Customer Reviews

Obsession

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

 

 

i'm not even sure how i came across this author but i ended up downloading this book and i'm glad i did. this was a great story and although it had a few moments that were just too serendipidous, ultimately it proved a satisfying read.

helen rivenall has run away from an abusive uncle with her brother to locate her estranged grandfather in london. instead she finds finds herself drugged and sold at a brothel auction. it turns into a bidding match between two men, one of them being sebastian rockwood, earl of melton. sebastian, known for his ability to remain in complete control of his actions and emotions at all times, suddenly finds himself bidding on this woman who has roused all kinds of erotic images in his mind. he ends up purchasing her freedom and taking her to his house, ultimately going back to rescue her brother as well.

the chemistry between these two is instantaneous and combustible. sebastian has some guilt over something that happened in his past and because of this, he's somewhat of a wounded hero and burns does a good job of depicting his lonliness and hurt. helen is similar to sebastian in that she is also lonely and hurting from her abuse. it's this common ground that makes this romance believable in addition to the physical attraction.

burns writes explicitly detailed intimate scenes and she has a deft hand at doing it in such a manner that the reader doesn't feel as though she's reading the script to a porn movie. there's some sincere emotion in there on top of the blistering sex. her dialogue is naughty at times, touching at others, overall pretty good.

sebastian is more of a dynamic character here than helen, as his change from being what he thought was in control to one who surrenders to his emotions and admits to being vulnerable is more noticable. in fact, i didn't notice much of a change in helen during the course of the story, but she's still an interesting character.

in the end, the only problems i really had with this story is the fact that there were so many convenient coincidences concerning helen's situation regarding her grandfather. much of this plot was predictable and i could see the villian a mile away and his manic actions at the end appeared too extreme given his motivations. however, this is an erotic novel so i wasn't reading it for the suspense. also, there really were few consequences for behavior that frankly, would have put both of them in alot of trouble considering the conservative time period for this story. helen's past never came back to really bite her on the behind and their actions didn't earn them any scorn or speculation really, despite the fact helen stayed with sebastian for a while without a valid chaperone (other than his teenaged sister and her teenaged brother). i bring these things up because they take away from the plausibility of the story and therefore, it suffers as a result.

in the end, i recommend this book to folk who want the plot light but the intimacy emotionally engaging and explicit. the romance was plausible and the characters likable. i have already purchased her other books to read and will be adding her to my list of authors to check out.

In Monica Burns's OBSESSION, believable and interesting characters pull you into their story and keep you there. Ms. Burns has very effectively interwoven romance, spicy sex scenes (with just enough tenderness), and a little bit of suspense into an enjoyable and memorable historical erotic romance that takes place against the backdrop of Victorian London terrorized by Jack the Ripper.

I recommend this book to other readers who enjoy erotic romance or historical romance - you will not be disappointed.

This book was very good! Great storyline and strong erotic scenes. Would recommend this book to anyone looking for a very HOT read!

I really enjoyed this book, it had all the romance, steamy love scenes, supsense and great secondary characters I look for, I wanted to keep reading but it took me a few days to finish due to having a very bad cold. Well worth the extra tiredness.

The broodingly handsome Sebastian Rockwood, Earl of Melton, lives a strict, structured life caring for his estates and family, priding himself on self-control. When his brother's fiance is abducted, little does he realize that he would be caught in a trap of lust and passion that would grow into an obsession. In their search, Sebastian and his brother arrive at a local brothal to discover Helen Rivenall, drugged and being auctioned off on stage. Sebastian is immediately drawn to the lovely Helen and soon finds himself bidding and winning her. He then rescuses her brother, takes the small family in, and plans to care for them. Each time he is in contact with Helen, Sebastian struggles with his deep lust. Soon his self-control spins out of control and his lust become an obsession. Helen is drawn to the handsome Sebastian wanting to give into her passion, but she is holding back, as she sees Sebastian as another controlling man in her life. Sebastian is frustrated with Helen not understanding her secret, that for years she has been abused by her overly controlling, religious uncle - the same uncle that arranged to have her auctioned off for her sins. Lust and desire grow and soon Helen and Sebastian give into their desires, coming together in moments of intense passion. But Helen is still holding back. It is not until after many months of misunderstandings that Sebastian discovers Helen's secret and past abuse, and Helen comes to understand Sebastian's reasons for living a strict, controlled life. When Sebastian must save Helen from her uncle's wrath once again, they both come to realize that love will free them from the bonds of the past. Obsession is a dark, sometimes frustrating, intensely passionate story that keeps the reader riveted to the pages. A well-written story, with beautifully written, passionate, love scenes, blended together to create a pleasurable read.

Helen is rude, inconsiderate and ungrateful toward Sebastian. He asks questions and she won't even answer them. He has her best interests at heart. She refuses to tell him anything about her grandfather so that he could help her find her grandfather. I don't find anything to like about her. The sex through much of the book is simply his imagination of what sex with her would be like. If you're only seeking explicit, graphic erotica you might like it. I couldn't like this book because I didn't like her.

The Earl of Melton, Sebastian Rockwood, is in a brothel. He isn't looking for a paramour, but to see if he can find his brother's missing girlfriend. Stepping further into the house, he is a bit intrigued at how normal the house seems. That is, until he is greeted by the owner and told that the auction he has come to see is almost beginning. It is at this time that Sebastian knows the rumors he has heard about this particular house to be true. His eyes suddenly focus on the still, beautiful woman on the stage and he can't stop looking at her. When an enemy starts bidding on the beauty, Sebastian decides then and there that she will be his.

Helen Rivenall came to London to find her family. The victim of a false friend, she can't believe that men are bidding on her body for the night. Drugged senseless and unable to do anything but watch, she is somewhat relieved when the handsome and broad shouldered man wins the bidding war. Once in his carriage, Helen tries to communicate but can't. The next morning, Helen finds herself in the man's study where she tells him exactly what happened to her.

Sebastian once again falls under Helen's spell and agrees to rescue her brother from the madam at the brothel, for a price. Helen agrees to pose as Sebastian's fiancé in order to get his aunt off of his back about marriage. Sebastian figures a few months with a fiancé will appease his marriage-minded aunt and then he can quietly let Helen go on her merry way. Oh how the mighty fall because Sebastian soon will never be able to let Helen go.

Obsession is a sweeping, historical tale. Set in London, I enjoyed reading about the different soirees and parties. I found Sebastian's plan, while somewhat ingenious, totally hilarious. There is nothing I like better than for a man not searching for love to find it and Sebastian was just the man for me. Helen was a cute heroine in that she wasn't impressed with the trappings of Sebastian's society and she just wanted to love him. Add a few foes in for good measure, and you have the making of a thoroughly enjoyable historical romance.

Talia

reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Reviewed by Stephanie Rollins for Reader Views (4/07)

In "Obsession," Helen is tricked into becoming a prostitute. She is drugged by her madam, and she is auctioned off as a rarity--a virgin. Sebastian buys her, but not because he longs for her or any other woman. He has more self-control than that. He is only in the brothel, because he is searching for his brother's love; she is there against her wishes, also. He buys Helen so that Templeton, his nemesis, does not buy her.

Helen is a bit headstrong, to say the least. This is not a valued characteristic in the days of corsets and suitors. She becomes a challenge to Sebastian, a man who prides himself on self-control and order. She gives into Sebastian in several lustful romps; however, Sebastian wants more; he wants to marry Helen.

Helen explains to Sebastian that her younger brother, Edward, was also kidnapped by the madam. She begs him to save Edward.

Helen is kidnapped, and Sebastian is worried; there is a serial killer on the loose. He sets out to save Helen. Will this show Helen how much Sebastian loves her?

The sex throughout "Obsession" is incredible. The readers will feel as if they are the object of Sebastian's affection. "With long strokes of his tongue, he lathed the heated velvet of her before surging upward to swirl around her sex." Because Helen is a virgin, Sebastian acts as a sexual teacher for an obviously willing Helen. "With one hand, he undid his trousers to release his erection. Capturing her hand, he made her wrap her fingers around him. She jerked with surprise, but when his tongue swirled in her mouth, she relaxed against him, her hand gripping him snugly."

"Obsession" is a book that you will not want to put down once you begin. With incredible sex mingled with a love story, you will become enthralled from the beginning. The sex scenes are very explicit (and amazing); this is not for those who blush easily. "Desire claimed his senses as her slick, tight passage clutched at him with delicious abandon." Read, enjoy, and recommend to others.

Received book free of charge.