Lessons from a Scarlet Lady by Emma Wildes

Title: Lessons from a Scarlet Lady

Author: Emma Wildes

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 310

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

No real lady should take lessons from a scarlet woman...
The Duke of Rolthven's new wife, Brianna, is the perfect aristocratic bride. So what would society say if they saw her with a copy of Lady Rothburg's Advice--a courtesan's lessons for the boudoir? When his innocent wife suddenly becomes a vixen in the bedroom, the proper Duke is truly astounded by her seductive powers. Following a courtesan's advice might lead to trouble-but will it lead to Brianna's ultimate desire: winning her husband's love?

Another slightly trashy romance novel. I think I am addicted to them at this point. It such as easy read. I dont' have to think about anything. It's just a diversion.

This one was decent with likable characters and a predictable yet fun plot. My favorite character was definitely Damien. As the middle brother and not one of the romantic male leads, he played matchmaker. A fun character. I don't have too much else to say about this one. It was a fun read. If you're a romance fan and looking for an afternoon's diversion, this is the book for you.

His Sinful Secret by Emma Wildes

Title: His Sinful Secret (Notorious Bachelors #3)

Author: Emma Wildes

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 291

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

Betrothed to one brother, then married to another, Julianne Sutton finds herself a pawn in an unknown game. The enigmatic new Marquess of Longhaven knows all about the art of deception but he's baffled by innocence. His new wife is trusting, lovely, and utterly bewitching. Imagine his surprise when he discovers that she has secrets of her own. As he battles a ruthless enemy, he quickly learns that love has an entirely different set of rules.

This series just got better and better for me. I liked the first one, but wasn't ecstatic about it. I really liked the second one. And I loved the third one. I think it boils down to the male characters. Alex St. James seemed too nice, too gentlemanly (even if he was a rogue). Luke Daudet was interesting, but fairly bland. But Michael Hepburn has secrets. He's cool, mysterious, controlled, yet charming. I found him irresistible. (And I'm not even a 19th century debutante.) The story was intriguing. I didn't guess the big secret until the very end. it held my attention even through the sex scenes. And they were numerous. Fairly well done, but I admit that I skimmed through most of them. I wanted to get back to the story. That was much more interesting. I definitely recommend for fans of historical romance with a dash of action and suspense.

Notorious Bachelors

One Wicked Mistake by Emma Wildes

Title: One Wicked Mistake (Notorious Bachelors #2)

Author: Emma Wildes

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 298

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

When blackmail turns to murder, Madeline May turns to the notorious Viscount Altea, a man used to dealing with men of ill repute, and a man she despises with every fiber of her being.
From the very moment of their first meeting-and one unforgettable night of passion-Luke Daudet knew she was different. And when he received her fateful entreaty, he knew he would not be able to stay away... -- From Amazon.com

Definitely liked this one more than the first in the trilogy, My Lord Scandal. That said, it wasn't the absolute best historical romance that I've read. Hmmm... how to describe this one? A bit of predictable romance. Oh come on, based off of the description above everyone knows Luke and Madeleine will end up together. Thankfully, there was political intrigue going back to the Napoleonic Wars. We also have an interesting side story about Luke's younger sister and their cousin Miles. Plus, we get a very unconventional older sister, Regina! I loved her so much! And we get lots of sex scenes. And when I see a lot, I mean like every two chapters a hot sex scene to enjoy or skip depending on your preferences. Finally, thankfully our main female lead wasn't a naive chit, but an experienced young and interesting widow. Phew... I thought I was getting really bored with the trilogy, but it definitely redeemed itself. Must read the third one now...

Notorious Bachelors

My Lord Scandal by Emma Wildes

Title: My Lord Scandal (Notorious Bachelors #1)

Author: Emma Wildes

Publisher: Signet Eclipse 2010

Genre: Historical Romance

Pages: 306

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Summer Romance - Historical

I picked this book (and the other two in the trilogy) up at a Border's closing sale. I wanted some fun historical romance. Nothing too deep, but something entertaining. And I think my $2 a book was good money spent. At least on the first one.

Alexander St. James may be a thief of hearts, but he is no burglar. Nevertheless, he must recover and item belonging to his family to avoid a scandal, and so he has stolen into the home of Lord Hathaway, only to come upon the beguiling and chaste Lady Amelia in her bedroom, wearing little but a look of surprise. Alexander leaves Amelia breathless-but is it from fear or excitement? Captivated by her beauty and charmed by her intellect, he ignores the scandalous whispers as he sets out to seduce the woman of his dreams... -- from Amazon.com

My Lord Scandal is a typical historical romance. We have the rouge who is secertly a good guy. We have the damsel in distress. We have the overbearing guardian (in this case a few). We have the sympathetic friend/relative (in this case an aunt). All well and cliched in the realm of historical romance. Historical romances can often be very predictable. I like them for entertainment, but most aren't very clever. It's like watching a movie for the millionth time. You know what to expect, but that doesn't mean you don't enjoy it.

But this book had a mystery. Lord Alexander needs to find this key, but he doesn't know why. We spend a good portion of the book unraveling this mystery. That's what caught my attention. The intrigue going back decades holds these two families together. However the two central characters don't know why. In the course of finding out, of course they fall in love. Their love is, of course, scandalous. And their parents are not approving of the match. An enjoyable read. Nothing spectacular, but decent addition to he genre.

Notorious Bachelors

#1 My Lord Scandel
#2 Our Wicked Mistake
#3 His Sinful Secret