Review: Risky beginning, 3.5 stars
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2014
**************SPOILERS********************Several of the one and two star reviewers of Her Husband's Harlot have registered their feelings for the beginning of this book and they range from disappointment to disgust.  Why is that?  Because VERY early on the reader is treated to a menage a trois, and then very graphic sex scene between the two main protagonists that is then followed by a series of less graphic, but nonetheless descriptive scenes of sexual frustration leading to masturbation on the part of the hero, Nicholas Morgan, the Marquess of Harteford.  That's a lot of sex in the first two chapters of a novel.  While I am not unaccustomed to sex scenes in romance novels, I must admit the early and copious inclusion of these scenes, especially as detailed as they were, led me to believe that this novel was going to be nothing but literary porn.  With that in mind, I almost gave up on it as early as the end of chapter 3.That said, I am glad that I didn't.  What followed that very risky beginning was a pretty good tale of redemption and discovery as the newly married couple came to terms with themselves as individuals and as a couple against a background of mystery and intrigue.  I liked the heroine, Lady Helena, for her tenacity in dealing with the hurts laid on by her husband as he sought to deal with the effects of his difficult and damaging upbringing.  She is an interesting character, but I wish we knew more about her background.  There were several mentions of a well-loved, but long-dead older brother that leaves the reader with the idea that there is something significant to his role in Helena's life, but it is never explained.  There is also a good friend of Lady Helena's, Lady Marianne Draven, who appears frequently to offer advice and support.  However, at one point in the story there is something that seems to be going on with Lady Draven that is remarked upon by Helena, but never explained.  Perhaps this is the author's way of setting up a later story in the Mayhem in Mayfair series, but I found it frustrating.I also liked the male protagonist, Nicholas Morgan. The author does a much better job of letting us know what led to all of his self-loathing and and self deprecation even if I did weary of it from time to time.  I also felt that the author did a fairly good job of showing the class divide that was so prevalent during the Regency period.  Her description of the poverty, devaluation of humans, especially children during this era is dead on.All in all it was a pretty good read, but be warned:  If you are sensitive to graphic sex, you may want to pass this by.  The author does not shy away from descriptive detail.  There are the already mentioned opening scenes, then a fairly long stretch with the development of the intrigue plot, then the sex picks up again as our couple reconciles with each other.  The ending is one very steamy HEA.