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Whispers of Scandal #1
Um Amor ao Luar
Quando Lady Elena Morrow de súbito desaparece, a família fica desesperada para a encontrar e para impedir que a história alastre pela sociedade londrina, antes que a sua reputação seja destruída. Infelizmente, pode ser impossível evitar um escândalo. O visconde Andrews, mais conhecido como o Corvo, o libertino mais célebre de Londres, desapareceu no mesmo momento. Benjamin Wallace, Lorde Heathton é pressionado para ajudar a encontrar Lady Elena antes que a associação com o desaparecimento de Andrews lhe ponha fim à inocência - presumindo que a jovem e vulnerável senhora queira ser encontrada…
296 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2012
18 people are currently reading
409 people want to read
About the author
Emma Wildes
105 books364 followersEmma was born in Minnesota and she lives in the Midwest, though she grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She attended Illinois State University where she majored in geology, and there she met her husband, Chris. They have three children, a temperamental cat named Poot, and are lucky enough to live on a beautiful lake. On warm days, she does enjoy a glass of wine on the dock now and then, and always loves to sit at her desk, winter or summer, and tap at her keyboard.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
October 20, 2018
A double delight of regency sexiness and a mystery tale combined !
This regency historical novel is delightfully unusual because it tells not 1, but 2 romantic tales about 2 couples in different situations who work their way towards their respective HEA's. There's a primary romantic couple: Randolph Raine, Viscount Andrews and Lady Elena. And, then there's the secondary pair: Ben and Alicia, the Earl and Countess of Heaton. The main couple are strangers who've been drugged, abducted, kidnapped and locked in a romantic, luxurious tower house while the second pair is already married but are working through their marriage in peril issues. Ben, the Earl of Heaton, is a former spy who is asked by Lord Whitbridge, Elena's father, to solve the mystery of his missing daughter. Ben's wife Alicia is also Elena's first cousin so there's a strong link between both couples. Ran or Viscount Andrews, is the premier bachelor rake of the Ton. He never associates with eligible debutantes so, although she's the reigning Diamond of the First Water, he's never spoken to Elena until he wakes up in the tower, to find her scantily clad body cuddled up snugly, next to his semi nude form in a lovey dovey pose:
The man sprawled carelessly on the bed next to her was half-nude, wearing a pair of doeskin breeches and nothing else. It was so shocking she blinked, her gaze traveling over the muscled contours of his bare shoulders and the flat plane of his stomach, finally shifting back up to his face. He had glossy dark hair, disheveled against the white linen of the pillow, and in profile his features were clean and masculine: straight nose, high cheekbones, downy ebony brows, a mouth that was parted just slightly in sleep, his tall body relaxed and taking up a good deal of the bed. The one they shared. The situation registered and she scrambled to her knees in scandalized horror, more confused than ever.
Emma Wildes. Ruined by Moonlight (Kindle Locations 91-96). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.
BOTH Ran and Elena are bewildered, angry and shocked !
The author intertwines the overlying mystery plot and Lord Heaton's search for the MC's, with a healthy dose of sexy mild erotica.
This is the main H, Ran ( Viscount Andrews )
This is the main heroine, Elena:
This is the secondary H, Ben ( the Earl of Heaton )
This is the secondary heroine, Alicia ( the Countess of Heaton )
The primary couple, Ran and Elena, spend the majority of the story locked together in erotic hotness in the tower, while the secondary couple figure out clues to try and find the location of the missing pair. The married couple are newlyweds whose marriage was an arranged one of convenience, but they've reached a crucial point where Alicia is no longer willing to just exist as a mere society wife. She's fallen in love with her austere, conservative hot husband and wants him to love her too. Alicia also wants him to spend more time doing simple things with her, like going for a long walk in their garden and getting to know each other as persons rather than as the Earl and his Countess. To accomplish this goal, she's given her husband an ultimatum:
“No, I don’t, but I admit to not being sure exactly what is going on here, madam. I believe you just told me you would not share my bed any longer.”
“No,” she corrected softly, hoping he saw the poignancy of her expression.
“I said I do not think we should be together as husband and wife in that way until we know each other better. That isn’t a refusal but a suggestion.”
Emma Wildes. Ruined by Moonlight (Kindle Locations 225-228). Penguin Group US. Kindle Edition.
Alicia's tired of the routine, mechanical sex in the dark with a husband who refuses to truly communicate with her. Ben, to give him some credit, is a nice man and a faithful husband who had never been a manwhorish rake before his marriage. His problem is that he's been brought up to believe that a society wife should be treated with delicacy and courtesy, rather than lustful passion. It doesn't mean that he isn't filled with lust for his wife; it's just that he's afraid to reveal that side of himself because he thinks it's ungentlemanly. And, while he's being the perfect gentleman, his poor wife thinks he doesn't care about her !
Meanwhile, the MC's are getting all hot and heavy at the Tower because their mutual sexual chemistry is all ablaze. The H Ran, tries very hard for the first few days, to ignore his potent attraction to Elena but it's difficult because they're locked in a sexy bedroom in their underclothes and a couple of silk robes. Elena tries hard to fight her awakening sexual desires because she's betrothed to a guy called Lord Colbert but she's not attracted to her fiance and hasn't even kissed him. The author builds up the steamy, sexual tension in a fantastic way that eventually culminates in erotic make out sessions after the heroine gets her first glimpse of the H's impressive nude penis.
Ben eventually solves all the clues and rescues the MC's but the identity, and motive, of the kidnapper remain a mystery until the very end. The solving of the mystery also helped to forge a bond between Ben and Alicia, who realized, at the end, that they did indeed share a passionate and loving marriage. Ran did act like a stubborn asshole immediately after he was released from the tower, because he refused to admit that he loved Alicia. It was only after he saw her with her fiance that he became so possessive and jealous. He created a scandalous, public scene by kissing each of her fingers seductively in front of a ballroom of Ton guests. This was very funny to read, because Ran's the type of H who never does anything in a subtle manner. He knew that Elena's father disliked him and that the only way to ensure that Lord Whitbridge allowed him to marry the heroine, was to cause a minor public scandal.
There's also a sweet and romantic epilogue which shows that the former rakish H is now a devoted, loyal and passionately loving husband. This is a lovely novel for readers who want a unique, light, regency story with some sexy mild erotica. I won't provide spoilers for the unravelling of the mystery storyline because that will ruin everything for a first time reader. I will say, though, that I was a bit flabbergasted when the kidnapper's identity and motive were revealed.
NB: My bookshelf information is combined for both couples. But I guess I need to clarify that only the secondary H Ben belongs in the "best book boyfriend award" shelf, since he'd never been a manwhore. Lol.
Safety: No cheating, no OW, a wannabe OM for the primary couple. The heroine Elena had been newly engaged, on her father's orders, to another man but since she didn't even like him and had never kissed him, I don't count her erotic lovemaking in the tower with the H Ran, as cheating on the OM/fiance. No cheating, no OW and no OM for the secondary couple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 20, 2014
Emma Wildes is one of my favorite historical romance authors, and I absolutely adore what she's doing with this series. It's a wonderful blend of mystery and romance.
From reading the synopsis, one would be led to believe that Elena and Ben are the romantic pairing in this book. That is so not the case. As with some other books by Ms. Wildes that I've read, there are two romance plots instead of the standard one.
Lady Elena Morrow and the notorious rake, Randolph Raines, Viscount Andrews awaken to find themselves locked together in an unknown room, minus most of their clothes. It becomes clear to the two of them that someone has set them up to become the unwilling participants in an enormous scandal. But who? And why?
Enter Benjamin Wallace, the Earl of Heathton, and his wife of six months, Alicia (who is also Elena's cousin). Benjamin is entreated by Elena's distraught father to help find his missing daughter.
At the same time, Alicia has grown tired of the rather proper and boring relationship between her and her new husband, and yearns for something more. She decides to try to shake things up a bit. Theirs was not a love match at the time of their marriage, and Alicia wishes for her and Ben to get to know each other better to have a more fulfilling married life, instead of the almost separate (except when they have very proper, perfunctory sex) lives they lead. So she issues somewhat of an ultimatium: she would like them to know each other better before resuming their bedroom activities.
Alicia also becomes involved in helping her husband investigate the disappearances of Elena and Ran.
Now, all this sounds like it would make for a very busy book, and indeed it does, but the three story lines: the kidnapping of Ran and Elena, their burgeoning romance, and the romance between Ben and Alicia, all blend together quite organically and naturally. I didn't feel that any of them got shorted in deference to either of the other.
That being said, I definitely preferred the storyline between Ben and Alicia. I am somewhat of a sucker for an already-married-couple-falling-in-love story line and this fit the bill nicely. Though, I really did enjoy Ran and Elena's story, but I found that I did have to force myself a couple of times to not rush through their scenes to get back to Ben and Alicia.
And both romances had satisfactory conclusions at the end of the book, and I cannot wait to see how Ben and Alicia's relationship progresses in the next book.
The mystery itself was intriguing, and while it was solved in one aspect, it also opened the door to a much larger one that I'm sure will be expanded on in the next book in the series.
From reading the synopsis, one would be led to believe that Elena and Ben are the romantic pairing in this book. That is so not the case. As with some other books by Ms. Wildes that I've read, there are two romance plots instead of the standard one.
Lady Elena Morrow and the notorious rake, Randolph Raines, Viscount Andrews awaken to find themselves locked together in an unknown room, minus most of their clothes. It becomes clear to the two of them that someone has set them up to become the unwilling participants in an enormous scandal. But who? And why?
Enter Benjamin Wallace, the Earl of Heathton, and his wife of six months, Alicia (who is also Elena's cousin). Benjamin is entreated by Elena's distraught father to help find his missing daughter.
At the same time, Alicia has grown tired of the rather proper and boring relationship between her and her new husband, and yearns for something more. She decides to try to shake things up a bit. Theirs was not a love match at the time of their marriage, and Alicia wishes for her and Ben to get to know each other better to have a more fulfilling married life, instead of the almost separate (except when they have very proper, perfunctory sex) lives they lead. So she issues somewhat of an ultimatium: she would like them to know each other better before resuming their bedroom activities.
Alicia also becomes involved in helping her husband investigate the disappearances of Elena and Ran.
Now, all this sounds like it would make for a very busy book, and indeed it does, but the three story lines: the kidnapping of Ran and Elena, their burgeoning romance, and the romance between Ben and Alicia, all blend together quite organically and naturally. I didn't feel that any of them got shorted in deference to either of the other.
That being said, I definitely preferred the storyline between Ben and Alicia. I am somewhat of a sucker for an already-married-couple-falling-in-love story line and this fit the bill nicely. Though, I really did enjoy Ran and Elena's story, but I found that I did have to force myself a couple of times to not rush through their scenes to get back to Ben and Alicia.
And both romances had satisfactory conclusions at the end of the book, and I cannot wait to see how Ben and Alicia's relationship progresses in the next book.
The mystery itself was intriguing, and while it was solved in one aspect, it also opened the door to a much larger one that I'm sure will be expanded on in the next book in the series.
January 15, 2024
This was really really fun. For those of you who haven’t read Wildes, she almost always does two romances that have some link. This was no different. The main couple was a beautiful debutante and a jaded rake (well done and not trite at all-in fact it was rather sweet!) and the secondary romance was a married couple (6 months in) who were still learning about each other. The first is the kidnapped couple and the second is the couple working on the mystery and trying to find them. I really liked how the stories played out, how the mystery was revealed and the sweetness and spice of each romance. It felt like a really well balanced comfort read for me. A cozy mystery with some heat. The heroes were dashing since they were both chivalrous but not good with deep feeling and both women were lovely and women I’d want as friends. Definitely recommended.
August 31, 2020
As J'ai Lu won't translate her books, I have to read them in English. I love Emma Wildes' stories, they are very romantic, no drama. I liked a lot that Lady Elena and Ran took their HEA after being rescued.
For this one, I didn't expect the second volume will be about one of the couple of this book lol
Have to read it now.
For this one, I didn't expect the second volume will be about one of the couple of this book lol
Have to read it now.
May 4, 2013
Closer to 3.5 stars.
My interest in historical romances has waned to the point that I pretty much pass them by unless they are written by an handful of long-time favorite authors. But for some reason the blurb on this one caught my attention.
The only other book by Emma Wildes that I have read is Lessons From a Scarlet Lady which I really enjoyed. So I thought I'd give this one a try.
The blurb gives prominent space to the characters, Benjamin Wallace, The Earl of Heathton and Lady Elena Morrow. While she is a "heroine" and he is a "hero", they are not each other's. I found myself enjoying the somewhat unconventional structure of the story. It felt like the author was playing with the expectations that long-time readers would have of the genre.
Lady Elena is a young, newly engaged miss who disappears abruptly one night from the theatre right under the nose of her parents. Her father is terribly worried. Even more so when it it learned that Ran Raines,Viscount Andrews, a prominent rake, is also missing from town. At first people speculate that the two have run off together. But smarter people realize that the two have never even met and Elena (young, innocent, virginal) is definitely not the type of woman Ran would have anything to do with.
In fact the two have been abducted and they wake up, drugged and unclothed, held prisoner in an undisclosed location. They spend the time arguing, trying to figure out who would do this and becoming attracted to each other.
In the meantime, Elena's frantic father is directed to Benjamin, Lord Heathton. Apparently Ben is somewhat of a person who can get things done. He can find things, fix things, make things right, uncover mysteries. He served under Wellington in the war and has all sorts of skills. Ben just so happens to be newly married. His wife of six months is the lovely Alicia. They did not marry for love, rather he sized her up as the type of woman who would make a good countess for him. But Alicia has other ideas. In the six months they've been married they live a very civilized life where Ben is off doing the things that Earls do while Alicia is off doing things that countesses do. Sometimes they can go a day or two without even seeing each other. And on those nights they are together, they have very correct sex in the dark.
Alicia is having no more of this. She want to get to know her husband and she wants to have a more fulfilling marriage. So she gives him an ultimatum, one that intrigues him and makes him see his bride in a whole new light.
The story jumps, almost like scene cuts on a tv show, between the captured Elena and Ran to Ben's various investigation ploys to Ben & ALicia's romance plot. The three plot threads of the story mesh together fairly well. The reader gets to see what is going on from Elena and Ran's perspective and watch as those two begin to fall in love while also seeing the investigation from Ben's perspective.
For me, Ben & Alicia are the best parts of the book. While Elena and Ran were fine as a couple -- She was smart, resourceful and witty, he was handsome, sexy and honorable -- their romance was almost perfunctory and they just didn't capture me like Ben & Alicia did. I liked the fact that the book had a mystery plot but I liked even better Alicia's resolve to get her man.
Ben is the MVP of the book. He is enigmatic, mysterious and utterly flummoxed by his wife. I like how the author created such a controlled contained character in Ben while still giving him some great layers making him sexy and little vulnerable. And like Lessons From a Scarlet Lady, I enjoyed watching a romance unfold between a man and woman who were already married and are negotiating how to make the marriage work.
While the book ends happily for Elena and Ran, the other two plots are still a work in progress. The mystery plot continues on in the next book A Most Improper Rumoras does the continuing evolution of Ben and Alicia's marriage.
Looking forward to that one now...
My interest in historical romances has waned to the point that I pretty much pass them by unless they are written by an handful of long-time favorite authors. But for some reason the blurb on this one caught my attention.
The only other book by Emma Wildes that I have read is Lessons From a Scarlet Lady which I really enjoyed. So I thought I'd give this one a try.
The blurb gives prominent space to the characters, Benjamin Wallace, The Earl of Heathton and Lady Elena Morrow. While she is a "heroine" and he is a "hero", they are not each other's. I found myself enjoying the somewhat unconventional structure of the story. It felt like the author was playing with the expectations that long-time readers would have of the genre.
Lady Elena is a young, newly engaged miss who disappears abruptly one night from the theatre right under the nose of her parents. Her father is terribly worried. Even more so when it it learned that Ran Raines,Viscount Andrews, a prominent rake, is also missing from town. At first people speculate that the two have run off together. But smarter people realize that the two have never even met and Elena (young, innocent, virginal) is definitely not the type of woman Ran would have anything to do with.
In fact the two have been abducted and they wake up, drugged and unclothed, held prisoner in an undisclosed location. They spend the time arguing, trying to figure out who would do this and becoming attracted to each other.
In the meantime, Elena's frantic father is directed to Benjamin, Lord Heathton. Apparently Ben is somewhat of a person who can get things done. He can find things, fix things, make things right, uncover mysteries. He served under Wellington in the war and has all sorts of skills. Ben just so happens to be newly married. His wife of six months is the lovely Alicia. They did not marry for love, rather he sized her up as the type of woman who would make a good countess for him. But Alicia has other ideas. In the six months they've been married they live a very civilized life where Ben is off doing the things that Earls do while Alicia is off doing things that countesses do. Sometimes they can go a day or two without even seeing each other. And on those nights they are together, they have very correct sex in the dark.
Alicia is having no more of this. She want to get to know her husband and she wants to have a more fulfilling marriage. So she gives him an ultimatum, one that intrigues him and makes him see his bride in a whole new light.
The story jumps, almost like scene cuts on a tv show, between the captured Elena and Ran to Ben's various investigation ploys to Ben & ALicia's romance plot. The three plot threads of the story mesh together fairly well. The reader gets to see what is going on from Elena and Ran's perspective and watch as those two begin to fall in love while also seeing the investigation from Ben's perspective.
For me, Ben & Alicia are the best parts of the book. While Elena and Ran were fine as a couple -- She was smart, resourceful and witty, he was handsome, sexy and honorable -- their romance was almost perfunctory and they just didn't capture me like Ben & Alicia did. I liked the fact that the book had a mystery plot but I liked even better Alicia's resolve to get her man.
Ben is the MVP of the book. He is enigmatic, mysterious and utterly flummoxed by his wife. I like how the author created such a controlled contained character in Ben while still giving him some great layers making him sexy and little vulnerable. And like Lessons From a Scarlet Lady, I enjoyed watching a romance unfold between a man and woman who were already married and are negotiating how to make the marriage work.
While the book ends happily for Elena and Ran, the other two plots are still a work in progress. The mystery plot continues on in the next book A Most Improper Rumoras does the continuing evolution of Ben and Alicia's marriage.
Looking forward to that one now...
September 11, 2012
There were two love stories in the plot line of the book. The main Hero was Lord Andrew, a rake with honour. The heroine a debutante and virgin,Elena. There is a kidnaping that neither the hero or heroine had anything to do with. What would you do if you were locked in a room with only a bed, small table and privacy screen and the man was a drop dead gorgeous rake. Of course,
play cards...and a few intimate lessons or two.
The second romance is the married couple, Alicia and Ben. She wants her marriage of 6 months to move from the stuffy and cold to the warm and personal. Ben is also the detective hired by the heroine's father. The clues are frustrating and scarce and in fact the reason for the kidnapping is only partially solved in the end and one is left with the feeling of "To be continued."
The story moves along smoothly and at an interest involving clip. The heat factor is moderate. The characters well developed and all very likeable.
play cards...and a few intimate lessons or two.
The second romance is the married couple, Alicia and Ben. She wants her marriage of 6 months to move from the stuffy and cold to the warm and personal. Ben is also the detective hired by the heroine's father. The clues are frustrating and scarce and in fact the reason for the kidnapping is only partially solved in the end and one is left with the feeling of "To be continued."
The story moves along smoothly and at an interest involving clip. The heat factor is moderate. The characters well developed and all very likeable.
November 27, 2013
Totes for Ben and Alicia, I loved their story so much that it left me wanting for more! I wish that they had a full novel because being the secondary (or main? I can't tell!) characters of the story, their story was the one that kept me aflutter!
November 6, 2013
Blurb:
What is society to do when the diamonds of the first water are caught in compromising situations, one after the other? Can the young ladies survive the season with their reputations intact ... or will the scandalous whispers surrounding them bring about the ultimate ruination?
When Lady Elena Morrow, the reigning belle of the ton, suddenly disappears, her family is desperate to find her -- and to keep the story from spreading through London society like wildfire, before her reputation is ruined. Unfortunately, it may be impossible to avoid a scandal. Viscount Andrews, better known as the Raven, London’s most notorious rake, has gone missing at exactly the same moment.
Benjamin Wallace, Lord Heathton, is more accustomed to untangling political difficulties, rather than those of the heart. But when he is pressured to help find Lady Elena, he can’t refuse -- the distraught father is also his wife’s uncle. Now he must find the beautiful debutante before the connection to Andrews does away with her innocence --assuming the vulnerable young lady wants to be found....
A young lady disappears at the same time a notorious rake goes missing -- and Benjamin Wallace has been asked to recover the lady and discover the connection between the two events.
This sums up the back cover blurb of the book (*points up to the blurb*) and it confused me who the hero and heroine would be. (Three names: 2 protagonists and one villain?) What the blurb failed to describe is that this novel had a dual plot and involved two romantic pairs: Lady Elena Morrow and Lord Randolph Raines and Benjamin Wallace and his wife of six months, Alicia, who is Elena's cousin.
Despite the confusing blurb, I thought the story started out very well. I really, really love "locked room scenarios" in mystery stories and this one was very good: a lord and a lady wake up, barely clothed, with no recollection of how they got there -- and this particular locked room was actually quite ... posh. The last thing Elena remembers was the theater -- and the last thing Ran remembers is his club. They've never been introduced but now find themselves in a locked room together.
Who is the target? What is the purpose?
Benjamin Wallace, Lord Heathton is dealing with a domestic crisis: his wife of six months has issued an ultimatum, one that Ben cannot and does not want to ignore: Alicia is tired of her husband's indifference and would love a more intimate relationship with him -- so she is laying siege at her husband's carefully-planned, perfectly-organized life. But their efforts are derailed when Elena's father (Alicia's uncle) asks for Ben's help.
Is it an elopement? A forced seduction? One thing is for certain, Ben needs to be careful and discreet in his inquiries because the reputation of a young woman, who happens to be his cousin by-marriage, is at stake.
The plot structure of Ruined by Moonlight is this novel's greatest strength and weakness: it is a new and compelling thing to see both sides of the same story: the story of the detective looking for clues and the story of the ones who have disappeared. I loved that Ran and Elena weren't just waiting helplessly to be rescued, but were actively looking for a way out. As the story develops, more clues to their whereabouts are given:
- They are not so far away from London, considering the duration of the drug that knocked them out.
- The mastermind wants them to be comfortable, considering the fine food and careful choice of drink that Elena and Ran are served every day.
- Because of their state of undress, it seems that seduction is part of the plan.
But, despite their observations, neither Elena nor Ran could come up with a motive and a possible suspect.
At the same time, Benjamin Wallace is closing in on them with clues that he has discovered with the help of Alicia and Ran's aunt. It's interesting to see the story and the characters move towards the denouement from different directions.
But, because of the dual stories, and, technically, four main characters, details and development suffer a bit. I am glad that Emma Wildes took the time to develop Elena, Ran, Ben, and Alicia -- there was change, realization and a bit of character growth at the end of the story, but I thought it was the romance aspect that was greatly affected, especially Elena and Ran's. I was already impressed with Ran's fortitude and determination not to succumb but, then, they both slowly give in to the proximity, to the allure of the idea of "everyone already thinks I'm ruined anyway" --
I really wished they didn't give in to the temptation. I wished the author maintained the sexual tension and didn't allow them to indulge. They were already off to a good start in the first two days of their captivity, when all they did was talk and play cards and develop intimacy.
..."I suspect you were a mischievous child. Weren't you?"
She laughed in a low melodic sound. "I don't know. Perhaps. I've always liked horses more than embroidery. Does that count?"
"Of course" He could picture her in a riding habit, graceful in a sidesaddle, her cheeks tinged pink from an early-morning breeze, golden hair under a plumed hat, slim gloved hands on the reins ... She'd be skillful and swift and the most beautiful one there ...
Damn.
"Do you hunt?" He asked it too abruptly.
"No."
She didn't, he discovered, because she deplored the actual sport, but she liked a canter through the countryside much more than a London ball, and the ton's most-favored beauty smiled at the recollection of summer pastures and bucolic fields. She stated in her concise way, "Someone of your level of sophistication might not understand this, but I am not all that interested in the whirl of society."
He understood it quite well actually, and though he spent far too much time in London because his obligations required it, she might be surprised to learn he also preferred quiet mornings and green pastures and the sound of singing birds. However, defending himself was never something he bothered to do, so he just regarded her with amused consideration. "How unconventional, Lady Elena."
"Rather like spending the night in the same bed as the infamous Lord Andrews. That takes unconventional to new heights."
"Perhaps, but nothing happened."
Well, not nothing. He'd wanted to tell her and that was something, and he wanted her now and that was even more significant. ...
- pp. 68-69
The stand-out character for me in this novel would be Alicia. I loved that she knew what she wanted and she was determined to win her husband over. I love that she didn't nag or harangue Ben, but reminded him in subtle, gentle ways of his neglect of her and their marriage.
It was rather difficult to imagine someone as detached and sophisticated as her husband to give up his inner thoughts easily, and Alicia had already come to that conclusion, hence her extreme strategy.
Even now while he still stood there, his eyes were watchful and his tall body noticeably tense.
Good. She wasn't particularly skilled at it but she'd exacted some sort of response, and the disclosure he'd just made was one of the first truly personal revelations he'd given her in six months of marriage.
It was a start.
- p. 42
The resolution to the mystery felt a bit vague and rushed and quickly swept up to give way to resolving the love stories of the two couples.
Ruined by Moonlight is the first book in Emma Wildes's Whispers of Scandals series. It seems that Benjamin Wallace will be a recurring character (or major plot thread) throughout the series. The second book, A Most Improper Rumor
, has Benjamin investigating the case of a late friend's widow. (I honestly think the blurb is misleading again, two names are featured prominently: Ben's and Angelina's -- who is the hero and where is the romantic story?)Will I be reading the next book? Yes, because:
1. It is by Emma Wildes,
2. I want to read more of Ben and Alicia and
3. I'm curious about who the hero is.
April 2, 2020
Dada a situação atual pensei que era uma boa opção uma leitura mais fofinha e amorosa.
Mas esta leitura primou pelo tédio.
Acabei de empurrão, embora as últimas 80 páginas tenham apresentado um outro ímpeto, um ritmo bem mais vigoroso. Mas não deu para compensar o resto.
O final deixou em aberto um mistério bem mais interessante que estas 294 páginas.
Mas esta leitura primou pelo tédio.
Acabei de empurrão, embora as últimas 80 páginas tenham apresentado um outro ímpeto, um ritmo bem mais vigoroso. Mas não deu para compensar o resto.
O final deixou em aberto um mistério bem mais interessante que estas 294 páginas.
January 12, 2019
Ok. But not interesting. Poorly written. No actually drama. No passion and the characters did not have that closeness like Julia Quinn’s books.
February 23, 2019
Opinião no Blogue: https://a-lilianaraquel.blogspot.com/...
October 4, 2012
Originally reviewed at http://smexybooks.com/2012/10/review-...
Favorite Quote: “Do you think a woman, experienced or not, cannot tell if a man puts true emotion into a kiss? “
I’m a well established fan of Ms. Wildes’s historical romances. I enjoyed her previous trilogy, Notorious Bachelors, a great deal and was excited to see her starting a new series. Ms. Wildes has a unique approach to historical romances. Her heroes and heroines are never over burdened with misunderstandings or book filling situations. Sweetly portrayed characters exist in viable storylines. Not overly emotional or angst driven, her books fill a nice spot on my bookshelf.
I wish I could say this story blew me away me, but I cannot. An interesting premise and mildly intriguing mystery that never seems to quite gain a foothold and expand. A deliciously decorated package that when opened, lacks substance. The best I can say is that it is sweet. The characters are sweet. The plot and subplots are sweet. The rescue is sweet. Even the villain, who isn’t really a villain, is sweet. There is no sense of adventure within the plot, only mild intrigue and suspense. No standing on the precipice, quivering in anticipation wondering what will happen. I knew from the beginning what the end would hold in store for us. Our main protagonists, Elena and Ran, are calm, rational, and mild mannered. No arguing. No fussing. I was taken back that Elena remained as calm as she did. She awakens in a strange place, almost stripped bare, with a strange man. She doesn’t succumb to hysterics or even accuse him of setting it up. Ran, on the other hand, does have a realistic moment when he accuses Elena of trying to trap him into marriage. She quickly disabuses him of this idea when it becomes apparent he really doesn’t have anything she needs. She’s rich and engaged to be married. I would have loved to see some conflict between them concerning the situation they find themselves in. Rather, we are treated to the beginnings of a lovely, somewhat textbook, first romance.
The secondary romance, which receives as much attention as the main romance, was more interesting to me. Benjamin Wallace, Lord Heatherton, married his bride six months ago and admits he married her for her looks and the fact that it was time. A former political analyst during the war, he is a seemingly cold, inattentive man. His wife, Alicia, comes to him with a cleverly stated ultimatum. She wants a different marriage. She feels that their marriage of convenience could be so much more if Benjamin would just open up to her, so she tells him she would like them to spend more time together getting to know one another before continuing their conjugal visits That’s right. She kicks him out of bed till he straightens up. Ben is quite funny in his shock and dismay that his wife is giving him this ultimatum. He can’t believe she dares, yet it works because he begins to notice her more. As if seeing her for the first time, Ben begins to see beneath the trappings and notices her beauty, wit, and charm.
The love scenes between both couples are done well. I loved that in each romance, lessons are taught and learned. Both of our heroes keep their emotions well hidden to avoid any romantic entanglements, each choosing a different method to ensure the women they are with never gain access to their hearts, therefore making them vulnerable to pain. The slow dissolving of the walls each man has built is well done, though I felt the love aspect for our kidnapped couple happened fast.
Why would someone kidnap an innocent and a well known rake? How was the villain able to kidnap them from under the noses of everyone? Are they together? Ben asks these questions and more when Elena’s father comes to him for help in finding Elena and tampering down the gossip already running rampant. Ben receives some unlikely help in his quest to find the couple which helps to facilitate his own romance. There are a limited number of secondary characters for a book this size, which surprised me. With such an elaborate plot, I expected more characters to be a part of the undertaking. Maybe more will be revealed in later books. Our kidnapping victims are rescued, more by chance than anything else, and the true villain behind the kidnapping is never revealed, leaving us in the dark about the reasons this entire scenario happened in the first place. A viable resolution combined with an epilogue gives clues that lead me to believe we will not know the true reasons behind any of this until the last book in this series.
Overall rating: C-
Favorite Quote: “Do you think a woman, experienced or not, cannot tell if a man puts true emotion into a kiss? “
I’m a well established fan of Ms. Wildes’s historical romances. I enjoyed her previous trilogy, Notorious Bachelors, a great deal and was excited to see her starting a new series. Ms. Wildes has a unique approach to historical romances. Her heroes and heroines are never over burdened with misunderstandings or book filling situations. Sweetly portrayed characters exist in viable storylines. Not overly emotional or angst driven, her books fill a nice spot on my bookshelf.
I wish I could say this story blew me away me, but I cannot. An interesting premise and mildly intriguing mystery that never seems to quite gain a foothold and expand. A deliciously decorated package that when opened, lacks substance. The best I can say is that it is sweet. The characters are sweet. The plot and subplots are sweet. The rescue is sweet. Even the villain, who isn’t really a villain, is sweet. There is no sense of adventure within the plot, only mild intrigue and suspense. No standing on the precipice, quivering in anticipation wondering what will happen. I knew from the beginning what the end would hold in store for us. Our main protagonists, Elena and Ran, are calm, rational, and mild mannered. No arguing. No fussing. I was taken back that Elena remained as calm as she did. She awakens in a strange place, almost stripped bare, with a strange man. She doesn’t succumb to hysterics or even accuse him of setting it up. Ran, on the other hand, does have a realistic moment when he accuses Elena of trying to trap him into marriage. She quickly disabuses him of this idea when it becomes apparent he really doesn’t have anything she needs. She’s rich and engaged to be married. I would have loved to see some conflict between them concerning the situation they find themselves in. Rather, we are treated to the beginnings of a lovely, somewhat textbook, first romance.
The secondary romance, which receives as much attention as the main romance, was more interesting to me. Benjamin Wallace, Lord Heatherton, married his bride six months ago and admits he married her for her looks and the fact that it was time. A former political analyst during the war, he is a seemingly cold, inattentive man. His wife, Alicia, comes to him with a cleverly stated ultimatum. She wants a different marriage. She feels that their marriage of convenience could be so much more if Benjamin would just open up to her, so she tells him she would like them to spend more time together getting to know one another before continuing their conjugal visits That’s right. She kicks him out of bed till he straightens up. Ben is quite funny in his shock and dismay that his wife is giving him this ultimatum. He can’t believe she dares, yet it works because he begins to notice her more. As if seeing her for the first time, Ben begins to see beneath the trappings and notices her beauty, wit, and charm.
The love scenes between both couples are done well. I loved that in each romance, lessons are taught and learned. Both of our heroes keep their emotions well hidden to avoid any romantic entanglements, each choosing a different method to ensure the women they are with never gain access to their hearts, therefore making them vulnerable to pain. The slow dissolving of the walls each man has built is well done, though I felt the love aspect for our kidnapped couple happened fast.
Why would someone kidnap an innocent and a well known rake? How was the villain able to kidnap them from under the noses of everyone? Are they together? Ben asks these questions and more when Elena’s father comes to him for help in finding Elena and tampering down the gossip already running rampant. Ben receives some unlikely help in his quest to find the couple which helps to facilitate his own romance. There are a limited number of secondary characters for a book this size, which surprised me. With such an elaborate plot, I expected more characters to be a part of the undertaking. Maybe more will be revealed in later books. Our kidnapping victims are rescued, more by chance than anything else, and the true villain behind the kidnapping is never revealed, leaving us in the dark about the reasons this entire scenario happened in the first place. A viable resolution combined with an epilogue gives clues that lead me to believe we will not know the true reasons behind any of this until the last book in this series.
Overall rating: C-
February 14, 2013
I hate to give a book 1 star but I seriously didn't like this book at all. It is a 1.5 stars book for me but I don't think it is okay so I can't give this 2 stars at all. This is a perfect book where we shouldn't judge a book by its cover. The cover and title looks promising but the story honestly did not lived up to it.
There are actually two stories in this book. While Elena & Andrew story is interesting, Alicia & Ben story is too boring. It was not covered in the description of the book that I have to read about a woman who is unsatisfied with her married life and wanted her husband to changed into someone romantic before she allows him into her bed again. Half the book is talking about this and it bores me out. I don't want to read about a woman who wants to change her husband into something she want.
The flow of the story is very bad. The story jumps from one couple to the other abruptly and when the story was at its peak about Elena and Andrew escape, the author decided to take the story off and bring in the unsatisfied Alicia pouting over the absence of her husband at a ball again. It break the momentum of my read and spoiled it completely.
For an established author's work, I would have expect the editor to do a great job in editing and proofreading but there was a huge mistake in this book. It is so huge that I simply cannot ignored it.
I seriously will not be checking out any of this author's work in future and do not recommend anyone reading this book.
There are actually two stories in this book. While Elena & Andrew story is interesting, Alicia & Ben story is too boring. It was not covered in the description of the book that I have to read about a woman who is unsatisfied with her married life and wanted her husband to changed into someone romantic before she allows him into her bed again. Half the book is talking about this and it bores me out. I don't want to read about a woman who wants to change her husband into something she want.
The flow of the story is very bad. The story jumps from one couple to the other abruptly and when the story was at its peak about Elena and Andrew escape, the author decided to take the story off and bring in the unsatisfied Alicia pouting over the absence of her husband at a ball again. It break the momentum of my read and spoiled it completely.
For an established author's work, I would have expect the editor to do a great job in editing and proofreading but there was a huge mistake in this book. It is so huge that I simply cannot ignored it.
I seriously will not be checking out any of this author's work in future and do not recommend anyone reading this book.
January 23, 2013
This one was tough to rate for me. For the most part it involves two stories. One is Elena an Ran, an engaged debutante and notorious rake, who are kidnapped and held together with no explanation for a week. Then there is Alicia and Ben a relatively new married couple. He's an earl who used to work for the war office. Elena and Alicia are cousins and Elena's father asks Ben to look into the kidnapping.
The best part of the story for me was Alicia's and Ben's. They have a very cursory marriage and she wants them to become closer so she suggests they forgo bedplay until they can know each other better. I enjoyed both Ben and Alicia and enjoyed the change in their relationship as they searched for Elena.
Elena and Ran's story was pretty dull. They don't know why they are kidnapped but the discussion about why is brief. The chapter are bogged down by countless conversations between the two about sex or each of them thinking about sex, or them actually having sex. He's the standard rake who's misunderstood and has mysterious depth (otherwise why would we care about him of course) and she's the standard innocent. Nothing unique comes out of the experience and after they are freed and go go home what happens after is no surprise.
Part of the mystery is revealed but not all because this will be a series. I'm really not sure I want to continue with it.
The best part of the story for me was Alicia's and Ben's. They have a very cursory marriage and she wants them to become closer so she suggests they forgo bedplay until they can know each other better. I enjoyed both Ben and Alicia and enjoyed the change in their relationship as they searched for Elena.
Elena and Ran's story was pretty dull. They don't know why they are kidnapped but the discussion about why is brief. The chapter are bogged down by countless conversations between the two about sex or each of them thinking about sex, or them actually having sex. He's the standard rake who's misunderstood and has mysterious depth (otherwise why would we care about him of course) and she's the standard innocent. Nothing unique comes out of the experience and after they are freed and go go home what happens after is no surprise.
Part of the mystery is revealed but not all because this will be a series. I'm really not sure I want to continue with it.
November 4, 2012
I am not sure where to go with this review, folks. I am really struggling with this one. There were quite a few things that concerned me about this book and I am trying to give it all a positive spin.
To say that the hero and heroine of this book were Ran and Elena would be wrong. This wasn't a story with a primary and secondary couple. This book had two primary couples - which was new to me - and one of the couples, Alicia and Ben, were newly married. Each chapter alternated with the couple being focused on. Now, for some, that might be a good thing. I actually thought I would like it! But for most of the book, I felt like I was reading two different books at the same time. It isn't until well over half the book that the two start to connect beyond the surface. But even after the couple is freed from the tower the four never connect.
For the full review, please go to http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...
To say that the hero and heroine of this book were Ran and Elena would be wrong. This wasn't a story with a primary and secondary couple. This book had two primary couples - which was new to me - and one of the couples, Alicia and Ben, were newly married. Each chapter alternated with the couple being focused on. Now, for some, that might be a good thing. I actually thought I would like it! But for most of the book, I felt like I was reading two different books at the same time. It isn't until well over half the book that the two start to connect beyond the surface. But even after the couple is freed from the tower the four never connect.
For the full review, please go to http://thewindowseat13.blogspot.com/2...
September 7, 2012
I really did not know what to expect with this book as the blurb was not very forthright and mentioned two men (one that has a wife already no less). It caught my interest, so I decided to give it a try and was very glad that I did. There are two couples in this story that are given about an equal amount of time, but neither story seems neglected. All in all, I really liked this one and am really excited for the next!
December 3, 2012
★★★★☆ Not bad, but not my favorite by this author. Loved the set-up and didn’t mind two love stories being told. Like the characters in both twosomes. It is not easy to make a married couple’s love life intriguing, but Ms. Wildes pulls it off. However, the why of it all is to be found in the rest of the books in the series…I hope!
June 8, 2014
Sensualidade, critica social na alta sociedade britânica do seculo XIX e misterio e intriga de cortar a respiraçao. Critica detalhada em breve.
October 15, 2019
Um Amor ao Luar de Emma Wildes é a minha estreia nos Romances de Época. A Sandra do Blog Mil Estrelas no Colo lançou, no seu canal do youtube, um desafio intitulado #outubrodeépoca de forma a incentivar a leitura deste género literário do qual ela tanto gosta. Quando acabei de ver o vídeo fui à minha estante e a escolha não foi difícil dado que não tinha mais nenhum Romance de Época! Assim, comecei esta leitura sem quaisquer expectativas e sem saber sequer qual era premissa uma vez que nem li a sinopse.
O resultado foi uma agradável surpresa, uma leitura rápida e prazerosa, diferente do que costumo ler habitualmente. Um Amor ao Luar é uma mistura de Romance de Época, mistério e erotismo, bem ponderados num equilíbrio natural. É um livro sem grande profundidade, e exactamente por isso foi uma lufada de ar fresco nos meus hábitos literários.
O livro inicia-se com a Lady Elena, uma jovem já prometida em casamento, a acordar numa cama, com um estranho ao seu lado, o devasso Visconde Andrews, conhecido pelos seus envolvimentos fugazes e escaldantes com mulheres casadas ou viúvas, de forma a evitar todo e qualquer compromisso. Ambos com pouquíssima roupa e com bastante tempo livre entre quatro paredes vêem-se quase forçados a conhecerem-se melhor, if you know what I mean. E a relação que nasce entre eles é muito divertida e entretém-nos, mostrando que as pessoas são muito mais do que as aparências e do que os defeitos que se lhes atribuem. Lady Elena não é tão insossa e submissa como era esperado a alguém na sua condição e Andrews não é apenas um insensível libertino.
Paralelamente, temos um outro casal casal, Lady Alicia, prima de Elena, e Benjamin Wallace, casados há pouco tempo mas muito distantes um do outro, parecendo que, apesar de se gostarem, apenas convivem para cumprimento dos deveres matrimoniais. Lady Alicia tenta resolver as lacunas de comunicação entre eles, com as armas que tem ao seu dispor, negando ao seu marido qualquer contacto íntimo até que se conheçam melhor. Ben, que é um homem ponderado e inteligente, mas muito pouco romântico, fica inicialmente muito apreensivo com o ultimato da esposa, mas tenta aos poucos corresponder às suas expectativas. Simultaneamente é lhe incumbida a tarefa de procurar Lady Elena, como cobrança de favores pessoais e atendendo às suas capacidade de investigação adquiridas no passado. O que Ben não sabia era que a sua esposa, angustiada com a prima, o fosse ajudar e acabasse por ser muito útil.
Se no início a história não me parecia avançar, o ritmo de leitura rapidamente tornou-se vertiginoso, porque o ambiente de mistério é contagiante.
Pode dar-se o caso de serem erros de tradução, mas em alguns momentos não se percebe bem quem é o narrador, quem disse o quê, e temos de voltar atrás. Por vezes, mais na parte inicial, a autora dá-nos demasiadas explicações sendo um pouco repetitiva. Algures na narrativa uma das personagens refere que os pais morreram de uma maneira e umas páginas à frente conta uma história completamente diferente, não percebi o propósito desta incongruência. Excluindo estas falhas minor, Um Amor ao Luar é uma boa companhia capaz de provocar algumas gargalhadas.
É um Romance com um forte componente erótico, mas que não me desagradou, pelo contrário, as passagens são muito naturais e elegantes, mas num próximo Romance de Época gostava de ler algo mais romântico e fofinho (deixem-me sugestões!).
Este é o primeiro livro da série Whispers of Scandal e depois de saber que Alicia e Ben são personagens no segundo livro, Um Rumor Muito Inconveniente, sei que vou ter de o ler.
O resultado foi uma agradável surpresa, uma leitura rápida e prazerosa, diferente do que costumo ler habitualmente. Um Amor ao Luar é uma mistura de Romance de Época, mistério e erotismo, bem ponderados num equilíbrio natural. É um livro sem grande profundidade, e exactamente por isso foi uma lufada de ar fresco nos meus hábitos literários.
O livro inicia-se com a Lady Elena, uma jovem já prometida em casamento, a acordar numa cama, com um estranho ao seu lado, o devasso Visconde Andrews, conhecido pelos seus envolvimentos fugazes e escaldantes com mulheres casadas ou viúvas, de forma a evitar todo e qualquer compromisso. Ambos com pouquíssima roupa e com bastante tempo livre entre quatro paredes vêem-se quase forçados a conhecerem-se melhor, if you know what I mean. E a relação que nasce entre eles é muito divertida e entretém-nos, mostrando que as pessoas são muito mais do que as aparências e do que os defeitos que se lhes atribuem. Lady Elena não é tão insossa e submissa como era esperado a alguém na sua condição e Andrews não é apenas um insensível libertino.
Paralelamente, temos um outro casal casal, Lady Alicia, prima de Elena, e Benjamin Wallace, casados há pouco tempo mas muito distantes um do outro, parecendo que, apesar de se gostarem, apenas convivem para cumprimento dos deveres matrimoniais. Lady Alicia tenta resolver as lacunas de comunicação entre eles, com as armas que tem ao seu dispor, negando ao seu marido qualquer contacto íntimo até que se conheçam melhor. Ben, que é um homem ponderado e inteligente, mas muito pouco romântico, fica inicialmente muito apreensivo com o ultimato da esposa, mas tenta aos poucos corresponder às suas expectativas. Simultaneamente é lhe incumbida a tarefa de procurar Lady Elena, como cobrança de favores pessoais e atendendo às suas capacidade de investigação adquiridas no passado. O que Ben não sabia era que a sua esposa, angustiada com a prima, o fosse ajudar e acabasse por ser muito útil.
Se no início a história não me parecia avançar, o ritmo de leitura rapidamente tornou-se vertiginoso, porque o ambiente de mistério é contagiante.
Pode dar-se o caso de serem erros de tradução, mas em alguns momentos não se percebe bem quem é o narrador, quem disse o quê, e temos de voltar atrás. Por vezes, mais na parte inicial, a autora dá-nos demasiadas explicações sendo um pouco repetitiva. Algures na narrativa uma das personagens refere que os pais morreram de uma maneira e umas páginas à frente conta uma história completamente diferente, não percebi o propósito desta incongruência. Excluindo estas falhas minor, Um Amor ao Luar é uma boa companhia capaz de provocar algumas gargalhadas.
É um Romance com um forte componente erótico, mas que não me desagradou, pelo contrário, as passagens são muito naturais e elegantes, mas num próximo Romance de Época gostava de ler algo mais romântico e fofinho (deixem-me sugestões!).
Este é o primeiro livro da série Whispers of Scandal e depois de saber que Alicia e Ben são personagens no segundo livro, Um Rumor Muito Inconveniente, sei que vou ter de o ler.
November 27, 2012
4.5/5 (B+)
I've really been looking forward to Ms Wildes' new release, Ruined by Moonlight :) Seriously, nine months between releases is much too long. However, I gotta say the wait was worth it! I often bemoaned on my blog how I haven't clicked with certain popular authors such as Jill Shalvis, Tessa Dare, etc., to my greatest dismay :( Well with Ms Wildes, it's the opposite. She and I clicked right from the start and I have enjoyed and adore pretty much everything I have read by her. I don't know what it is about her writing and stories, but they work for me and Ruined by Moonlight was no exception :)
Back in January, I read the excerpt of Ruined by Moonlight at the end of Twice Fallen and just that bit had me hooked! I knew I would enjoy Ruined by Moonlight and a lot of it has to do with Elena and Ran's story, the two of them being kidnapped and discovering they've been locked up together. Yes, there is something unbelievable about it and unfortunately Ms Wildes doesn't completely pull it off when it comes to the "who" and "why," but still, it made for an interesting and refreshing premises. I liked that under ordinary circumstances, these two would never cross path as Ran has a tendency of avoiding debutantes and innocents, but thrown in together, there's an irresistible temptation and they both succumb. I really enjoyed how the friendship and romance develop between Elena and Ran, how the intimacy builds up... and given their situation, it's believable. Ran is handsome, cares about his family, has wealth and is a gentleman, LOL, to a certain extent... and Elena is pretty, but more importantly clever. These two obviously suit each other and make a good couple together. So the romance worked for me and I liked that Ran was not an idiot and fought for Elena. I also liked that he didn't propose to Elena out of obligation, out of circumstances, but really felt something for her. I also have to say I liked that Elena was active in their escape, that she wasn't a delicate flower waiting for Ran to come up with a plan and relying on him. No, Elena was independent and quite poised and she made for an interesting heroine :)
I also very much enjoyed Benjamin and Alicia's storyline. This is not the first time Ms Wildes explores this trope where the couple is married, but the wife wants more. It's one of my favorites and Ms Wildes executes it very well and once again, she pulls it off in Ruined by Moonlight. It's just a trope that makes sense to me. The lady marries a good man, why wouldn't she want more from him? Why shouldn't she expect more from him? And she takes the necessary steps to ensure that she gets it, that there is love in their marriage. I liked that Ms Wildes showed how hard it was for Alicia to take the reins and demand something of her husband. I think it showed us strength and how brave Alicia was, as well as how hopeful and determined she was about her marriage. At the same time, she didn't go overboard, imagining up plots to make her husband pay attention to her. I liked that she was honest and communicate with him. Benjamin being huffy at Alicia's ultimatum - I don't know any men that like them, LOL - was expected, but what wasn't was the fact he was honest with himself, admitting to himself that something about the arrangement didn't suit him, didn't feel right. It made Benjamin interesting and I liked the efforts he made to conform to Alicia's ultimatum. I enjoyed reading about Benjamin and Alicia discovering each other and really falling in love, it was sweet :) These men are not raised to believe in love, but there's something good about them discovering it :) Also, I have to add that I enjoyed the interactions between Elena's father and Benjamin. It was really interesting to see a pompous, older man share his inner feelings, his love for his daughter... Something that Benjamin obviously never expected to hear from him... and it provided Benjamin with perspectives. As a whole, I think that Elena's father was really a good addition to the story. He brought a different and refreshing point of view.
My main complaint about Ruined by Moonlight is that I felt the novel unraveled a little at the end when it came to the "who" and "why" Elena and Ran were kidnapped. As I mentioned earlier, it's a bit of an unbelievable tale and as a result, Ms Wildes really need to have a solid explanation to pull it off... And I felt she didn't. The motives, at most, are acceptable... but the "who" is still unknown. Perhaps it's going to be uncovered as the series progresses, but it's still a bit weird. Also, in Ruined by Moonlight, I felt both couples had equal amount of pages... It's not such a bad thing, but at the same time, I think Elena and Ran's story could have been fleshed a bit more, more rounded and solid. Perhaps if Ms Wildes could have provided a "who," the storyline would have felt more completed. And one last thing is an error that slipped through editing about how Ran's parents died. Their death was mentioned twice in the book, but in each instance, the cause was different ^_^; At first, I thought I misread it, but alas no. Although it's not too important since it doesn't impact the story at all. It just stands out though ^_^;
When I picked up Ruined by Moonlight, I was taken by surprise that this book was the start of a new series. I was a bit disappointed because I thought there were more stories to be told in The Ladies in Waiting series... but after reading Ruined by Moonlight and the excerpt of the next book, A Most Improper Rumor, I'm actually glad for this new series, Whispers of Scandal. It's interesting, original and I liked that the connecting element between the books is going to be Lord Heathton's investigation :) I definitively hope we'll get to read more about Benjamin and Alicia's marriage.
Ruined by Moonlight definitively had some flaws in the story, but I really, really enjoyed it :) Perhaps it's the fact that Ms Wildes and I click LOL. All I can say is it rejuvenated my love of Ms Wildes' writing and that now, I'm anxiously waiting for the next book, A Most Improper Rumor :)
I've really been looking forward to Ms Wildes' new release, Ruined by Moonlight :) Seriously, nine months between releases is much too long. However, I gotta say the wait was worth it! I often bemoaned on my blog how I haven't clicked with certain popular authors such as Jill Shalvis, Tessa Dare, etc., to my greatest dismay :( Well with Ms Wildes, it's the opposite. She and I clicked right from the start and I have enjoyed and adore pretty much everything I have read by her. I don't know what it is about her writing and stories, but they work for me and Ruined by Moonlight was no exception :)
Back in January, I read the excerpt of Ruined by Moonlight at the end of Twice Fallen and just that bit had me hooked! I knew I would enjoy Ruined by Moonlight and a lot of it has to do with Elena and Ran's story, the two of them being kidnapped and discovering they've been locked up together. Yes, there is something unbelievable about it and unfortunately Ms Wildes doesn't completely pull it off when it comes to the "who" and "why," but still, it made for an interesting and refreshing premises. I liked that under ordinary circumstances, these two would never cross path as Ran has a tendency of avoiding debutantes and innocents, but thrown in together, there's an irresistible temptation and they both succumb. I really enjoyed how the friendship and romance develop between Elena and Ran, how the intimacy builds up... and given their situation, it's believable. Ran is handsome, cares about his family, has wealth and is a gentleman, LOL, to a certain extent... and Elena is pretty, but more importantly clever. These two obviously suit each other and make a good couple together. So the romance worked for me and I liked that Ran was not an idiot and fought for Elena. I also liked that he didn't propose to Elena out of obligation, out of circumstances, but really felt something for her. I also have to say I liked that Elena was active in their escape, that she wasn't a delicate flower waiting for Ran to come up with a plan and relying on him. No, Elena was independent and quite poised and she made for an interesting heroine :)
I also very much enjoyed Benjamin and Alicia's storyline. This is not the first time Ms Wildes explores this trope where the couple is married, but the wife wants more. It's one of my favorites and Ms Wildes executes it very well and once again, she pulls it off in Ruined by Moonlight. It's just a trope that makes sense to me. The lady marries a good man, why wouldn't she want more from him? Why shouldn't she expect more from him? And she takes the necessary steps to ensure that she gets it, that there is love in their marriage. I liked that Ms Wildes showed how hard it was for Alicia to take the reins and demand something of her husband. I think it showed us strength and how brave Alicia was, as well as how hopeful and determined she was about her marriage. At the same time, she didn't go overboard, imagining up plots to make her husband pay attention to her. I liked that she was honest and communicate with him. Benjamin being huffy at Alicia's ultimatum - I don't know any men that like them, LOL - was expected, but what wasn't was the fact he was honest with himself, admitting to himself that something about the arrangement didn't suit him, didn't feel right. It made Benjamin interesting and I liked the efforts he made to conform to Alicia's ultimatum. I enjoyed reading about Benjamin and Alicia discovering each other and really falling in love, it was sweet :) These men are not raised to believe in love, but there's something good about them discovering it :) Also, I have to add that I enjoyed the interactions between Elena's father and Benjamin. It was really interesting to see a pompous, older man share his inner feelings, his love for his daughter... Something that Benjamin obviously never expected to hear from him... and it provided Benjamin with perspectives. As a whole, I think that Elena's father was really a good addition to the story. He brought a different and refreshing point of view.
My main complaint about Ruined by Moonlight is that I felt the novel unraveled a little at the end when it came to the "who" and "why" Elena and Ran were kidnapped. As I mentioned earlier, it's a bit of an unbelievable tale and as a result, Ms Wildes really need to have a solid explanation to pull it off... And I felt she didn't. The motives, at most, are acceptable... but the "who" is still unknown. Perhaps it's going to be uncovered as the series progresses, but it's still a bit weird. Also, in Ruined by Moonlight, I felt both couples had equal amount of pages... It's not such a bad thing, but at the same time, I think Elena and Ran's story could have been fleshed a bit more, more rounded and solid. Perhaps if Ms Wildes could have provided a "who," the storyline would have felt more completed. And one last thing is an error that slipped through editing about how Ran's parents died. Their death was mentioned twice in the book, but in each instance, the cause was different ^_^; At first, I thought I misread it, but alas no. Although it's not too important since it doesn't impact the story at all. It just stands out though ^_^;
When I picked up Ruined by Moonlight, I was taken by surprise that this book was the start of a new series. I was a bit disappointed because I thought there were more stories to be told in The Ladies in Waiting series... but after reading Ruined by Moonlight and the excerpt of the next book, A Most Improper Rumor, I'm actually glad for this new series, Whispers of Scandal. It's interesting, original and I liked that the connecting element between the books is going to be Lord Heathton's investigation :) I definitively hope we'll get to read more about Benjamin and Alicia's marriage.
Ruined by Moonlight definitively had some flaws in the story, but I really, really enjoyed it :) Perhaps it's the fact that Ms Wildes and I click LOL. All I can say is it rejuvenated my love of Ms Wildes' writing and that now, I'm anxiously waiting for the next book, A Most Improper Rumor :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2017
Foi um livro intenso e que se fica agarrada à história.
Não conhecia a autora, e tem uma escrita fluída, mas intensa, captando bem cada sentimento, sensação ou acontecimento.
Uma história que retrata o papel das mulheres numa sociedade fechada e de classe social distinta. Todas as reprovações e regras a que se têm de se submeter, até que existem mulheres que fogem desse padrão e tentar mostrar aos seus maridos/companheiros o que realmente deveria ser um casamento, para além dos interesses hierárquicos. Uma mudança de mentalidades numa época pouco aberta, mas que aos pouquinhos se deixa fantasiar a novas descobertas.
Não conhecia a autora, e tem uma escrita fluída, mas intensa, captando bem cada sentimento, sensação ou acontecimento.
Uma história que retrata o papel das mulheres numa sociedade fechada e de classe social distinta. Todas as reprovações e regras a que se têm de se submeter, até que existem mulheres que fogem desse padrão e tentar mostrar aos seus maridos/companheiros o que realmente deveria ser um casamento, para além dos interesses hierárquicos. Uma mudança de mentalidades numa época pouco aberta, mas que aos pouquinhos se deixa fantasiar a novas descobertas.
January 27, 2018
This was my second book by Emma Wildes that I read. I liked the first one I read which was entitled “Lessons from a Scarlet Lady”. But I didn’t like this one. Is having two couples with alternate story-telling/chapters one of Wildes’ signature in her HR writing? Just like “Lessons from a Scarlet Lady”, this book features two main couples. But I didn’t like it for the book’s short so there’s not enough room for fleshing out and developing the characters and the plot. Hence, they all seem rushed. I could not feel for the characters. I wished Wildes just focused on the first couple, Ran and Elena. That way she’d be able to better flesh out their characters and the plot.
June 13, 2022
About this book, it's not the book I liked the most by this author but it's not a bad book, on the contrary, it just doesn't fill up.
However, there was a story error about and that was confusing for me because I was already read it about this matter but as I said it in another way.
August 15, 2017
I honestly can't remember if I finished this but I think I did. I think it was boring, and it annoyed me that Elena was only worried about her reputation, instead of what could happen to her????? Like ok maybe you won't get a good marriage, but also you could be raped and murdered???? Also I didn't care for the detective, or his story.
June 19, 2019
Ich habe mir dieses Buch eigentlich nur wegen dem Cover gekauft. Bei so einem wundervollen grünen Kleid kann es nur toll sein, habe ich gehofft und ich wurde bestätigt. Erwartet hab ich aufgrund des Covers etwas ganz anderes als diese 'Detektivgeschichte' aufgrund der Entführung. Aber es hat sich als etwas wirklich nettes heraus gepuppt, wobei man sich beim Ende mehr Mühe hätte geben können.
February 25, 2025
CUTE CONCEPT!
Personally I enjoyed Ran and Elena's story more and can't help but wonder if this had been a full-fledged novel solely about them, would it have been even better?
The story itself is rather light-hearted and more sensual, than passionate.
Personally I enjoyed Ran and Elena's story more and can't help but wonder if this had been a full-fledged novel solely about them, would it have been even better?
The story itself is rather light-hearted and more sensual, than passionate.
October 15, 2017
Clever plot and engaging characters.
January 20, 2020
Adorei, como todos de Emma Wildes.
Quando se inicia a leitura, muito dificilmente se consegue parar até se terminar o livro.
Quando se inicia a leitura, muito dificilmente se consegue parar até se terminar o livro.
November 18, 2021
4.5 stars - 2 romances in one, lush & enjoyable
January 28, 2013
Definitely I will be a fans of Emma's book, love her writing style :)
Sepertinya aku akan menjadi salah satu fans buku Emma Wildes sejak baca buku dia yg judulnya One Whispher Away dan juga buku ini.
Jadi di buku ini menceritakan ttg lady Elena yang terbangun disebuah kamar, naked (hanya mengenakan Chemise), terbaring diatas ranjang, dan yang lebih mengerikan ketika dia menyadari bahwa dia tdk sendiri melainkan ada seorang pria yang terbaring disampingnya dlm keadaan half-naked (hanya mengenakan breechers) dan pria itu adalah Lord Andrews g terkenal sgt raked (the raven). Elena mencoba mengingat apa yg terjadi / hal terakhir yg dia lakukan namun sama sekali tdk ada ingat apapun kecuali bahwa dia berada di luar theater. Bagaimana dan dimana dia berada saat ini, Elena sama sekali tidak pny bayangan.
Sementara itu Andrews yg terbangun jg merasakan hal yg sama, tdk mengingat apapun, hal yg dia ingat hanyalah bahwa dia hbs mabuk di club bahkan dia sempat berpikiran buruk bahwa lady Elena yg merencanakan penyekapan tsb krn mgkn dia sdg hamil dan membutuhkan ayah utk anaknya.
Disisi lain, Benjamin harus menghadapi tantangan dr istrinya yg dinikahinya 6 bulan lalu, mulai dari istrinya yg tiba-tiba mengajak jalan-jalan ketaman, menolak utk tidur bareng, bahkan mengharapkan ciuman..Sementara selama ini yg ada dipikiran Ben hanya menikah dgn wanita yg tepat, pilihannya, mempunyai anak tanpa embel-embel lainnya apalag hal2 yg menyangkut romantisme. Istrinya – Amelia, bukan lain adalah sepupu Elena menyadari bahwa dia tdk ingin hanya berstatuskan seorang istri tp dia ingin memulai hubungan yg baru dimana pernikahan bukan berdsrkan perjanjian belaka tp pernikahan antara pria-wanita yg slh mencintai sehingga dia mendeklarasikan perang dan berniat utk memenangkannya.
Belum selesai masalah dgn istrinya, paman sekaligus ayah Elena mendatangi Ben utk meminta bantuan dlm menemukan Elena dan org yg menculik Elena, ayah Elena mendpt saran bhw hanya Ben yg dpt menyelesaikan tugas ini (sptnya si Ben ini mantan mata-2). Ben akhirnya menerima tawaran tsb pdhl dia baru saja ingin memulai hubungan yang baru terpaksa hrs menutupi mslh hilangnya Elena maupun bantuan yg diberikan kdp ayah Elena.
Dimulai lah pencarian Ben, investigasi dan bertny kpd org2 yg mgkn ada hubungan dgn hilangnya Elena dan apakah ada kaitan dgn Andrews yg jg sama2 hilang. Byk spekulasi bermunculan terutama gossip bahwa mrk kawin lari jg tak terelakkan. Namun syg pencarian tdk berhasil aka buntu. Dan tanpa sepengetahuan Ben, ternyata Alicia mengetahui ttg hilangnya Elena dan bermaksud membantu. Mrk sama2 tdk mengungkapkan apa yg mereka lakukan. Sampai kedatangan bibi Andrews yg akhirnya memberikan petunjuk kdp Ben kemana kemgknan Elena dan lord disekap.
Sementara itu Elena dan Andrews yg tdk tahu harus melakukan hal apapun hny bs membuang waktu dgn bermain kartu dan bahkan melakukan pelajaran yg senonoh (hoho….). Andrews mengajari Elena ttg apa itu “pleasure”. Ckck namanya raked tetap raked :D
Berhasilkah Ben menyelesaikan tugasnya menemukan Elena dan Andrews serta menemukan alasan dibalik penyekapan tsb terutama dalang penyekap Elena dan Andrews. Lalu siapa yg memenangkan tantangan yg dilakukan istri ben?
Terus terang diantara 2 cerita dlm buku ini : Elena – Andrews dan Ben / Alicia, aku malah lebih suka crita ttg ben / Alicia apalg saat Ben akhirnya menyatakan : With all my love, Ben
Dan asli penasaran dgn sapa si menyekap mrk berdua dan apa si motif dr sekapan tsb yg berniat agar Elena dan Andrew terjebak dlm skandal dan akhirnya mrk menikah. Lucunya mrk di-service dgn baik dgn makan yg enak, minuman bahkan air untuk mandi selama penyekapan. Dan di ending sblm rahasia terbongkar smpt curiga jg dgn seseorang yg akhirnya benar tebakan ku :D
Really enjoy reading this book dan sptnya di buku ke 2 bakal muncul lg Ben. Jd tokoh utama tu si Ben kali y krn dia memecahin kasus2.. Semoga buku ke dua nya cptan terbit :D
Sepertinya aku akan menjadi salah satu fans buku Emma Wildes sejak baca buku dia yg judulnya One Whispher Away dan juga buku ini.
Jadi di buku ini menceritakan ttg lady Elena yang terbangun disebuah kamar, naked (hanya mengenakan Chemise), terbaring diatas ranjang, dan yang lebih mengerikan ketika dia menyadari bahwa dia tdk sendiri melainkan ada seorang pria yang terbaring disampingnya dlm keadaan half-naked (hanya mengenakan breechers) dan pria itu adalah Lord Andrews g terkenal sgt raked (the raven). Elena mencoba mengingat apa yg terjadi / hal terakhir yg dia lakukan namun sama sekali tdk ada ingat apapun kecuali bahwa dia berada di luar theater. Bagaimana dan dimana dia berada saat ini, Elena sama sekali tidak pny bayangan.
Sementara itu Andrews yg terbangun jg merasakan hal yg sama, tdk mengingat apapun, hal yg dia ingat hanyalah bahwa dia hbs mabuk di club bahkan dia sempat berpikiran buruk bahwa lady Elena yg merencanakan penyekapan tsb krn mgkn dia sdg hamil dan membutuhkan ayah utk anaknya.
Disisi lain, Benjamin harus menghadapi tantangan dr istrinya yg dinikahinya 6 bulan lalu, mulai dari istrinya yg tiba-tiba mengajak jalan-jalan ketaman, menolak utk tidur bareng, bahkan mengharapkan ciuman..Sementara selama ini yg ada dipikiran Ben hanya menikah dgn wanita yg tepat, pilihannya, mempunyai anak tanpa embel-embel lainnya apalag hal2 yg menyangkut romantisme. Istrinya – Amelia, bukan lain adalah sepupu Elena menyadari bahwa dia tdk ingin hanya berstatuskan seorang istri tp dia ingin memulai hubungan yg baru dimana pernikahan bukan berdsrkan perjanjian belaka tp pernikahan antara pria-wanita yg slh mencintai sehingga dia mendeklarasikan perang dan berniat utk memenangkannya.
Belum selesai masalah dgn istrinya, paman sekaligus ayah Elena mendatangi Ben utk meminta bantuan dlm menemukan Elena dan org yg menculik Elena, ayah Elena mendpt saran bhw hanya Ben yg dpt menyelesaikan tugas ini (sptnya si Ben ini mantan mata-2). Ben akhirnya menerima tawaran tsb pdhl dia baru saja ingin memulai hubungan yang baru terpaksa hrs menutupi mslh hilangnya Elena maupun bantuan yg diberikan kdp ayah Elena.
Dimulai lah pencarian Ben, investigasi dan bertny kpd org2 yg mgkn ada hubungan dgn hilangnya Elena dan apakah ada kaitan dgn Andrews yg jg sama2 hilang. Byk spekulasi bermunculan terutama gossip bahwa mrk kawin lari jg tak terelakkan. Namun syg pencarian tdk berhasil aka buntu. Dan tanpa sepengetahuan Ben, ternyata Alicia mengetahui ttg hilangnya Elena dan bermaksud membantu. Mrk sama2 tdk mengungkapkan apa yg mereka lakukan. Sampai kedatangan bibi Andrews yg akhirnya memberikan petunjuk kdp Ben kemana kemgknan Elena dan lord disekap.
Sementara itu Elena dan Andrews yg tdk tahu harus melakukan hal apapun hny bs membuang waktu dgn bermain kartu dan bahkan melakukan pelajaran yg senonoh (hoho….). Andrews mengajari Elena ttg apa itu “pleasure”. Ckck namanya raked tetap raked :D
Berhasilkah Ben menyelesaikan tugasnya menemukan Elena dan Andrews serta menemukan alasan dibalik penyekapan tsb terutama dalang penyekap Elena dan Andrews. Lalu siapa yg memenangkan tantangan yg dilakukan istri ben?
Terus terang diantara 2 cerita dlm buku ini : Elena – Andrews dan Ben / Alicia, aku malah lebih suka crita ttg ben / Alicia apalg saat Ben akhirnya menyatakan : With all my love, Ben
Dan asli penasaran dgn sapa si menyekap mrk berdua dan apa si motif dr sekapan tsb yg berniat agar Elena dan Andrew terjebak dlm skandal dan akhirnya mrk menikah. Lucunya mrk di-service dgn baik dgn makan yg enak, minuman bahkan air untuk mandi selama penyekapan. Dan di ending sblm rahasia terbongkar smpt curiga jg dgn seseorang yg akhirnya benar tebakan ku :D
Really enjoy reading this book dan sptnya di buku ke 2 bakal muncul lg Ben. Jd tokoh utama tu si Ben kali y krn dia memecahin kasus2.. Semoga buku ke dua nya cptan terbit :D
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