Publication Date: 2014-08-26
Series: MacLachlan Family & Friends #10
Format: eARC
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New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle creates her darkest, most sensuous story yet, as a delectable but desperate governess runs headlong into the path of a notorious rake...
Women rarely refuse the wicked Earl of Hepplewood, whose daring exploits are only whispered about. But when his new governess answers his proposition with a slap, then stalks out, references in hand, Hepplewood finds more than his face is burning.
Isabella Aldridge has brains, bravado, and beauty—but the latter is no use to a servant. Her circumstances are desperate, and with Hepplewood's words ringing in her ears, Isabella realizes she must barter her most marketable asset . . . her body.
But when fate sends Isabella back into Hepplewood's arms, the earl must make an impossible choice—draw Isabella down into his sensual darkness, or behave with honor for the first time in his life.
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My Thoughts
“A little bit shocking!”
Isabella Aldridge is in dire straights. After being let go from her latest post, she is having problems landing a new one, owing to the fact that she is very pretty. Her last interview did not go very well when she was propositioned by the Earl of Hepplewood to be his mistress instead of his governess. Spitting mad, she refuses the offer, no matter that she still has two siblings to raise and to protect from her lecherous cousin. Still desperate, she rethinks the mistress situation and asks help from her former employer, who was a courtesan, La Seductrice. She makes inquiries and unknowingly pairs Isabelle with the Earl! Without any other options, Isabelle agrees but then discovers the sexual depravity of the Earl. When Isabelle responds to his sexual demands, a fine line between pleasure/pain ensues. And when Isabelle’s family is threatened, Tony will do anything in his power to protect the woman he loves.
I really don’t know how to review this book. To say this book is a shocker is an understatement! I mean, I read erotic romance (in fact, I enjoy them!) but what shocked me is that I wasn’t expecting this book to be an erotic romance! I honestly do not have problems with the unexpected BUT this book does veer from Ms. Carlyle’s usual historical romances. To be honest, I had a hard time connecting with the hero and heroine at all. I didn’t feel any emotion at all, other than the S&M aspect. It wasn’t the sex scenes that did me in, I think it was the unexpected shock of reading this type of romance by Ms. Carlyle.
This book was an easy enough read for me, but I honestly had a hard time finishing it. Fortunately, I did because it does get better if you overlook the S&M, pseudo-masochist aspect of it.
The Earl’s Mistress feels like an erotic romance. There are some graphic sex and S&M in the book. Although there are scenes like this, it does not overpower the whole book.
I've seen so many say the same things. It really would be shocking to find that instead of a typical read. I'm surprised Avon went that route.