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Merry Widows #3
Lady Be Bad
When John Grayston, Viscount Rochdale, bets his fellow scoundrels that he can bed prim and proper Grace Marlowe, the widow of a famous bishop, he finds himself falling in love with this fiery beauty and realizes that the truth of his seduction could destroy everything. Original.
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
85 people are currently reading
302 people want to read
About the author
Candice Hern
32 books250 followersCandice Hern is the award-winning, bestselling author of historical romance novels set during the English Regency period. Her books have won praise for the "intelligence and elegant romantic sensibility" (Romantic Times) as well as "delicious wit and luscious sensuality (Booklist). Candice's award-winning website (www.candicehern.com) is often cited for its Regency World pages, where readers interested in the era will find an illustrated glossary, a detailed timeline, illustrated digests of Regency people and places, articles on Regency fashion, research links, and much more.
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November 20, 2022
On Kindle sale today, 11th Oct 2020, for USD 0.99
I am re-reading all my 5 star rated romance novels. There are 60 on my shelf. This is book 21.
(Tropes: Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Starched (Heroine) Gets Unstarched)
This is how my 21st re-read held up.
Full disclosure? I cheated. I knew this re-read would be successful because I have read it many times. I chose it because I needed a sure thing after a couple of downers. And although it had been a while, it certainly held up. The third of the series, and the best.
*****
"If you are thinking that because I was once an idealistic young fool that I can reform my ways, you are wrong. I left those ideals behind years ago. I am what I am, and I enjoy my life. Gambling, drinking, racing, wenching. You cannot change me, Mrs. Marlowe."
*****
Quick plot: Libertine Viscount John Rochdale is convinced “there is not a woman in London whose bed I could not seduce my way into with very little effort.” So during a drunken evening he stakes his most prized possession on it (a horse). His challenge is the prim and proper Grace Marlowe, nicknamed Bishop’s Widow.
Rochdale has been present in all three books, and he has always enjoyed rubbing Mrs Marlow the wrong way.
- Widow Marlowe, hailed by one and all as a Good Woman. A God-fearing woman. A do-gooder. The sort of woman who despised men like him.
To her, and to us as readers, he has always seemed like a bit of a cad, admittedly a drop dead gorgeous one.
When Rochdale is forced to focus his attention on Grace, he not only sees her differently, but we as readers through Grace will also learn there is way more than meets the eye when it comes to him. Seeing the worst kind of rake taken down several notches is great, but even better when the cad we have maybe been allowed to harshly judge by the author in the previous books prove us a little bit wrong.
The opposites attract scenario is one of my favorite tropes, because it often leads to amusing interactions, and let’s be honest, it’s hot.
What seems a rather gigantic mismatch in this book, turns quickly brilliant. They genuinely come to like each other, have more in common than they think, learn from each other, while still having his deceit and most prized possession looming over their happy ending.
- She gave a quick burst of laughter, a rich, throaty sound that took him so completely by surprise that he almost choked on his brandy. Good God, how did such a prim, prudish lady come by such a laugh? Sultry and provocative, it was the sound one associated with dark nights and tangled sheets, not with a tight-laced bishop's widow.
- "If you are thinking I will ravish you, Mrs. Marlowe, you need not worry. I do not ravish women."
He leaned closer and pitched his voice low. "It has never been necessary."
- "You, sir, are impertinent. And remarkably arrogant. I have no wish to be kissed by you."
"Of course you do. The need is radiating off your body like heat waves. I can almost taste it. But you are all tied up in your Bishop's Widow's propriety and afraid to let yourself be simply a woman."
- She should not be feeling like this. She should impose more control over her body. But she couldn't stop the sensations flowing through her and over her. It was wrong. It was frightening. It was exciting.
- It was shocking to feel the hard length of him against her belly and to know she had done that to him. The prim and proper widow had done that to the worldly, cynical rake.
- A flood of shame, then anger, washed over him for using her in such a selfish way, for making her believe he had no ulterior motive in pursuing her.
- He put his mouth next to her ear. "Thank you, Grace. That was the best kiss anyone ever gave me."
- "I must not keep you out here," he said between ragged breaths. "Your neighbors will talk."
God, he was panting for her. It happened every time. He'd set out as the seducer and end up as the seduced.
- "'Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.'"
"But you never wore sheep's clothing, John. You never pretended to be other than a wolf. And even though I have seen more good in you than you allow others to see, I have always been aware of the ravening wolf."
- “I went soft. I lost my head."
*****
5 stars!
**********
I am re-reading all my 5 star rated romance novels. There are 60 on my shelf. This is book 21.
(Tropes: Opposites Attract, Enemies to Lovers, Starched (Heroine) Gets Unstarched)
This is how my 21st re-read held up.
Full disclosure? I cheated. I knew this re-read would be successful because I have read it many times. I chose it because I needed a sure thing after a couple of downers. And although it had been a while, it certainly held up. The third of the series, and the best.
*****
"If you are thinking that because I was once an idealistic young fool that I can reform my ways, you are wrong. I left those ideals behind years ago. I am what I am, and I enjoy my life. Gambling, drinking, racing, wenching. You cannot change me, Mrs. Marlowe."
*****
Quick plot: Libertine Viscount John Rochdale is convinced “there is not a woman in London whose bed I could not seduce my way into with very little effort.” So during a drunken evening he stakes his most prized possession on it (a horse). His challenge is the prim and proper Grace Marlowe, nicknamed Bishop’s Widow.
Rochdale has been present in all three books, and he has always enjoyed rubbing Mrs Marlow the wrong way.
- Widow Marlowe, hailed by one and all as a Good Woman. A God-fearing woman. A do-gooder. The sort of woman who despised men like him.
To her, and to us as readers, he has always seemed like a bit of a cad, admittedly a drop dead gorgeous one.
When Rochdale is forced to focus his attention on Grace, he not only sees her differently, but we as readers through Grace will also learn there is way more than meets the eye when it comes to him. Seeing the worst kind of rake taken down several notches is great, but even better when the cad we have maybe been allowed to harshly judge by the author in the previous books prove us a little bit wrong.
The opposites attract scenario is one of my favorite tropes, because it often leads to amusing interactions, and let’s be honest, it’s hot.
What seems a rather gigantic mismatch in this book, turns quickly brilliant. They genuinely come to like each other, have more in common than they think, learn from each other, while still having his deceit and most prized possession looming over their happy ending.
- She gave a quick burst of laughter, a rich, throaty sound that took him so completely by surprise that he almost choked on his brandy. Good God, how did such a prim, prudish lady come by such a laugh? Sultry and provocative, it was the sound one associated with dark nights and tangled sheets, not with a tight-laced bishop's widow.
- "If you are thinking I will ravish you, Mrs. Marlowe, you need not worry. I do not ravish women."
He leaned closer and pitched his voice low. "It has never been necessary."
- "You, sir, are impertinent. And remarkably arrogant. I have no wish to be kissed by you."
"Of course you do. The need is radiating off your body like heat waves. I can almost taste it. But you are all tied up in your Bishop's Widow's propriety and afraid to let yourself be simply a woman."
- She should not be feeling like this. She should impose more control over her body. But she couldn't stop the sensations flowing through her and over her. It was wrong. It was frightening. It was exciting.
- It was shocking to feel the hard length of him against her belly and to know she had done that to him. The prim and proper widow had done that to the worldly, cynical rake.
- A flood of shame, then anger, washed over him for using her in such a selfish way, for making her believe he had no ulterior motive in pursuing her.
- He put his mouth next to her ear. "Thank you, Grace. That was the best kiss anyone ever gave me."
- "I must not keep you out here," he said between ragged breaths. "Your neighbors will talk."
God, he was panting for her. It happened every time. He'd set out as the seducer and end up as the seduced.
- "'Beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly they are ravening wolves.'"
"But you never wore sheep's clothing, John. You never pretended to be other than a wolf. And even though I have seen more good in you than you allow others to see, I have always been aware of the ravening wolf."
- “I went soft. I lost my head."
*****
5 stars!
**********
July 12, 2015
Hands down, one of the worst books I have ever read.
The hero is an ass and a hypocrite. It's fine for him to sleep with other women, but God forbid they sleep with other men, then they become women of loose morals.
He degrades the heroine by placing a wager on her sleeping with him, knowing that he would have to admit that they slept together for him to win the wager. It does not matter that he fell in love with her at the end, and that he did not admit that they slept together. It does not make it better. The fact is, he was willing to embarrass a woman, at a time when women sleeping with other men would be shun from society. His selfishness is digusting.
The heroine is so spineless. She jumps on him when she hears that he did not admit that they slept together. Really? Why are some women so desperate? It's sad.
Then he humiliates her in front of her friends tells her he won't marry her because he finds out that she made a wager on marrying him, and she welcomes him back, with open arms, 2 minutes later (I kid you not, literally 2 minutes later). He goes out, sees the horse, the product of her wager, walks back and voila, there you have it, the HEA.
Does no one else think that this is too superficial? As in, the heroine forgives the hero because she finds out he did not admit that he slept with her, regardless of the fact that what he had done was bad. The hero takes his anger out on her because he finds out she made a wager. Humiliates her. Then goes running back to her when he sees the horse. The source of all this wagering. Just a horse.
Would you let a man treat you like shit, when a) he did the same thing you did, b) you were selfless when you did the thing he did, whereas he was selfish?
The hero is an ass and a hypocrite. It's fine for him to sleep with other women, but God forbid they sleep with other men, then they become women of loose morals.
He degrades the heroine by placing a wager on her sleeping with him, knowing that he would have to admit that they slept together for him to win the wager. It does not matter that he fell in love with her at the end, and that he did not admit that they slept together. It does not make it better. The fact is, he was willing to embarrass a woman, at a time when women sleeping with other men would be shun from society. His selfishness is digusting.
The heroine is so spineless. She jumps on him when she hears that he did not admit that they slept together. Really? Why are some women so desperate? It's sad.
Then he humiliates her in front of her friends tells her he won't marry her because he finds out that she made a wager on marrying him, and she welcomes him back, with open arms, 2 minutes later (I kid you not, literally 2 minutes later). He goes out, sees the horse, the product of her wager, walks back and voila, there you have it, the HEA.
Does no one else think that this is too superficial? As in, the heroine forgives the hero because she finds out he did not admit that he slept with her, regardless of the fact that what he had done was bad. The hero takes his anger out on her because he finds out she made a wager. Humiliates her. Then goes running back to her when he sees the horse. The source of all this wagering. Just a horse.
Would you let a man treat you like shit, when a) he did the same thing you did, b) you were selfless when you did the thing he did, whereas he was selfish?
July 15, 2010
Exactly what I like in a romance ie: the bishop's wife bantering in a carriage with a rake. Also, she has some rad friends who are total hooches and she learns some anachronistic feminist lessons. Yay! More like this!
September 29, 2015
me han gustado las viudas. Me han hecho pasar un buen rato y eso es lo que buscaba.
July 31, 2017
Es el que más me gustó de los libros de las serie de las viudas y mucho
No pude dejar de leerlo, creo que tardé 48 hs (además de trabajar afuera y en casa).
Ni se me ocurrió adelantar páginas ni leer el final.
Ni siquiera adelantar el final de la página.
Me pareció muy romántico como él se va enamorando. Y como ella va perdiendo sus escrúpulos y sus culpas, cosa que hemos padecido las mujeres en la cultura judeo-cristiana desde hace siglo, creo que algunas, aún hoy.
Y bien descritos los traumas del casanova típico: en realidad odian a las mujeres, para ellos son una cosa, no personas. En el caso de John generados por su historia con las mujeres, a partir de su madre.
Por supuesto que es "de novela" que cambie su forma de ser, pero yo compré la historia, me gustó mucho.
No pude dejar de leerlo, creo que tardé 48 hs (además de trabajar afuera y en casa).
Ni se me ocurrió adelantar páginas ni leer el final.
Ni siquiera adelantar el final de la página.
Me pareció muy romántico como él se va enamorando. Y como ella va perdiendo sus escrúpulos y sus culpas, cosa que hemos padecido las mujeres en la cultura judeo-cristiana desde hace siglo, creo que algunas, aún hoy.
Y bien descritos los traumas del casanova típico: en realidad odian a las mujeres, para ellos son una cosa, no personas. En el caso de John generados por su historia con las mujeres, a partir de su madre.
Por supuesto que es "de novela" que cambie su forma de ser, pero yo compré la historia, me gustó mucho.
January 13, 2022
El mejor de la serie, es muy cliché pero la autora lo lleva con maestría. Devorado en dos días
May 3, 2025
Well when you buy a $2 book called lady be bad from the historical romance section of a secondhand bookstore, you get about what you expect
October 17, 2020
This was surprisingly good! Man-ho rake makes a bet he can get any woman into his bed, and his loser buddy picks the prim and pious widow of a Bishop. I didn’t have a very high opinion of the H, and he had a pretty low opinion of women.
It was so fun seeing the transformations both of the MCs made! The story was predictable, but so very sweet. The way both characters were able to confide in their friends and talk out deep feels was wonderful, if a bit idealistic.
Content: There was one detailed sex scene, and a few less descriptive encounters.
It was so fun seeing the transformations both of the MCs made! The story was predictable, but so very sweet. The way both characters were able to confide in their friends and talk out deep feels was wonderful, if a bit idealistic.
Content: There was one detailed sex scene, and a few less descriptive encounters.
May 19, 2010
I have enjoyed the Merry Widows Series, and Candice Hern saves the best for last with Lady Be Bad! Okay, so maybe this story is a bit predictable, but how can one go wrong with the "Reformed Rake" storyline combined with a "Bet" storyline.
Grace Marlowe is a repressed woman with a capital R! She is the widow of the late Bishop and has been brainwashed into believing that passion is synonymous with sin! John Grayston is a jaded rake who has sworn off women for any other purpose besides pleasure. He has a horrible reputation in contrast to Grace's impeccable reputation.
John accepts a bet (over a horse!) to seduce Grace which is the premise of this book.
This unlikely couple is made believable by the skilled writing of Hern. She develops this relationship slowly and carefully....first developing a friendship before developing their romance. I appreciate this tactic. We are allowed to "get to know" both of these characters in a way that highlights their similarities rather than their outward differences. I love a reformed rake, and John Grayston may rank up there as one of my all time favorites!
This is a sweet and convincing romance that will have you smiling, sighing, and wanting to read it again!
Grace Marlowe is a repressed woman with a capital R! She is the widow of the late Bishop and has been brainwashed into believing that passion is synonymous with sin! John Grayston is a jaded rake who has sworn off women for any other purpose besides pleasure. He has a horrible reputation in contrast to Grace's impeccable reputation.
John accepts a bet (over a horse!) to seduce Grace which is the premise of this book.
This unlikely couple is made believable by the skilled writing of Hern. She develops this relationship slowly and carefully....first developing a friendship before developing their romance. I appreciate this tactic. We are allowed to "get to know" both of these characters in a way that highlights their similarities rather than their outward differences. I love a reformed rake, and John Grayston may rank up there as one of my all time favorites!
This is a sweet and convincing romance that will have you smiling, sighing, and wanting to read it again!
April 1, 2011
3rd Merry Widow ser, Great rom/sex scenes
April 6, 2012
Wow!
The ending of this book was just…unspeakably fabulous!
The ending of this book was just…unspeakably fabulous!
August 8, 2021
È il romanzo che ho apprezzato di meno di questa saga.
Per alcuni avvenimenti si ha una sensazione di déjà-vu ma questo perché le vicende delle vedove avvengono nello stesso periodo solo con punti di vista diversi.
Alcuni elementi di questo romanzo non sono proprio nuovissimi infatti non è certo una novità che la vedova di un uomo di chiesa bigotto non abbia un buon rapporto con la sessualità e che cerchi di plasmare la moglie come una monaca di clausura. Stessa cosa vale per il libertino che scommette di riuscire a sedurre una donna definita intoccabile dalla società.
La prima parte del romanzo l’ho trovata un po' lenta e noiosa perché si assiste alla sola lotta interiore di Grace. Il romanzo si anima (a mio avviso) solo nelle ultime pagine quando Grace scopre della scommessa.
Sono rimasta molto più affascinata dal protagonista maschile anche se hanno ragione Dada che Anna su quel che riguarda l’accettazione dei propri sentimenti nei confronti di Grace.
Per quel che riguarda il livello di sensualità all'inizio è sottile per poi sfociare in passione allo stato puro.
Mi aspettavo di più.
Per alcuni avvenimenti si ha una sensazione di déjà-vu ma questo perché le vicende delle vedove avvengono nello stesso periodo solo con punti di vista diversi.
Alcuni elementi di questo romanzo non sono proprio nuovissimi infatti non è certo una novità che la vedova di un uomo di chiesa bigotto non abbia un buon rapporto con la sessualità e che cerchi di plasmare la moglie come una monaca di clausura. Stessa cosa vale per il libertino che scommette di riuscire a sedurre una donna definita intoccabile dalla società.
La prima parte del romanzo l’ho trovata un po' lenta e noiosa perché si assiste alla sola lotta interiore di Grace. Il romanzo si anima (a mio avviso) solo nelle ultime pagine quando Grace scopre della scommessa.
Sono rimasta molto più affascinata dal protagonista maschile anche se hanno ragione Dada che Anna su quel che riguarda l’accettazione dei propri sentimenti nei confronti di Grace.
Per quel che riguarda il livello di sensualità all'inizio è sottile per poi sfociare in passione allo stato puro.
Mi aspettavo di più.
March 25, 2019
The best one is always the last one! I was antecipating this one, it was clear that the story about the Bishop's Widow and The Notorious Libertine would be explosive! Rochdale gave the best advice in both previous books, in his crooked way, but made some interest thing happened. This time, he was a mess and it was so nice to see him suffer! The thing is, in the previous books, there's nothing that makes Rochdale really objectionable, he was minding his own bussiness, bedding some and running from others. But, in this one, when you really get to know him, its impossible not to fall in love. Ok, maybe I was just a bit intrigued with him to fall fast. Grace is a hidden jewell and I was SO MAD WITH THE BISHOP. I could tottally relate with Grace, because we are not teached to feel pleasure and not be guilty about it until this day. Well, the funny thing with this book is that we have people that are complete opposites and they meet in the halfway. Its lovely and even the misunderstandings are funny.
October 13, 2020
The title made me think the book might be overpowered by sex but it was not. I liked the preview so went ahead and downloaded the book. It's exactly the kind of historical romance I look for. It concentrates on the relationship between the two main characters who end up liking one another. I dislike books that spend the whole story with the H & h angry with one another. There was no mystery to solve (I don't mind a mystery as long as the romance is the focus), no politics to wade through, no villain/s to conquer. The only love scene/s was a small portion of the story and didn't come until the second half and wasn't overpowering. The book had a nice light humorous tone to it. I will look for more books by this author.
June 14, 2021
3.5/5
Fue una buena lectura ligera. Sinceramente no esperaba mucho de este libro, sin embargo, me terminó sorprendiendo de una manera satisfactoria.
Podemos ver la evolución de los personajes y si bien algunos cambios pasan de un momento a otro, siento que dentro de todo, la lectura estuvo buena.
La recomiendo para pasar el rato.
Fue una buena lectura ligera. Sinceramente no esperaba mucho de este libro, sin embargo, me terminó sorprendiendo de una manera satisfactoria.
Podemos ver la evolución de los personajes y si bien algunos cambios pasan de un momento a otro, siento que dentro de todo, la lectura estuvo buena.
La recomiendo para pasar el rato.
July 30, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyed. My romance Achilles heel is a deliciously wicked rake and Rochdale fills that bill nicely. My only quibble was that the heroine, Grace, capitulated to him too quickly. I would have liked for her to have made his job of seduction a bit more difficult but like I said, it’s just a quibble.
March 30, 2023
Adult Regency Romance
The love story of Grace, the straitlaced widow of a Bishop, and the rake Rochdale was interesting. Though the speed and thoroughness of her unlacing and his reform seemed out of character.
The love story of Grace, the straitlaced widow of a Bishop, and the rake Rochdale was interesting. Though the speed and thoroughness of her unlacing and his reform seemed out of character.
October 27, 2020
dnf at 5%
not my cuppa
im sorry
not my cuppa
im sorry
November 4, 2021
DNF at 33%
January 25, 2023
They wouldn't behave like this, she wouldn't.
November 3, 2008
John Grayston, seventh Viscount Rochdale, has never refused a wager, especially one that involves enticing a beautiful woman into his bed. He’s willing to stake his most prized possession that there’s not a single woman in all of England immune to his charms. But when the object of the wager is the prim and proper Grace Marlowe, he has to turn on the full force of his seductive charm to woo her.
Grace, the widow of a famous bishop, finds her stalwart virtue put to the test when the infamous rake shows an unexpected interest in her. Outraged, flattered, and reluctantly attracted, she soon finds herself falling under the spell of the man behind the scandalous reputation. Rochdale, in turn, is delighted to discover a fiery passion beneath the widow’s prudish façade. But when hearts and lives become tangled in the gamble, the truth of his seduction could ruin everything ...
First of all I must say that this trilogy should be read in a row. I didn’t do that and it has been a while since I had read the others and so I was a bit lost in the beginning. I was looking forward to have Rochdale pursuing Grace and I felt we had jumped right to the middle of the story and skipped that part. I needed more angst and emotional struggling while he did the pursuing and it never really happened.
I thought Grace was a bit too good and correct and righteous in the beginning but she soon starts feeling unnerved and attracted to Rochdale which gave her a more human dimension.
Rochdale is not in the beginning the most endearing person, although he is the rake with a mysterious past that might be appealing the reason why he decided to pursue Grace was to win a wager. As the story progresses however we find out a bit more about his past and his actions show that he is ready to be reformed. Not through Grace’s love but because deep down he was once a good man and his current behaviour is starting to torment and disgust him. I thought it was rather believable that his change comes from inside instead of his current amorous feelings.
He has a crisis of conscience on how to tell or avoid telling Grace about the wager when he realizes that in fact he has deep feelings for her but since this is a romance and some conflict is needed she finds out from a third party and breaks off with him. It was predictable that they would make up and the fact that Hern added another conflict just before the end really didn’t add much to the story imho. In the end it was a light and funny read good to spend an afternoon with but without the emotional depth to make it stand out.
Grade: C+
P.S. I love the covers...
Grace, the widow of a famous bishop, finds her stalwart virtue put to the test when the infamous rake shows an unexpected interest in her. Outraged, flattered, and reluctantly attracted, she soon finds herself falling under the spell of the man behind the scandalous reputation. Rochdale, in turn, is delighted to discover a fiery passion beneath the widow’s prudish façade. But when hearts and lives become tangled in the gamble, the truth of his seduction could ruin everything ...
First of all I must say that this trilogy should be read in a row. I didn’t do that and it has been a while since I had read the others and so I was a bit lost in the beginning. I was looking forward to have Rochdale pursuing Grace and I felt we had jumped right to the middle of the story and skipped that part. I needed more angst and emotional struggling while he did the pursuing and it never really happened.
I thought Grace was a bit too good and correct and righteous in the beginning but she soon starts feeling unnerved and attracted to Rochdale which gave her a more human dimension.
Rochdale is not in the beginning the most endearing person, although he is the rake with a mysterious past that might be appealing the reason why he decided to pursue Grace was to win a wager. As the story progresses however we find out a bit more about his past and his actions show that he is ready to be reformed. Not through Grace’s love but because deep down he was once a good man and his current behaviour is starting to torment and disgust him. I thought it was rather believable that his change comes from inside instead of his current amorous feelings.
He has a crisis of conscience on how to tell or avoid telling Grace about the wager when he realizes that in fact he has deep feelings for her but since this is a romance and some conflict is needed she finds out from a third party and breaks off with him. It was predictable that they would make up and the fact that Hern added another conflict just before the end really didn’t add much to the story imho. In the end it was a light and funny read good to spend an afternoon with but without the emotional depth to make it stand out.
Grade: C+
P.S. I love the covers...
January 3, 2025
Fin da subito mi ha conquistata. La trama non è certo nuova, ma Candice l’ha saputa narrare con maestria. Il visconte protagonista di questo romanzo, come tutti i libertini del periodo della Reggenza, adopera le sue armi di seduzione nei confronti di una morigerata vedova unicamente per un’indegna scommessa. Quello che mi è piaciuto, in questo caso, e che mi ha fatto assegnare una stellina in più è stato il modus operandi del visconte, la sua strategia. Insomma, più che un romanzo d’amore sembrava una vera guerra, con tanto di tattiche di attacco e considerazioni sul nemico. Verso metà romanzo ho notato un leggero calo di attenzione. Vuoi per la lentezza con cui l’autrice dipana la matassa della trama, vuoi per le ovvietà che ne sono scaturite, tanto che ho quasi pensato che non avrebbe meritato il termine della lettura. Quello che mi ha fatto proseguire sono state perle di saggezza e frecciatine di acuta ilarità di cui tutte le pagine sono cosparse. E ho fatto bene, perché sul finire, dopo la rivelazione finale e l’inevitabile crisi fra i due, tutto si è risolto, ma in modo per me nuovo e molto originale. Insomma, un già sentito che però ha qualcosa in più.
Pur nella sua monotonia, la cover originale è cento volte meglio di quella italiana.
Rilettura. Sarà che ho cambiato i miei ritmi di lettura, ma questo romanzo mi fa venire sonno. Ho cercato di leggere quanto più ho potuto e pur considerando che la seduzione del libertino nei confronti della vedova di un vescovo debba procedere con cautela, mi sa che qui si legge aria fritta. E pensare che la prima volta gli avevo assegnato un signor punteggio. Va be’.
Pur nella sua monotonia, la cover originale è cento volte meglio di quella italiana.
Rilettura. Sarà che ho cambiato i miei ritmi di lettura, ma questo romanzo mi fa venire sonno. Ho cercato di leggere quanto più ho potuto e pur considerando che la seduzione del libertino nei confronti della vedova di un vescovo debba procedere con cautela, mi sa che qui si legge aria fritta. E pensare che la prima volta gli avevo assegnato un signor punteggio. Va be’.
February 23, 2014
I really wanted to love the last book of the 'Merry widow series', I really looked forward to read about Rochdale and Caroline.
But already the start wasn't so great. Viscount Rochdale - a womanizer - made a bet about getting the widow of the bishop - Caroline - in his bed. Not the great plot I hoped for :/ The story became better, but it became the drama I presumed at the end. It was very clichee-like and I lost the connection to the couple. I had to force me to read the whole ending and not to skip sentences. I liked that the other widows played a part at the end, but it was a bit too much drama and too sugar-sweet for me. Why didn't she told him about the other bet, she had to know why he was so upset. Aaaah! It didn't get me emotional - okay maybe angry, but I couldn't empathize with the characters, it only made me to roll my eyes.
So the author left me a bit disappointed with the final book of the 'Merry widow-trilogy'. I wish that she had choosen another idea for the plot. There are many storylines about bets in historicals or regency romance novels. I expected something great, why he looked in the other books so intense at her. A bet - no :/ It even makes him not so likeable and the 'getting to know each other'-phase less electric, less sparkling. I expected more fire and more verbal duels of the characters. I liked the middle-part, but it wasn't the great closure to the trilogy I hoped for.
But already the start wasn't so great. Viscount Rochdale - a womanizer - made a bet about getting the widow of the bishop - Caroline - in his bed. Not the great plot I hoped for :/ The story became better, but it became the drama I presumed at the end. It was very clichee-like and I lost the connection to the couple. I had to force me to read the whole ending and not to skip sentences. I liked that the other widows played a part at the end, but it was a bit too much drama and too sugar-sweet for me. Why didn't she told him about the other bet, she had to know why he was so upset. Aaaah! It didn't get me emotional - okay maybe angry, but I couldn't empathize with the characters, it only made me to roll my eyes.
So the author left me a bit disappointed with the final book of the 'Merry widow-trilogy'. I wish that she had choosen another idea for the plot. There are many storylines about bets in historicals or regency romance novels. I expected something great, why he looked in the other books so intense at her. A bet - no :/ It even makes him not so likeable and the 'getting to know each other'-phase less electric, less sparkling. I expected more fire and more verbal duels of the characters. I liked the middle-part, but it wasn't the great closure to the trilogy I hoped for.
January 18, 2015
Damn, damn, damn.
What a fool he’d been.
He hadn’t believed it could happen, hadn’t realized it had happened. Rochdale, the debauched, unscrupulous libertine, had somehow become the noble ass Grace had wanted him to be. He had just done something entirely selfless for the first time in more than a dozen years.
Why, then, did it make him feel so damned bad?
Oh my God! That was so good!!! I already expected that Grace and John would paired up with each other. My, the oh-so-proper, tight-laced widow and the oh-so-wicked, debauched rake, what a pair! I assumed there was more to this man than what he portrays himself to be but I'm still surprised by how good he was. It started with his proclamation that no woman that he could not coax to bed, no idle boast, just a simple fact. Then it moved on as a wager between him and Lord Sheane that he could not seduce the Bishop's widow to his bed, well according to Lord Sheane because if John would be asked, he can do it. And then, the seduction began. This is really a must read! Everything about this book is great. My my my, especially John. I really want him for myself but guess the two is just so perfect for each other so I let them have their own happily ever after.
I have enjoyed so much the journey of these Benevolent widows as they embarked on an adventure on becoming the Merry Widows and brave up life as Merry Wives, all for the sake of the love. I just hope the duchess and Penelope would have their own story told.
What a fool he’d been.
He hadn’t believed it could happen, hadn’t realized it had happened. Rochdale, the debauched, unscrupulous libertine, had somehow become the noble ass Grace had wanted him to be. He had just done something entirely selfless for the first time in more than a dozen years.
Why, then, did it make him feel so damned bad?
Oh my God! That was so good!!! I already expected that Grace and John would paired up with each other. My, the oh-so-proper, tight-laced widow and the oh-so-wicked, debauched rake, what a pair! I assumed there was more to this man than what he portrays himself to be but I'm still surprised by how good he was. It started with his proclamation that no woman that he could not coax to bed, no idle boast, just a simple fact. Then it moved on as a wager between him and Lord Sheane that he could not seduce the Bishop's widow to his bed, well according to Lord Sheane because if John would be asked, he can do it. And then, the seduction began. This is really a must read! Everything about this book is great. My my my, especially John. I really want him for myself but guess the two is just so perfect for each other so I let them have their own happily ever after.
I have enjoyed so much the journey of these Benevolent widows as they embarked on an adventure on becoming the Merry Widows and brave up life as Merry Wives, all for the sake of the love. I just hope the duchess and Penelope would have their own story told.
January 3, 2012
really the one who made the covers for this series really understand what need to be put in romance cover page.
In the final installment of Merry Widows series, Grace Marlow the righteous widow is paired with Viscount Rochdale the debauched rake.
The reformed rake is obviously is not something new in romance world, and the creme de la creme of the said theme is Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
But having said that, Lady be Bad actually a decent story.
We know that Grace is the repressed widow of the late bishop who married her in his old age. Grace grow from a naive but sensual young woman into a mature and quite dull widow.
While Viscount Rochdale a rake with a dark past (don't they all) made a wager involving a prime horse and the saintly widow. So the game of seduction begins...
My surprise was that for a pious and proper widow, grace is actually easy to seduce. Maybe because of that repressed passion finally unleashed?
While Rochdale supposedly fall for Grace because of her goodness and purity. though i can't really seem to recall when Rochdale start falling for Grace.
So it's not a bad story overall, but not really stand out from the shelf as well.
In the final installment of Merry Widows series, Grace Marlow the righteous widow is paired with Viscount Rochdale the debauched rake.
The reformed rake is obviously is not something new in romance world, and the creme de la creme of the said theme is Devil in Winter by Lisa Kleypas.
But having said that, Lady be Bad actually a decent story.
We know that Grace is the repressed widow of the late bishop who married her in his old age. Grace grow from a naive but sensual young woman into a mature and quite dull widow.
While Viscount Rochdale a rake with a dark past (don't they all) made a wager involving a prime horse and the saintly widow. So the game of seduction begins...
My surprise was that for a pious and proper widow, grace is actually easy to seduce. Maybe because of that repressed passion finally unleashed?
While Rochdale supposedly fall for Grace because of her goodness and purity. though i can't really seem to recall when Rochdale start falling for Grace.
So it's not a bad story overall, but not really stand out from the shelf as well.
February 26, 2008
Up until the last 70 pages, this book was fun, interesting, it was a delightful romance between a roguish, rake with a good heart and the prim, proper lady that discovers passion. But in the last 70 pages the story collapses and turns into the clichés ridden mush. It became a bad melodrama, the characters lost their sparks, their chemistry and the wonderful repartee that charmed me so. I wish that just for once a writer would go in the opposite direction of the "oh woe, he lied to me, oh woe, I can't tell her my terrible secret". So this is wonderful until the house of cards folds in a pile of pink, sugary mush.
October 19, 2018
What a terrific book. I loved it. Best part was when the hero wears down the heroine's defenses and finally she gives her consent to do the dirty and the ass totally denies her! The heroine up to this point has been sweet and mostly malleable. But his rejection was taking one step too far. Oh, no he didn't! She let him know that there is no way he is going to get her all hot and bothered and then just say "no". Good for her. I loved how the author ended this book as well. I will be reading more of her books in the future.
April 12, 2011
Grace Marlow & John Grayson
Grace is the Bishop Marlow's widow who is the epitome of respectability. Except for listening to her friend's tales of their sexual exploits, she is a prude. John is a scoundrel who makes a bet on a horse that he can seduce her. He's not really a cad but hides behind that reputation. They get together and are planning to marry when they have a stupid fight that almost ruined the whole book for me!
Review
Grace is the Bishop Marlow's widow who is the epitome of respectability. Except for listening to her friend's tales of their sexual exploits, she is a prude. John is a scoundrel who makes a bet on a horse that he can seduce her. He's not really a cad but hides behind that reputation. They get together and are planning to marry when they have a stupid fight that almost ruined the whole book for me!
Review
October 22, 2013
it was boring, i had 2 skip lots of pages !! i think dat they shud have made love earlier. instead, they made love at the very near end n then, the only good action was in the last few pages. the only good thing in the book was the bet grace challenged 2 lord seale. dat was so hilarious ! n put rochdale in his place !! now u no how it feels 2 place a bet on some1 !! haha xd the terrible man had the guts 2 be angry !!double standards !!
June 2, 2013
I finished this one, but it wasn't as good as the others I've read. Reading, multiple times, about Grace's piousness and good-ness compared to Rochdale's sinfulness just became too cliche. Don't these characters have other facets to them? Is there anything else in their lives? And if she's so pious, how does she misquote the bible? Hmph. I didn't really believe in the love between these two.
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