Cecilia Grant

July 2023 update: I stand by my statement that this is a kinky book. Like, Grant GETS D/s at such a fundamental level I was knocked over rereading it. Of course, the book is not marketed as kinky but imo this is one of the most swoony, romantic D/s books I've ever read. Just look at this passage:

If she were his wife—Heaven above, where had that thought come from?—but if she were his wife, they would go to his house together and she would attend him in his bath. On the tile or marble

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floor she would kneel, taking the soap from his unresisting hand, and she would scrub him while he bent his head forward, all the burdens of the day floating off. With her thumbs she would knead away every knot that care had worked into the muscles of his back. His breaths would grow looser, telling her without words what comfort she brought. And her hands would tell him how proud she was, how very proud, of all he’d done and been today.

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March 2023 update: this is a book that has stayed in my mind since first reading it. I originally rated 3 stars because how the conflict was wrapped up, which I still believe wasn't great for me but I am not so upset with now, all these months later . . . and now that 3 star "I feel betrayed (lolz)" rating doesn't feel right. When I say this book has stayed with me, I mean I am obsessed with it and think about it daily. Many folks find the bad sex unbearable, but to me, it read extremely kinky. Was I a little disappointed when the very bad, no good sex suddenly became not bad and Martha surrendered? Yes, but I am in a place where I can appreciate the surrender now. Anwyay, turns out this is one of my favorite books and I, too, submitted.

original review: Everyone is topping from the bottom in this sex deal.

Widow in need of a quick pregnancy offers coin to the rakish neighbor. But instead of sex being sensual it's bad. Like really bad bc Martha only wants the seed and Theo is confused why pleasure cannot be part of the deal. To be honest, the terrible, bad, awkward sex worked for me 100%. In my mind, I read it as an interesting take on kinky denied orgasm scenes. Every time Martha said, "no" to Theo asking to give her pleasure, every time Theo begged Martha to indulge him in fantasy and she denied him . . . ooof!!! (also I know it's all up for interpretation etc etc but if one more loser says Martha didn't know how to orgasm or was suffering from shame I'm gonna vomit. The author EVEN SAID THIS ISN'T THE CASE. I wish I didn't care bc I do think readers are their most annoying when they place sexual shame onto characters that did not, in fact, have that issue.

There are some exquisite passages that are some of the best, most sublime writing I've ever encountered but I'm still chewing on the brother of the dead husband wrap-up. show less

Although the gimmick seemed silly at first (young widow hires cute guy to impregnate her in the first month), I really liked how Cecilia Grant spun the story. The two people learned to care for each other piece by piece, naturally and realistically. Both had to make changes in how they saw themselves and what they wanted.

The final twists were a bit unnecessary, but they are a tradition in the genre. A solid romance, high on characterization and growth, although low on sexual heat.

An unusual romance that features a cold, but conscientious widow who conscripts a local ne'er-do-well lordling to get her pregnant so her late husband's estate won't go back to her husband's rapist brother. The sex scenes for 3/4ths of the book are unsexy & brief. Mrs. Russell is moralizing & awkward. We fall in love with her anyway. And the gradual transformation that occurs in her paramour as he embraces her & his responsibilities is lovely to behold. So, yes, an unusual romance, but a show more satisfying one. show less

Ok this was one of those rare books that makes me the tenacious kind of reader I am. What I mean by that is I am a reader that rarely ever DNF's a book I start. There may be occasions where my mood changes and I put it down and don't pick it up again for a month but I almost never leave a book unfinished. One reason is I'm pretty good at determining and choosing books I'll like, so it isnt too often I pick up something that I totally hate. The other reason is books like this one. Books that show more I'm thinking "aw man, I thought I was going to like this but it's so not working for me". I had even given this 3 stars already. Then suddenly this book took a turn for the awesome!

The basic premise is like the summary says: Martha, a young widow plots to save herself and her female servants from dire circumstances by engaging in an affair with her rakish neighbor Theophilus to conceive an heir.

But for me the beginning was dragging and mostly I was having a hard time with the absence of any romance or true intimacy. The characters don't flirt or even have any fire between them because, after all, their relations are a business deal. And because of this the sex is terrible and made me just wince from all the awkwardness and obvious lack of pleasure. And I get it; I know it was totally because of the situation but geez it was hard going!

Without that connection between them (for at least the first 100 pages if not more) and cringing at how awful it must be to just have such mechanical sex I was almost about to DNF this one. However the author does a good job of showing the main character's personalities outside of each other and we get to know them in a way that builds just enough to hold on.

Actually, the slow story/character building and humor kind of reminded me of Jane Austen-ish/Elizabeth Gaskell type stuff. The kind where overall it's a romance you're reading but there's all this crappy stuff that happens too, and not a lot of sexy stuff that modern readers are used to in historical novels from this century. The only difference is we know going in that those older books to somewhat expect that. Once I got into this book though, I began loving it as I got to know Theo and laughing at some of the hilarious remarks he'd make.
He also has some really funny scenes with a pig from the farm, and I started looking forward to those scenes with the pig lol! I sort of liked Martha right away and her private conversations with her maid and cleric helped show who she was. Once Martha and Theo started really talking and opening up I liked it.

So it starts slower than most historical romances but it's written so well and comes together in a way that makes it pay off:) show less