His Wicked Seduction

His Wicked Seduction by Lauren Smith

Horatia Sheridan has only ever loved one man.  From the moment her brother’s best friend, Lucien Russell pulled her from her parents wrecked carriage and comforted her in the aftermath of their horrific deaths her heart has utterly belonged to him.  However, it has become increasingly clear that he will never marry her, and since her London Seasons have all ended in disaster she has decided to take matters into her own hands.  If she is to end up as a spinster, then she will have at least one memory of passion to take with her…and it will be with the gentleman of her heart.

The League of Rogues might have earned their reputations by doing whatever they wanted, but they still operated under strict rules of honor.  Rule number two:  None shall seduce the sister of another member, or they shall face satisfaction on the field of honor.  It is this very rule that keeps Lucien Russell, Marquess of Rochester, from pursuing the only woman who might ever matter him.  But when the League’s old enemy rears his ugly head again and makes threats of the lives of the entire Sheridan Family, Lucien offers to host them all for the Holidays in an attempt to keep them safe.  Will Lucien be able to resist the temptation of Horatia being so close, or will honor among friends win out in the end?

Like its predecessor, HIS WICKED SEDUCTION is packed full of action, adventure, mystery, humor, and, of course, seduction.  There are lots of wounded heroes and dangerous scenarios, and many, many opportunities to remember first hand why the members of the League of Rogues are so irresistible. 

In the anatomy of the League, if Ashton is the leader, Cedric the duty-bound rallying post, Charles the affable mascot, and Godric the strong influence, then Lucien is the dirty little secret.  His friends know his proclivities and tend to look the other way, but that doesn’t mean they approve.  His position in the League seems to be cemented by his fierce loyalty to Cedric, and in turn the other members.  He truly is a caring man and sees and understands beauty is a way the others don’t, but his area of influence seems to be tainted by his activities.

Horatia’s character is a lot less complicated than Lucien’s she is very much liked by everyone she meets, but her preference of a good book over the company of others puts her at a social disadvantage on the Marriage Mart.  Her love for Lucien is pure and innocent (up to a point), and the story of her efforts to influence his love life is priceless.  Yet for all of her character predictability, she balances Lucien so well that you can’t help but really like her.

The true magic of this book lies in two very distinct realms, the first being the villain.  To have a convincing mystery/action/adventure you have to have a villain reprehensible enough to be hard to defeat and easy to hate.  Hugo Waverly meets both of these criteria, but we also get a small glimpse as to the incident behind Waverly’s madness.  Instead of eliciting pity, the tale simply adds to the reader’s comprehension of his complete lunacy.

The other realm of magic that this book holds is the introduction of Lucien’s wonderfully raucous family.  As a whole they are a brood of hellions bent of driving their mother crazy with their individual quirks and eccentricities.  Linus, the youngest brother, in particular is an out of control scoundrel who seems to greet the coming of the Sheridans as an opportunity for more mischief-making with his old cohort, Audrey.  Of course the woman behind the family is not much tamer than her children.  Meddling and loving in equal parts, Lady Rochester cements herself as one of the great literary matriarchs.

Over all, this book was wonderful continuation of a now great series.  I look forward with bated breath to the third book in the series scheduled for release Fall 2015. 

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall

The Shadows of Stormclyffe Hall by Lauren Smith

Jane Seyton is just one step away from earning her doctorate in history, now all she has to do is provide proof that her theory about Stormclyffe Hall and its tragic history is correct.  After getting no response from the Earl of Weymouth, the Hall's stoic owner, Jane travels to Weymouth herself in hopes that her years of obsession will finally pay off.  Little does she know that events are already conspiring to do more than ruin her chances at a degree.  Will the past repeat itself yet again by bringing together and then tearing apart yet another star crossed pair?

Bastian Carlisle, Earl of Weymouth, has never believed in the silly ghost stories and superstitions that have always plagued his family.  All he wants is to rebuild his ancestral home and leave all of the nonsense behind him.  Unfortunately there is some pretty damning proof clogging up the family archives that something is not as it should be, and that is precisely what Jane Seyton wants access to.  But people who look too close tend to wind up dead, and that is one outcome that Bastian can't let happen.

This is simply not your ordinary gothic novel...it's so much better!  Forget the creepy and ridiculous villain, or the even more ridiculous and insipid damsel in distress waiting for a vain and chauvinistic hero.  This story contains smart characters and a plot so twisted and realistic it's truly scary.

A simple breakdown of the things I loved can begin with ALL of the characters.  The hero and heroine are both on par with each other for both brilliance and stubbornness.  Neither is willing to give an inch when it comes to what they want, which are dynamically opposing things.  Their true personalities are unwrapped in pieces and not all at once, which gives the reader a chance to discover them at a pace to fall in love with them.

The plot is another gem with this book.  The story captures you and draws you in.  I often found myself losing track of time, and at one point discovered that I had stayed up until 2 AM and needed to finish the book the next day.  This one was definitely a thriller.  I loved how it ended with one last plot twist.  It was just pure awesome.

Overall, I recommend reading this at night (for effect) and then buying a nightlight (because...you know).  I really hope to hear more from Lauren Smith in the Gothic Romance category, because I believe she is about to redefine the genre.  Perfect score!

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Characters – 5

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5

Wicked Designs

Wicked Designs by Lauren Smith

Miss Emily Parr has one chance at happiness: find a sensible husband who will take her away from her uncaring uncle and allow her the freedom to control her own inheritance.  Unfortunately all of those dreams are dashed when she is designated a pawn in a deadly game played by her uncle with two very dangerous men.  Can she keep her wits about her long enough to escape with her body - and heart - still in tact?

For Godric St. Laurent, Duke of Essex, kidnapping Miss Parr was a matter of revenge more than anything else.  From the moment he gets her on his estate, however, her innocence and determination charm him and his friends more than he ever imagined was possible.  But the longer he keeps her, the more Godric is convinced that giving her back might just be the death of both of them.

I almost balked at the length of this one.  Four hundred pages seemed pretty daunting for a romance novel by a new author.  I am so glad I took a chance on it, though.  This one kept me riveted the whole time.  The action started right away and the author used foreshadowing like a grand master.

The character development was extraordinary.  I particularly loved that Godric realizes that Emily has not yet mourned her parents.  Later on, when the events of the year finally hit Emily, he is there to comfort her.  It is a touching scene made more intimate because it is raw emotion not cheapened by lust.

Most people know I am a huge fan of supporting characters, and it comes as no surprise that the way supporting characters are handled is the difference between a four- and five-star review.  Well, wait not a moment longer...the supporting characters blew me away.  To create a group of men and develop them to the point that the collective group is a character in and of itself is masterful.  Ms. Smith did this with such flair that I am left in awe.

Overall...how to make this not sound like a fan girl (which I most certainly am turning into), this story is a re-read.  I keep a selection of books set aside for re-reading once every year or two.  This book just joined that list.

Ratings:

(1=unacceptable, 2=poor, 3=acceptable, 4=good, 5=excellent)

Continuity/Flow – 5

Sex – 5 

Language – 4

Storyline – 5

Overall – 5