190 of 195 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
skip it, read the series, July 13, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked House of Rohan (The House of Rohan) (Kindle Edition)
This is a prequel to the House of Rohan series (Ruthless, Reckless, and Breathless). It is a publicity tool and very short.
The story did what it was supposed to do and made me interested in the series. I was skeptical, but interested nonetheless.
The story sets up the beginning of the Heavenly Host--a group of men looking for debauchery and wanting more than what they have found so far, so they choose to make a society of members like them and willing to do anything and everything for pleasure. They are a bored and drunk group of aristocrats with nothing better to do and Alistar Rohan is their leader. Miss Kathleen Strong is in dire need of help and they are willing to help...for a price.
The story was decent. I liked the characters, but the story was so short it was difficult to really get to know them well enough. I half liked the ending, but was left wondering about a couple of things. Much of the "book" is actually excerpts from the series books. I didn't bother to read them--I'd rather read the whole book.
I've since read the first book in the series, Ruthless, and find that this prequel is unnecessary for the series. If the book is not free (check eharlequin), I would not bother with it. Read the series instead.
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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Think of it as an Adult Fairy Tale, August 4, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked House of Rohan (The House of Rohan) (Kindle Edition)
In The Wicked House of Rohan, the prequel to Anne Stuart's House of Rohan series, the author continues to push the boundary of "appropriate behavior" in terms of her heroes, whom I've for years argued define Heroes on the Edge. I read the e-book as a free download, which it continues to be as of this writing at Amazon for Kindle, and it served its purpose well as an appetizer by whetting my appetite for the series, which begins with Ruthless, on sale just a few days ago. I've already read it and you can look for my review shortly.
It's Venice in 1740 and Kathleen Strong is about to pass out from hunger after being dismissed as governess for immoral behavior even though she's innocent of the charges. She applies for a possible position, only to discover when she arrives at the home of Alistair Rohan that she's been duped by members of the Heavenly Host, a group of thoroughly debauched noblemen, who, for kicks, want one of their own to deflower a virgin while the others look on to check technique and cheer for the woman to come to climax. Of course they will pay for the pleasure.
Kathleen's brother was Rohan's best friend a lifetime ago, and while she recognizes him - she's had a crush on him for years - he remains clueless as to her identity. Though he is host to the affair, his ennui is such that he's not all that interested even in this level of debauchery, so when Kathleen acquiesces to the plan only if he is not the one to deflower her, he readily agrees. But he cannot let things alone, and assures that Kathleen is fed and made as comfortable as possible for the big night even as she's locked into a room to prevent escape.
This being an Anne Stuart story, there's a marked "fly in a spiderweb" feel to the attraction between Kathleen and the wicked, wicked Rohan. While I found myself wishing for more story, it was complete unto itself. Yes, it was condensed in terms of time, but the premise lent itself to the abbreviated word count. Don't read it looking for reality, historical or otherwise; this is purely an adult fairy tale, and when thought of like that, it succeeds wonderfully.
Other members of the Heavenly Host star in the trilogy following this novella. Alistair is tame compared to the hero-on-the-edge of Ruthless, who actually crosses well over the line, but more on that when I post my review.
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34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Wow even free this was so not good, August 9, 2010
This review is from: The Wicked House of Rohan (The House of Rohan) (Kindle Edition)
I've probably read way to many romance novels over the years and have gotten used to most books having a plot buried somewhere between the first and last page. This book though decided that the plot was just a superflous detail not to be worried about and jumped from the start of a decent storyline straight to the I love yous as if the author was under a deadline or had someplace she had to be right at that exact minute. Implausible story that strains all notions of plot or tenets of romance.
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