Review: Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath

Another review!! Woohoo, two a week, I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself LOL. Of course, if I plan to catch up on all my reviews, I'll need to pick up the pace a little... but for now, I'm just happy maintaining :)

Today, I have a day off!! I know, how rare, right? My sister is once again volunteering at the Rogers' Cup, which is the tennis tournament held in Montreal. As a volunteer, she scores two tickets, so my dad and I are going to see some matches today! This year, Montreal is welcoming the men!! Then again, Murray and Nadal are already out, so is Del Potro... but meh, it's still a good excuse to miss work!! And who knows, perhaps at the end of the day, I'll have new favorite players!

I'll let you know how it tomorrow :) In the meantime, enjoy my review of Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath, one of my most anticipated book this summer!!


Waking Up with the Duke by Lorraine Heath
published by Avon (Harpercollins Publisher) in June 2011

They are masters of seduction, London's greatest lovers...

Renowned for his bedchamber prowess, Ransom Seymour, the Duke of Ainsley, owes a debt to a friend. But the payment expected is most shocking, even to an unrepentant rake—for he's being asked to provide his friend's exquisite wife with what she most dearly covets: a child.

Living for pleasure, they will give their hearts to no one...

Lady Jayne Seymour, Marchioness of Walfort, is furious that such a scandalous agreement would be made. If she acquiesces, there must be rules: no kissing... and, certainly, no pleasure.

Until love takes them by surprise.

But unexpected things occur with the surprisingly tender duke—especially once Lady Jayne discovers the rogue can make her dream again... and Ransom realizes he's found the one woman he truly cannot live without.

Genre: Historical romance
Series: London's Greatest Lovers trilogy, Book #3

The Story: Three years ago, the Duke of Ainsley and his cousin, the Marquis of Walfort, were in a carriage accident resulting in Walfort being paralyzed from the waist down. In the days following the accident, the worries and uncertainties caused Lady Jayne to miscarry. Therefore, it goes without saying that Ainsley who was holding the reins feels guilty and accepts Lady Jayne's rancor as his due. As such, it is with disbelief that Ainsley hears out Walfort's request: to impregnate his wife. The idea is simply outrageous and Ainsley is sure that Jayne wouldn't acquiesce... Half in love with Jayne though, Ainsley accepts if it means bringing her happiness, giving back her life.

At first, Jayne is furious at the idea... but, how else will she has a child of her own? In the end, she reluctantly accepts to spend a month away with Ainsley. However, she is determined not get any pleasure out of this arrangement...

Unfortunately, all their plans go awry when Walfort's health starts to decline...

My Opinion: It's really not a secret in blogland that I enjoyed the first two books in this trilogy, Passions of a Wicked Earl and Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman, a lot. Actually, enormously :) And so, I was really, really looking forward to Ainsley's story and I know I was not alone. As soon as I found out the blurb of Waking Up with the Duke, I emailed Ames telling her how interesting and unusual the storyline sounded. After reading the book, I command Ms Heath for writing such a daring storyline. I think she was able to take such a risk because the hero was Ainsley and readers were looking forward to his story... Unfortunately, the risk did not pay off ^_^;

Like everyone, I thought Ainsley was a great hero. I love how upstanding he was, but also how understanding and patient. He really cares about the people around him, he is responsible, etc. The perfect duke - actually, the perfect man. If I was offered to travel back in time to be Ainsley's bride, I would immediately - given there is some guarantee he would fall in love with me LOL. Anyway, it was kind of sweet that Ainsley was already half in love with Jayne... and that was the crux of the problem. Half in love and feeling guilty... that is not a good combination, because it meant he kept cuddling Jayne, trying to please and appease her. It gave Jayne a bit too much power and it was unfair. The whole romance was pretty much dependent on Jayne and she wasn't as great a character ^_^; Thinking back on Hilcia's review, it would have been great to see Ainsley be more assertive, be more duke-ish. I think it would have helped if there had been more interactions between Ainsley and his brothers (that was a bummer, really). However, I understand the circumstances... and in my book, Ainsley is still a great man LOL.

Now, Jayne. She was definitively a complex character. I mean, can someone blame her being bitter and resentful towards Ainsley after the accident and the miscarriage? I don't think so. Also, out of it, she lost a lot... not just a baby or a husband, but also intimacy. I'm not saying sex sex, but just hugs, kisses and embraces. Touches of affection. It must have been really hard for her, especially that period of time not having the technology of today or the knowledge. So her attitude towards Ainsley concerning the accident was totally warranted. The only problem is that she didn't know him very well and she made assumptions on his character that wasn't true. And then, given all the bad feelings she had towards him, she changed her mind way too quickly that it didn't make sense. I understand her given in to the one month to get pregnant. She desperately wants a child and that was pretty much the only way she was going to get one. Is it very different than artificial insemination? Okay, true, the whole point of artificial insemination is to avoid intercourse... but that technology was not available. I think that as long as Walfort was aware of it - there was nothing wrong with it. Sure, it was not accepted by society, but at least, she didn't lie to Walfort. And really, who wouldn't fall in love with Ainsley? The only thing is I didn't see a progression in the falling in love. One minute, she hated him... The other minute, she saw him doing some good things and the next, everything was forgotten and she was in love with him. That was my whole issue with the romance.

And this review wouldn't be complete without mentioning Walfort. Some might think he was manipulative and yes he was... but at the same time, he wanted everyone happy and everyone's future assured. And he did everything to do it, even withholding information. I like the fact that Walfort truly came to appreciate and love Jayne after the accident... and that when she came back after her month-long interlude with Ainsley, he was worried he has lost her.

When I read the blurb, I was wondering how Ainsley and Jayne would get their HEA ending. It's unfortunate how it came about, but I think Ms Heath did a great job about the story. The only problem was Jayne having to accept Ainsley's proposal... and I think once again, it gave her too much power. Anyway, she did come to her sense.

Aside from this, I liked the secondary storyline with Ainsley's mother and Leo :) LOL, go Leo!! :) I also liked the little bit of interaction we saw between Ainsley and his nephew. I thought that was really cute LOL. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't see much of Ainsley's brothers. I wished to have seen a lot more of them... Also, that the book wasn't focused a bit more on his past - him being a duke while being the youngest son. I understand that the three brothers have come to terms with their issues... but still, this was a very interesting and unusual dynamic and I think Ms Heath should have played it up a bit more. One last thing - I don't get the name of this trilogy. "London's Greatest Lover" - I would have think they'd be more rakish or something... but it didn't really play into the storyline... and every time it was mentioned how "great" a lover Ainsley was, I thought it was a bit too forced ^_^;

Ah well, Waking Up with the Duke was not the Ainsley story that I expected... and because of that, it did dim my enjoyment of the book a little. Still, I loved Ainsley in it, I loved the glimpses we saw of his family... and you have to give credit to Ms Heath for making this storyline work :) I think if Jayne had been a little bit different, less angry... it would have been different. Like I said earlier, I understand Jayne's feelings about the situation... but understanding doesn't make her character likable. So with a better heroine, this book would have been much better.

My Grade: B-. Looking forward to Ms Heath's next book :)

Review: Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath

Ahhhh, I have so many posts planned (in my mind :P) for this week since it's the end of the month... but I keep falling asleep ^_^; I blame the weather and my periods - they're really kicking me in the butt this time. Sigh, the bane of being a woman.

The next few days are probably going to be quite busy. My boss is expected any other days now (booo!) and the holiday season is starting for me officially tomorrow as we're having a work Christmas party. However, I'll try my best to have some reviews up :) I really want to review some of the books I've read lately! In the meantime, enjoy this one! :)


Disclaimer: I've received Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman as an eARC from NetGalley

Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman by Lorraine Heath
published by Avon in November 2010

As the black sheep second son of an earl, Stephen Lyons has gained a reputation in the art of seduction, but when his wicked ways result in scandal, he enlists in the army to redeem himself. On the battlefield, he proves courageous...until he is seriously wounded. Returning home to recover, he discovers he can't remember the angelic beauty who arrives at his doorstep, his babe nestled in her arms.

Mercy Dawson will risk everything to protect the son of the dashing soldier she once knew and admired. When Stephen offers to do the honorable thing, she is determined that London's most notorious gentleman will desire her and no other. But Mercy fears that what began as an innocent deception could destroy her dreams and their blossoming love if Stephen ever learns the scandalous truth...

Genre: Historical romance
Series: London's Greatest Lovers, Book #2

The Story: I find the back blurb a little bit misleading so I'm going to attempt writing by own synopsis :)

Mercy Dawson was a nurse during the war and fell in love with the charming Stephen Lyons. Due to her infatuation and to repay his kindness, she took his newborn son under her wing... but what started off as duty quickly became love. When she learned of Stephen's death, she believes that sharing the last essence of Stephen with his family is the right thing to do. As John's mother, Mercy's only wish is to be able to remain by his side, perhaps as his nursemaid or governess... She never expected Stephen to still be alive!!

As the middle child, Stephen always resented his two brothers for their titles - an earl and a duke. Therefore, he set out to build himself a reputation as London's greatest lover, one that would surpass his brothers'. After some incidents however, it is time for Stephen to stop hiding from behind his mother's skirts and to make use of the commission his brothers bought for him so he could "build character." Thus, Stephen sets out for Russia where he does prove his worth. Unfortunately, a grave injury sends him back to London and he cannot remember any time he spent in the battlefield...

When Mercy shows up with John, Stephen is conflicted. What option does he really have then to marry the mother of his son... even though he cannot remember her. The biggest issue though is that he is not the same man... Not the man he was before he left for Russia and not the man he was during the war...

My Opinion: I really loved and enjoyed Passions of a Wicked Earl and could not wait to get my hands on Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman. Then I remembered seeing it over at NetGalley and so requested it. As soon as I got the ARC, I simply devoured it :) While I loved Passions of a Wicked Earl more, I still enjoyed Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman tremendously.

I knew going into Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman that my enjoyment of the book would depend greatly on Stephen's characterization. Quite frankly, Stephen wasn't very likable in Passions of a Wicked Earl and I wasn't very interested in his character. There is nothing attractive in a man that resents his brothers for things they have no control over and who indulges himself thanks to his mother's love ^_^; So I was very curious to see how he would turn out in his book... and I was pleasantly surprised. Most of it had to do with the particular position Stephen found himself due to his amnesia. It was interesting to see Stephen struggle to reconcile the man who he was before war with his new self. He might not remember the two years on the battlefield and the circumstances that have shaped him; but it inevitably marked and changed him - physically and mentally.  There was also his frustration with not remembering. Nobody likes to forget things, but in Stephen's case, it was worst because he didn't forget two years of mundane stuff. What he forgot was war: battles, deaths, fights, etc. Two years that have assuredly changed him. Of course, it might be a blessing that he couldn't remember the horrors of war, but at the same time, you want to know. I felt that all of this gave Stephen's character the depth that he was lacking previously and made him more interesting. Also the fact that his attitude was no longer cavalier made him more likable to me. In my opinion, even if Mercy and John haven't appeared in his life, Stephen would have looked for something that would ground him more...

As for Mercy, she was a great heroine. She was brave, generous and loving... but at the same time, she wasn't one of those flawless and perfect heroines. I liked her reasons for joining Miss Nightingale - not just because she could help and do some good, but because she was feeling restless. It made her more real to me :P She was also an interesting character because she wasn't the quaint, innocent lady like so many heroines in historical romances. It wasn't emphasized on, but really as a nurse, Mercy has seen it all - LOL, the naked body, but also the horrors of war. The experiences she has gone through, it made her see things differently and I think that's why she suited Stephen so well. It also translated into great chemistry between Mercy and Stephen and I felt there was a real connection linking the two. I really enjoyed their relationship, especially once they got married and Stephen realized it wasn't just lust. I felt that Stephen really trusted her and the two had something special.

Once again, Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman is a book focused on its main characters and their relationship and I liked that. I liked that Mercy and Stephen got to know each other, I liked witnessing the beginning of their lives together and I liked that it wasn't rushed. Similarly to Passions of a Wicked Earl, the sex scenes were not clandestine since Mercy and Stephen were married or about to get married and seriously, it made me enjoy the relationship even more. The passion between them simply felt more natural and there were no worries about the repercussion :P Of course, there was a conflict to make the book interesting - a kind of misunderstanding that comes between Stephen and Mercy. While very cliché, it worked for me because  Ms Heath did a good job at foreshadowing the event. It wasn't just something to add conflict because the story needed it. Instead, it was built into the story and unfolded naturally.

One thing that I really appreciated in Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman was the relationship between the three brothers. I liked that they are mending the relationship slowly and that a precarious camaraderie is developing. Seriously, it would not have been believable for them to be suddenly best friends, even after Stephen has come back from the death. You know that they care for each other and that is what matters :) It was also nice to see familiar faces. I have to admit, I would have liked to see a bit more of Westcliffe and Claire... but really, that's just because I liked their book so much :P

My only complaint about Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman is that I wished there'd been more scenes of Stephen with his son, John. There was one where John was crying and Stephen came in and ordered him to stop crying and then, took him in his arms. That scene was so cute... I wanted more and I really wanted to see more of a connection between father and son.

My Grade: B+. All in all, Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman was another great book by Ms Heath :) I really enjoyed it and loved reading the romance between Mercy and Stephen. Can't wait for Waking Up with a Duke!! :)

Review: Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath

Skipping the TBR challenge this month, because well, none of the books really qualify ^_^; Most of my reads have been 2010 releases and if not, they are recently acquired books. I'm hoping that I'll read a bit more from my TBR pile in December, since there will be very few new releases :P

Got a really good news at work yesterday!! The scientific paper that my lab has been working on has been accepted!! Woohoo!! and I'm first author on it :P My first real publication!! Really happy about it and I hope my boss won't forget to take us out for celebration once he comes back from his vacation :P The news must be such a relief for him, because he still hasn't replied to my email LOL. The few times I emailed him, he said he was hard at work and had sleepless nights! I have received some of his emails when it was 4.30am and 5.30am in China!! Definitively does not sound like a vacation to me ^_^; Hopefully, when I finally get to take time off, I'll be able to relax LOL.

So that was the good news :P Now, onto the review. There are other books I should review before this, but this one keeps calling to me :)


*Warning: The are spoilers in this review. Read at your own risk!*

Passions of a Wicked Earl by Lorraine Heath

published by Avon in October 2010

Known throughout for his prowess in the bedroom, Morgan Lyons, the eighth 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 thepursuit 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.

They are masters of seduction, London's greatest lovers. Living for pleasure,they will give their hearts to no one... until love takes them by surprise.

Genre: historical romance
Series: London's Greatest Lovers, Book #1

The Story: Morgan Lyons is the eighth Earl of Westcliffe and finds himself in a very unique situation. Usually, as the oldest of three boys, he should be the only one titled... However, his mother remarried after his father died and gave birth to Ransom Seymour, heir to the dukedom of Ainsley. Morgan's father having left a lot of debts behind, Morgan has grown up being dependent on his younger brother's generosity. Luckily for Morgan, his and Earl of Cresmont's families have made a marriage contract betrothing him to Earl of Cresmont's eldest daughter, Claire, who has a substantial dowry. And Morgan is looking forward to restoring his family estate and starting his own family with Claire... that is, until he finds her in his brother Stephen's arms on his wedding night.

At seventeen, Claire is scared on her wedding night. The 8 years difference between her and her husband has always seemed like an insurmountable gap between them and as a result, she doesn't know him. Add to it the rumors of his prowess in the bedroom and Claire feels inadequate. All she hopes is to postpone her wedding night till she can get to know him better. She shares her fears and hopes with Stephen, her childhood friend, who comes up with a foolish plan. The plan works a bit too well and the Earl and Countess of Westcliffe end up living separate lives for the next three years - Claire being exiled to the country and Morgan, in London, parading his conquests to cover his wounded pride.

After three years of separation, Westcliffe seems to have found someone with whom he could share his life and is toying with the idea of demanding a divorce. It is at that moment that Claire shows up to his residence, demanding him to sponsor her younger sister's Season. Feeling that he owns her that much, Westcliffe accepts. Meanwhile, Claire is getting ready to become Westcliffe's wife in every way...

My Opinion: First, I have to say thank you, thank you, thank you Leslie for her review of Passions of a Wicked Earl. I've read some of Ms Heath's books in the past and enjoyed some of them, but not her most recent ones. Also, I've been disappointed in Avon's historical lately. Combine the fact together and I was going to skip this release, but Leslie's review changed my mind and I'm sooooo glad for it because I ended up absolutely LOOOOVIIIIING it!!

What  made Passions of a Wicked Earl so great was the characterization of Westcliffe and Claire. They were extremely well-written characters and each had so much depth... Ms Heath did a very good job with their backgrounds and settings, so much that you really can't help but feel for them. I love the fact that Claire didn't shy away from her responsibilities for the debacle that took place during her wedding night. The fact that she wanted to postpone her wedding night in order to get to know her husband better is totally understandable, especially from a woman's viewpoint. Still, the plan was stupid and she can't blame Westcliffe for reacting the way he did. What she doesn't know - and this was very unfortunate at the time-  is that Westcliffe probably reacted more violently than he would have because the other man was Stephen, his younger brother whom his mother obviously favored. Sigh. In any case, I really like Claire's maturity, level-headiness and really, her courage. Facing Westcliffe, standing up to him, facing the rest of the ton knowing that everyone is aware of her husband's affairs, fighting for her husband's affection... none of those situations could have been easy and yet, she did... and she did so being herself and not giving up. Seriously, Claire won my respect and my love and at the end, I was simply happy for her to get her HEA ending :)

Surprisingly, I found myself loving Westcliffe's character as much as I did Claire. OMG, he was such a complex hero! Not tortured as we usually like in heroes, but gosh did the man suffer emotionally. Here you have a man who is an earl and if he was anyone else, that would probably be perfect - case closed. However, in Westcliffe's instance, it practically means nothing. He is the oldest son but without real authority (the bossiness of the oldest) because he depends on in his younger brother - the duke- generosity. His mother obviously prefers and favors Stephen over her two titled sons... and they've been raised in Ainsley's household, abandoning his own household. Plus, because of the dynamics, the three brothers do not share a close brotherhood. He's been watching Claire from afar and I think he had real affection for her. It might not have been love, but he did care for her and he was looking forward to marriage not only for the money which he could use to restore Lyons Place, but to start a family - his own family. Then, finding her in Stephen's arms, well it just crushed everything. I think that beneath his serious and severe front, Westcliffe really had some inferiority complex issues... and this is something you really wouldn't expect in a man of Westcliffe's position.

I mean, Westcliffe wasn't without fault. He definitively should have made more efforts to have a relationship with Claire before the wedding. However, being male, he figured they could do that throughout their marriage. Stupid, really :P Still you know what? I don't blame Westcliffe for that failure. I blame the mother, Tessa Seymour. If she had paid more attention to her son and taken an interest in his life instead of disliking him for his father's sins, she probably could have given him some advices, show him in the right direction... especially since she went through more or less the same situation! She must have known what Claire felt and so she could have helped the two connect.

Anyway, I liked Westcliffe's character not only because he was complex, but also because he realized his faults and his mistakes. It was very clever of the author to have Claire's younger sister in the story, providing contrast between the two women. It really made Westcliffe realize how young Claire was a their wedding, on what she missed and her insecurities. Also, he became uncomfortable once he realized Claire's difficult position because of his affairs... Westcliffe was definitively a sensible hero and very thoughtful at times... I guess that Claire wasn't the only one who was too young.

I ended up also really enjoying the relationship between Claire and Westcliffe, the romance. It took time for them to get to know each other, to trust, to forgive... but it only made it all sweeter. In my opinion, it was really heart-breaking to know that all along before, Westcliffe wanted a family with Claire... and for this to happen. They are both good people that made mistakes... everyone makes mistakes and so, you really root for them :P And the best is that throughout it all, they are getting to know each other...

I usually dislike the big misunderstanding device in the plot for the ending... however, I thought that in Passions of a Wicked Earl, it work. It was a set up for more and I liked it. I was very surprised at the tragedy that occurred. I thought it was bold from Ms Heath, but really an excellent move because it brought more than just the H/H together. I really liked how everything unfolded...

As for those who dislikes hero cheating in their romance and are worried about it in Passions of a Wicked Earl, all I can say is that I thought given the situation, it really worked. I mean, I was wary of it at first as well, but it's really an integral part of the book and seriously, I wouldn't change it.

My Grade: A. Phew, this was a very long review ^_^; There are actually things I'd like to mention like the secondary characters and Westcliffe's mistress, but I think I focused on what was important. Passions of a Wicked Earl was really about Claire and Westcliffe and so should my review :) I just hope that I was able to convey my love of this book :P I think that Passions of a Wicked Earl is going to be my favorite historical romance book for 2010 - that's how much I enjoyed it :) And I'm definitively picking up the next books in this series! No thinking required... Especially Ainsley :)