Ripe for Pleasure (The League of Second Sons) [Mass Market Paperback]

Isobel Carr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2011 | Series: The League of Second Sons (Book 1)

Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure,
finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Four stars! Carr is a born storyteller. She enriches her sensual tale with colorful details, suspense, a treasure hunt and charming, delightful characters." (RT Book Reviews)

Simply intoxicating. An exciting start to a wonderful series." (TheRomanceReadersConnection.com)

"Ripe for Pleasure is a very naughty pleasure indeed." (Bertrice Small, New York Times bestselling author of The Border Vixen)

"Sensuous and sexy with flirty, witty dialogue. Truly a pleasure." (Maya Banks, New York Times bestselling author of Sweet Possession)

"Sexy, sumptuous, and wicked smart." (Pam Rosenthal, award-winning author of The Edge of Impropriety

)

About the Author

ISOBEL CARR is single, child-free, and a committed "dog person" (the bigger the dog the better). She has taught creative writing, horseback riding, and seminars on historical costuming. She can start a fire without matches and hitch a team of horses to a wagon. She can also spend nine hours in a Victorian corset without a problem but can't wear heels for more than four hours. She laughed all the way through every episode of Colonial House, and if she could only watch one movie for the rest of her life, it would be Impromptu.

You can learn more at:

isobelcarr.com

Twitter, @isobelcarr.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Forever; 1 edition (May 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446572756
• ISBN-13: 978-0446572750
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 0.9 x 6.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #826,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

RIPE FOR SEDUCTION (Dec 18, 2012) got a Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly!

"Carr is sure to balance her characters' roguish antics with genuine heart, making the double love story a delightful and erotic page-turner."

Don't miss the bonus scene containing Margo and Philip's reconciliation on Isobel's website (www.IsobelCarr.com).

***

Isobel Carr is an avid costume historian and grew up in the wild and entertaining re-enactment community in Northern California. She has participated in everything from The Society for Creative Anachronism to the Renaissance Pleasure Faire (yes, the original one!) to Heyer Con and The Great Dicken's Christmas Fair. So she's made and worn clothing from just about every era from 1400-1900, including the proper undergarments.

Currently, she lives with her mastiff, Clancy, in a 1916 bungalow in Oakland, California and when she's not writing, she's usually working on the house. She's also often found at the Heart and Dagger near Lake Merritt. Just look for the girl with the giant dog.

You can find out more about her by visiting her at isobelcarr.com.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid Debut April 30, 2011

By Jessica Cave VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

The only thing in the way of Lord Leonidas Vaughn is London's notorious former courtesan, Viola Whedon. Leo is a man very much accustomed to getting what he wants and no one - not even a woman as lovely as Viola - is going to get in his way.

There are parts of this book that I loved and parts that I didn't so much.

The plot was solid and intriguing - deception and betrayal abound and the action is well done. I eagerly flipped pages to the end, wanting to know how everything was going to be wrapped up. I found myself a tad disappointed - the end is wrapped up a little too neatly. I'd hoped for a little more of a struggle, a little more strife for the hero and heroine to go through, making their Happily Ever After just that much more satisfying.

The heroine and heroine themselves were a disappointment. I felt no chemistry between them. Their lust was believable, I suppose, but their romance was not. Leo had little issue with declaring his feelings, but I don't actually recall Viola ever actually declaring hers. There was no tension there, but rather just attraction that felt forced.

My favorite part of the book, honestly, remains the secondary characters. I loved the men of the League of Second Sons and Leo's family (especially Beau and the Duchess!). Pen is a great character, too, even though she may not be of the human variety. Everyone had distinctive personalities that made them so fun to read. Before I even read the description for the next book, I'd noticed the tension/attraction/interest between Sandison and Beau. I'm hoping their romance turns out more believable than that of Viola and Leo.

While it was not exactly what I was looking forward to, I found that this was a solidly good book. I enjoyed the characters and greatly look forward to the next League book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars ...could not get into it... June 20, 2011

By bookworm2bookworm

Format:Mass Market Paperback

I reviewed this book for Romance Reader At Heart website.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

RIPE FOR PLEASURE is the first book in the series The League of Second Sons. I found the series' premise to be weak, so I knew from the start that I was going to suspend more than just my belief--I needed to let my imagination soar.

Nothing could have prepared me for this story, and, try as I might, I just could not get into it. Everything in it left me wanting more. I wanted my hero to be more heroic, and my heroine more loving. I wanted more real emotion and action, more tension and passion between ANYONE, not just hero and heroine, as well as more focus on either a plot or the characters. But both were underdeveloped, and I felt adrift.

The plot and Leo's `treasure' hunt bored me to tears, and the sex scenes left me cold. As for their love story or the romance of it, it was rushed and made me feel like I've missed a chapter or two where all this began.

Even the League of Second Sons wasn't developed quite properly and left me wanting to know more about them, not just allowing a peek at the men. At the end, I lost interest in the plot, romance, and my own focus on this very poorly written story.

It goes without saying: I do not recommend RIPE FOR PLEASURE and will not read the rest of the series.

Melanie

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Steamy and entertaining May 9, 2011

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Let me start out by saying what a treat it was to read a historical romance where the heroine is not a young virgin. In fact, Viola is anything-but. She is a beautiful and successful courtesan, who is about to publish her second memoir, when thugs invade her home. She assumes they were sent at the behest of her former lover. But they're really men hired to find an old treasure believed to be hidden in her home. Only two people know about the treasure: Charles (who sent the brutes) and his cousin Leo, a second-son of the Ton. Leo doesn't approve of Charles' violent methods and sets out to seduce his way into Viola's life to give him access to her home.

Of course, Leo ends up just as smitten as Viola. He takes her on as his mistress, with the promise to protect her from danger. Their sex scenes are phenomenal! (Though I have to admit, I was disappointed that we didn't see their first time together on-page. I thought that was a bit odd, but their subsequent encounters were so hot, I stopped caring.) Feelings slowly start to make their way into the relationship, but things are very complicated. From the secret of why Leo approached her; to the danger Charles continues to pose; to the disparity in their class... the odds are stacked against them. But our couple is extremely rootable --and despite Leo's less than noble beginnings, both leads are very likeable.

I really enjoyed this story. It got better with every page. And I am really looking forward to Ripe for Scandal, featuring Leo's sister Beau. 4 stars.