Dangerous To Love

by Rexanne Becnel

Spirited scholar Lucy Drysdale has long dreamed of London-- the stimulating lectures, the intellectual banter. But first she much chaperone Lade Valerie, a tender young girl embarking on her first social season.

Before Lucy can guide Valerie through her first society crush, they are swept into the world of the Earl of Westcott, London's most notorious rakehell.

Ivan Thornton, the gypsy Earl, gained his title only because his father had no legitimate heir. Bitter over the cruelties society heaped on him when he was just a boy, Ivan takes sweet revenge-- he breaks the hearts of young society women.

For Ivan, the two women are easy prey for his game of deceit-- until Lucy's passionate touch ignites a desire that sears his soul. And Lucy finds, in protecting Valerie from the charismatic Earl, that she has left her own heart dangerously vulnerable...

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Historical Fiction, Regency, Enemies To Lovers, British Literature

346 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 15, 1997

About the author

Rexanne Becnel is the author of more than twenty historical romance and contemporary mainstream novels, many of which appeared on the USA Today bestseller list. With the publication of her first novel, My Gallant Enemy, Becnel won the Waldenbooks Award for Best First-Time Romance Author and the Romantic Times Award for Best Medieval Romance by a New Author. While growing up, Becnel lived for a time in Germany and England, where she became fascinated by medieval history. After studying architecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, she worked as a building inspector for the Vieux Carré Commission, the agency of the City of New Orleans charged with protecting and preserving the distinct architectural and historic character of the French Quarter. Becnel lives in New Orleans with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Irina (semi-hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

”She gave him a trembling smile, a beautiful, hopeful smile, that held in it all the warmth of the sun, the serenity of the moon, and the enduring promise of the constellations.“

This is a classic bodice ripper with plenty of misbehavior, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, unexpressed feelings, jealousy, and sex scenes in purple prose. Add two main characters with pretty less appeal and you have all ingredients for an annoying book.

The hero, Ivan, is the son of an earl and a Gypsy woman, so he's called the Bastard Earl or the Gypsy Earl. When he was a child, his scheming grandmother bought him from his mother and sent him to Burford Hall (also called Bastard Hall) for a proper education. Despite having earned the title, property and money from his deceased father, he's still bitter about his family's lack of love back then. He especially hates his grandmother wholeheartedly and does everything he can to annoy and hurt her.

Thanks to her interest in childhood and education, the heroine, Lucy, quickly recognizes the reason for his bad behavior (including whoring and excessive drinking and ruining her), so she's much too understanding and forgiving. She also swoons over the dashing man with the earring all the time and melts with lust from a mere glance or a touch. She's not a doormat and rebukes him often enough, I still couldn't warm up to her.

While reading, I checked the number of pages multiple times because it felt like 1,000 (it's less than 400, actually). The never-ending back-and-forth and drama were really, really exhausting.

1.5


BTW, the author has a remarkable passion for fiery metaphors:

Ivan’s mouth descended on hers and she was lost. Like the strike of lightning igniting a tree and setting an entire forest to flame, so did the hot press of his lips start a conflagration that set all of her afire. Her logic burned to cinders, her caution turned to ash. Propriety should have doused the flame, but it was no match for the fuel of her emotions.
    Oh, how she wanted this man!


He’d set her on fire. He’d burned her up. He’d consumed her and now she was his, mere ashes, burned in the fire of his passion.
    Their passion.


They erupted together. They exploded into one another and around one another. The fire sucked them in and it burned them up.
    But in the scorching aftermath, as they collapsed into the sweaty, twisted bed linens, something even better was formed. Something better than them apart, Lucy imagined. It was them together. Together and in love.

[Simoloverosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letto in poche ore questo splendido storico a cui assegno 5 stelle piene perchè ha catturato totalmente la mia attenzione. Bello il personaggio del conte tenebroso e tormentato ma la protagonista assoluta è la "adorabile" nonna che grazie alla sua astuzia....... ehhh troppo facile rivelarvi che succede!!!!! Non voglio rovinarvi nessuna sorpresa perchè di sorprese in questo storico ce ne sono un bel po' quindi consiglio di leggerlo assolutamente. Aggiungo che alla fine mi ha anche commossa quindi lo promuovo senza ombra di dubbio tra gli storici imperdibili!!!!

[Juliana Philippa · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) Could have been four stars because all the right components were there - wonderful leading characters, interesting supporting ones, great dialogue, intense chemistry between the hero and heroine - however after Ivan and Lucy marry, his behavior was a real turn-off.

I love the tortured and grew-up-unloved-and-alone hero as much as the next girl, but where's the fun in reading about a hero who is mean to the heroine, abandons her for more than two months the morning after they get married, and then vacillates between ignoring her and going out of his way to hurt her.

Yeah, yeah, we get the whole explanation that he's afraid of love, afraid of his own feelings for Lucy and hers (or lack thereof) for him, but still ... could have been shown to the reader in another way, because although reading snappy dialogue and about antagonizing encounters is enjoyable (and sometimes preferable) at the beginning of a hero and heroine's relationship, if it devolves into meanness or goes on for too long, it kind of takes the fun out of things.

[Nellab1984 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5

[Cat The Curious · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucy is a blue stocking. Ivan is the gypsy rake with the tortured past. Lucy's sexy wit and smarts attract Ivan so much. Ivan becomes obsessed with having her. The heroine is a spinsterish blue stocking and Ivan's lust for her and their banter back and forth is what I really enjoyed. He starts to lust Lucy and sets out to seduce her. Page 131-132 made me laugh out loud. Let me stop now before I divulge too much. The book takes a serious turn that some do not like. You have to go back to his tortured past to understand. Overall the wit of the heroine and Ivan's naughtiness won me over.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical Romance A Thon: Book with a stepback


Why did I give this book 3 stars when it contains all the things about Romance novels I hate?

I don't know.

While I was reading this book I wanted to give it 2 stars but I also didn't feel like it deserved such a low rating.

Things I didn't like:
- A helpless main character Lucy
- Attempted rape of the main character Lucy by her husband Ivan
- An emotionally abusive relationship
- Characters who refuse to just say what they're thinking
-Every romance novel cliché

What I Liked:
- The main character Lucy was older nearly 30
- Lucy is the horniest character ever
- Lucy enjoys sex
- Lucy enjoys sex A LOT
- Hot sex scenes

Dangerous to Love is extremely sexy. The love scenes weren't cringy or overly poetic. I think I decided to give this book 3 stars because I was able to turn my brain off and just enjoy it. Yes I still noticed the problematic parts but in the end I was able to just acknowledge those things existed and not allow it effect my enjoyment. I guess it all comes down to Rexanne Becnel being a good writer.

As a (mostly) non romance reader I enjoyed this throwback romance.

No rec.

[Daneesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

FREAKING AMAZING. this book belongs in my top 3. i couldn't put it down. my mom kept coming in to interrupt, but i was so determined to finish it, i kept reading until i did.
the hero had a horrible childhood. he wasn't loved. well, as an adult he doesn't know how to love or be loved. it was amazing the trials that the heroine went through with him. the heroine had backbone, spunk, and she was a beautiful spinster. she could match him word for word. the dialogue and scenes between the two of them were smoldering and funny. anyway, she eventually fell for him and not just because he was devastatingly handsome. you know the men are usually beautiful.
anyway, he was worth her love. he was just so afraid of it. of course, he came to see differently. it took him some time and it wasn't in the span of 4 pages. you could see him slowly changing. the book also had a nice theme about the importance of family. i wholeheartedly recommend this gem of a book.

[Lucy Qhuay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was intense! I loved everything about it. The writing, the multi-layered characters and the depth of feeling. I loved how much Ivan and Lucy needed each other. Above all, I loved how Ivan needed Lucy more than he had ever needed anything or anyone and that's why he just could not relent in his pursuit of her. Also, the seduction games they played were chef's kiss.

Granted, the book is not without its fault. The ending was too rushed, especially after certain events that took place. Moreover, I would have liked to see some kind of resolution between Ivan and his grandmother. It's still a great old school historical romance in my humble opinion.

[Haya 2 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Someone needs to tell Lucy to calm the f*** down. Ivan is just a guy, that’s it. She keeps gasping and exclaiming in her head so damn much every time Ivan did or said something.

I couldn’t get into this book because I keep feeling embarrassed for Lucy. She’s supposed to be this prim and proper lady, that’s cool and chill and doesn’t let anyone toy with her. But alas, we’ve got the opposite.

Ps. Ivan has a lot of growing up to do. Maybe I could’ve actually sympathized with him. That’s if he didn’t act like such a spoiled whiny brat the whole time....

[Katy · Rating 4 out of 5]

UPDATE

I think this is more a 3.50 stars, this one has a strong beginning, a slow middle, and a weak end. Also so much crying from this supposedly strong heroine, also Ivan is one of the biggest babies and most emotionally unstable heroes I have read, sure he is hot af but all he does is bitch about his past. The chemistry between Lucy and Ivan worked VERY well though and is the bulk of the reason behind my rating, both their personalities leave A LOT to be desired though.

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ivan was a jerk. Slightly more likable at the end.

I did not give this one star because there is nothing good about this novel. Rather, I just didn't like it, and that is how goodreads defines one star. For a two star, I might try out another book from the author, but with a one star, I don't plan on reading anything else by Becnel.

[Mary23nm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "bastard" hero is seriously messed up and treats the heroine badly during the second half of the book. The blue-stocking spinster heroine was great, except for her melting over his man-moves (backbone of a wet noodle) and that did get irritating after awhile. The first half of the book was pretty good but the ending was very strong and brought my rating up to four stars.

[Jadzia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The characters were so irritating, I was feeling I'd like kick their asses to put some brains in their heads. Entirely too much unneeded internal strugglings.

[Minni Mouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was angsty after the midway point or so, angsty like the same thread as Whitney, My Love. Had me awake at 1am, pacing my room while blowing my nose and tears streaming down my face.

THE GOOD
1) The writing (or plot?) struck me as slightly more engaging than most other historical Regency/Victorian romances, which I appreciated.

2) The feels. Lucy's raw disappointment and jealousy over Sir James and Valerie as well as her hurt over Ivan's behavior ripped my heart out.

3) Lucy is intelligent.

THE BAD
1) Except when Lucy is not intelligent. The absolute worst part that killed this book for me was the toxic relationship between Lucy and Ivan, as well as Lucy's submissive attitude towards Ivan's flippant treatment of her after their marriage. Ladies, don't you ever let a man treat you like that. Every time Lucy begins to stand up to Ivan and call him out on his horrid behavior, all Ivan needs to do is start kissing her and next thing you know, he's seduced the fight right out of her.

2) Ivan doesn't deserve Lucy's easy forgiveness.

3) Characters weren't completely convincing. So...Ivan's three buddies beat him up at prep school and that's all we're given to show they're not brothers in friendship? Ivan is bad and dangerous...just because he was an orphaned Gypsy?

FINAL THOUGHTS
I was into it. Wanted to roll my eyes off the page but whadya gonna a do.

[Cristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imparare ad amare...imparare a capire cos'è l'amore.

Storia intensa a tutto tondo.
Storia di dolore infantile, di non accettazione e di comprensione del proprio cuore.
Storia di riscatto, storia d'amore...!
Ivan è un mezzo sangue, che ha imparato presto un risvolto amaro del cuore: che l'amore, e la mancanza labile di esso fa male.
Lucy, circondata da una comune famiglia ha invece imparato la noia dell'amore, a cui, una volta assuefatti, non si riesce a riconoscere e si cerca l'intellettualità del cuore.
L'uno diverso dall'altra ma che con la passione e con il dolore delle perdite e dei sentimenti reciproci mal interpretati riusciranno a trovarsi e a dare un senso alla parola amore, alla parola famiglia.
La scrittrice ha intessuto una storia perfetta, lasciando i personaggi nel loro ruolo aggressivo e ammaliatore, facendoli evolvere e maturare e portandoli a un rilassato susseguirsi di avvicendamenti ostracizzanti. Intenso, piacevole, non eccessivamente romantico, ma con passione, corteggiamento, conoscenza e profonda intellettualità di un cuore che non sa come amare, e un cuore che non sa come farsi amare.
Perfetto!

[Marina P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical romance in England’s post-regency era with a hero who is half-gypsy and an aristocratic heroine. The hero has a superlative sex-appeal, which weakens the heroine every time they interact. He is fascinated by her feistiness. The hero grew up in-loved and abused, the heroine had a loving upbringing and - she has a basic understanding of developmental psychology. So whenever the hero is mean to her - and he is a lot of times - she can understand his reasons. I didn’t like that because every time she did this, I thought she was being a doormat.

Their HEA came very abrupt at the end - the very last five pages. Not very satisfying.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the emotionally charged story. Ivan has had a tortured upbringing and has a hate or mistrust of women. Lucy an intellectual strong willed spinster tries to break through the walls this Gypsy lord has placed around his heart. Beautifully written and I enjoyed reading it.

[Kathleen Crowell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Much better time period for me. Kind of dark, but I liked it!

[Elena Agresta · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not that authentic. And it goes on and on. If it was quicker then OK read.

[MK · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. I'd actually mark it right up there with The Matchmaker.

So you've got this guy who was dragged out of his gypsy life style because he's the last heir of his fathers title. So even though he's illegitimate they want to groom him to take over, because you know, blood lines. He's pissed because his grandmother ripped him from his mothers arms and left him to be raised my strangers.

Now that it's time for him to settle down and take a wife he turns down all his grandmothers matchmaking to tick her off. So in walk Lady Valerie, the newest girl his grandmother has planned to throw at him and her chaperone Lucy.

On the shelf Lucy is the one to catch his eye. I love bluestocking stories. I love when the girl has her own mind and her own way of doing things. Lucy isn't looking for the most handsome man in the ball room. She has her hat set for a scholar. The whole reason she wanted to sponsor Lady Valerie is so she could go to this scholars lectures.

Ivan is a thorn in her side. But he likes her because she's the first girl to try and not toy with his affection.

It's so hard to get a plot like this done right and Becnel nailed it. I loved the witty banter between the two characters. I loved how they slowly began to fall for each other. I love how much they were eaten by their insecurities. I love how the Lucy was first infatuated with another guy and that bothered Ivan.

This plot was brilliant.

Spoiler below!

The one part I did not understand was the miscarriage. I feel like it would have taken Lucy much longer to recover then she did. I wanted Ivan to suffer just a little bit more for his assholish behavior. She basically forgave him right away when she should have put him in his place for being such a dick and leaving her like that.

[Terre J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books I couldn't stop reading. Then when I finally went to bed, woke at 3am , wanting to go finish reading it! Yes, he's a jerk, but he didn't know any other way to be! The H is a bastard half gypsy earl, the h is a bit of a bluestocking, but pretty and passionate, and decidedly outspoken. When they meet, sparks fly, and neither can resist the pull to be together. Eventually they are forced to marry, due to manipulations of his grandmother and his friend. Wish we had been informed why his friend took part in the plot, that was never explained. There is much heartache and pain, but eve a HEA. I really like this author, had greatly enjoyed The Maiden Bride, will read more from her.

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5. Angry, embittered gypsy and newly titled bastard earl goes up against self-righteous, compulsive psycho-analyst spinster. He was just too cold, cruel and charmless for most of the book, she irritated me with her constant applications of her various psych theories, which she used to justify and forgive his cruelty. Not to mention her moments of petty jealousy of her younger charge was not very endearing. The book improved in the last third and the author is a rather good writer.

[katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have liked a little more romance and not the just the sexual tension between the two. I've read books where the sexual tension leads to romance and this is not it.

The ending feels lacking. There was no gradual resolution between the two especially after everything that happened.

To sum up the relationship between Lucy and Ivan, listen to Collide by Dishwalla.

[Anja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good story, great hero and wonderful heroine. I also liked the grandmother very much. What I always admire with Becnel's books is, that she can describe the despair so believably. It always, always makes me cry. I can't help it.

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency

[Sabrina Jeffries · Rating 5 out of 5]

The heroine is delightfully spinsterish and there's something about gypsy Regency rakes that I can't resist. Ivan is so determined not to fall in love and Lucy is just so determined to make him!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, wonderfully written. Great chemistry between the characters.

[Noelia Acuña · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2.

[Susan T · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOL one of my favourite romance novels.

[AlexandraB95 · Rating 1 out of 5]

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