Baring It All

Jepstow #0.5

by Megan Frampton

Megan Frampton turns up the heat on one bride-to-be and her oblivious bridegroom in this steamy and scandalous eBook original short story of Regency romance.
 
It is with great discretion that this columnist discusses the sensitive topic of undergarments. Some ladies, it seems, do not pay strict attention to what they wear under their gowns. A crucial error, my ladies.
 
Lady Violet knows Lord Christian Jepstow is interested in women. The problem is, he hasn’t seemed to realize that Violet is a living, breathing woman—a woman with needs. Which is a huge problem, considering the fact that Violet and Christian are betrothed. Violet has no intention of saying her vows without knowing if her husband has the capacity to love her properly, so she does what anyone would do in her situation—she steps into his study and offers to take off her clothes. What happens next could be an utter disaster . . . or it could be surprising, seductive, and sizzlingly sexy.
 
Includes a special message from the editor, as well as an excerpt from the Loveswept title Hero of My Heart.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Novella, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Audiobook

36 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 24, 2013

About the author

Megan Frampton's love affair with books began when her parents moved her to a remote town in New Hampshire where there was only one television station. And then the TV broke. She devoured every book of fiction in her well-read parents' library, finding special joy in Georgette Heyer and the fairy tales collected and translated by Andrew Lang. Megan majored in English literature at Barnard College and worked in the music industry for fifteen years. She lives in Brooklyn, New York, with her husband (her former intern) and her kid.

Reviews

[Lisa (Remarkablylisa) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not memorable but it was cute at the end

[Melanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Baring It All was a fun read about a woman who decides to seduce her betrothed to find out if he can love her properly.

Lady Violet has been in love with Lord Christian Jepstow since she was a young girl. But while Violet knows Christian is interested in women, she isn't quite sure he realizes that she is one. With their upcoming wedding imminent, Violet decides her only course of action is to seduce her betrothed. So Violet heads to Christian's study and offers to take off her clothes.

The premise of this story caught my interest when I first read the synopsis as it sounded like the perfect start to a romance. As the scenario plays out, it was a bit more awkward than I was expecting but that may be due to the writing style. The scene between Violet and Christian was steamier than I was expecting which I enjoyed. Ultimately I didn't love Christian's character, he had an odd way of thinking about things including Violet, which meant I wasn't fully invested in the romance.

Overall Baring It All was a cute read and I would recommend it if you're looking for a quick, steamy read.

[Caz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the best thing I can say about this short story is that it had no pretentions to be anything other than it was - which is basically an extended sex-scene.

Violet has been in love with Christian for years, but he never noticed her until one day out of the blue, he proposed to her. So now they're engaged, but she is worried that her bookish fiancé doesn't really see her and that he's not even aware of her as a woman.

So she decides to try to seduce him, and they end up shagging each others' brains out on the divan, the end.

It was well-written and there were some nice touches of humour, but I have to ask myself - what was the point, really?

[BrandyD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Barely 2.5 rounded up to 3. Cute story but too short. It was only one scene and it was unbelievable how his feelings all the sudden became clear to him at the end. I mean, it seemed like she was merely a convenient bride and he was simply obligated to propose; he hardly even knew her before this scene.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Christian has asked Lady Violet to be his wife but it seems the request was made out of obligation and not passion. In an attempt to see if there is any possibility for passion in her upcoming marriage the innocent Lady Violet makes a very indecent proposal. She will strip for Christian, only in the name of research for a article, to help him see the advantages of a woman’s undergarments.

Baring It All goes from sexually analytical to explosive in 5 seconds flat. A well written short story, you’re going to need a cold shower after this red hot read! Don’t miss this sizzling, sexy, and tantalizing novella length story.

I received this ARC copy of Baring It All from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for a honest review. This book is set for publication June 24, 2013.

Written by: Megan Frampton
Series: A Loveswept Historical Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Publicatin Date: June 24, 2013
Sold by: Random House Digital, Inc.
Rating: 4
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Recommendation: Adult
Author's Website

Find this book on:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.

[Daisy Sloan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review will appear at Romantic Historical Lovers


Baring it All is the short story of Christian and Victoria. They’re betrothed but lacking in the passion department. Christian has decided that passion is a distraction, so he plans to compartmentalize his life and passion does not belong in his marriage.

Victoria has loved Christian for years. But not matter what, she wants passion her life. She has a plan to see if passion can exist between her and Christian. If there can’t be any passion, she’ll not marry him. She would rather be alone and without the man she loves, than have a passion less marriage.

Victoria is risking it all in order to find out if they have what it takes to have a passion filled marriage. She’s risking scandal, disgrace, and her future. All to find out if there’s passion.

This is a short story, but definitely intriguing. Christian is more of a scholar than anything. He’s always stuck in books and philosophy. He barely notices things around him. Victoria is very observant. She understand Christian, but at the same time she wants more from him. She’s definitely a risk taker!

It’s a fabulous story and well worth the time to read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.

[Shannon The Romance Addict! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and sweet novella that gets straight to the point!

Lady Violet is engaged to Lord Christian. He kinda keeps her at a distance like she more of a obligation (no kissing or touches). Before she can commit her life and marry him for forever she wants to make sure Christian feels something for her besides just an convenient bride . She want to see if he has Passion for her. I like Lady Violet she seems sweet and like she really loves Christian. She just doesn't want to marry him if he doesn't really want her. So she set out to see. She goes to "help" him out with some research and then seduces him at his home. At first he tries to fight it but the passion and love he has for her wins. I really liked it. It was short and to the point but it gave you just enough to make you want to see what happens next with Christian sister. I will be waiting for her book next. Overall i liked it a recommend at a short read that will wet your palette and leave you wanting more.

[Peita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[James Garman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet is engaged to marry Christopher, her next door neighbor. When Christopher proposed, he did so with a calm "now that's settled" and walked away to continued his studies. This was not to Violets liking so she decides that one way or the other she will either see some passion or will renage on the marriage. So when his sister, who writes a column about women's clothing, and gets rather into underwear, but has had to leave town, she asks Christian to stand in for her, giving Violet the chance to over to "help".

Of course her way of "helping" is to entice him into a sexually charged situation so she can see if he actually knows she is actually a woman. Meanwhile, he is away that the idea of sex and women has the ability to distract him from his philosophical purscues and want to proceed with his live's work. They between the two of them struggle to resolve the impasse.

I recommend this for those who enjoy regency romance and the occasional breaking of what we think of as the rules govering that period.

[Nell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Jepstow duet, and much like the first book, it was a highly enjoyable read. I always enjoy a nice slow delve into love, and MF does this well, IMO. I liked the idea of an already betrothed couple finding their way into a deeper, more lasting emotional connection that could lead them to their happily ever after. A fun read!

[Lynn Spencer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This isn't so much a novella as it is an extended sex scene. However, as love scenes go I. Romance, this one isn't bad. I like the author's style, but think I'd prefer something with more extensive storytelling.

[Zena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very short but really good story with a newly engaged young lady seducing her cold fish of a fiancé who proposed and then ignored her.
This was quite a hot seduction but it really had some very amusing moments and I enjoyed reading it and can recommend it.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still not sure what I think about sex in Regency stories, despite having read quite a few now. However, this was a fun short story where our protagonist tests out the passion of the very academic man she is to marry.

[Maria do Socorro Baptista · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eu considero a narrativa altamente inverossímil. Talvez seja agradável de ler para outras pessoas, mas eu o li acreditando que fosse uma ficção histórica, e me deparei com uma narrativa erótica, o tipo de texto do qual não gosto. Isso me ensina a ser mais atenta ao ler as sinopses, hehe.

[Arriesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awww, this was cute ! I love these little novellas and this one was basically a 100 page seduction scene .... xo

[Margaret A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Sometimes you have to take a chance to find what lies below the surface of a quiet exterior. The way this couple did was perfect!

[Sarah Gent]

Free on Amazon. An author I wanted to read the full length novels of.

[Ltlmer2 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet and steamy. Really just a single extended scene, but a nice vignette.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine, but pretty forgettable and really, didn’t seem to have a point. I’m reading book #1 in this series and this prequel pretty much has nothing to do with it at this point. It was fine but unnecessary.

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Scribd)

[Janelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. This was forgettable, they didn’t have any chemistry, and the audiobook narrator made him sound like Voldemort 💀💀💀

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

At the time of this writing, this book is listed as 0.5 in the series, but it's 1.5 in my opinion. It's mentioned as taking place in the epilogue of book one.

[Eva D Ayers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story loved it

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Baring It All (Jepstow #0.5) by Megan Frampton – Sometimes a lady just has to take her absentmindedly brilliant fiancé in hand! A perfect little treat! Happy Reading!

[Ana Karen Velazquez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lo lei para mejorar mi inglés, nada fuera de lo extraordinario

[Karen Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit ridiculous, no sense, rhyme, or reason.

[SelinaW · Rating 4 out of 5]

40 some steamy pages - a quick fun read

[Katie_la_geek · Rating 3 out of 5]

For this review and more visit my blog


Baring it all is a short and sweet novella, the problem is that at 36 pages there was not all that much to enjoy or review.

Violet is engaged to marry her best friend’s brother Christian, a man she has been in love with for a very long time. She should be happy that she is to marry the man of her dreams except for the fact that Christian barely notices her and has never even kissed her. One night Violet goes to his home alone to find out once and for all if Christian feels anything for her or if she is just a convenient bride for a man who has no passion.

It is hard to say much about a book that is only 36 pages long especially when some of those 36 pages are taken up with sex. I liked the story and thought it was cute but needed a lot more than it could give me.

I found the beginning to be very fragmented it jumped from one time period the next, one minute Violet is drinking lemonade, then there is a newspaper article and then she is with Christian. I have no idea if this was just the formatting of the ARC (in which case it will be different for general release) or if it is just the way this book is laid out. Either way I had to go back and re-read some parts to get my baring.

The characters are alright but I didn’t get to know them very well. I appreciated Violet’s point of view, she loved Christian but didn’t want to marry him if he didn’t really want her. I understand that and admire her for her courage, I am not sure stripping off and having sex with him was a historically accurate way of finding out but it achieved what she set out to achieve.

Christian was not as likable. One second he is implying that he has never noticed Violet before and he just wants a quiet wife that will leave him alone. Then he has noticed her but has ignored it, then passion is a distraction from his work and then he is having sex with her. I struggled to understand his point of view. Sure sexy times is distracting but not distracting enough to ruin your livelihood unless you plan on studying and being a bore 24 hours a day.

Had this book been longer I would have probably come to understand Christian and like him more, I probably would have been able to engage with the romance and fall in love with their relationship but at 36 pages this left little room for anything other than a short introduction to the story and characters and some sex. Baring it all is a brilliant idea for a story but it is stifled by its length.



The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published at Reading Reality

Hot, short, cute, frothy.

I get the feeling this is a prequel novella for the author’s upcoming What Not To Bare, since the characters in this one are a) baring everything and b) the excuse is the secret authorship of an advice column “What Not to Bare” that is normally written by the hero’s sister. Of course she’s writing under a pen name too.

The pseudonym of of a pseudonym.

The column is about women’s underwear, and the hero shouldn’t be writing it in the first place. But Lord Christian Jepstow needs a woman to model the undergarments he is writing about and his betrothed Lady Violet is all too happy to use the advice column as an excuse to show him her knickers...and everything else.

Because he hasn’t even kissed her yet. He didn’t kiss her after she accepted his marriage proposal. She’s not sure he wants to kiss her. She’s sure he likes women, there have been plenty of stories in that direction, but the question is whether he’s interested in her in particular.

If he isn’t, she’ll cry off the marriage. Because Violet does love him, and has ever since she was a girl of ten.

Christian hasn’t noticed. He’s been too busy burying himself in science and abstract mathematics. But offering to take off all her clothing damned well makes him notice. And reminds him just how distracting a beautiful woman can be. Something that Christian had been deliberately trying not to notice.

It takes more than a few dropped garments, and a bit of carnal knowledge, for Christian to admit to himself that the reason he has so thoroughly buried himself in his science is to keep himself from noticing the very distracting Violet.

Because once the matter has been brought to his attention, he can’t stop noticing. And doesn’t want to. Which is just fine with Violet. Finally.

Escape Rating B: Baring It All is one extended love-and-sex scene between two people who go from being friends into lovers during the course of the very short story. From Violet’s perspective it’s a dare and it’s daring, her whole future is on the line as well as her heart.

Christian doesn’t want to be distracted from his plans, and it takes him a while to wake up and realize that Violet is not only just what he wants, but also just what he needs.

For a good time, read Baring It All.

[Tin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short story that continues Megan Frampton's novel, What Not to Bare and features Charlotte's brother, Christian who is engaged to be married to their childhood friend, Violet. Violet believes that Christian only proposed out of a sense of obligation to their families and she's despairing that she's about to shackle herself to a man who doesn't desire her.

When Christian is in a bind regarding ladies underwear, Violet sees an opportunity to help -- and, maybe discover the degree of Christian's interest in her.

I really wished I had read this immediately after I finished What Not to Bare -- I think I would've loved to have extended the pleasure of reading Frampton. But reading this separately is a pleasure in itself. It's short, but it's clear that Frampton knows what her goal is in telling Christian and Violet's story. The single effect that the author (and Violet) are aiming for is to see Christian uncoil.

"An impasse is only an impasse when both parties will not move from their respective positions," she said. Her mouth widened into a knowing smile. "I plan on making you move, Christian."
- Chapter 3

It's interesting to note that, while it is Violet who is undressing, it is Christian's soul that is being laid bare.

"Tell me about yourself," he said in a low voice. He couldn't resist -- his fingers lingered on her skin just above the first button of her gown. Soft, as he'd expected. He felt her tremble as he slid his finger to undo the button.

"What do you want to know?" Odd that he hadn't noticed how soft and low her voice was. Or maybe it was the situation that was changing it; after all, the last time they'd spoken, he'd proposed, and she said yes. Not much conversation after that.
- Chapter 3

Baring it All is short, yes, but it's also sweet and sexy. It's always fun to read about that moment of realisation when long-time friends discover the love they've felt for each all that while.