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Second in the all-new trilogy from the New York Times bestselling author of Gorgeous as Sin

If his mistress is missing, then who's the woman in the baron's bed?

When Baron Lenox's assignation with his mistress goes awry, he finds himself in bed with the wrong lady. The potential scandal leaves him with one marry the innocent mystery woman. But Isolde Perceval has no intention of marrying Lenox. In fact, she orchestrated the compromising situation herself-for reasons that are unpredictable, riotously romantic, and sexy as hell.

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published December 18, 2009

23 people are currently reading
356 people want to read

About the author

Susan Johnson

258 books574 followers
And it all began rather serendipitously. Long ago, as they say, in another time, when fast food hadn't reached our area and the only shopping was what the feed mill offered, I was reading a book that annoyed me .

My husband was lying beside me in bed, watching TV. Turning to him, I sort of petulantly said, "How the hell did this book get published?"

"If you think you're so smart," he replied, with one eye still on the TV, "why don't you write a book?"

So I did. And very badly.

I've since learned how to do, he said, she said, and a great variety of other adverb heavy, sometimes lengthy explanations of why my characters are saying what they're saying, along with finally coming to an understanding of what things like POV means. Point of View for you non-writers}.

Although, I still don't fully comprehend why it matters if you switch POV and I cavalierly disregard it as much as possible. So while my technical skills have hopefully improved, what hasn't changed is my great joy in writing. There's as much pleasure today in listening to my characters talk while I type as fast as I can, as there was the first time I put dialogue to paper--in long-hand, then, in my leather bound sketch-book.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.4k followers
April 23, 2015
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★★★★ 1/2! Bruton Street Bookstore series, book 2 of 4. Baron Lenox, Oz’s relentless attempts at saving an innocent heiress he unintentionally compromised!

US EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Bruton Street Bookstore
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & Paperback (Same in the UK)

The Bruton Street Bookstore series, courtesy Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers. Series follows four titled bachelor friends in London in the early 1890’s.

These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1891)
Gorgeous As Sin (US) / Desire Laid Bare (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1892)
Sexy As Hell (US) / Promise Laid Bare (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1893)
Sweet As The Devil (US) / Temptation Laid Bare (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1894)
Seductive As Flame (US) / Intensity Laid Bare (UK)

OSMOND, BARON LENOX, “OZ”: 22 years/business mogul-playboy/$$$$/black hair/dark eyes.


ISOLDE PERCEVAL: ~20 years/heiress/blond hair/virgin.


Sexy As Hell is the second book in the Bruton Street Bookstore series. It’s 1892 and Fitz’s (book 1) good friend Baron Lenox, Oz, who recently returned from India where he has made a fortune, finds himself in bed with the innocent, Isolde Perceval.

For Oz it was a matter of mistaken identity, but for Isolde it was a way to lose her virginity to escape marriage to a lecherous man after her fortune.

What else can Oz do, but marry her? Except Isolde has no intentions of getting married - to anyone. Follow them in their suspenseful whirlwind romance with enemies set on revenge and destruction!

***
Hero rating: 4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.


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Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
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Profile Image for SueBee★bring me an alpha!★.
2,417 reviews15.4k followers
August 15, 2017
 photo JohnsonBrutonStreetBookstore2TitlebySueBee_zps27210b19.jpg
 photo BS2AbySueBee_zps1096dc64.gif
 photo BS2BbySueBeex_zps6bb776d3.gif
★★★★ 1/2! Bruton Street Bookstore series, book 2 of 4. Baron Lenox, Oz’s relentless attempts at saving an innocent heiress he unintentionally compromised!

UK EDITION SERIES INFO & REVIEW
Bruton Street Bookstore
Book 2
Formats: Kindle & Paperback (Same in the US)

The Bruton Street Bookstore series, courtesy Susan Johnson aka C.C. Gibbs, is published by different publishers in the US and UK, hence the different titles and covers. Series follows four titled bachelor friends in London in the early 1890’s.

These are stand-alones, but most enjoyed if read in order:
Book 1: (Year 1891)
Gorgeous As Sin (US) / Desire Laid Bare (UK)
Book 2: (Year 1892)
Sexy As Hell (US) / Promise Laid Bare (UK)
Book 3: (Year 1893)
Sweet As The Devil (US) / Temptation Laid Bare (UK)
Book 4: (Year 1894)
Seductive As Flame (US) / Intensity Laid Bare (UK)

OSMOND, BARON LENOX, “OZ”: 22 years/business mogul-playboy/$$$$/black hair/dark eyes.


ISOLDE PERCEVAL: ~20 years/heiress/blond hair/virgin.


Sexy As Hell is the second book in the Bruton Street Bookstore series. It’s 1892 and Fitz’s (book 1) good friend Baron Lenox, Oz, who recently returned from India where he has made a fortune, finds himself in bed with the innocent, Isolde Perceval.

For Oz it was a matter of mistaken identity, but for Isolde it was a way to lose her virginity to escape marriage to a lecherous man after her fortune.

What else can Oz do, but marry her? Except Isolde has no intentions of getting married - to anyone. Follow them in their suspenseful whirlwind romance with enemies set on revenge and destruction!

***
Hero rating: 4.5 stars
Heroine rating: 4 stars
Sex scenes rating: 4.5 stars
Sex scenes frequency: 4.5 stars
Storyline concept rating: 4 stars
Storytelling skills rating: 5 stars
Story ending rating: 5 stars
******************************
Overall rating: 4.5 stars

Would I recommend this series: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Maybe later.
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.


 photo BS2CbySueBee_zps3e3b1c71.gif

Be sure to join CCGibbsFANS here on GR for the latest news:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
(Public group for members 18 years and older)
Profile Image for Katie(babs).
1,869 reviews530 followers
January 6, 2010
What would you say about a historical romance male character who has slept with enough women to make him a walking STD, a proud alcoholic who is not ashamed to admit that he can drink five glasses of brandy each night and uses sex to manipulate the heroine into having feelings for him or forcing her to do what he says? Does this scream what a romantic hero should be? Apparently, Susan Johnson thinks so with Osmond, the so-called hero of Sexy as Hell. This man has all these traits which is the farthest from what I believe a hero should be.

Osmond, Baron Lennox, known to his friends and lovers as Oz, has a great deal of luck on his side. His one redeemable attribute, even if you can call it that because it’s just thrown in haphazardly, is that he spends his time translating rare manuscripts. Oz loves to drink massive amounts of alcohol, so much that the amount he gulps down would cause a normal man to have alcohol poisoning. But this is not the case because remember, Oz is the dashing rakish hero, so he gets a free pass! Not only is he skilled at cards but very good at pleasuring many married women disillusioned with their own marriages. He relishes in screwing every one of these women because as well as loving to drink, he's obsessed with sex. I really do think oz is a sex addict. But this is all fine and dandy because Oz is a bachelor.

His latest paramour is waiting for him at a hotel in London’s Soho Square. Oz ends up in the wrong hotel room, thinking the woman in the bed is his mistress. But this case of mistake identity leads to a better night in store for Oz. The woman Oz meets in the darkened room is Isolde Perceval, Countess of Wraxell. She thinks Oz is an actor she’s paid to act as if they were in the middle of having sex. She wants to be caught by her barrister and some of the employees of the hotel. This will stop her selfish and dastardly cousin Frederick from marrying her so he can gain access to her funds.

Oz finds the whole situation hilarious and since he and Isolde have already been caught in bed, why not spend the night together pleasuring one another? He comes to the conclusion, and rather quickly that Isolde is special because he feels, “curiously alive for the first time in ages”. He has no explanation for why he feels this way but because of that one line Johnson assumes it is enough for the reader to believe Oz and Isolde are soul mates and all the bed play can commence regardless of the countless times Oz has been in between a woman’s legs before. You must take everything at face value, just because Oz is so skilled and you know the sex he and Isolde have will be scorching hot.

Isolde finds Oz to be a bit odd, but welcomes her ravishment. Both have a wonderful night together. Oz isn’t ready to let Isolde go, because again there is just something so special about her, and offers a solution to her family problems. He recommends they have a marriage of convenience and pretend to have fallen madly in love with one another. After some time they will get a divorce. Isolde agrees because Oz has a magic wee-wee and her body responds to him in ways not even with her ex-lover who dumped her for a plain rich cow.

This marriage of convenience is a very unexpected for both because they can’t keep their hands off one another. These two do not make love in any shape. Readers, what Oz and Isolde have is plain old hard core sex. But through this physical activity Oz begins to care for Isolde in ways he has never cared for another woman. Isolde can’t help but feel jealous over Oz’s past lovers and wants his attention exclusively on her. These two desire both to the point of madness but there is still a question of trust and Oz’s own growing jealous over a past love of Isolde’s who thinks she is open to an affair with him now that she has married a well known libertine.

Isolde runs hot and cold and is not afraid of voicing her opinion about Oz’s past, his issues with alcohol and reasoning for things. She reminded me of a shrill harpy and for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why Oz wanted to be with her. Oz lives in the moment and for pleasure. And if he doesn’t get what he wants right away, he uses coercion, which Isolde can’t help but succumb to. And because of that, their relationship is in tatters and honestly, the way things ends makes me believe these two will never be happy with one another. I can see Oz cheating on Isolde time and again. I am at a loss on how this can be considered a romance.

Susan Johnson does have a very particular audience and if you are fine with an alcoholic, spoiled man cheating on Isolde with a one-dimensionally written ex-lover, as well as insulting Isolde because she denies him sex, then Sexy as Hell may be book for you. Oz constantly uses sex as an excuse to overpower the annoying self righteous Isolde. I really had to hold back from throwing this book against the wall, when Oz cheats on the Isolde with his former skanky married mistress just because the Isolde was honest with Oz about his spoiled attitude and lifestyle. I would never, ever recommend this book to anyone. Sexy as Hell is one big eye rolling train wreck.
Profile Image for Anne.
4,761 reviews71.3k followers
May 2, 2021
There were lots of sex scenes, but not much in the way of character development. The hero (and I use that word lightly) starts out as a proud alcoholic...and ends up a proud alcoholic. He also starts out as a man-whore...and pretty much stays a man-whore until the veeeeery last possible moment. Really, this story needed an epilogue, because I found myself snorting out, "Yeah, right. Suuuuure you love her." at the end of the book. The heroine is not much better, her personality alternating between needy and petulant, and her annoying jealousy over his manymanymanymany past lovers was just stupid. Neither of the characters redeemed themselves at the end, either. Maybe they just decided that no one else would put up with them?
I really don't know what was going through the author's head, but she kept throwing in random and useless storylines that didn't serve any purpose other than to take up paper. For example, toward the end, the hero is poisoned by some 'mystery enemy'. Then he recovers. End of plotline. No, seriously. That was it. What did it have to do with the story? Nothing. Not. A. Thing. Did it convince him that life was short, and he needed the heroine's love? No. Did she sit by his deathbed and keep watch over him? No. Nothing. It was just a little tidbit thrown into an already convoluted story.
Last, but certainly not least, are the words pulsing vagina. Gaaaah! If you decide to read this book, be prepared for lots and lots of pulsing vaginas and pouty vulvas. Hmmm. I'm glad I read this book because now I have the answer to the age-old question "Can a vulva pout?". Evidently, it can!
Profile Image for Lelyana's Reviews.
3,420 reviews400 followers
November 15, 2017
THIS BOOK IS DEFINITELY "NOT" FOR ME !
WELL IF THE AUTHOR MEANT IT TO BE EROTICA BOOK, THAT'S OKAY. IF THE READERS NEED TO SEE A HERO THAT CHEATED ON HIS WIFE, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU.

HOW COULD A FUCKING ASSHOLE MANWHORE LIKE THIS , SET AS A HERO IN HISTORICAL ROMANCE !!!

HE FUCKED THE GIRL,MARRY HER, FUCKED HER, LEAVE HER TO FUCKED ANOTHER WOMEN (YES, WOMEN, NOT JUST ONE OF THEM)..

C'MON AUTHOR ... IF YOU MEANT IT TO BE "HISTORICAL ROMANCE", THERE IS NO HISTORICAL, AND NO ROMANCE ...IT'S JUST SEX SEX SEX....AND THIS ONE NAUSEATED ME!

I ALWAYS CANNOT UNDERSTAND THE PLOT, WHEN A MAN (HE SHOULD BE A HERO, RIGHT?)...FREELY TOOK HIS BITCH TO HIS SOCIAL LIFE, WHEN EVERYBODY IN TOWN KNOWS HE'S A HAPPY MARRIED MAN...AND FUCKED THE BITCH..MORE THAN ONE, EVEN HOTTER THAN HE DID IT WITH HIS WIFE. EXPLANATION IN GRAPHIC! FFS!

OH AND THE HEROINE WAS A DOORMAT. DEFINITELY DOORMAT !

WELL,YOU CAN SAY , HEY ..IT'S HAPPEN ! EVERY TIME... BUT LET ME REMIND YOU...THAT KIND OF STORY , DOES NOT HAPPEN IN HISTORICAL ROMANCE !!!

I HATE THE BOOK DEFINITELY. I HAD BURNED IT, AFTER I FINISH IT !!!

GIRLS, IF YOU NOT INTO A CHEATING HERO, THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR YOU, AS WELL.... HATE IT TO THE BONES !!!!
Profile Image for Kathleen.
691 reviews89 followers
January 8, 2010
I would have given Sexy As Hell 4 1/2 stars if Susan would have written an epilogue. The story did end good, but it would have been better had Susan added an epilogue.

First off I must say that Sexy As Hell reads like most of Susan's other historical's. Either you love them or you hate them. Her hero's always drink a lot and her Rake's are truely Rake's that have slept with many woman, married or not. The hero in this book Oz is no different. He drinks to excess because of the loss of loved one's in the pass and uses sex also to forget. He is very young, handsome, and has a lot of money. He drinks to much, and love's sex which he is very good at. Of course like any of Susan's hero's he has the body of a god and a rather nice package that he can use all night long, lol!

The heroine Isolde is a wealthy Countess in her own right but she has a Male relative who wants to marry her to get control of her money because he has gambling losses he needs to pay off. Oz marries her to save her from his evil clutches. It is a marriage of convenience and they plan to divorce as soon as they get the cousin totally out of her life.

Isolde figures out quickly that he is a rake and understands that this is just a business arrangement. She can't help but want him as all the other woman do and of course this bothers her. She does not however gush all over him. She figures she will take what she can while she can because Oz is just too good to pass up.

Just like many of Susan's historical's, they part at one point and he does carry on with several other woman at this point. So if you don't like the hero bedding another woman, this book is not for you. He does realize at the end of the book that she is his everything. I really wished Susan would have had that epilogue though.

That being said, I really liked this book and look forward to the next one, Sweet As The Devil. I have been a Susan Johnson fan for a long time and will continue to be her fan.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Melanie.
444 reviews28 followers
June 9, 2015
Ick... I just finished this.. Please tell me her other books are better (at least no cheating, please!): I'm a big fan of the whole redeemed rake thing, and I can even stomach a cheating hero(within reason, and not a post-wedding man-whore like this one) as long as there's a good grovelling scene, or at least if the heroine makes the hero work for forgiveness... This one is a 1* for me. I'm really disappointed because the plot could have been great but...



***END RANT****

Please please tell me that her other books are better! I have a whole bunch of them and now I'm debating whether to give them away without having read them! A little grovelling and character development isn't too much to ask for, right?

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Lauren.
1,506 reviews218 followers
May 2, 2021
5 + on the steamy meter with unbelievable Os
3 on the an actual story
Profile Image for LuvBug .
336 reviews97 followers
January 28, 2010
This one was my least favorite of SJ's newer books. From the beginning, I just never felt a true connection between Isolde and Oz. And in the end I still felt that he was still in love with his first love Khdair. It annoyed me that he never even told Isolde about her! I still remain loyal to my favorite author sJ though, she still writes the best rakes!
Profile Image for Elaine.
4,525 reviews91 followers
April 15, 2021
'After waiting all day to be engulfed in Mrs. St. Vincent's hot c***, Fitz knew each time was better than the last.'

'She squealed in a rapturous little sound that suggested his c*** had stood with equally bracing force.'

The Duke of Groveland has plans for a building development, but Mrs. St. Vincent's bookshop is in the way. The Duke tries to buy her out, however she doesn't wish to sell.
Sex scenes are quite steamy 🌶🌶🌶
Enjoyed reading this HEA. 4☆
Profile Image for iamGamz.
1,549 reviews51 followers
March 16, 2013
Oh My God! I thought "Gorgeous As Sin" was a bit trying to read, this book was tedium!

It started off so promising, and then devolved into such a mess that I wanted to rip my hair out. I should have stopped, but I needed to know what the resolution would be between Oz and Isolde.

He cheated on her over and over again after abandoning her pregnant and in the country. She is supposed to be a woman who is strong and independent, and yet she continues to fall in bed with a man who so disregards her feelings, that he left one woman's bed and jumped into hers. No sex is that good!!!

I was okay with Oz until I learned he was only Twenty two!! How is he running one of the largest banking companies in the world at twenty two? At what age did he start that he was able to garner such a brutal reputation at such a young age? That really threw me off. And how old is Isolde? Is she older than Oz?

This book left me annoyed. The ending!! Really???!!!!! After reading through all that bunk I got a crap ending?! Will not read again!!!
Profile Image for Theresa Contreras.
108 reviews11 followers
October 29, 2011
the reviews didnt seem too good.. uh oh i hope its good...

not sure why the reviews were so bad, i loved this book! people were angry at oz for cheating on his wife but she was well aware that he was and they had an "understanding". i loved the way these two played and flirted with eachother.. i love susan johnson and no one can write a love story with hot sex quite like her. if you dont like tons of the best sex ever then dont read her books! mmmmmm mmmmmm mmmmmm... i gave this book 4 stars because i did wish he would have been more in love and open about it and i wish she would have made him beg a little more.. other then that i found myself blushing and very excited as always with sj...
Profile Image for Ceej.
125 reviews2 followers
July 4, 2010
I had read a review that condemned this book because the hero was always drunk and he used women. Well since the premise is that the hero a rake and loves to gamble and drink, well DUH! I also read one that said the ending was rushed. I beg to differ. The author brought Oz to his senses just in time because I was almost to the point of thinking something bad would happen to Izzy before he did right. I found the book refreshing. It followed the normal dictates of impossible odds and two unlikely lovers. Where it changed is that they didnt instantly admit their love and even to the end you were not sure if they resolved all their demons. Kudos Ms. Johnson
Profile Image for Meagan.
1,317 reviews58 followers
May 8, 2011
There are very few things that are a complete deal breaker for me in a romance novel. A good writer can get away with almost anything if she (or he) knows what's what. But a hero who treats the long-suffering, wimpy heroine badly, gleefully manipulating her at every turn, while unashamedly cheating all over the place, even after he's realized that he's in love with the heroine? Oh, and graphically describing said infidelity in a sex scene? I mean, I realize this is a marriage of convenience story, but really. No deal, Susan Johnson. No deal.
Profile Image for Lola.
67 reviews43 followers
March 12, 2010
Annoying as hell. Hero is a nympho, sexing up everything even during his marriage and near the end with other women; a damn alcoholic who's proud; incredibly immature and selfish. Heroine: a walking doormat and still loves him. No build-up, growing feelings, just drama and sex, sex, sex. Heroine easily accepts hero back, hero has no feelings of guilt whatsoever. The ending was rushed and full of crap. The entire book is crap. How the hell did this go by the editors? Epic failure.
Profile Image for Grace.
818 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2010
Susan Johnson is the master (or should I say mistress) of the sensual romance novel. She is fun to read, has a great vocabulary, and always manages to incorporate interesting art, history, and culture into her novels. While I don't necessarily read Johnson's novels for the vocabulary and culture, it is refreshing.
Profile Image for Leonora.
173 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2025
This whole novel is a giant whirlwind where one million things are happening and it's unclear what is going on other than the ML (who is an Indian born British aristocrat, with an Indian native grandmother) never stops drinking or screwing. I think it happens in Victorian London because there are railroads and a queen and "fat Wales" is mentioned but it's really hard to tell. Complete wallpaper historical, this one doesn't even have balls just estates and frock coats. The women's fashion that is mentioned doesn't line up with what I know about the Victorian era and people in this book are certainly much more modern in their relationships.

The way the FL and ML meet at the start is an immediate indicator to turn those brains off. Mistaken identity, ridiculous plan to make an unwanted suitor who wants the FL's money to go away both the one the ML messes up and the one he proposes. That's fine, mayhem rules the day but it never really reigns it in as everything gets bigger and messier.

I wanted to read more Susan Johnson because I really liked Temporary Mistress which also had the "absurd premise" thing going on, but the ML there wasn't...this guy. Baron Lennox had a family tragedy and didn't wind up married to the person he expected to in Hyderabad so he went to London where he's apparently just been drinking and whoring and dueling non-stop for two years. We know he's "young" but his exact age isn't mentioned until near the end of the book but when it comes up you will probably have a big "NANI???" moment like I did because it's another probably not quite thought through item.

I can't even describe all the ridiculous events of the book it's too much, it's a big stew of "buuhh what now". Somewhat enjoyable, I'm looking for more Susan Johnson closer to Temporary Mistress, but not sure I'd recommend reading this one. Definitely stay away if cheating MLs are not tolerable to you.
Profile Image for bell.
174 reviews3 followers
January 21, 2018
First of all, I LOVE bodice rippers. I don't mind forced seduction, cheating hero's etc. I realize in real historical times, women were basically chattel, and had no rights. I go into a historical romance expecting this. I don't particularly like historical romances that are really contemporaries in disguise.
The thing with Bodice rippers or a good "cheating hero" story , is that they all have one thing in common... a great ending where the hero basically realizes he is wrong and redeems himself. This is NOT what happened in this book what so ever. There was no "come to Jesus moment" or any type of apology or even a life changing revelation. In fact , he doesn't even tell the heroine he loves her to the last page and it is unbelievable at best, since he had basically cheated on her 2 pages before.
I can't believe this is a Susan Johnson book. I love Susan Johnson, but I have no idea how she published this, it was that bad. There is no plot, literally... The entire book is the hero (Oz) and heroine (Isolde) hooking up and then the hero basically screwing everything in his path, His mistress, Nell... girls in a brothel.. And he is drunk through out the book. We know he is rich, because the author tells us a 100 times and he throws around large sums of money to the point is gets silly and unbelievable. Unfortunately, nothing but sex and booze ever gets written about, so I have no idea how he got to be so wealthy. Isolde has no issue hooking up with him whenever he comes around, yet is faithful to him knowing he is sleeping with everyone.
In fact, even the last few chapters when he is slowly coming to the realization he loves his wife. "In the absence of Nell (his mistress), Oz spent a good deal of time at Margurites (a brothel), although he was no longer interested in prodigal pleasures. rather, he wished other entertainments from her: companionship, conversation, a level of peace, and only occasionally sex. But even his lovemaking had changed. He was detached, polite, careful to please her- intuitively proficient, and preoccupied. On more then one occasion, he'd unconsciously said aloud , "Isolde".
So I guess because he ditched the mistress and only cheats once in awhile and called out the heroines name , he must be in love.
I can deal with a cheating hero (I like bodice rippers, so I can stomach a lot in a book) , but it only works if there is some type of relationship that grows between the characters.. The character development is literally non existent. All we know is that Oz is wealthy, a rake and is a good shot (because throughout the book everyone keeps mentioning how good he is at duels) . We never get any glimpse deeper into his personality.. it is purely superficial.
There was no romance in this book and it was only historical, in that it had Tattersall's and brothels.
The heroine is a countess in her own right and of course is rich. Her uncle tries to force a marriage, but that plot line gets tidied up pretty quickly and thus you are left with two characters that you really could care less about.
The sex scenes are also cringe worthy. We know he is great in bed , because it is mentioned a 100 times he lived in India and he learned techniques there. The sex scenes are worded to the point of ridiculousness.
Heat level- lots of sex , but not sexy
violence- none
Profile Image for Caroline.
Author 3 books50 followers
January 16, 2019
Okay...it could have been good, but I have issues. One, the sex is most of the book and I'm kind of okay with that, except that it did nothing for the story. Over and over one has to hear what a good lover he is, except to me besides the whole large penis thing, he's really unexceptional. Oh, and her having an orgasm because she gave him a blowjob? I know this is fiction, but I wasn't asked to believe in unicorns (this isn't a paranormal romance.) I am only expected to believe that the heroine is independent and smart, despite the fact that she is behaving like a needy, stupid doormat.

The heroine is pathetic. He cheats on her while she's pregnant and she apologizes to HIM and tells him she loves him. I got a bit nauseous at that point. He's not even that good and this is supposed to be fantasy sex! A woman could pick up a random dude and he'd be a better lay. The heroine literally chokes on him and he gives her an orgasm through...symbiosis or something?

You know books like these are the reason girls are let down by sex. Wait till they find out blowing a dude most likely only means a bad taste in their mouth before their boyfriend falls asleep.
Profile Image for Ross.
177 reviews1 follower
May 19, 2021
Okay, kiddies. This book tells us what kind of man NOT to get involved with. The guy is a walking sex machine and studs just about all of the MARRIED women in his area (Hello, STD!), drinks and gambles like a pro, and cheats on his pregnant wife the first chance he gets. I mean, he was surprised she is pregnant and seems to be holding it against her. But dude, like the saying goes, it takes two to tango. Izzy did not get pregnant by herself.



And the development of the love story, I find it unbelievable. This book started out with such promise.



Profile Image for Cam.
173 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2022

Comically awful. (DNF)

As others have noted this novel is filled with sex scenes--which I am normally totally down for--but perhaps what they have left out is that these scenes are written with a scientific thesaurus (lots of genital nerves stimulated and fluttery vulvas). Which could be okay if not for the heroine referring to the hero's cock as "Him" and "He." There is also a "deluge of sperm."

I wanted to hang on just to see how the author would reform an alcoholic abusive hero--was going to need to be a deep deep save--but lost interest right quick when I realized it was jsut going to be a string of anatomical lessons.

343 reviews1 follower
December 29, 2023
I really don't enjoy infidelity in romances even if it's considered erotica. This book is a case study of how a woman can get dickmatized and stay with a man even if he is community dick. Not only was this book not actually sexy, the lack of a true HEA didn't do it for me.
974 reviews4 followers
June 26, 2017
Love Susan Johnson. She writes good stories with sex. (Erotic). But I like that there is a story to go along with all the sex.
418 reviews4 followers
March 8, 2022
Sensuality, at it's Best

Wow, what a splendid love story. Full of steamy, hot sex and a devil may care leading man. He fought his feeling, but he lost the battle and the war. Lady Susan never, ever disappoint. I felt this story on every page. Wow!!!!!😍
Profile Image for Julie.
427 reviews40 followers
September 14, 2013
The Countess of Wraxell and Baron Lennox are perfectly matched, in the bedroom, at least. Both with insatiable desires and never ending lust one for the other, if given the choice, neither would leave the bedchamber. While this is a very unique and new experience for both, it is for vastly different reasons. OZ, Baron Lennox, is the most widely famed rakehell and rogue, widely sought after for his very desirous "skills." Having been raised in India, with Indian ancestry, he has been instructed and educated by the most skilled sexual institutions in the world. Oz has had his choice of bed partners for some time and has taken great advantage of this fact. There have been countless over the years. Not a night has passed in which his bed has stood empty of female company. Alas, it has all just involved sex, the giving and receiving of carnal pleasure only. Never has his emotions or his heart been involved. In fact, Oz's sexual adventures have been his buffer against painful memories and have been the key to keeping all of his emotions locked deep inside. When he drowns himself in sexual excess, his mind is kept preoccupied with pleasures of the flesh, releasing him from the torment that otherwise would be released. Accidentally falling into the hands of the Countess of Wraxell, can be nothing short of a miracle for Oz. Finally, a woman who is as insatiable under the bed sheets as himself. Not only that, but one with imagination and daring to match his own. Besides there is something intangible about her that keeps him not only on his toes, but thoroughly amused and challenged. A very novel experience for Oz when it comes to women. Of course, delving too deeply into the reasons why this one woman affects him so differently is strictly off limits. That would require an assessment of emotions Oz has left locked behind his stone heart. While being the most generous of lovers in all ways, he has strictly kept himself unattached emotionally and quickly changing from one partner to the next has made it very simple. Now, all he has to do is continue on this same path with the Countess. However, he fears this is easier said than done, but Oz is nothing if not ruthlessly in control of his emotions and actions. Or, so it seems.

I must say the sexual scenes played out were some of the hottest I've read. Susan Johnson writes pages of passionate, erotic scenes that burn the pages. A definite 5-star rating in this department. However, her characters leave something to be desired. While I cannot criticize or find the characters lacking in any of their physical capacities, their emotional ones were very two-dimensional. Of course, the heroine is just sooo enthralled with the sexual prowess of the hero and keeps going back for more, humbling herself in the face of a man who even when their relationship changes and develops depth, can easily walk away from her and continue his bedroom pursuits as if she never existed. That is, until the next opportunity arises that they can sleep together again and share their carnal desires. It bothered me that he could so ignore his feelings for her and keep them locked up throughout the entire story. It bothered me that even after she realized that her feelings had passed from the physical into the emotional, and even became a deep love, she would disrespect that by being desperate enough to take just the physical pleasure he offered. It was very disturbing that she could submit to this knowing he had been and would continue to be with his various partners, even after their relationship changes and they realize that neither can walk away from the obligation they have found themselves a part of. I suppose it could be all my modern day morals kicking in and judging acts in a different time that were much more acceptable. Maybe? But this shallowness of character was a real turn-off, and I found myself rolling my eyes more than once and thinking how utterly STUPID and PITIFUL the heroine was and what a PIG the hero could be. Not really romance-inducing feelings. Unfortunately, the stars started to fall and a story that was a 5-star in one element became a 3-star overall.
Profile Image for Yuchiyo.
49 reviews
November 19, 2011
I bought this book with no expectations and all, I just read the synopsis and bought it. The synopsis was enough to caught my interest. I'm surprised, it is one of my favorite topic, marriage of convenience.

This was the first time I've a read a very sensuous novel. I'm still too shocked, I don't expect it. I have no idea. Really. It was too much to comprehend. It's as if, every moment they're having pleasure, I don't know. haha. I'll stop talking about that part of the novel. But, really, there's a LOT! haha.

I'm not pretty sure what to say about how their relationship came to the point of love. As I was reading, I'm hoping of more affection between Oz and Isolde not just in bed. More interaction, more openness, more care, and such showing how they really love, not only need each other. In short, I felt there is lack in emotion.

Lord Lennox, isn't hard to like at all. He was a confirmed bachelor yet he was the one proposed the marriage to help some unknown woman, in the character of Isolde Perceval. Being said, he felt utterly amazing who can come with his stamina that he was willing to help the Countess to disposed the greedy cousin of hers, by marriage. Yet, he did more than a lot to disposed the cousin, he pay of his debts with a promise of not disturbing them again. I can say, he really cared for his wife, Oz admit it or not.

Also, I came to love Oz trying to control his jealousy towards Will Floucher, the supposed husband of Izzy. He can't control his anger or irritation everytime Will was around Isolde. Also, when they come in their own separate ways, the news that his wife was seen in one of the Floucher's ball, he was rage in anger that he almost killed the person who delivered the news. As well as Will himself was almost shot, when Oz arrived and saw that Will was with Izzy in Perceval's home in the morning. At last, that was the push he only needed to surrender his love to his wife. Though the line wasn't sweet, I still find it romantic.♥ :">

Isolde, on the other hand was witty enough as a heroine. But what can she do? She was just a woman who can't control her feelings to fall in love with her own husband. She gets jealous of his past woman, his past experience. She knows the consequence, yet she can't resist Oz who was a hot, sexy man who treated her more than well. But as she gets pregnant, she discovered he didn't change. So he let him do as he wish. Luckily, his man came to his senses. wew. :))

I find the ending was great but could have been longer. I guess, I'm a romance seeker, so I would prefer if it has more of their sweet moments. All in all, I can say it's fine, not great though.
Profile Image for Lori.
378 reviews
February 24, 2011
Hero is an unapologetic alcoholic at 22. Intense interactions between H/H all based around sex.

I intensely disliked this book. For several reasons. First, the hero is a slobbering drunk. Oz and Izzy spend all their time either arguing and hating one another, or having sex. And not necessarily with each other. Oz keeps a mistress almost until the very end of the book. They fight and argue until the very last chapter at which time they declare their love for one another and they all lived happily ever after. Ugh.

So… hero is an alcoholic. And an asshole. A cheating asshole at that.

Heroine is a bitch. And a manipulative one at that.

They have sex the first time they meet, in fact, almost immediately. Then spend the rest of the book arguing and screwing.

While I found several redeeming qualities in this book's predecessor, Gorgeous as Sin, I found almost nothing at all to recommend this one. I was surprised that the hero was only in his early 20s – he had so much hard living behind him. When it was revealed that Oz was poisoned, I was thinking, "Finally. Put me out of my misery." But of course, he recovered, damn it. Lived to screw someone else another day.

If you don't care about glorified alcoholism, infidelity, or unlikable characters, then I recommend this book. If those things bother you? Don't bother.
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