Customer Reviews

Rules of Passion

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

 

 

This one indeed sizzled and I love sizzle! Max Valland, Lord Roseby began as a brooding , depressed disinherited duke's son. By chance he meets the very beautiful Marietta Greentree, in a hot air balloon ride. She is the daughter of Aphrodite, London's leading courtesan. Since Marietta had been ruined at a young age by a scoundrel who took her virtue and then flees, she believes no man of value will ever want her.

Each time she meets Max, there is something about his brooding manner though that causes her to be drawn to him. Outside of Aphrodite's brothel he is struck down and almost killed. Marietta nurses him back to life. Marietta's plan for her life is to become a courtesan, like her mother. She believes since she has been ruined why not protect herself from the hurt of ever letting any man too close to hurt her again.

Max believes this is the wrong life for Marietta, so he agrees to train her in the ways of passion, in order to prove she is not cut out for life in a brothel. Well the sizzle indeed begins at this point and there are some great love scenes throughout the rest of this book. Max, truly believes the only thing in his life worth anything is now Marietta.

He has a paltry estate on the Cornish coast he intends to retreat to and somehow etch out a life, now that he has been disinherited by his father. Of course Max's life still seems to be endanger from someone. This troubles Marietta as she helps him trap the guilty person. There is also the problem of whether Max is in fact the Duke's real son or not? The danger for Max and the inheritance are both good mysteries and enhance the love story developing between Max and Marietta. Marietta just somehow needs to deal with whether she can allow her heart to feel again, and risk being hurt.

This is a great story between two people that in different ways seem to have lost hope and together they find that they give each other not only love, but hope for a future! Very well written story high on romance and well deserving of five roses.

Rules of Passion possesses everything for a good, satisfying read. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable characters, exciting and action-mystery twists. Lots of laugh out-loud scenes and oh so plenty of heart warming moments. If you long to be swept into the lives of two enchanting people, I highly recommend this one. The love scenes are ample & steamy, and the plot is a good one. The relationship between Marietta and Max sizzles and there are no misunderstandings that tear the two apart for long periods. Any misunderstandings are dealt with within a few pages and that is very refreshing to this reviewer. Rules of Passion is witty, romantic, has good strong characters and an unexpected ending.

The plot and characters seemed fresh, the pace was quick, and it was a totally engrossing read. Full of enjoyable supporting characters and stories. I love this book. You will feel like smoking after the sex scenes in this book. The relationship between the leads is endearing. The secondary characters are enjoyable as well. This book is sharp and fast-moving. Filled with Lovable and exciting characters. This was a very entertaining book. This book was a pleasure to read and I couldn't put it down until it was finished. I really enjoyed the characters, as they were very likeable. A fast paced book with an intricate plot that I cannot help but enjoy. The interaction between the leads was great. There is enough conflict to make the story line interesting and not so much that your left wondering why they ever got together. This book is sharp and fast-moving. I was sad to have it end, but satisfied at the ending! I can't wait until the next book comes out in the series.

The three Slater sisters are ecstatic over meeting their long lost biological mother Aphrodite Greentree (see LESSONS IN SEDUCTION), who they were separated from years ago when they were small children. Aphrodite runs a successful brothel so must be discrete with her beloved now adult children so as to not hurt their chances for a good match. Her oldest child stalked her beloved in Aphrodite's brothel. Now her middle daughter Marietta wants to become a courtesan just like her natural mother was and asks her to train her in the art of seduction

Madame Aphrodite hopes to persuade her daughter that this is not a way of life for her, but feels she must do so with stealth as she herself has had a good life as a courtesan. Thus she promises to take Marietta on as an apprentice, but first her daughter must survive a test of fire. She must seduce the posterboy of scandals Max Valland, a morose and disinherited aristocrat. Max accepts his dissipated role, but he finds he cannot have enough of the tyro; she in turn breaks the courtesan's maxim of never falling in love with the bill payer.

The second Slater saga is a fabulous Victorian romance starring the wildest of the three sisters and an outcast aristocrat anticipating a tryst that turns the three RULES OF PASSION, as both understand them now, upside down when their hearts enter the equation. "Naughty" Marietta and "mad" Max are an enchanting pairing while the support cast brings out the worst in both of them to the delight of readers. Fans will look forward to the tale of the youngest sibling as Sara Bennett livens up the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

This is the second book about the Greentree sisters and is Marietta, the middle sister's story. Marietta and her two sisters were kidnapped from their courtesan mother, Aphrodite and left on the door of Lady Greentree who took them in and raised them as her own. When they are reunited with their real mother years later, Marietta realized she admired Aprodite and would like to be more like her. Marietta is ruined at age 17 by a bounder who promised to marry her but dumped her after taking her virtue. Four years later,convinced that she can never marry, Marietta decides to become a courtesan like her natural mother. When she approaches Aphrodite for help, she tells Marietta that if she can seduce a nobleman, Max Valland-Lord Roseby, Aphrodite will help her become a courtesan.

Max Valland is also surrounded by scandal, he was disinherited after a letter was found that implied he was a bastard. Max meets and is instantly attracted to Marietta. When he is attacked and left for dead, Marietta nurses him back to health and then asks him to help her learn the art of seduction as payment for her help. Max is enchanted, he wants Marietta and she is offering him the perfect oppurtunity. However, he knows he does not want her to become a courtesan, he wants her for himself and plans on making her fall in love with him. Marietta has promised never to fall in love, it is the very first rule of being a courtesan. She has feelings for Max, but knows she can stop before falling in love, right?

This is an amusing story, but it just seems it could have been a little more exciting....Marietta is a little ding batty at times and Max is a little too passive at times. I wish he would have stood up to his family more. However, I still loved the story. I think it just needed a little more depth and tweaking, but still good enough for four stars. Not a bad book at all.

This book is actually the second in the series about the Greentree sisters, but I've only read this one and had no problem keeping everyone straight.

It tells the story of Marietta Greentree, daughter of a famous London courtesan, who after a failed love affair and subsequent scandal, decides to follow in her mother's footsteps. Horrified, her mother decides she must successfully seduce the most handsome and ineligible bachelor in all of London, Max Valland. Her mother knows Marietta is attracted to the disinherited former Lord Roseby and hopes to stop her daughter from making the same mistakes she did. So, she sets "tasks" before Marietta under the guise they are to prove her capable of being a courtesan. Marietta agrees. She likes Max and eagerly looks forward to him teaching her all about desire and the rules of passion. But as these tasks progress from learning how to kiss, to wearing barely there outfits, to meeting in a strange place and perfoming duties in public--she realizes she's living in a fantasy world when it comes to the realities of being a courtesan. That and somehow, somewhere along the way, she's done something a courtesan is never supposed to do...lost her heart.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! There are more than a few laugh out loud moments during Marietta's tasks. All of the characters are well written, witty and rather charming. The chemistry and sexual tension between Max and Marietta leaps off the page and their individual story lines proved unique and refreshing.

I love the plot lines and how fast thay get to the better things that a romance novel is for. The story set up is enjoyable and makes me wish that I was a Greentree girl AKA daughter of Aphrodite. This is NOT a Cassie Edwards novel with just a hint in it, 'It's in there'

Marietta Greentree is the daughter of Aphrodite, an infamous courtesan, she is used by a man who only wanted to see how a courtesan's daughter was. Her reputation and heart were left in tatters, so she decides to become a courtesan. Aphrodite informs Marietta, that to become a courtesan there are a few rules she must abide by. Never fall in love, be cold-hearted, and business always comes before pleasure. Aphrodite gives Marietta small tasks to complete, first she has to get Max to teach her how to kiss, but will he agree to the terms? As Marietta tries to seduce Max, certain things come to light, like how accident-prone he is or are they really accidents? Marietta ignores her heart but can she be persuaded to listen to her heart?

When Max has another of his accidents it is Marietta who tends to him. He tries hard to keep her out of his life, but she has a way of getting under his skin. He promises to teach her the ways of men and women. Once he has a taste of her, he cannot forget her. He doesn't believe he is good enough for her, but the thought of other men touching her sends his blood boiling. Can he convince Marietta that he is the one and only man for her before the next attempt on his life?

RULES OF PASSION is the second book in the Victorian Series by Sara Bennett. RULES OF PASSION is a page turner. I couldn't put it down; I had to find out what the causes of the accidents are. I was always caught with this book in hand, either sitting at my table, or standing at the cash register, reading while waiting for the customers to finish. I can't wait for the third book in the series to come out. This book is the perfect example of how passion rules.

Reviewer For Romance Junkies

What fun this book was. The wit and the pacing really a joy to read. As with all fluffy historical romances, the book is a breeze, no mental challenge, just good escapism. The characters have great chemistry and nicely developed. A rolicking read.