Setting: 1890, Late Victorian
Summary:
She’s been burned not once but twice by London’s so-call ed gentlemen . . .
Gwen Maudsley is pretty enough to be popular, and plenty wealthy, too. But what she’s best known and loved for is being so very, very nice. When a cad jilts her at the altar—again—the scandal has her outraged friends calling for blood. Only Gwen has a different plan. If nice no longer works for her, then it’s time to learn to be naughty. Happily, she knows the perfect tutor—Alexander Ramsey, her late brother’s best friend and a notorious rogue.
So why won’t a confirmed scoundrel let her be as bad as she wants to be?
Unbeknownst to Gwen, Alex’s aloof demeanor veils his deepest unspoken desire. He has no wish to see her change, nor to tempt himself with her presence when his own secrets make any future between them impossible. But on a wild romp from Paris to the Riviera, their friendship gives way to something hotter, darker, and altogether more dangerous. With Alex’s past and Gwen’s newly unleashed wildness on a collision course, Gwen must convince Alex that his wickedest intentions are exactly what she needs.
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Review:
I have to say I was really looking forward to the good girl gone bad story especially when it seemed to involve a hero who didn’t want to see her change. I suppose I have a thing for the underdog, the nice girl that people will use unfairly.
It started off well but I felt it didn’t hold up after the middle of the book. The book wasn’t terrible, it just could have been better. I did love how there were a lot of historical details thrown in and enjoyed being taken on a tour around 19th century Paris which I had never read before. That part was well-written and obviously well-researched. However, the book fell flat for me after the mid-way point and I found myself wanting to just finish it quickly so I could start a new book.
The heroine Gwen was well-written as a three-dimensional character in that you could see how she could have some naughty in her behind the nice-ness. She did evolve well in the book, but at times I felt that she was very immature and sometimes a bit too dramatic. The hero Alex, who apparently won a K.I.S.S award for best historical hero, was just ok for me. He didn’t seem to have much personality and just seemed like cardboard cutout of the ‘perfect man.’ I will admit that he was pretty sexy at certain points though 😉
As a couple, the two just didn’t have enough chemistry. Gwen just seemed too young and naive, and Alex seemed too worldly for her. I didn’t really get into their romance. That may also be because there weren’t really any obstacles in their way.
The best part of this book for me was the historical details and the tour around Europe 🙂 I learned some interesting places of interest and even a bit of French! Plot-wise, the book had a great start what with the tour and Gwen getting to try new things but after all that, it dragged.
Overall, the book suffered from a lack of chemistry between the leads, a lack of conflict and intrigue. On the plus side, Gwen’s evolution to less nice was well-written and the historical details very well researched.
Sensuality Level: Pretty warm (Short but explicit love scenes)
Final Verdict: Just ok. Read it if you’re bored, but otherwise don’t.
Rating: 3 stars out of 5
Historical Romance Addicts 