Review & Giveaway: Ripe For Pleasure by Isobel Carr

Ripe For Pleasure
Book 1 of The League of Second Sons 

Author: Isobel Carr
Publisher:  Forever Romance
Genre:  Erotic Historical Romance
ISBN:  9780446572750
Release date:  May 1, 2010
Author's website:  www.isobelcarr.com

Received book from publisher for review.

Second in line, first in love
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each other, no matter the scandal or cost.... Their fathers and brothers may rule the world, but they run it . . . and when it comes to passion, they refuse to accept second best.

Searching for hidden treasure, finding forbidden fantasy.
London's most sensual former courtesan, Viola Whedon, is incapable of being seduced-she does the seducing. Until she meets Leonidas Vaughn. Her salacious memoirs have made her the target of half the lords in England, and Vaughn is the only man she can turn to. When he promises to protect her-and to make her beg for his touch-the alluring beauty finds both offers impossible to refuse.

Leonidas Vaughn secretly believes Viola possesses a fortune given to his family by the King of France. So the strong and sexy Vaughn charms his way into Viola's life . . . and her bed. But when their arrangement is consummated, he'll experience pleasure far beyond his wildest fantasies-and realize his heart may need the most protection of all.

Viola Whedon life is in danger because she has many secrets.  She used to be a courtesan and has decided to write a memoir that includes details on some very important men.  Someone is after her memoir and after her house is broken into one night, a man comes to her rescue. He is Lord Leonidas Vaughn.  He just happens to be in the right place at the right time and steps in to help Viola.  He offers her a deal to protect her if she will allow him to seduce her.  She goes along with it because she is attracted to Leonidas.  Leonidas has his own reasons for wanting to protect her.  He believes the house that she lives in is housing a vast fortune that was owned by his uncle.  He wants to get his hands on it and puts his plan into action.  What he doesn't realize is that soon his own life may be in danger and he must call on his fellow members of The League of Second Sons to help him. 

I have to say that I thought this concept of second sons was interesting.  While most of the first sons and fathers in the families had the prestige and honor, these gentlemen also made decisions that were important and are just as honorable by some of their decisions.  Leonidas truly did an honorable thing by keeping Viola as safe as he could.  He began to have feelings for her pretty early on in the book and I loved his touching moments with her.  He was not afraid of letting her see his true feelings.  This made me like him even more.  I didn't really connect with Viola's character, but I liked reading the scenes between the two of them.  She thought that this deal would be an easy one because of her previous profession and I enjoyed seeing her fall of Leonidas.  He was extremely dashing and she really just couldn't help herself when it came to her true feelings for him.

I was disappointed that there was not more love scenes between the two of them.  These two were extremely attracted to one another and I couldn't wait to read the first time when they were together.  There was just a scene of foreplay and then a mention of them making love in the next chapter.  *gasps*  I wanted to read the fire and burn between them!  Because this is a book that contains erotica I expected more and I felt that there just wasn't enough.

Overall, I thought the writing was enjoyable and hope that Ms. Carr gives the readers a little more fire in the future releases of this series.  The concept of the secret society is interesting and I think making the books more erotic will add more intrigue to the books.  These dashing men and passionate women deserve the chance to show the readers just how erotic they can be. 

GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to the wonderful folks at Grand Central Publishing, I am able to give away 3 copies of Ripe For Pleasure!

• Open to US/Canada only
• No PO Boxes

Please include your email in a comment if you are interested in entering the giveaway.  Giveaway 5/26/11 at 12PM EST.  Random.org will be used to choose the winner.

Good luck!