For the Earl's Pleasure (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Beneath every scornful smile . . .

They were once cherished childhood companions, until a scandalous secret tore them apart. Now Valerian Rainewood and Abigail Smart are the fiercest of enemies. To Abigail, Rainewood is a notorious rake, hell-bent on mischief and not fit for polite society. So what if it seems as if he can seduce her with nothing but his eyes? She will not succumb. But when the earl is viciously attacked, Abigail's distress tells her that something still binds her to the wild Rainewood.

Lies an unquenchable desire . . .

Though the ton believes there is nothing between them, Rainewood knows the truth. Abigail tempts him the way no other woman has. Wanton lust overwhelms him whenever she is near. But keeping her too close may put her precious life in danger. He must destroy his enemies—so that with every touch he may prove to Abigail that though their past was filled with trouble, their future will be nothing but pleasure.

About the Author

Anne Mallory is a lifelong romance reader who sold her first novel to Avon Books after becoming a finalist in RWA's Golden Heart contest. The Earl of Her Dreams is her fourth book. Aside from writing, she is an enthusiastic hobby collector, game player, water girl, cat lover, chocolate consumer, and homebody—not necessarily in that order. A native Michigander, Anne currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (June 30, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061579149
• ISBN-13: 978-0061579141
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #285,518 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bad Marketing, Not A Bad Book, July 13, 2009

By	E. A. Montgomery (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I think this book is being judged on expectations more than merit. I was fortunate enough to know this book was a paranormal, which I generally avoid, but it was also by Anne Mallory, who I generally enjoy. I'd already purchased it, so rather than return it I decided to give it a try. This is not a five star read, there are elements of the plot which are rather heavy handed and melodramatic. Enough to knock it down to three stars if it wasn't for the relationship between the hero and heroine.

Using the paranormal aspect of the book as a stand in for the emotional upheavals of the early teen years, Anne Mallory places her hero and heroine at a pivotal moment in both their lives and then hands them the inability to deal with the adult roles thrust upon them. Trapped in the dynamic set in place then, they can neither stay away from each other nor trust again. When Rainewood appears to Abigail, she thinks he's dead. He thinks he's dreaming, and the sounds of her crying through the night only confuse him. Forced out of the roles they've been playing, they work through what drew them apart. The society in Regencyland often seems like a high school clique run amok, and that's taken to enjoyable extremes here. I think I would have liked this book much better if the criminal element were done away with - Rainewood could as easily have been trapped in a French prison or absent his memory in the countryside after a fall, but instead he's the victim of a plot conducted by rapists and thugs.

The center relationship was very strong to me. It's not a case of people being drawn together. For The Earl's Pleasure is more of a divorce book - a couple who have come to hate reach across the bitterness to remember why they were together in the first place, but with ghosts thrown into the mix. I think it could have been better, but it was certainly worth my time. I would pre-order her next book without hesitation.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars For the Earl's Pleasure by Anne Mallory, July 26, 2009

By	jjmachshev "jj" (Grovetown, GA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

This was probably one of the strangest historicals I've ever read (and believe me that's saying ALOT). As I ponder just what to say about "For the Earl's Pleasure" by Anne Mallory, I'm rather at a loss. My bet is if the setting had been contemporary, this would have been a big hit...but, at least for me, the era is all kinds of wrong for this one. Of course, she's the author, not me-so onward.

Abigail has a BIG secret...she sees ghosts. If she were not titled and searching for a husband, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing. But what peer wants a wife who may pass on her 'madness' to offspring? It's a good thing, then, that her secret is very well kept-with the exception of her former childhood friend, Lord Rainewood. Ever since that horrible day, they've been polite enemies...slashing at each other with words at every ton function they both attend. So when Lord Rainewood appears to Abigail as a spirit, you would think she wouldn't be so upset...right?

Valerian Rainewood never believed in Abigail's gift. But after his older brother died and he became the Heir, he realized that he would have to cut Abigail's friendship. How ironic that now she's the only one who can see or hear him. Valerian knows he's not dead, just being held and drugged somewhere; but he will have to learn to rely on Abigail for assistance...and her assistance will place her in grave danger.

So many questions were left unanswered. Why could Abigail see Valerian if he wasn't dead? What really happened between Abigail and the previous heir? What was Abigail's mother thinking!? There are more, but they would give the plot away and I don't want to do that. Once again, I do think this would likely have worked in a more contemporary setting, but having a society-miss-looking-for-a-husband involved in these doings was just too much of a stretch for me. The 'bad guy' seemed to almost come out of nowhere, especially for a total wacko and that always bugs me.

The relationship between the hero and heroine was very strange; not a rivalry, not friendly enemies, sometimes almost vicious. Their circles of friends were so antagonistic it's a wonder they ever spoke! Frankly, if I were Abigail, I'd have told Val to take a hike when he needed all her help. But true love must conquer all. Of course, I'm still not sure WHEN they consummated their relationship. Was it in spirit form? Does that count? Just another question I didn't get a true answer for. I usually love Anne Mallory's books, but "For the Earl's Pleasure" was an uncomfortable read; almost jarring at times. I did finish, and I am glad I did. But I'll be a bit leery the next time I see one of her works.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unfair, July 16, 2009

By	K. Kendrick "K Sara" (Orange County, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I rate this book five stars because I believe that many of the other reviews are grossly unfair. I am not overly familiar with this author so my expectations were not based on previous work. Had I been familiar with the author's work, I would have not been overly disappointed in the unexpected. It is always a nice change when one is taken by surprise by a book, rather than constantly reading the same story with names and locations slightly altered. The book had an engaging storyline, well developed characters, and, yes, a little bit of paranormal, get over it. The characters have strong tension throughout the story because they are supposed to hate each other, it is the plot. I would recommend this novel to readers who enjoy the genre and are open to variations on the "boy meets girl... saves girl... screws girl... and finally marries girl, against all odds" plot.