Sandy M’s review of Passions of a Wicked Earl (London’s Greatest Lovers, Book 1) by Lorraine Heath
Historical Romance published by Avon 26 Oct 10
Lorraine Heath is one author who, in my eyes, can do no wrong. Her books are full of emotion and passion, characters who take up residence in your heart from page one and who you’d like to know every day of the week, a story that is compelling and heartfelt, and romance that both breaks your heart and then makes it sing. Yes, this author is one of my favorites. She always will be.
Right off the bat we get huge conflict between Morgan Lyons, the 8th Earl of Westcliffe, and his estranged wife, Claire. They’ve been married for three years, a union that has never been consummated due to the fact Westcliffe found his new bride in bed with his brother – on the wedding night. He lost it. As you can imagine. He packed his wife up and took her to his country estate, where she’s been living in the intervening years.
But now she’s back in London. Claire’s not the child who feared her husband on her wedding night and made the biggest mistake of her life. Her sister is now of marrying age and their father has chosen a man who would make a horrible husband, so Claire puts on a brave front and confronts her husband in his home, explaining why she’s there and hoping for forgiveness. But she’s going to have a long wait.
Westcliffe has not been celibate during their separation and he’s currently involved with a widow whom he only lusts after, and that’s good enough for him. Until he really begins to see his wife. He notices things about her he never took the time to notice before. Her gentleness and kindness move him as no one else has ever done. Her skin is soft and drives him wild, something his current lover does not do. However, it will take more than any of this for him to trust her ever again.
Seeing nearly the same things in her husband as he sees in her, Claire begins to have hope for their relationship. She sees his kindness and loneliness and vulnerabilities, and she also begins to realize how much she truly hurt him, how much she destroyed his trust, something that didn’t come to him easily even before her error in judgment. They’ve been enjoying each other’s company escorting her sister to balls, taking walks, and just talking. Little by little Claire believes Westcliffe has come to love her and they may have a chance.
Of course, betrayal hits again and all they’ve worked for is thrown for a loop one more time. And this time tragedy strikes as well, which leads to the realization of what one will do for the person they love. Such an emotional time for Westcliffe and I love him all the more for his vulnerabilities, his mistakes, his misunderstandings.
I really like the way Ms. Heath even uses Cooper, Westlcliffe’s dog, throughout this book. You get such an insight into the man through the companionship with his pet, just as Claire does. There are some wonderful moments with that collie.
Stephen’s book is next and I’m am very anxious to find out what Ms. Heath has done with him. He’s the middle brother and one who has not done well in life, causing havoc all around him. It’s going to take a lot for me to have a soft spot for him, but I have every faith in this favorite author of mine.
Lastly, I love these covers. My favorite is the next book, Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman. Check out an enlarged copy of it somewhere. Depicts Stephen’s story before I’ve even read it!
Grade: A+
Summary:
Known throughout London for his prowess in the bedroom, Morgan Lyons, the 8th Earl of Westcliffe, cannot forgive an unpardonable affront to his honor. Discovering his young bride in the arms of his brother was a staggering blow–so he banished the beautiful deceiver to the country and devoted himself to the pursuit of carnal pleasure.Claire Lyons was an innocent, frightened girl on her wedding day, seeking chaste comfort from a childhood friend. Now, years later, she has blossomed magnificently and has returned to London with one goal in mind: the seduction of her notorious husband. Unskilled in the sensual arts, she burns nonetheless for the kisses too long denied her. And she has but one Season to win back the heart of the rogue she betrayed.
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Thanks for the post! I’m thinking about reading this book. I find it interesting that you have such a positive take on this book. I read a really bad review a few weeks ago that had me putting this book at the bottom of m TBR pile!
I read this lastweek and loved, loved, loved it! It’s a testiment that I read it right after re-reading a favourite keeper: Untie My Heart by Judith Ivory– and it fared well in comparison. Great review!
I looked around at a few reviews, Barb, and saw only good ones out there. Too bad you came across one of the few that didn’t care for the book. Give it a try. It’s one that’s worth the try anyway, and I think you’ll be happy you did. LOL, even Vanessa Jaye says so!
Give it a try, Barb, I agree with Sandy and Vanessa, very good second chance or marriage in trouble story. I especially liked the heroine in this one, and wtih Sandy about the scenes with his dog which gave insight into him.
I enjoyed the book as a good read, but I thought that, for the sake of the plot, the hero’s intransigence was over-done, especially in the second “betrayal.” Such absolute faith in his own assumptions struck me as ludicrous.
I loved her westerns, and I am not a historical reader. But only tried one of her regencies.. you are tempting me with this review though.
To me, Dick, that’s the romance of it all. Morgan’s realization he still loves her feeds his need and frenzy to make sure she has what she needs to survive. I’m not sure faith in his assumptions entered his mind. He’s blind to anything else but ensuring her recovery and thus her happiness at his own expense. And it’s fantasy romance, so what woman wouldn’t want that from the man she loves? That’s why I read romance. I sure ain’t gonna find that in a man in today’s world!
I love her westerns too, Edie! They’re terrific. Give this one a try. You never know until you do! Let me know what you think when you read it.
I thought the book was alright, but I’m surprised that the review completely ignores the resolution of the scorned mistress trope. I was happy with the way things were wrapping up until the completely baffling development at the end. It was executed so poorly and incongruously with the slow burn of the rest of the story that it made me think less of the story. I’ve read quite a few Lorraine Heath novels in the past and that last plot point really came out of nowhere and didn’t really fit with the type of quality writing of hers that I’ve read in the past. It felt sort of like someone made her add it in at the last minute just to make sure we understood that all of the loose ends were explicitly tied up. It was a good read overall, but not an A+.
I went back and reread the last two chapters, Kristina, and I can’t agree anything there was tacked on. There is a reference to things that happened earlier in the book that make sense with everything the mistress had done up to that point and also in that chapter. Granted, it can be taken as a Fatal Attraction type situation, but for me it works. In fact, I actually expected it because of the mistress’ character, so it didn’t really surprise me when I got down to those last two chapters. Sorry that ruined it for you. But it’s right in line with what I expected and my A+ is right on in what I look for in reading romance (LOL just ask Sybil!). I didn’t bother me a bit, especially not enough to negate all the emotion that went on before.