Sandy M’s review of Gentlemen Behaving Badly (Pleasure Emporium, Book 2) by Michelle Marcos
Historical Romance released by St. Martin’s 1 Jul 08

On the whole I liked this book. However, there were a couple of places that I got a little irritated with the hero, and I always hate being irritated with the hero. He takes responsibility for the worst of the lot, and though he redeems himself eventually, once irritation sets in it’s hard to get of it.

Now, I realize that Salter in the beginning didn’t have any feelings yet for Mina, though he thought her unusual and interesting, but I still felt his treatment of her during the beginning stages of his investigation was uncalled for, indelicate, unfeeling, whatever. He even had a minor transgression after his feelings began to grow for Mina though he hadn’t totally admitted it. All that irritated me because despite it all, I actually liked Salter. He’s a man of honor and duty, a man of his word, he’s loyal, and all those other things a hero should be.

Salter is a constable investigating the murder of a man who had the ear of a government official in power second only to the king. Clues at the scene lead him to a local elite brothel and a young woman who is a walking contradiction. She has information that leads him closer and closer to the answers he needs to solve his case, even when his personal life interferes. He keeps his investigation on track though and ends up suspecting the one person no one would think had any reason to commit murder.

Having lost her father to a penal colony in Australia on trumped-up charges, Mina has had to make do the best way she can, which is writing letters to lords of the ton enticing them to spend their time and their money at the Pleasure Emporium where beautiful ladies give expert pleasure for a price. She’s trying to find the man who framed her father, but when one of them she contacts ends up dead, she finds herself going from one bad situation to another, none of them of her making. She’s got spunk and gumption, I’ll give her that. She’s determined to see her father exonerated and not even local law enforcement is going to delay or stop her, as she shows Salter a couple of times when she gets the drop on him. He learns very quickly not to underestimate her.

I liked Mina too. She doesn’t take any guff from anyone, except the madam of the Emporium and that’s only because she needs her job to survive. She’s confident to a point, but doesn’t believe she’s beautiful or that she’d be worth anything to a man. She’s loyal to her friends at the Emporium, even daring the Madam’s wrath a time or two to protect them. She’s thrown for a loop, however, as is the reader, when Salter’s last and worst, as well as unexpected, transgression surfaces. I wanted to clobber the man at this point when he sees Mina’s hurt and takes forever to make it up to her.

All in all, this is a good read. I got past my irritations as best I could, mostly because I knew Salter would make things right. I just wished he had handled things early on a little differently. I also enjoyed the side story of Mina’s best friend and Salter’s junior officer finding each other. We even get a quick story of redemption for one of the other working girls at the Emporium.

Grade: B-

Summary:

She Wanted Revenge
Destitute and alone, Mina Halliday ventured into a notorious bordello and offered the only talents at her disposal—her writing skill and her scandalous imagination. Mina’s erotic letters have enticed London’s wealthiest noblemen to the Pleasure Emporium, but her real goal is to find the person responsible for her father’s ruin. Even if that means defying the orders of Chief Constable Salter Lambrick, a man who makes her feel like a wanton seductress instead of a plain-faced wallflower.

He Offered Temptation
The only clue Salter has to a government official’s murder is the naughty invitation found in the victim’s pocket, leading him to the most intriguing woman he has ever met. Mina may be an innocent in a den of lust, but Salter detects the sensuality beneath her surface. And uncovering the truth about the woman who stirs his deepest desires will be his most dangerous adventure yet…

Read an excerpt.

Other books in this series: