Title: Beauty and the Earl
Written by Jess Michaels
Series: The Pleasure Wars #3
Published by Samhain Publishing
Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Genres: Erotic Romance, Historical Romance
Pages: 306
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
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Rating:
Flame Rating: 
Desire as essential as breath…deception as fragile as sanity.
Liam, the Earl of Windbury, had everything when he held his secret lover in his arms. Until a feud between their families left her dead, his body broken, and his sister married to his bitterest enemy.
Wracked with guilt, simmering with rage, he’s spent a year in seclusion, seeing no one except a few servants as he does his best to forget the past and patently refuses to think about any kind of future.
When courtesan Violet Milford enters Liam’s lair, she’s on a secret mission to gather information for Liam’s desperate sister, who fears for his sanity, even his life. What she finds is a man scarred inside and out, whose dark, controlling sensuality hides the kind, wounded man within.
Violet awakens a sexual desire more powerful than Liam has ever known, and her stories weave a spell that begins to work its way past his defenses. But when the truth inevitably comes out, it could well destroy the love that is saving them both.
My Thoughts
“Scorching!”
Beauty and the Earl is the third book in the Pleasure Wars series and I loved it! I thought it was a fitting end to the series. Although, there is a short novella Beautiful Distraction which is coming out in June, features Violet’s friend Olivia Cranfield.
Ava, desperate to resume contact and save her brother Liam, hires courtesan Violet Milford to seduce him. When Ava and Christian offer Violet a huge sum of money, she doesn’t refuse and decides to go to bath. In Bath, with her friend Oliva in tow, she manages to distract Liam and starts falling in love with him. The situation becomes complicated once Liam finds out the reason Olivia has been seducing him.
I have been intrigued by Liam since I read about him in Taken by the Duke. I thought he was the perfect anti-hero and I was not disappointed. The sizzling encounters between Liam and Violet were well, sizzling (LOL) and I love their chemistry. Finally, we get to see how Liam is reformed and changed by Violet.
I was also intrigued by Violet’s best friend Olivia and was ecstatic when I found out that Jess would be releasing her story! (insert: I have read Beautiful Distraction and it is amazing!).
About Jess Michaels
Jess Michaels always likes the “good parts” when she reads romance, so it makes sense that she writes erotic books. She is a nationally bestselling and award-winning author of nearly 50 novels and novellas. When not writing, she enjoys being a geek, designing jewelry and trying to keep the cats from scratching the furniture. She lives in Tucson with her husband.
Jess Michaels is a pseudonym for author Jenna Petersen (historical romance) and author Jesse Petersen (urban fantasy).
Can this book be read as a stand alone?
Twitter: iheartromanceya
Yes, it can be read as a stand alone… I recommend reading the first book, Taken by the Duke to know more about Liam's backstory..
I will be starting this one soon!! I can't wait! Great review.
Julie Whiteley recently posted…BARBARIAN BRIDE BY EVA SCOTT- REVIEW +GIVEAWAY!
Twitter: iheartromanceya
Thanks! This one is an awesome read!
Sounds like a good romantic read! Whoopee!
Goldie recently posted…Review: The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey [The Mysterious Benedict Society, book 2]
Twitter: iheartromanceya
Romantic and steamy! 🙂
Sounds really good!
Susan
I love all Jess Michaels's books. I have this book on my wish list. Thank you for the giveaway. With fingers crossed. *smiles*
I love reading and/or listening to Jess Michael's books. I am eager to catch up with this new one.
Twitter: iheartromanceya
thanks for dropping by Kathy! I haven't listened to any of Jess' books yet but I am hoping that I can, soon!