Bev(QB)’s review of Ensnared by Innocence by Larissa Lyons
Paranormal historical eNovella published 23 Jan 08 by Ellora’s Cave

Regency, Shapeshifter, Spicy (EC rating= S-ensuous). Was there any doubt that I would succumb to the lure of this EC blurb?

But, I’m glad I did.

Oh, don’t get me wrong– there ARE problems in this novella. I’ve a few minor quibbles that would amount to nit-picking if I brought them up. And, unfortunately, two fairly major plot points just disappear at the end without satisfactory resolution while another one suddenly pops up without any prior hints that it existed.

However, Lyons did a tremendous job of making me believe that these two people and their interactions were really part of the Regency period. I have enormous respect for any author that not only sets out to write a story in an historical setting, but then obviously does her homework to make her story as authentic feeling as possible (think Robin Schone’s Victorian period historicals).

Granted, everything I know about England’s Regency period I learned from reading Romance books. So I’m sure one of you history buffs will see things that I didn’t. [*coughLynneConnellycough*] But it FELT more period-appropriate to me than many of the other Regency stories I’ve read. From the conversations peppered with period appropriate “slang” [Gwen, be warned… there’s CUNNY aplenty in this book ]…

Her fingers returned to his sleeve. “You don’t understand.”

“Damn right I don’t. How you could even contemplate the possibility of propositioning that rakeshame is beyond me. He’s an unconscionable mundungus of a man, certainly not someone like yourself—”

… to their names- Erasmus and Francine- to the fact that Erasmus was dressed in the height of fashion rather than as a dashing rake who bucks the trend as we usually see in Regencies.

She could just make out the casual fall of his overlong hair, the slash of black side whiskers against his well-defined jaw, the barely discernible curve of his lips, almost lost in the burgeoning folds of his neckcloth, now that he’d bowed his head

In addition, Lyons offered an interesting explanation for the source of the family’s lion-shifter curse (that’s not a spoiler, the cover gives it away). There are other male family members also afflicted and I’m hoping Lyons will be writing their stories, too. BTW, the ménage scene mentioned in the blurb is fairly tame, but it is… odd.

I’m recommending this book to Regency period historical fans because that is really the main emphasis. The paranormal element is not the main focus, but rather an interesting twist on the standard faux engagement Regency story.

With her obvious devotion to historical detail, I think Larissa Lyons is an author to watch.

Grade: B-

From Ellora’s Cave:
Lord Blakely’s carnal appetites lean toward experienced women, the type who accommodate his need for frequent — and frequently wild — sex.

So when Lady Francine, an alluring innocent if he ever saw one, outrageously requests he pose as her betrothed, he knows he should refuse. But he can’t stop himself from participating in her outlandish scheme, especially when she adds one very unexpected, enticing element to her offer — herself.

Unfortunately, it’s fast approaching the time of year when Lord Blakely loses all control and turns into a raging beast. If Lady Francine is unable satisfy his sexual appetites, will he be forced to reveal his untamed side?

Reader Advisory: This love story between two people contains one ménage scene.

Read an excerpt.

Read more from Bev at Cubie’s Confections.