Review: An enjoyable, short read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 22, 2011
Lydia is a governess running away from her lecherous employer. With nothing but a stolen pistol and the clothes on her back, she leaves after being attacked by her boss. As she escapes across the moors she is spotted by Jack Sibley, a dark Lord with an equally dark past. Fireworks spark between them instantly, and Lydia decides that she wants Jack at all costs. Undeterred by the scandal that surrounds him, she sets out to win his heart, but isn't shy about offering up her body in the process.What I liked about this book: Gwenan Haines is a very talented author. She writes in a way that is captivating, and the story moves along at a nice pace. Since this is a short novella, naturally the story is quite pacy, but she does a good job of giving you alot of meat to chew on in a short amount of time. I also really liked Lydia's character. Considering that this is set in England at a time when most women are sexually stifled and restrained, Lydia is a rare find. She is unashsamed of her desire for Jack and has no qualms about making sure he knows exactly what she wants. When she strips down to nothing and asks him to draw her nude (he is an artist), there is nothing coquettish about the moment. When he declines and she asks him to make love to her instead....I just about had a little book-gasm!What I didn't like about this book: While I liked that there was alot of substance for such a short story, it was almost TOO much at times. I felt like there's alot to digest when the book is only 15,000 words and there is not very much room for character development. I would have really liked to read something like this in novel length so that I could get to know the characters, especially Jack since he has been accused of murdering his brother's fiance the night before the wedding. At the end he explains to her the real circumstances surrounding the scandal, tying up all the loose ends neatly, but that part of the ending felt a bit rushed because of the short length of the book.This book is definitely spicy, though not as spicy as some other erotic romances I've read ). The scenes are very hot, but what I appreciated was there was also the element of romance. Alot of times I stay away from erotic books because alot of them focus on the sex and not the story....this book was a good story enhanced by the sex. My favorite scene involves some very naughty oral pleasures...be still my heart! All I can say about that, is every girl needs a Jack Sibley in her life!This was a short, light read that I quite enjoyed. I hope that Gwenan Haines releases a novel length sometime in teh future as I would like to see what she can do with 80,000+ words. This book is number one in the 'Rakes and Rogues' series, and I will definitely be reading the next installment when it is release. Well done Ms. Haines!