Seven Nights in a Rogue’s Bed by Anna Campbell

Setting: Late Regency 1826

*Book 1 in Sons of Sin series*

Summary:

Will a week of seduction…

Desperate to save her sister’s life, Sidonie Forsythe has agreed to submit herself to a terrible fate: Beyond the foreboding walls of Castle Craven, a notorious, hideously scarred scoundrel will take her virtue over the course of seven sinful nights. Yet instead of a monster, she encounters a man like no other. And during this week, she comes to care for Jonas Merrick in ways that defy all logic-even as a dark secret she carries threatens them both.

…Spark a lifetime of passionate surrender?

Ruthless loner Jonas knows exactly who he is. Should he forget, even for a moment, the curse he bears, a mere glance in the mirror serves as an agonizing reminder. So when the lovely Sidonie turns up on his doorstep, her seduction is an even more delicious prospect than he originally planned. But the hardened outcast is soon moved by her innocent beauty, sharp wit, and surprising courage. Now as dangerous enemies gather at the gate to destroy them, can their new, fragile love survive?

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Review:

Always love Anna Campbell’s dark, intensely riveting romances! Sadly, this isn’t a favourite of mine mainly due to the unoriginal premise and the lack of a addictive plotline. This one, while not one of her best still has all the hallmarks of a classic Anna Campbell romance.

I think my main problem with this book was the premise-it seemed too 1980’s big, bad hero and innocent, pure virgin sacrifice stuck in a castle with him kind of story. The kind of thing a beginner romance writer would come up with. And the premise was set up with the idea that there was going to be ALOT of sex. I mean seven nights?? Ok…

But because it was Anna Campbell, I gave it a shot and thought she would be able to make it fresh and entertaining with a couple of new twists thrown in there. Sadly, even her brilliant writing couldn’t make up for a sorely lacking plot and I had a very hard time suspending my disbelief that Sidonie could even consider selling her body in the first place. Surely there could have been another way or she could have gone to ask if there could be another bargain to make. Not just throw herself (literally) into the lion’s den and all to save a sister who really wasn’t worth saving in my opinion. She could simply have grabbed her sister and run!

The story is supposed to based of Beauty and the Beast but at least with that fairytale, Belle didn’t just decide the only thing she had to give was her body and Sidonie went in without a fight. Just seemed too cliche to me.

And the characters were standard cutout romance archetypes-the hero was your typical all bark, no bite guy with a secret heart of gold (that’s obvious from the very start) and Sidonie is just a little too perfect with her sense of honor to a sister that really doesn’t treat her well at all. There weren’t many other characters beside the two of them so it did drag a little at parts.

The romance was alright but not particularly hooking or exciting. The tension wasn’t bad though, and I did enjoy how Sidonie resisted giving into Jonas for so long. I still love the way Anna writes and that more than anything kept me reading through to the end.

All in all, not a standout from Anna but still a passable read. If you want a better update of Beauty and the Beast, try When Beauty Tamed the Beast by Eloisa James.

Sensuality Rating: SUPER HOT! 😉 (Caution: Very erotic scenes)

Verdict: Just passable

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Midnight’s Wild Passion by Anna Campbell

Setting: Late Regency 1827

Summary:

London’s most notorious seducer, Nicholas Challoner lives solely for revenge . . .

The dashing, licentious Marquess of Ranelaw can never forgive Godfrey Demarest for ruining his sister—now the time has come to repay the villain in the same coin. But one formidably intriguing impediment stands in the way of Nicholas’s vengeance: Miss Antonia Smith, companion to his foe’s unsuspecting daughter.

Having herself been deceived and disgraced by a rogue—banished by her privileged family as a result and forced to live a lie—Antonia vows to protect her charge from the same cruel fate. She recognizes Ranelaw for the shameless blackguard he is and will devote every ounce of her intelligence and resolve to thwarting him.

Yet Antonia has always had a fatal weakness for rakes . . .

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Review:

Love Anna Campbell’s books and this one didn’t disappoint! 😀 Anna has is known for writing dark, angsty romances so  reading something that was a little lighter was a good change. The book had a slow start but I ended up tearing through it, completely absorbed. Yet another gem to add to your collection! If you’re looking for a good rake and wallflower story, you’ll love this one! 😀

Our hero, Ranelaw is your typical rake and his obsession with revenge might turn you off at first, like it did me, but once we get to know him better, you’ll find he’s totally worthy of the heroine’s love (and ours!). Antonia is a smart, totally relate-able heroine. She knows she shouldn’t like Ranelaw (because she’s been burned by a rake before) but that doesn’t stop her from fantasizing on how totally dreamy he is. (We feel you, sister!)

From the moment these two meet, it’s magic. Ranelaw has the intelligence to match Antonia’s and it was fun reading their heated, witty repartee. Antonia is determined to protect her charge from him at all costs and Ranelaw is obsessed with outwitting her and exacting his revenge. At the same time, they’re both attracted to each other and we know how that’s gonna end 😉 I loved how Ranelaw saw past Antonia’s dour exterior to the women within though I did find it hard to believe that such a gorgeous woman could keep her loveliness hidden, and appear to be an old spinster prude!

As for the love scenes… expect Anna’s usual steamy, page-turning sex! What I particularly liked about this book was that the sex didn’t overpower the love between these two characters-it was just the right amount.

Anna’s knack for language and wit made this a fun, fast-paced read that I just zoomed through! The plot never let up and never got dull, though this book is very character-based and a lot of the plot goes on inside the minds of the H and H. There wasn’t a strong villain in this one (like her other books) and most of the conflict came from inside the minds of the H and H themselves, which could have made it boring but it wasn’t and that’s a nod to Anna’s skill as a writer, as not many writers can pull that off. Every chapter had me longing for more!

As compared to her previous books, it wasn’t my favourite but it definitely didn’t disappoint. This is Anna’s first attempt at something more light-hearted, and she pulls it off rather well, though the dark, Regency noir is still what she does best.

Sensuality Rating: HOT! (Love scenes are very long and explicit)

Verdict: Yet another fabulous book by a fabulous author!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Reckless Surrender by Anna Campbell

Setting: 1827, Late Regency

Summary:

Headlong into sin . . .

A well-practiced rake, weary of easy conquests and empty pleasures, Tarquin Vale, Earl of Ashcroft, knows women—and his every instinct warns him to beware of this one. Diana Carrick’s brazen overtures have thrown the haunted, sinfully handsome lord completely off his guard. Why, the exquisite temptress stated outright that she wishes to be his lover. But it is neither Diana’s boldness nor her beauty that intrigues him so—it is the innocence he senses behind her worldly mask.

Intent upon the seduction that will finally free her, Diana has set her sights on the notorious Ashcroft—never dreaming that there is much more to the enigmatic rogue than sin and deviltry. His kiss is bewitching, his caress intoxicating—and even the dangerous secret Diana must protect cannot shield her from Ashcroft’s dark allure.

Unwittingly yet most willingly, they are playing with fire. Now the fuse has been lit and there is no escape . . . except surrender.

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Review:

Anna Campbell is truly gifted. Every year she comes out with another book that’s just beyond amazing! Her books never feature characters that are the same or plot ideas that are repeated. Each book is a superbly crafted and complex piece of romance fiction that always leaves you satisfied.

What can I say about this book except that I completely and totally loved it? As a veteran romance reader, I’m used to what a usual romance novel entails but it takes a truly original novel to keep me hooked to the story. This was one of those books. I seriously  could not stop picking it up to read a little more and when I was not reading it, I was thinking about it. Now that’s a sure  sign a book is a hit 😉

The hero of the book is the dashing Tarquin Vale, who we meet and are introduced to as a rake with no principles. Naturally, it turns out that we’re wrong and he does have his own sense of honor and principles. The very first time he hid our heroine’s face in his coat to protect her identity, you just knew. I fell for him right along with Diana. And boyy, does that man know how to please a woman in bed 😉 I must have blushed at least a hundred times during the course of the book! He’s generous, kind, thoughtful, forgiving-a genuine jewel in disguise! He may be my favorite Campbell hero yet!

The heroine on the other hand is much harder to like. Once you discover how great Tarquin is, you can’t believe Diana would deceive him. Still, though there have been a lot of conflicting views on this point, I have to say that I felt an affinity with her and couldn’t completely hate her. It was hard to get over the fact that she sold her body for a house though. But after wards, I began to understand her and empathize with her. A very complex character but likable at the end of the day, I say.

When it comes to the writing, there’s no one like Anna Campbell to really get you into the mind of the characters. Though at times, the writing was a bit over the top and too wordy for my tastes, it was spot on and amazing when it came to divulging the characters’ thoughts and emotions. I felt like I really knew and understood these characters and I could place myself into their shoes. The plot was hooking and kept me interested the whole way. I have to say that I found the ending a bit rushed and cheesy though and personally I would have liked a little more groveling on the hero’s side. It was the book’s only flaw in my opinion that kept it from being perfection.

As for the love scenes… well it’s an Anna Campbell book. If your tastes don’t run to explicitly detailed and very long and spicy love scenes than you should probably stay away. There were alot of love scenes in the book but they weren’t gratuitous. Campbell doesn’t write sex just for sex’s sake. The love scenes had a purpose in the development of the plot, which made it ok for me as I usually don’t like too much sex. At times it did feel like the couple were into each other just for the sex. They had an undeniable sexual tension thoughout the book which was their relationship starting point.

Still, all in all a great, complex, hooking, well written romance novel that I would definitely read again. Can’t wait for Anna’s next!

Sensuality Level: EXPLICIT (Very detailed love scenes and numerous in number)

Verdict: Spicy and romantic, with an amazing hero and a plot so hooking, it will have you up all night!

Rating: 4 and a half out of 5 stars

Untouched by Anna Campbell

Setting-1822, Regency

Summary-

“I am many things,” Lord Sheene said. “Kind is not one of them”

Beautiful Grace Paget has no reason not to believe these words. After all, she was kidnapped, spirited away to a remote country manor, and told she is to grant this man his every desire . . . or lose her life. But Grace is no common trollop. So she risks everything to save her virtue by planning a daring escape, even though she finds herself tempted by this handsome man. There is something in his eyes that makes her wonder if he is as dangerous as he would have her believe.

Sheene knew nothing of the plan to bring him this woman. Locked up as a prisoner, called “mad” by all of the world, he will do anything to reclaim his life, and Grace’s sensuous beauty has distracted him from his goals. And although he finds her irresistible, he is horrified to hold her against her will. Now, together, they must both revolt against the strange set of circumstances that have forced them together—for only then will Grace truly surrender to him . . . forever.

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Review-

Loved it. 100 percent loved it. It was beautiful, heart-rending, romantic, steamy, exciting, tragic, and heartwarming. It was also one of the most, if not the most, original romance novels I have ever read. I picked it up one day, curious to see what the story was about-the idea of a heroine forced to be the hero’s whore intrigued me and I wanted to find out what happened. I didn’t expect all that much, because I had never heard of this author but I had read the excerpt and found it immediately hooking. Thank goodness I had the good sense to buy this book. Although the back cover might be embarrassing, I seriously recommend you buy it. Then clear your schedule for the day, and find a quiet corner to read it. Because once you start, you won’t be able to stop. Honestly. Money I will never regret spending.

Sensuality-5/5

Plot Rating-5/5

Romance-5/5

Final Verdict-HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. IF YOU LOVE GOOD ROMANCE OR JUST LOOKING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO READ, YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED.

Claiming the Courtesan by Anna Campbell

Setting-1825, Late Regency

Summary-

The Duke of Kylemore knows her as Soraya, London’s most celebrated courtesan. Men fight duels to spend an hour in her company. And only he comes close to taming her. Flying in the face of society, he decides to make her his bride; then, she vanishes, seemingly into thin air.

Dire circumstances have forced Verity Ashton to barter her innocence and change her name for the sake of her family. But Kylemore destroys her plans for a respectable life when he discovers her safe haven. He kidnaps her, sweeping her away to his hunting lodge in Scotland, where he vows to bend her to his will.

There he seduces her anew. Verity spends night after night with him in his bed . . . and though she still dreams of escape and independence, she knows she can never flee the unexpected, unwelcome love for the proud, powerful lover who claims her both body and soul.

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Review-

Wow-another great book from my now favourite author of Victorian! I started off hating the hero and then totally falling in love with him by the end! It’s also such a beautiful story about how love can heal the wounds of the past. Verity and Justin are a perfect match! The plot was hooking and I found I could not keep away from this book for too long-I would be itching to read it! Can’t wait for the next book from this author! Well done!

Sensuality-5/5

Plot Rating-4.5/5

Romance-4.5/5

Final Verdict-Very dark and very intense but a wonderful and powerful love story. Highly original.