Lord Sin

Rakes of London #1

by Kalen Hughes

Republished in 2020 as Sin Incarnate by Isobel Carr with additional editing.

Six Nights Of Pleasure...
Georgianna Exley's passionate nature has always been her undoing, and for this reason the beautiful young widow allows her lovers only a single night in her bed. But Ivo Dauntry has come home to England, and for him she'll break her most sacred rule: granting him six nights of sensual bliss, one for every year he's given up for her...


Six Years To Wait...
As a gentleman born, Ivo risked his reputation and his life in a duel to defend Georgianna's honor. Now, returned from exile, Ivo discovers that she has proven to be less than a lady...and soon, his daring seduction becomes a sensual contest of wills. But the long-ago duel that bound them forever has fueled the hatred of a madman determined to make Georgianna pay for her misdeeds with her life, and once again, Ivo must risk everything to save the woman he loves...

Genres: Romance, Historical, Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Regency, Georgian, Historical Fiction

301 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Nom de plume
Advice from many of my published friends, as well as witnessing a few stalker-ish incidents, led me to go with a pen name. So, my middle name and the last name I grew up with (my wonderful step-father's) have been combined to form my fabulous new identity.

Overeducated & Under-employable
My parents are both book crazy, and my godmother is a writer. With a start like that, scribbling down stories just came naturally. I have a BA in philosophy, with minors in history and creative writing (Hollins College) and an MFA in creative writing (San Francisco State University). Combine all that with $3.25 and you can buy a spicy chai at my favorite coffee shop.

Walking the Walk
I grew up immersed in the lively reenactor community on the West Coast. Since the age of three I’ve been involved in various living history events from the Middle Ages to the Roaring 20s. I’ve made and worn clothing from the 12th century on up (including the period specific underwear!). Top of page

Why Romance?
I wrote my first romance novel in response to a challenge from a close friend. We'd recently read the same romance novel and were annoyed by the lack of historical accuracy in it, so we decided to see if we could do better. I finished that first novel in about six months and was hooked. I can't promise that my book is error-free, but I can swear that I did my absolute best to make it so.

The Call
I was lucky enough to final in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart contest the first time I entered and everything has just unfolded from there as if it were meant to be. I met my now editor while standing in the pit waiting for the awards ceremony to start. She liked my dress and we got to chatting. That brief chat led to a request for a submission, which led to a sale.


Contests
The manuscript that was to become Lord Sin got 2s and 3s in the Golden Heart. Yes, you heard me right: 2s and 3s (and one 8). Obviously it did not get into the hands of the “right” judges. Lord Sin has gone on to win a Romantic Times K.I.S.S. Award for the hero and to be nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award.


My other finished manuscript (which has gone on to become Lord Scandal, my June 2008 release) finaled in the Golden Heart the same year Lord Sin crashed and burned. Previously, that same manuscript got a 37 and a 57 (out of 100) in its only other contest outing and garnered a judge’s comment that I’ll treasure forever: I loathe everything about your hero. This is the same hero about whom the Coffee Time Romance reviewer just said: I could not keep from wishing I was the person Gabriel wanted.

Clearly you can’t please all of the people all of the time, so it’s best in my opinion to be true to yourself, your vision, and your voice. So, don’t give up, and don’t let ‘em get you down. Success is—after all—the greatest revenge.

Reviews

[seton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grade: C+/DNF (I stopped at Page 198)

To me, the best thing about this book is that Hughes created a very believable Alpha Heroine. George (Georgianna) is a female Corinthian, a crack shot. When her carriage is held up by highwaymen and the villain, she gets her pistol and she routs them all by her lone self. And unlike other worldly widows in half of the historicals I read, who act like virgins as soon as the novel begins (despite whatever ho-ish repuation they have) George is quite comfortable in her sexuality and pretty much directs the sex & romance between herself and Ivo.

. . . whatever romance there is, anyway. And that’s the main problem with the book: I didnt see the romance. I didn’t see the falling-in-love. George and Ivo don’t talk much. They must communicate by mental telepathy or something. Unfortunately, I cant read Brainwavese.

I mean, in the first chapter, Ivo and George see each other for the first time in six years with a duel and a scandal connecting them and they have nothing to say to each other? Instead, they stare at each other lustfully across a crowded fighting ring. The next time they see each other, they share a smoke and more lustful glances. Then Ivo finally opens his mouth to say “Six nights. and George is like “Okay. Now shut up because you are ruining my silent lusting." Then more a-lustin’, a-kissin’, a-tuppin’ and still not much a-talkin’. The not-talking and just a-lustin’ kept going on and on . . . and on. At one point, George decides that she wants their six nights to be an ongoing affair and that she wants to be Ivo’s mistress. But does she never tells him this? No. Did she send off a message by brainwaves while I wasn’t looking? I dunno.

I wasn’t feeling Ivo at all. He was suppose to be strong, silent type but I found him almost disturbingly passive. When written right, a strong, silent hero stills gives off plenty of charisma and tension while standing still. I just could not get a sense of what made Ivo so interesting to George other than his good looks and their history together. And this is in spite of the fact that this book has a LOT of interior monologue and not enough doing & showing.

In terms of the writing itself, Hughes has a smooth style with a nice turn of phrase here & there reflecting a dry sense of humor. There was a retro feel to the book that reminded me of the Regencies from the 1970s I read from that period. Hughes has stated that she wanted to write like “Georgette Heyer, but HOT” and I can definitely see that. In terms of sensuality, it’s just a smidge below a Sabrina Jeffries/Nicole Jordan historical.

Note: This is the first book of a trilogy.

[Kim H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this today, pretty much all the while trying to figure out where the beginning of the story was & what I had missed. George and Ivo - and yes, one of them IS a woman (although it's hard to tell which at times:P) - begin this story running into each other again, after 6 years, at a prizefight.
Don't ask me, I didn't write it:P
They share a few smoldering glances and she (George) bums a cigar. I do so love these shrinking violet types...
It seems that 6 years ago Ivo fought a duel in George's honor, and is apparently bitter about the experience, which has caused him to be banished from home through the intervening years.
Ivo is convinced that George is a bit of a trollop, which is something of a mystery to me, considering the fact that she spends much of the book riding, shooting, and playing hostess to scores of unattached men, who seem to come & go at will through her home at all hours. Ivo & George are strongly attracted to each other, so he devises a plan for them to slake their inconvenient lust by spending exactly 6 nights together as lovers; one night for each year Ivo spent banished from home. Presumably, the idea here is that they'll fall in love and live happily ever after in the interim.
Which might have worked, I suppose, had they had any meaningful interactions beyond just having sex. It seems they both have plenty to say to each other, it just never actually gets said. About the most meaningful thing Ivo seems able to come up with is to tell George he isn't engaged. Thankfully, he was able to get that much out, otherwise, she *might* have decided not to have sex with him.
Not that they did as much of that as they did riding, shooting, & shopping, but it's nice to see at least some interaction between the H&H before the HEA just drops on you in the last chapter:P
To be honest about it, I never quite got this story. The author threw dozens of secondary characters at me that I had no frame of reference for, and an H&H with a history that I saw nothing of. I couldn't come to any meaningful understanding of either character on an individual level, because there was nothing of them beyond what was taking place in a linear sense - other than vague past references made by secondary characters. I know that George is a widow and Ivo is an earl, but beyond that, I could only say that he's a bit of a pantywaist to his overbearing tyrant of a grandfather, and she lives the sort of life that would see her ostracized from the society she moves around in so freely, were she left to the tender mercies of just about any other Regency/Georgian period writer. I know that Ivo proposes to George at some point in the story, and apparently makes a hash of it, because she gets angry and storms out of the room. I'd have to make guesses as to exactly how he flubbed the proposal however, as the author never sees fit to actually write it.
And all of that, I could still manage to set aside if there were anything here even vaguely resembling a romance.
Unfortunately, I was left with the impression that George & Ivo simply spent enough time in the sack to feel comfortable with getting leg-shackled, and then there's a sweet little epilogue with their son & heir. I'm actually glad Hughes saw fit to commit that much to print, otherwise I might have had to surmise that's where this story was headed:P Overall, I'd have to say that Hughes seemed a little too fascinated with writing about house parties, social rounds, and fashion to give much thought to something so mundane as romance.
I gave Lord Sin a very generous C-, and that, mostly because I managed to finish it.

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really well done Georgian set historical romp from the late 1700s. Georgiana Exley is a widow from what appears to have been a relatively short, happy marriage and she has no children. Ivo Dauntry has spent the last six years more or less exiled after killing a man in a duel over George which nearly plunged everyone involved into a massive scandal.

Now with the death of his cousin, Ivo is his grandfather's heir and must take his place in society. Which brings Ivo and George back into the same circles.

George is not exactly a classic Heyer heroine. She is one of the boys and is constantly surrounded by men with whom she is on the best of terms. As a widow, she has the option of discreet affairs but the rumour mill says she only allows her lovers the number of nights on the turn of a dice. George has her own rule because she doesn't seek a permanent lover. She enjoys her independence too much.
Until Ivo returns and disrupts her carefully organised life.

I really enjoyed the way these two sparked off each other both mentally and physically. The obstacles between them were relatively minor but significant at the time, with George's reluctance to give up control being a major one.

There was a nice little subplot of an intrigue against George that helped move things along but didn't overtake the development of the relationship between her and Ivo.

I will say there was a large cast of characters to get your head around. George has two intimate male best friends that act like big brothers and both she and Ivo have a large group of friends and family in common. This did distract occasionally. I went back at one point to try and figure out why Bennett, who is apparently Ivo's friend is also very close to George's family. I never did quite figure it out. Not that it mattered but it distracted me briefly.

Overall it was a well written excursion into a less popular part of the Georgian era. I loved the clothing and hair (which all seemed very accurate to me) but didn't overwhelm the story with description. Yes there was quite a lot of sex. *side eyes another review* The sex was all appropriate to the story, enhanced the growth of the relationship and not gratuitous. There were no purple poles of passion or whatever.

The ending was very satisfying with George maintaining her agency and both of them looking good for the long haul. Not a spoiler, because, you know, genre romance. I hope to see them again in the sequel about one of George's male friends we've already met.

[Katie(babs) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Sin, the first book by new author Kalen Hughes is simply a delicious and hot romp in the late 18th century. The hero lusts and is so obsessed with the heroine that he can hardly sit still because he is so... frustrated for her.

Ivo is a man after my own heart, because after six years of a scandal he suffered due in part to the woman of his desires, he has come back to England and when their eyes finally meet, it is scorching. (Any author who can make that emotional so well on paper is amazing)

The heroine George is not the normal run of the mill virginal nitwits found in other novels. She has been married to a man she adored, taken lovers (at her own discretion) and is surrounded by men and women alike who love her just the way she is. If a man wants her and she feels the same, her rule is she will only have one night with them. But when Ivo enters the picture, he wants six nights for the six years missing between them.

There is a little unneeded mystery about someone trying to kill George, but it doesn't overtake the story. This is all about an alpha male taking what is due him and that is his mate.

For anyone who likes their romance, hot, sweaty and a little dirty, you must read this one.

If Hughes continues writing this way, she has a bright future in store.

[Rosanna Leo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb for Isobel Carr's Sin Incarnate describes this story as as "sensual contest of wills," and it certainly is. The heat comes right off the pages. I loved this romance. Georgianna Exley is a fantastic heroine. The young widow has come up with a way to manage her lovers since her husband's death, but Ivo Dauntry is throwing a wrench into all her plans. This couple has a past, one that never quite came to sexual fruition, and Ivo is determined to show George how explosive they can be together. The love scenes are hot and so fun, and with each one, emotions become engaged. It was wonderful seeing them fall in love. However, someone from their past has a grudge against George, and he aims to get his revenge. Just when George and Ivo are grappling the most with their newfound love, they must also find a way to keep her alive.
Excellent writing and a careful eye for historical detail combine to make this a great romance.

[Amy]

DNF - historicals aren't my usual thing and I think a lot of the terminology here was too over my head.

[Jennifer]

I must be feeling picky. I got far enough in this book for the maid to be brutally murdered, but then it was never mentioned in the next chapter. Maybe the heroine didn't know about it yet, but I just felt a little dirty that no one acknowledged the poor woman.

[NorthernLightsGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you like Diane Whiteside or Lisa Valdez then you might like this one. It is alittle tamer than Passion.

[Valerie Columbia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book and makes me want to check out the other books in this series.
I'm for sure going to remember this author for the next time I'm at the bookstore.
I loved the characters, the couple and the subplot kept me interested too.

[Christine Klymko · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written by a friend of a friend, this book was an entertaining light read, although not my usual style.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Scribd
Bored

[MaggieReadsRom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another smashing debut-author.
Ms Hughes delivers an enticing, appealing early Regency-novel (Georgian Period).
With a heroin who knows what she wants: her freedom to do whatever she want, when she wants it and the way she wants it and there’s no man who can dictate otherwise.
And a hero who’s the perfect man for her.
Georgianna (George) Exley is an extraordinay heroin for the time-period in which this book is set: she hunts, she smokes, has male friends and takes lovers on her own terms. She could easily be a 21st century-woman. But because Kalen Hughes describes her so well, she is never out of place in the 18th century.

Ivo Dantry is handsome, mysterious and determined not to want Georgianna, despite his ernormous attraction to her. Picture two magnets but with the wrong polars towards each other. Attraction and rejection fighting to win. It’s not hard to imagine that the attractions wins...and how! Because when he finally gives in to his feelings, he’s determined to have and to hold Georgianna...I melted away at the scene at the end of the book where he comes in and literally sweeps Georgianna of her feet and carries her away

The love-scenes are beautifully written and hot without getting too explicit or raunchy. For me that’s one of the things why I liked this book so much. Another is her description style. I’ve read books where everything is described in so much details it get’s boring and takes the attention away from the actual story. Same goes for the use of language. But not in this book. I felt like being swept into the 18th century from the first page without a single moment of boredom or annoyance. I know that Ms Hughes does a lot of research into the time-period and it shows in a very good way!
Every chapter starts with a made-up quote from a column that actually existed in het Morning Post at that time, called Tête-à-Tête

The only less praising thing I can say about the book is that it has an enormous amount of secondary characters: friends, enemies, children, family, members of society.
Sometimes it’s hard to remember all the names and relations between them. And I guess because of the great number of characters they are not really deepened out which leaves Ivo and Georgianna the most powerful characters in the book. Of course that is not a bad thing since they are hero and heroin but I always like a few secondary characters having a bigger role in the book than just being there hanging around in the background.

Her writing reminds me of Elizabeth Hoyt, one of my favourite authors, but luckily she has her own unique style which I can only applaude.
I can’t wait for Lord Scandal, her second book with Gabriel Angelstone, one of Georgianna’s best friends, as the hero.


Quotes:

He knew exactly how to ride her, how to wind her up into a ball of pure need and desire.

Georgianna after being thoroughly satisfied by Ivo:
“Do you intend to remove your coat and boots or is the point to spend the afternoon taking me like a pirate?”

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book after reading the author's later works as Isobel Carr. Good debut. Hughes / Carr writes about edgy characters and this book does not stray from that premise. There were periods in the book that felt a little lopsided, with the stronger development of the heroine's character versus the hero's but as a whole this novel worked. Hot and passionate with lively dialog, interesting period references and good plot twist this author entertains and is worth reading as a more matured writer as Isobel Carr.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charming tale

The Georgian setting is a pleasant deviation from the usual Regency Era timeframe, fashion was bigger, hair powdered, and morals looser. The author does a great job evoking the time period.
I needed more background to the main characters, at times I felt I was dropped into the story midway. Sometimes people were mentioned and treated as if we should know who they were and their relationships within the story.
The crackling energy between romantic leads was very well fleshed out (pun intended).

[Christian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sebagai novel debut, novel ini bisa dibilang cukup memuaskan. Tapi sebagai awal dari sebuah serial, kok masih kentang ya?

Tapi secara keseluruhan, novel ini hampir memenuhi semua yang saya harapkan saat membaca historical romance yang seksi. This is not Lisa Kleypas, Johanna Lindsey, etc kind of HR. This is more spicy than your average historical romance. Jadi, jangan bilang nggak diingatin ya dari awal. :)

[Andrea the historical nut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't LIKE, LIKE this book. I LOVE, LOVED this book! The historical tone and the love story is balanced with a REAL story. There were times the internal dialogue dragged but it was so beautifully written that I ignored that it lasted a bit longer than I would have liked.

[Tonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a strong woman lead

This is set during a time when women were reliant on men for everything. This story is about a young widow who has different rules for herself & a man who makes her want to break them. Great characters, great storytelling!

[Mitzi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but simple.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun heroine - dug it

[Mickey Schulz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great girl "stroke material." Sex and lots of it. A little thin on plot, but that's ok.

[Lynn Calvin]

Amazon received

[Alexandria Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical accuracy a big plus, but typos and misreads were distracting.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book but slow at points.

[Megan]

Can't finish