Review: The Regency period has never been so hot . . .
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 03 2, 2014
The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecilia Stanton by Viveka Portman(Novella #2: Confessions (?) Series)Source: PurchaseRating: 5/5 starsRound two of Viveka Portman’s Confessions series, The Wicked Confessions of Lady Cecilia Stanton is every bit as entertaining as the first book in the series, The Secret Diary of Lady Catherine Bexley.  Cecilia Stanton is a regency era young woman who has, much to her great delight, just married Lord William Stanton and she is aware of Lord Stanton’s reputation she is sure his appetites will be curbed now that they have wed.  And then her wedding night happens and Cecilia’s hopes for her future are dashed.Admittedly, Cecilia knew her first sexual encounter with her new husband would be difficult but wretched and awful was not what she expected at all.  To make matters far, far worse, Lord Stanton made it perfectly clear that he would be visiting his wife nightly for more of the same.  Following her disastrous first attempt at sex, Cecilia is attended by her long-time friend and maid, Bess.  After a humiliating cleaning up, Cecilia confides in her friend about the horrible sex and laments the life she is now tied too.  Thinking all is settled, Cecilia is taken aback when Bess tells her that pleasure does not always have to involve a second person nor is pleasure derived solely between a man and a woman.  Along with Bess’s explanation comes an offer, to teach her mistress about pleasure and how one can best experience pleasure.As the months and weeks pass Cecilia gains valuable knowledge and some very intense pleasure from Bess; thankfully, what she learns from Bess carries her through the nights with her husband.  Thinking, once again that all is right with the world, Cecilia is blindsided by both her pregnancy and her husband’s reaction to her condition.  The further Lord Stanton strays from his wife, the closer Bess comes and the two women forge an even stronger relationship and become indispensable to one another.  And so goes the life of Lady Cecilia Stanton until the rumors begin.  Turns out, people have a tendency to notice when two people seem abnormally close to one another and during this time period, it was simply not acceptable at any level for those two people to be two women.  What happens next not only involves the entire cast of characters but is a delightful twist that I must say, I did not see coming.The Bottom Line: Woo and hoo!!!  Round two of Viveka’s Portman’s Confession series brings a good story, fine characters and, some delicious sex to the table.  Though I still giggle at some of the naughty bits terms and words, I do have to give credit where credit is due.  Portman builds the scene and remains faithful to the time period so the funny words remain.  I also love the idea of women like Lady Cecilia, a woman who is living ahead of her time and taking control of her life, her sexuality, her pleasure and, the people she seeks that pleasure with.  As with book one in the series, I was completely satisfied with this read and would certainly recommend it to lovers or mild erotica, historical fiction and HEAs.