Sara Bennett (1)

"Led Astray by a Rake" is a delightfully sinful historical by Sara Bennett. It has luscious sex, family secrets, and a hero that's both tortured and gallant at the same time.

Livy is an icy blonde who burns to be a little bad. Watching her friends fall in love and marry happily has made her determined to get the man she wants...Wicked Nic.

Nic knows Livy is absolutely the last woman he could consider marrying, but spending time with her brings him a measure of peace at the same time her beauty show more seduces his sensual soul. When he inadvertently 'ruins' her, he finds himself surprised to realize the thought of marrying her is not distasteful at all...quite the opposite in fact.

I didn't guess the family secret until the author revealed it even though, looking back, there were plenty of clues. That's always so much fun. The pull between these two is absolutely electric and there's even a secondary romance between the upper staff that adds to the plot and its denouement.

"Led Astray by a Rake" is a lush historical with a bit of mystery, a bit of wickedness, and more than one subplot. Quite a fun way to spend the afternoon! show less

Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Nov08

Let’s have a show of hands. How many readers absolutely hate the TSTL (too stupid to live) actions by some of the heroines in romance novels? Yeah, me too. Next, how many readers enjoy an entire book built on the issue of a BIG MISUNDERSTANDING? Yep, I’m with y’all on that one too. Now what if the ‘big misunderstanding’ could have been taken care of with just one question or conversation that the author took special pains to make show more sure DIDN’T happen? Well, that’s enough to make me want to scream out loud. Unfortunately, Sara Bennett’s “Her Secret Lover” did exactly that.

Heiress Antoinette is being held captive by Lord Appleby, an unscrupulous would-be suitor who only wants her for her inheritance. He orchestrated a moment where she was seen in his arms and now that her reputation is tarnished, he’s pressing her to marry him. Just as she receives a letter from her old nanny with information that can ruin Lord Appleby, he sends her off to his country estate until she agrees to marry him. When her carriage is set upon by a highwayman demanding the letter, she’s sure that said highwayman is in league with Appleby. It’s on this ‘mistake’ that the entire plot is built.

Gabriel isn’t really a highwayman. He’s actually the rightful owner of Wexmoor Manor. At least he was, until Appleby used blackmail to force his father to sign it over to him. He’s after the letter his mother wrote to Appleby (thus the blackmail) and he’s sure Appleby’s mistress MUST have it. So he dons a cloak and mask and holds up her carriage enroute to Wexmoor Manor. But as soon as he catches sight of Antoinette, his brown sparrow, he has a hard time remembering the letter. And when he touches her, all he can think of is bedding her.

As you may have guessed, I really didn’t like this book. ONE question or honest conversation at any time could have ended the conflict and resulted in the hero and heroine working together. But no, the author made sure this never happened. She even had the revelations made by a third person, so these two never figured it out. Made my blood boil with their stupidity in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary of their beliefs. And here’s a few more things; Why doesn’t she just say she’s NOT Appleby’s mistress? Well, that would ruin the plot. Why is the ‘big secret’ in the letter never mentioned til late in the book? That would ruin the plot. The hero first touches the heroine in a darkened carriage in the middle of the night and is floored by her. How? He can’t even see! And our heroine…she can’t call out for help at one of the inns on the road? If Appleby wants to marry her, he doesn’t want her injured. DUH! Then she goes to see the local magistrate…and doesn’t tell him about Appleby’s dire plot! Stupid!

I could go on, but I don’t think my blood pressure can handle it. I was so disappointed in Sara Bennett’s latest offering. I have read and enjoyed other books by her, so I know she can produce stories that entertain. I guess I’ll just mark “Her Secret Lover” down as a bad day for the author. Hey, we’re all entitled. Right? show less

Be careful who you say that you want to marry. It might come true. In the lastest book in Sara Bennett's Husband Hunters' Club series, To Pleasure a Duke, Miss Eugenie Belmont is in a pickle. Her friends at school are playing a marriage game. Although she has no eligible husband prospects, she could not let her classmates know that. So in her panic she gets carried away and names the most eligible man in the realm, Sinclair St. John, the Duke of Somerton. Because Eugenie comes from a family show more of shady characters - one of her ancestors was the king's mistress - she is looking for stability, for someone who is the opposite of her con artist father, the baronet. Who better than the stable, but cold and aloof duke? With her great storytelling abilities, she convinces her classmates that "shy and plain Eugenie Belmont is more that capable of ensnaring a duke." Later when she gets back home she can write her friends to say that it didn't work out. However, once the two meet neither one is ever the same.

Eugenie and the duke meet all because of a goat. The family goat ate their mother's favorite clothes, so Eugenie and her twin brothers are taking the goat back to farmer Bartholomew. Along the way the duke almost runs over her brothers. Luckily, her younger brother Jack has a way with horses, so the Duke ends up offering to take Erik, the goat. This sets up the opportunity for the boys accompanied by Eugenie to visit Erik and also the Duke.

It is charming to see how Eugenie and Sinclair fall in love. As they have more encounters, the attraction grows and he continues to tempt her with his offer of being his mistress. However, the big sticking point is that he only sees her as a mistress, not a wife; whereas, she wants someone who loves and respects her for who she is. A wife is respected; a mistress is not. As they get to know each other, Sinclair is remembering his youth and his painting, which his mother put the kibosh on because dukes do not paint. Meeting Eugenie has opened him up to taking risks, to remembering when he was young and full of dreams. Will she give in and help her family financially? Or will she keep her self-respect and find someone who will love and marry her?

Genie isn't the only one in her family playing a dangerous game. Her younger brother, Terry, has become the savior of Annabelle, Sinclair's sister. She doesn't want to marry, so she enlists Terry to help her escape to her friends in Scotland. Even though Genie has problems, which the Duke would take away if she accepts his offer, she sees it as selling herself. After an encounter with his mother, she realizes how stupid her dream of marrying a duke was. He sees her as someone beneath him. She would not fit in his world. Yet she falls for Sinclair's wonderful seduction and Eugenie gives into temptation. However, in the light of day it becomes clear that they each want different things: she a husband and he a mistress.

Things change when Terry, Annabelle, and Lizzie take off for Scotland. The duke takes off after them with Genie as a stowaway in his carriage. Even though this will destroy her reputation she wants to make sure that the duke doesn't kill her brother. Sinclair isn't very happy about it, but realizes that she will follow him anyways. On the journey to find their siblings each falls deeper in love with the other. However, neither is willing to budge on what they want in life.

I like romances when both characters compliment each other. Eugenie brings out the best in Sinclair and makes him into a better man, and he brings out the best in her and provides her with stability. It makes me want to go back and read the other two titles in her Husband Hunters' Club series, starting with the first one, Led Astray by a Rake.

(0riginally published on MADREADS) show less

This book started out with so much promise. I read the first two chapters and loved them. The hero helps the heroine out of a jam and we learn a lot about him as he is also protecting his uncle and son. A great beginning. Unfortunately the book becomes a mess after that. Too many plot lines that go no where and secondary characters whose plotlines are dead ends. I kept hoping the book would return to the strength of its beginning. Such a disappointment...