabe, Nicola Cornick and Michelle Willingham, with one new e-book released every week in November.