Seven Nights in a Rogue's Bed (Sons of Sin) [Kindle Edition]

Anna Campbell (Author)

Book Description

WILL A WEEK OF SEDUCTION . . .

Desperate to save her sister's life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

. . . SPARK A LIFETIME OF PASSIONATE SURRENDER?

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Campbell's enthralling story is complex and passionate and readers will experience a delightful sense of satisfaction from watching Campbell's characters grow in stature and emotional understanding. Quite a book!" (RT Book Reviews on My Reckless Surrender 2010)

"It isn't just the sensuality she weaves into her story that makes Campbell a fan favorite, it's also her strong, three-dimensional characters, sharp dialogue and deft plotting. Campbell intuitively knows how to balance the key elements of the genre and give readers an irresistible, memorable read." (RT Book Reviews on Midnight's Wild Passion 2011)

About the Author

Anna Campbell, always a voracious reader, decided as a child that she wanted to be a writer. Once she discovered the wonderful world of romance novels, she knew exactly what she wanted to write. Anna has twice been voted Favorite Australian Romance Writer by the Australian Romance Readers Association (2009 and 2010). Among her many novels are the multi-award winning Claiming the Courtesan, Untouched, Tempt the Devil, and Captive of Sin, which was among Publishers Weekly's Top 100 Books of 2009. The Australian Romance Readers Association has named two of Anna's books, My Reckless Surrender and Midnight's Wild Passion, favorite historical romance of the year (2010 and 2011). Antony Ferguson is a native of London, England. He is a classically trained actor and has appeared in numerous productions in London, Off Broadway, and Regional theater. As a voice actor, he has over fifty audiobooks to his credit and was recommended by the "All About Romance" Web site as one of the best male narrators at performing female characters. He lives in Los Angeles.

Product Details

• File Size: 595 KB
• Print Length: 409 pages
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (September 25, 2012)
• Sold by: Hachette Book Group
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007BGQDS4
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,367 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 36 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Story September 25, 2012

By Pamerd

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Sidonie Forsythe is a young woman who is desperate to help her sister Roberta get out of a bad situation with Jonas Merrick, a bastard son of a Viscount. Roberta has some large gambling debts and does not want her abusive husband to find out and Jonas has given Roberta a way out. She is scared and a little immature to face her problems so goes to her sister for help. After eight years of marriage Roberta has changed into someone Sidonie does not like however Roberta is still her sister and she would do anything to protect her.
Roberta is the Viscountess Hillbrook and is married to William who is the cousin of Jonas. William gained his title when it was revealed that Jonas' father and mother were not married. The hatred between Jonas and William is mutual and has a long history, including a time when they were in school and William attacked Jonas and ruining his face before anyone could intervene. When Jonas' father passed away, he could not give his son the title however he could give his son the wealth, so even though Jonas is considered a bastard, he is very rich while William has not managed the small amount of money he inherited and is almost broke.
Sidonie has been living at Barstow Hall with Roberta and William however in a few months she will be able to go off on her own when she receives her small inheritance. Sidonie decides to take Roberta's place and goes to Castle Craven to meet with Jonas, who is more than surprised to see the spinster sister.
After the first night, Jonas finds he does not want a martyr in his bed and wants Sidonie to come to him willingly, so they make a bargain, in return for her presence at Castle Craven for seven days, he will consider Roberta's debts paid. Over the next week, they grow to care for each other and while on a visit to William and Roberta's a sudden turn of events changes everything.
I really enjoyed this novel; a story about one person sacrificing for someone they love and another person finding how to forgive through years of heartache. Although in the beginning it took awhile for Jonas and Sidonie to grow on me because their connection seems rushed, however as the story progresses their feelings become more real and it broke my heart when Jonas felt betrayed and turned away from Sidonie, I truly knew the depths of their feelings for each other as they found their way back toward love.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite reads of the year September 25, 2012

By Jen TOP 500 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

I love a good Beauty and the Beast story --and this one delivered in every way. My only complaint is that it's over.

Sidonie's sister Roberta has amassed an enormous gambling debt and the man she owes it to, is her husband's greatest enemy, Jonas Merrick. There is no way Roberta will be able to pay back the money, so Jonas agrees to let her repay him in trade. What better way to get revenge on his horrible cousin, than to cuckold him?

The thing is, Roberta's husband is violently abusive and if he were catch wind of any of this, Roberta's life could be forfeit. So Sidonie agrees to take her place in Merrick's bed. When she arrives at the castle, she is expecting a monster. After all, Merrick is horribly scarred and must be a brute to have put her sister in such a position. But she finds that she barely notices his scars. In fact, she is even drawn to him, and he, to her.

Merrick doesn't force Sidonie into his bed. Instead, he makes a deal with her. She'll give him one week to seduce her. It will be her choice whether they make love. And from there begins a seduction that is only partly of the flesh. Because while Sidonie does fall captive to his body, she also ends up connecting to the broken, lonely man within.

The development of the story was a bit predictable, but I absolutely 100% did not care. I loved watching their journey. Merrick is so damaged both physically and emotionally. He has been branded a bastard, which has ostracized him, and Roberta's horrible husband --his cousin-- has the title that should have been his. The peerage rejects him, but he holds himself away as well, refusing to let them hurt him. Yet he falls so hard for Sidonie and her innocence, her goodness. He begins to feel his broken heart growing whole again --and I just wanted to climb inside the book and give him a hug.

I liked Sidonie. She is practical and loyal. And she has to make some tough choices, with one that you know is going to come back and bite her when it comes out. When it all comes crashing down, it's hard to bear, but it's riveting. I couldn't put it down.

Anna Campbell gave me two main characters I truly cared about and a villain easy to hate. The plot was interesting. And the sex was just right. It was hot and plentiful, but it never overshadowed the story. I just... loved it.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars I Just Couldn't Get Over The Premise October 13, 2012

By J. Weaver VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I pre-ordered this book, I had just finished and rather enjoyed Anna Campbell's Midnight's Wild Passion. As I'm generally a fan of romance series, pre-ordering this book was a no-brainer. And I love the "beauty and the beast" setup. In fact, the opening of this book reminds me quite a bit of the scene in Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" where a frightened Belle arrives at the beasts mansion on a dark and rainy night. Disney, however, does the story much better, and with much more romance.

I'm not a prude, by any means, but I felt like this story was all about sex while the actual romance was missing. From the book's description, I expected a tortured hero and I knew that the heroine was going to him in order to protect her sister. But I wasn't prepared for his cold-heartedness and the fact that he was willing, first, to destroy Sidonie's sister in order to get at his cousin, and second, that he was so easily willing to accept Sidonie in her sister's place. Nor could I buy the fact that she gave herself to him so willingly after just a couple of days acquaintance.

Campbell would have us believe that Sidonie falls in love with Jonas simply because she sees his hurt. But I don't think that's enough to bring him redemption for his choices. Also, I find it preposterous that he falls in love with her and wants to set her free after just a few days merely because she's so good and innocent. The reader learns fairly early on, as well, that Sidonie withholds very important information from Jonas that would mean the world to him, yet even after she claims she loves him, she continues withholds this information so that she can use it to her own ends, rather than to help the man she supposedly loves.

Admittedly, there are some hot scenes in this book, but I found myself not caring about them because I just couldn't get into the characters. By halfway through, I was just skimming this book. Had it been a library loan instead of a purchase, I would have simply returned it rather than expending my time and energy to finish it.

More About the Author

Anna Campbell lives on the beautiful coast of Queensland in Australia. She has four times been voted Favorite Australian romance writer by the Australian Romance Readers Association (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012). Her first historical romance for Avon was the multi-award winning CLAIMING THE COURTESAN. CLAIMING THE COURTESAN which was followed by more multi-award winning books set in the Regency: UNTOUCHED; TEMPT THE DEVIL; CAPTIVE OF SIN; MY RECKLESS SURRENDER; and MIDNIGHT'S WILD PASSION. In 2012, Anna started an exciting new publishing partnership with Grand Central Publishing. SEVEN NIGHTS IN A ROGUE'S BED, the first book in her "Sons of Sin" series, is a gothic Beauty and the Beast story. Book 2 in the series, A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS, comes out in September 2013. In July 2013, look out for a "Sons of Sin" novella, DAYS OF RAKES AND ROSES. Anna has also independently published two e-novellas, THE WINTER WIFE: A CHRISTMAS NOVELLA and THESE HAUNTED HEARTS: A REGENCY GHOST ROMANCE. Anna blogs with the Romance Bandits - www.romancebandits.com You can find out more about Anna and her books at her website: www.annacampbell.info