Jess Michaels

This was a delicious beginning to what I think will be a great new series for this author. I like the premise – the royal family of a small island nation pays an official visit to England and end up finding love with the most unexpected – and perhaps inappropriate – people. I adored each of the characters and could feel them chaffing at the weight of the crown and the demands it put on them. Each member of the family finds their own unique way of dealing with that weight and I had to show more admire how caring and open they were with each other while displaying a united front to the public at large.

Captain Jonah Crawford loved the navy and was so very happy to make it his life’s work. He wasn’t exactly thrilled two years ago when he was appointed to accompany the Prince Regent on a Crown visit to the small island nation of Athawick, but he knew it was an honor to be selected. However, when he looked up to watch the royal family of Athawick greeting the English visitors, he was dumbstruck. The royal princess, Ilaria, had to be the most beautiful and alluring woman he’d ever seen – and when her eyes locked with his – well, it was all over for him. He knew nothing could ever come of that attraction – after all, she was a royal princess and he was … not. He knew their friendship would be a short one and would end when he left Athawick – all he had to do was protect his heart and fight the attraction until then. But … two years later …

Princess Ilaria, only sister to the new King of Athawick, is strong, beautiful, intelligent, and very independent – she’s also very shocked and dismayed to learn that her mother and brother intend to arrange a marriage for her. A marriage that will enhance the relationship between Athawick and England, but not necessarily one that will make her happy. They’ll give her some leeway in the selection – but not much. All of her life, Ilaria has witnessed her mother’s mistreatment and unhappiness due to an arranged marriage and she cannot believe they want that for her. She knows she’ll eventually have to go along with what they want, but, in the meantime, she’ll thwart their efforts as much as possible. She has to have some breathing room – some freedom. The man they are focusing on for her seems to be a nice enough man – not cruel – but she feels not one iota of attraction for him, nor does he seem to have any for her.

It doesn’t take long for Jonah’s and Ilaria’s attraction to rekindle – it happens as soon as they see each other. Jonah is determined to avoid the princess – until his friend, her brother the king, asks him to keep an eye on Ilaria to keep her safe because he is sure she is up to something. GRRRROAN! How can he keep her safe and protect his heart at the same time? Then, when she is in real danger from the political intrigue that has followed them from Athawick, he has no choice. Can he protect her, keep her safe, protect her reputation, and then manage to let her go to the marriage that will be arranged for her? He knows both of them are in for a lifetime of pain. Can they endure it? It appears they will have to.

I absolutely loved both Ilaria and Jonah. Both were such adorable, admirable, and honorable characters. I can certainly see where they could/would love each other, but I didn’t see that actually happen on the page – all I saw was the lust. They only started to get to know each other toward the end of the book when they were doing some soul searching. I also didn’t understand enough about the political intrigue that was threatening Ilaria’s life. Evidently, it will be the overarching mystery through the books in this series and I’ll be happy to learn more about it.

I can definitely recommend this book and this author. It is well-written and well-delivered with compelling characters and an engrossing mystery. Mostly though, it is a steamy, make-you-heart-beat-faster, romance that you will absolutely love.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. show less

I’ve had this book on my bookshelf to read for a long time. A while back I was interested in reading some erotica that actually had a storyline and this looked like it would fit the bill. Then I got distracted by other review books and this sat on my shelf for years. I picked it up to read something fluffy, sexy, and short. It was a very well done book; had a good story line, great characters, and very well done sex scenes.

Cassandra Willows is a self-made woman in an era when that is show more unheard of; she’s made a name for herself as one of the most sought after Seamstresses in London. She has a secret though, she has side business making sensual toys for the aristocracy. Nathan Manning is the Earl Blackhearth and is still devastated over how Cassandra betrayed him when they were younger. She promised to run away with him and then never showed. Now he is determined to make her pay and has decided to blackmail her; she will be his mistress or Nathan will expose her secret side business.

This was a fun and quick historical erotica read. Additionally there is an excellent back story and a bit of a mystery to be solved as well. The mystery involves Cassandra and Nathan’s history and what really happened on the night Cassandra didn’t show up. The mystery is slowly and expertly revealed a piece at a time.

I enjoyed the characters and like that there was a decent story to support the relationship the two main characters developed. These two characters have a lot of history to support the relationship they end up in. They have excellent chemistry together and it was fun to read about them.

Cassandra is a wonderful heroine. She is strong, confident, and not afraid to pursue her own interests and pleasures. Still at points in the story she is tired and confused and vulnerable...it was a wonderful combination. Nathan was a wonderful male lead; right from the beginning you can see he loves Cassandra but is confused, hurt and angry at her for what he sees as her betrayal of him.

Despite the whole blackmail thing going on the sex scenes are all consensual. There are lots and lots of sex scenes in this book. I expected this to be a bit of a drag and slow the story down but it didn’t. The sex scenes were very creative and very well done. There is actual character development going on during the sex scenes, which kind of surprised me. There is a wide breadth of types of sex in here; all of it is male/female and monogamous. It spans bondage, toy usage, food usage, you name it. They were all tastefully done though and very sensual.

Overall this was an excellent historical erotica. I liked that there was a plot that drove the story and it was an integral part of the book (not just an excuse for more sex scenes). The characters were interesting and very well done; they had great chemistry. The sex scenes were creative and well done, they didn’t come off as repetitive or boring. I haven’t read a lot of erotica, but I would definitely recommend this for some interested in the genre. show less

Although "Her Notorious Viscount" was just shy of four stars for me, I bumped it up based on my smile at the end :) Jenna Petersen's latest regency romance is about a man and a woman who neither quite fit in; but both manage to find a place for themselves, with each other. A lovely message in today's world.

Stone is really the brand new Viscount Stoneworth, elevated to the title by the death of his beloved twin. Ignored and disparaged by his father, Stone became the antithesis of his brother show more and disappeared from polite society into London's infamous Underground. Now that he's ascended to the title, he will need to straighten up his act to take his place in the ton and uphold the family name...no matter how little he wishes to do so.

Jane is a lady whose decisions have resulted in her current status as a companion. First she lost her father and then shortly afterward, her missing brother was declared dead. However, Jane refuses to believe that her brother is gone. Instead, she's sure the cousin only declared him dead in order to inherit the family's title and wealth. So instead of allowing him to care for her, or accepting his numerous marriage offers, she hired herself out as a companion and continues her search for news of her brother. When word reaches her of Stone's familiarity with the Underground, where her brother disappeared, she's sure his status as a gentleman will cause him to help her. Instead, she's forced to make a deal with Stone: her assistance in society comportment in return for his assistance in finding word of her brother.

It's not hard to quickly figure out where the plot is headed; but in this case it really is the journey that makes all the difference. Petersen imbues every scene with the smoldering passion between Stone and Jane...it fairly jumps off the page. And her deft handling of the growing relationship and caring between the hero and heroine made it seem perfectly believable. Her secondary characters were amusing and irritating in turn and included at least one whose story I'd like to read! It all comes together in a feel-good, sexy romance that's a quickish read...not a bad way to spend an afternoon, eh? show less

An Introduction to Pleasure
3 Stars

On the verge of destitution, Lysandra Keates approaches infamous courtesan, Vivien Manning to arrange for a suitable and wealthy protector. Unfortunately, Lysandra innocence is a detriment and Vivien convinces the once rakish but now monastic and reclusive Andrew Callis to instruct her in the art of being a mistress. As Andrew and Lysandra begin their lessons, the unthinkable occurs and their physical passion leads to an even stronger emotional attachment. show more But can Andrew come to terms with his past in order to have a future with the one woman who has made him come alive again?

A charming love story with some suitably sexy scenes. Nevertheless, there are several unrealistic moments that detract from the overall effect of the story and there is one moment that had me almost through my poor iPad against the wall (thankfully the moment and the urge passed quickly).

Lysandra is a very sympathetic heroine and one cannot help but feel sorry for her circumstances and even admire her backbone in taking control of her life and her future. That said, her behavior with regard to Andrew is not consistent with her stated acknowledgement of her situation - She is well aware of the temporary nature of their arrangement and is fully cognizant of the fact that she will have to find another protector - so why does she insist on deepening their emotional attachment and why is she angry at his finding her a replacement protector?

Andrew is gentle, kind and often times charming. Nevertheless, he also comes across as self-indulgent and hypocritical. Yes, he has suffered as a result of his wife’s death but he takes his angst and guilt to the extreme. Moreover, his anger and jealousy at Lysandra moving on to another protector is ridiculous. He is the one who arranged it for goodness sake!

In sum, a relatively good story despite the anachronisms in social custom and behavior. As the mistress trope is not one that appeals to me, it is unlikely that I will continue with the series. show less