Customer Reviews

Passion and Pleasure in London (Charmed and Dangerous)

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

 

 

This read deserved much more than 5 stars. Rory Jameson is about as sexy a hero in a historical romance novel as I've ever read and Winter Ashburn is extremely likeable. From the moment of their very first encounter on the first few pages of the book, I was completely wrapped up in this story. I enjoyed the dialogue and the wit between these two. I enjoyed the conflicts they each faced throughout the story and within themselves. But most of all, I loved the way he loved her. I think I fell a little bit in love with him myself. He is dark, he is dangerous, he is incredibly sexy and he is passionate about Winter. I also enjoy the way Melody Thomas writes a story. She weaves it so well that you can't help but feel as if you're there too. She does not bore with descriptive details but what little she does offer, and the way she does it, makes everything come alive. I have yet to read one of her books that I didn't love but this is my favorite. A very well written story. Don't start it unless you have lots of time.

Another good book - sit back and enjoy from first page to the last, it kept my interest, well written and, well, other reviewers gave the story line, I will only repeat it was worth the purchase, worth the read

Winter Ashburn grew up in luxury. However, after her father's death, her uncle by marriage took everything. Forced to live frugally and in genteel poverty, this former toast of London has lost her love for the nobles with whom she used to socialize. When the only people who would help her were the tenants and the villagers, Winter decided then and there that she would not forget about their loyalty. Becoming a sort of female `Robin Hood', Winter Ashburn steals from the rich in order to give to the poor. And she is highly successful in this endeavor until the night a man is attacked and wounded. Bringing him to safety, Winter does her best to ensure his recovery. This is the night her life changes.

Rory Jameson is a secret liaison for the British government. His missions over the years have brought many thieves to justice for the Crown yet he has taken a leave of absence. His grandfather, Lord Granberry, is on his deathbed and while Rory has never met his grandfather, Lord Granberry has written several letters from his bedside requesting Rory's presence. It seems no one knows of Rory's existence and if his injuries are any indication, someone does not want him to live long enough for the truth of his existence to come out.

A highly entertaining historical romance, PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON by Melody Thomas is also a romantic suspense. Someone wants Rory to die and they are willing to do anything to achieve that goal. Winter's care of Rory and protection of him was a perfect tie in to her role as a female Robin Hood.

Highly captivating, I found myself reading PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON cover to cover. The suspense and intrigue kept me on edge and more than once I found myself wanting to skip ahead to see what happened in the story. Rory and Winter were unlikely lovers but I think that is what made them so well matched. Each had moments in their lives where they were invisible; Rory's existence was unknown and Winter's family was impoverished - so they knew just how important love and family was. It was this loyalty to family and each other that made PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON such a tremendous story.

PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON has moments of anticipation, moments where I was anxious with uncertainty, and moments of hilarity. Most of all, it had romance between the two main characters and I could not have asked for a better story. With a plethora of characters just waiting in the wings to entertain the reader, PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON tops my list as a favorite historical. Melody Thomas ups the bar on magnificence and I wish her all the books marks I have to give!

***Natalie S. for Wild on Books***

In 1877, now thirty-two, which is old age in his profession compounded by his enjoyment of all types of vices, Rory Jameson has spent years bringing thieves to justice. However, outside of London he stops his work temporarily at the request of his sister to visit his estranged dying grandfather to make a final peace. On the trek to his family home someone attacks and wounds Rory. Former toast of the Ton Winter Ashburn takes the wounded aristocrat to a cottage so he can heal.

Winter remembers Rory as the rake who thought she was a fallen woman. Still she is attracted to her patient and him to her. As they fall in love, Winter worries her actions could cost her mother and brother plenty as the family patriarch her odious Uncle wants the half gypsy dead.

This is an engaging Victorian romantic suspense, which readers will enjoy from the first stolen kiss until the final kiss with a bit of a mystery and a lot of romance in between. The story line is character driven with a strong lead couple and a deep support cast. Fans will enjoy PASSION AND PLEASURE IN LONDON (and outside too) as neither Winter or Rory are ready for love yet both welcome it even as they hide it from their beloved.

Harriet Klausner

I could not put this book down. I don't like to give away plots, but this is a really good book. Both lead characters are well developed and you get a good sense that their relationship lead gently to them getting together. Most romance books trip over each other and instantly are in love. Rory and Winter were forces that countered balanced one another. My only disapointment was they really glossed over Rory background concerning his parents. A page or two would not have been remiss. This is a keeper.

This was an enjoyable read for me but I thought it could have been great with a little more polish. I felt as though there were some parts that were disjointed and other parts not fully explained - e.g. why bring up the countess if there's no storyline associated with her? - seemed pointless - or the connection of Robert to whichever criminal - or the ending. The ending was just not tied in well to the happenings of the story. I don't want to give away a spoiler to explain but I just didn't understand all of the motives of all those involved in the crime and tying them into the storyline and how it had progressed - the murder just seemed thrown in there too. It was just a bit jumbled for me. The h/h were likable and the romance good, but I just can't put my finger on it exactly except to say it needed more polish. Maybe less focus on descriptive details and more on explanations...just simply tell the story, clearly and concisely.
Mayber a better editor would have hepled with the polish. Note to editor - p. 2! - "...he had just became aware."

Sometimes a heroine is just a little too much for a little too long, a little too prideful, a little too angry, a little too stubborn, a little too guilty. Heroine Winter Asburn falls into this category. She has had a tough life, her father is dead, her mother suffers from dementia, she is raising her brother and a local orphan, she has been abused and she has lost her home to her evil doing uncle.

She meets hero outsider Rory Jameson at the local Inn, kisses him and then steals his wallet. He follows her but is waylaid by robbers and shot. Feeling guilty, Winter nurses this man back to health but frets because her brother and his friend were at the scene of the crime.

Rory likes the tart tongued Winter even though she is secretive and bristles whenever he is around. She knows part of this man's problems is her doing but she also realizes that Rory was targeted for a much more nefarious purpose than robbery.

Rory eventually continues his quest to his estranged grandfather's estate and develops a nice relationship with him. There is not a lot of background on Rory and I wished there had been a little more history other than his father and grandfather were not on good terms. Rory has a cousin who was in line for the title and who also had a tendre for Winter. His cousin is suspicious of Rory and equally suspicious is Rory of not only his cousin but also of the Baron who has land adjoining his grandfather. The Baron is also Winter's terrible uncle. Could one or both of them be behind his shooting?

Winter and Rory begin an affair that was a little surprising from its inception because they make a conscious decision to become lovers rather than the two falling into a physical embrace and being overcome with passion. Winter has major trust issues, but her biggest obstacle is her anger and when she refuses a more honorable suit from Logan, he calls her on the carpet for her deep anger and cowardice. Winter has nursed her bitterness for years and is astounded that Rory recognizes and resents it, whereas the villagers rather embraced her past hurts. It is this last third of the novel, which really kept me interested in this woman. I wondered if she would ever change and see a better path or if she would continue with her Robber Hood antics, even so I had to wait a long time for this revelation, before that Winter didn't hold much appeal. Rory was kind, generous, but also not very informative about his past. He had trust issues too.

Finally, there is a mystery in this novel as to who would want Rory dead. I have to admit I almost forgot about that angle of the story and when the person is revealed I was a bit startled. It took a long time for me to become really interested in these characters and the plot, mainly because Winter always had the same reaction around Rory of irritation and distrust, then a kiss or two then back to her not liking him.

When Winter Ashburn finds herself talking to a toff in a stable whilst pilfering from his saddlebags, little does she realise that a few hours later she will be nursing him back to health from a serious head wound. Rory Jameson, the rake who is also the Earl of Huntington, is planning to pay a short visit to his grandfather and then get on with life.

But Rory and Winter have some kind of connection and Rory finds himself drawn into helping renew the estate, as well as seeing more of Winter. But there are people about who have nefarious plans, there are secrets from the past and someone may be trying to stop Rory.

This book was an oddly disjointed read with the narrative flow rather lacking. We mostly followed the story from Winter's eyes, occasionally jumping to Rory's point of view, but the stuttering nature of the tale made it hard to keep interested. The title seems rather a misnomer as the story took place in a small village near Henley and not in London and our characters regularly spoke American rather than the English of the 1870s. They also had, rather surprisingly, a sighting of an animal which is not native to Europe (a Groundhog) and likened a group of people to 'chickadees', a name for a bird not used in Europe (we would call the bird a 'tit'). The author's research has clearly let her down here.

The mystery part of the book was revealed in the last few pages in a rather awkward way - but then I wasn't entirely convinced by the plots anyway. The central romance was believable between these two mercurial characters but by the end of the book I didn't really care that much for them.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

When Winter Ashburn finds herself talking to a toff in a stable whilst pilfering from his saddlebags, little does she realise that a few hours later she will be nursing him back to health from a serious head wound. Rory Jameson, the rake who is also the Earl of Huntington, is planning to pay a short visit to his grandfather and then get on with life.

But Rory and Winter have some kind of connection and Rory finds himself drawn into helping renew the estate, as well as seeing more of Winter. But there are people about who have nefarious plans, there are secrets from the past and someone may be trying to stop Rory.

This book was an oddly disjointed read with the narrative flow rather lacking. We mostly followed the story from Winter's eyes, occasionally jumping to Rory's point of view, but the stuttering nature of the tale made it hard to keep interested. The title seems rather a misnomer as the story took place in a small village near Henley and not in London and our characters regularly spoke American rather than the English of the 1870s. They also had, rather surprisingly, a sighting of an animal which is not native to Europe (a Groundhog) and likened a group of people to 'chickadees', a name for a bird not used in Europe (we would call the bird a 'tit'). The author's research has clearly let her down here.

The mystery part of the book was revealed in the last few pages in a rather awkward way - but then I wasn't entirely convinced by the plots anyway. The central romance was believable between these two mercurial characters but by the end of the book I didn't really care that much for them.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Here is what I liked about this book , the mystery was ok, Rory's characater had appeal and over all the plot had potential. I didn't like Winter for some reason? She seemed to have all this self-esteem and willing to walk on the dark side by stealing and dealing with uncle BUT she didn't have a REAL connection with the other characters. I am hoping it's just me - because I like this author.