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Charmed and Dangerous #3
Passion and Pleasure in London
Winter Ashburn was once the toast of the ton, but now she skirts the margins of high society by stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Her latest mark is none other than Rory Jameson, the rake who dared mistake her for a lady of the evening. Winter has stolen from her fair share of scandalously handsome men in the past . . . so why does her heart beat faster as she approaches his door?
Rory Jameson is a rake, it's true. And he's caught many a thief while on secret missions for the Crown, but none has been this intriguing, this enticing. He will make Winter repay what she took so shamelessly . . . and melt her icy façade with the heat of his wicked touch. But her kiss sets his soul on fire—and now he will never be satisfied until he has made this alluring temptress his own.
Rory Jameson is a rake, it's true. And he's caught many a thief while on secret missions for the Crown, but none has been this intriguing, this enticing. He will make Winter repay what she took so shamelessly . . . and melt her icy façade with the heat of his wicked touch. But her kiss sets his soul on fire—and now he will never be satisfied until he has made this alluring temptress his own.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 26, 2008
8 people are currently reading
268 people want to read
About the author
Melody Thomas
21 books80 followersYears after receiving my Criminal Justice degree from the University of Oklahoma , I discovered the
historical romance genre. True legends like M.M Kaye, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Judith McNaught, and
Penelope Williamson, sparked my love for writing and convinced me I wanted only to do one thing in
my life and that was to create great stories alive with grit and passion.
In the past, I've written westerns for Leisure under Lori Morgan and Pirate adventure books for Berkley
under Laura Renken. My books have been five times reviewer nominated by Romantic Times
Bookclub for Best Adventure and Best Historical Suspense and Gothic categories. They have won the
Holt Medallion twice, the WISRWA Writer's Choice Award, the Affaire de Couer reader's Choice award
and will be published in five foreign languages worldwide. My Lord Pirate, was a 1999 Golden Heart
Finalist, which launched my publishing career with Berkley.
I live in the Chicago area where I am also the former president for the Windy City RWA chapter.
Currently, I pen stories for AVON/HarperCollins under my name, Melody Thomas. Wild and Wicked in
Scotland, the first book in my new Charmed and Dangerous series appeared on shelves January
2007. The second book, Sin and Scandal in England, was an Avon October 2007 release. Passion
and Pleasure in London came out August 26, 2008. For more information on my books check out my
Author pages on this site. Happy Reading.
Have you ever wanted to be a romance writer? Consider joining: Romance Writers of America
If you live near Chicago, check out: www.windycityrwa.com
historical romance genre. True legends like M.M Kaye, Kathleen Woodiwiss, Judith McNaught, and
Penelope Williamson, sparked my love for writing and convinced me I wanted only to do one thing in
my life and that was to create great stories alive with grit and passion.
In the past, I've written westerns for Leisure under Lori Morgan and Pirate adventure books for Berkley
under Laura Renken. My books have been five times reviewer nominated by Romantic Times
Bookclub for Best Adventure and Best Historical Suspense and Gothic categories. They have won the
Holt Medallion twice, the WISRWA Writer's Choice Award, the Affaire de Couer reader's Choice award
and will be published in five foreign languages worldwide. My Lord Pirate, was a 1999 Golden Heart
Finalist, which launched my publishing career with Berkley.
I live in the Chicago area where I am also the former president for the Windy City RWA chapter.
Currently, I pen stories for AVON/HarperCollins under my name, Melody Thomas. Wild and Wicked in
Scotland, the first book in my new Charmed and Dangerous series appeared on shelves January
2007. The second book, Sin and Scandal in England, was an Avon October 2007 release. Passion
and Pleasure in London came out August 26, 2008. For more information on my books check out my
Author pages on this site. Happy Reading.
Have you ever wanted to be a romance writer? Consider joining: Romance Writers of America
If you live near Chicago, check out: www.windycityrwa.com
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 24, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep08
I just love reading romances that leave me with a sappy smile on my face! “Passion and Pleasure in London” by Melody Thomas is just such a novel. It has a dastardly villain with a witchy daughter that both receive their well-deserved comeuppance at the hands of our hero and heroine who then live happily ever after. Happy sigh.
Winter carries the weight of what’s left of her family, a demented mother and younger brother, on her small shoulders. At only 16, after her father’s death, her horrid uncle weaseled her family’s fortune and home and left them destitute. When Winter tried to fight back he raped her and threatened her mother and brother if she didn’t keep her mouth shut. So Winter and the locals have embarked on an underhanded method of evening the scales. They rob the Baron’s high society guests every chance they get and use the proceeds to help out those whose families are affected by the Baron’s greed and cruelty. When Winter spots an unknown, yet handsome toff, she’s sure he must be headed to the Baron’s and decides to relieve him of his wallet. Things quickly spin out of Winter’s control but the results will be marvelous!
Rory is half Gypsy, half Lord, and all rake. He’s also been summoned to his Grandfather’s deathbed to take over his duties as the Marquess. He’s not happy. He thoroughly enjoys his life as a spy with no ties and no real responsibility other than staying alive. When he catches sight of Winter during a brief stop, his loins tingle! When he catches her trying to open his saddlebags in the stable, HE steals a kiss. It’s not until after she’s gone that he realizes SHE stole his wallet! She may walk and talk like a Lady, but no mere thief will get the better of him.
What a great pairing. These two are both strong characters who have to learn to trust and compromise. The heat practically leaps off the page and the love scenes ROCK! Thomas does a great job with the attending mystery of exactly who is trying to kill Rory. I didn’t figure it out until the author provided the solution which is unusual, especially in historical romances (at least for me). The gradual revealing of the breadth of the problems facing Winter and Rory was just right. There’s quite a bit more going on than in my brief synopsis and it all wraps together nicely. The reasoning behind the actions of all the characters rings true for me and is crucial to both the plot and their developing romance.
I’ve read a few other books by Melody Thomas but I think this is my favorite (so far). It’s got some humor, drama, mystery, action, and steam! I can’t quite think of what else I could ask for in a historical. So for a novel with fiery passion that’s truly a pleasure to read, don’t miss “Passion and Pleasure in London”.
I just love reading romances that leave me with a sappy smile on my face! “Passion and Pleasure in London” by Melody Thomas is just such a novel. It has a dastardly villain with a witchy daughter that both receive their well-deserved comeuppance at the hands of our hero and heroine who then live happily ever after. Happy sigh.
Winter carries the weight of what’s left of her family, a demented mother and younger brother, on her small shoulders. At only 16, after her father’s death, her horrid uncle weaseled her family’s fortune and home and left them destitute. When Winter tried to fight back he raped her and threatened her mother and brother if she didn’t keep her mouth shut. So Winter and the locals have embarked on an underhanded method of evening the scales. They rob the Baron’s high society guests every chance they get and use the proceeds to help out those whose families are affected by the Baron’s greed and cruelty. When Winter spots an unknown, yet handsome toff, she’s sure he must be headed to the Baron’s and decides to relieve him of his wallet. Things quickly spin out of Winter’s control but the results will be marvelous!
Rory is half Gypsy, half Lord, and all rake. He’s also been summoned to his Grandfather’s deathbed to take over his duties as the Marquess. He’s not happy. He thoroughly enjoys his life as a spy with no ties and no real responsibility other than staying alive. When he catches sight of Winter during a brief stop, his loins tingle! When he catches her trying to open his saddlebags in the stable, HE steals a kiss. It’s not until after she’s gone that he realizes SHE stole his wallet! She may walk and talk like a Lady, but no mere thief will get the better of him.
What a great pairing. These two are both strong characters who have to learn to trust and compromise. The heat practically leaps off the page and the love scenes ROCK! Thomas does a great job with the attending mystery of exactly who is trying to kill Rory. I didn’t figure it out until the author provided the solution which is unusual, especially in historical romances (at least for me). The gradual revealing of the breadth of the problems facing Winter and Rory was just right. There’s quite a bit more going on than in my brief synopsis and it all wraps together nicely. The reasoning behind the actions of all the characters rings true for me and is crucial to both the plot and their developing romance.
I’ve read a few other books by Melody Thomas but I think this is my favorite (so far). It’s got some humor, drama, mystery, action, and steam! I can’t quite think of what else I could ask for in a historical. So for a novel with fiery passion that’s truly a pleasure to read, don’t miss “Passion and Pleasure in London”.
November 4, 2020
Tercer y último libro de esta serie que tiene como protagonista a Rory Jameson, el tercero de los espías de la Corona que conocimos en libros anteriores.
La segunda novela me gustó bastante y deseaba leer sobre este personaje, el inicio de la novela no podía ser más prometedor con un encuentro muy acalorado entre Rory Jameson y Winter Ashburn, una joven muy atrevida que además de eso es como una especie de Robin Hood femenino.
Sin duda creía que tendríamos una pareja bastante atrevida y que su historia iba a darnos bastante que contar, además la primera impresión que tuve de Rory es que era descarado, y me gustaban las peleas dialécticas al principio pero no llegaron muchas páginas hasta que todo es una especie de puzle, con trozos sin sentido y que no llevan a ninguna parte.
Sinceramente la historia era inconexa, primero con la intriga con Rory, luego eso se queda en el olvido y empieza el romance... https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
La segunda novela me gustó bastante y deseaba leer sobre este personaje, el inicio de la novela no podía ser más prometedor con un encuentro muy acalorado entre Rory Jameson y Winter Ashburn, una joven muy atrevida que además de eso es como una especie de Robin Hood femenino.
Sin duda creía que tendríamos una pareja bastante atrevida y que su historia iba a darnos bastante que contar, además la primera impresión que tuve de Rory es que era descarado, y me gustaban las peleas dialécticas al principio pero no llegaron muchas páginas hasta que todo es una especie de puzle, con trozos sin sentido y que no llevan a ninguna parte.
Sinceramente la historia era inconexa, primero con la intriga con Rory, luego eso se queda en el olvido y empieza el romance... https://oceanodelibros.blogspot.com/2...
November 27, 2018
the story wasn´t as inviting as her other novels
November 6, 2008
what a great book, i just couldn't put it down, i love how you met the hero in the beginning and not toward the middle, thats the best. im just in love with Rory <3
September 2, 2024
rousing story
Again, I did not want this story to end. But when it did, it will live in my memory as a great story with fabulous characters and a riveting story. A classic a true classic.
Again, I did not want this story to end. But when it did, it will live in my memory as a great story with fabulous characters and a riveting story. A classic a true classic.
August 27, 2018
Winter Ashburn was once the toast of the ton, but now she skirts the margins of high society by stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Her latest mark is none other than Rory Jameson, the rake who dared mistake her for a lady of the evening. Winter has stolen from her fair share of scandalously handsome men in the past . . . so why does her heart beat faster as she approaches his door? Rory Jameson is a rake, it's true. And he's caught many a thief while on secret missions for the Crown, but none has been this intriguing, this enticing. He will make Winter repay what she took so shamelessly . . . and melt her icy façade with the heat of his wicked touch. But her kiss sets his soul on fire—and now he will never be satisfied until he has made this alluring temptress his own.
July 17, 2015
Ik heb de Nederlandstalige versie gelezen ; Smelt voor mij - Candlelight Historische roman 922 .
3e en laatste deel van deze serie over spionnen van Lord Ware . De held van dit verhaal was een bijfiguur in de 2 eerdere delen . Helaas ook nu geen update in dit boek over de hoofdfiguren uit de vorige delen .Het is net als de vorige delen meer een spannend avonturen verhaal dan een romantisch verhaal .
3e en laatste deel van deze serie over spionnen van Lord Ware . De held van dit verhaal was een bijfiguur in de 2 eerdere delen . Helaas ook nu geen update in dit boek over de hoofdfiguren uit de vorige delen .Het is net als de vorige delen meer een spannend avonturen verhaal dan een romantisch verhaal .
August 5, 2011
1.5. This was a very confusing story. It made absolutely no sense and there were contradicting statements and details I just couldn't get passed. The synopsis of the plot is very misleading as well. Not an easy, feel good, fluffy book.
Read
March 31, 2016There was 10 or so pages of exposition at the beginning of this book and the pacing of this made it difficult for me to get into the story. I also felt like there was a lot of telling rather than showing so I also felt like I was missing out on key moments between the hero and heroine.
June 18, 2015
Good fluffy fun. The prose is a bit purple in the first half, but there is a satisfyingly adventurous conclusion to this story.
September 28, 2011
It was pretty slow to start, and pretty easy to figure out the mystery of the "who-done-it" but about 3/4 of the way through it got pretty good, and I liked the ending.
May 27, 2013
I LOVED this book! I thought Rory was depicted wonderfully and Winter was an independent heroine, but not so much that the marquess couldn't be a true hero to her :)
April 29, 2024
Loved this book!
March 30, 2016
Leuk boekje, veel avontuur en blijft spannend, figuren ook leuk!
Rory en Winter, een leuk stel!
Rory en Winter, een leuk stel!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews