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Naked Nobility #2
The Naked Baron
Tell Me What You Want
New to London society and rather-awkward-Lady Grace Belmont would just as soon hide behind the palm trees as dance with a man she doesn-t know. But Baron Dawson is on the hunt for a wife. Grace-s generous curves and remarkable height do not intimidate him. In fact, it would be more accurate to describe his reaction to the charming newcomer as lust.
Before Grace can so much as gather her thoughts, she finds herself in his arms, committing one shocking impropriety after another. The Baron-s devilish attractiveness-to say nothing of his splendid muscles-is simply impossible to resist. Her beloved aunt and chaperon advises patience, but Grace is not about to listen. The handsome baron is whispering such delightful things in her ear-
New to London society and rather-awkward-Lady Grace Belmont would just as soon hide behind the palm trees as dance with a man she doesn-t know. But Baron Dawson is on the hunt for a wife. Grace-s generous curves and remarkable height do not intimidate him. In fact, it would be more accurate to describe his reaction to the charming newcomer as lust.
Before Grace can so much as gather her thoughts, she finds herself in his arms, committing one shocking impropriety after another. The Baron-s devilish attractiveness-to say nothing of his splendid muscles-is simply impossible to resist. Her beloved aunt and chaperon advises patience, but Grace is not about to listen. The handsome baron is whispering such delightful things in her ear-
353 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2009
147 people are currently reading
731 people want to read
About the author
Sally MacKenzie
42 books639 followersSally MacKenzie decided to become a writer in grade school when she read one of her stories to the class. Her classmates laughed and she was hooked. She sat down immediately to pen her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
September 2, 2017
Super cheesy and sweet historical romance. I want to give it 2 stars because it was too cheesy and mushy for me, but it wasn't bad in any other way, so 3 stars - it's me, not the book. I was expecting more naked baron time, less of this cheesy PG love. For the record, the baron only gets naked at the end for the only love scene between the baron & Grace. The rest of the time they just get to first base.
Their story is super cheesy & mushy sweet. I liked it, but it threw me and I'm not used to such soft plots. There is also a second story going on between Grace's aunt and the baron's uncle. They're much more sizzling and have all the angst that the baron's story doesn't. But I didn't like that the synopsis makes it out that the baron & Grace are the main characters when the secondary story takes up 40% of the book.
Quick read.
Their story is super cheesy & mushy sweet. I liked it, but it threw me and I'm not used to such soft plots. There is also a second story going on between Grace's aunt and the baron's uncle. They're much more sizzling and have all the angst that the baron's story doesn't. But I didn't like that the synopsis makes it out that the baron & Grace are the main characters when the secondary story takes up 40% of the book.
Quick read.
April 23, 2020
2 Estrellas. La verdad es que no me ha gustado mucho y ha sido un chasco. El primer libro estuvo entretenido, pero éste me ha aburrido, habría habido más emoción de haber sido un relato corto.
Por desgracia tampoco es lo que promete la sinopsis, que te presenta a los protagonistas. Éste no es el libro de Grace y David, es el libro de sus tíos Kate y Alex, y su segunda oportunidad veintitrés años después.
Sí, Grace y David se conocen en un baile, él está buscando esposa, y ella, a la tardía edad de veinticinco años está pasando su primera temporada en Londres, para que pueda divertirse antes de que su padre la case con su aburrido vecino.
Pero en el baile no están solo ellos, Grace tiene de chaperona a su tía Kate, la viuda Lady Oxbury, y David ha acudido con su tío Alex. Cuando sus miradas se funden a Grace se le derriten las piernas, y David siente un instalove de campeonato. No son los únicos, cuando sus tíos se ven y se reconocen, saltan chispas.
Alex y Kate se conocieron hace veintitrés años y no se han olvidado, el hermano de Kate y padre de Grace, Lord Standen, hizo lo posible por separar a los enamorados. La oscura historia familiar dice que Standen amó a Lady Harriet y no la ha olvidado. Era su prometida, pero ésta le abandonó para casarse con el barón Dawson, hermano mayor de Alex. Debido a esa afrenta, Standen hizo todo lo posible por no acercarse a esos advenedizos. De haber sabido que los Wilton estaban en Londres pasando la temporada, Standen no habría dejado que su hermana y su hija fuesen a la capital.
Kate se casó obligada con el conde de Oxbury, y aunque nunca le amó, llegaron a un entendimiento, pero no tuvieron hijos. A pesar de todo, Kate no olvidó a Alex, hasta que vuelven a verse en el baile del duque de Alvord, y vuelven a tratarse. El trato renovado de ambos tíos ha tenido consecuencias, y Kate teme que el nuevo lord Oxbury, primo de su marido, la eche a la calle.
Ahí es cuando entran en acción Grace y David, se conocen en el mismo baile del duque de Alvord, y en cuanto se ven se desean, pero lo suyo no puede ser posible, el padre de Grace odia a la familia de David y si supiera que se han conocido la llevaría de los pelos a casa y la casaría con su aburrido vecino. A pesar de todo, ambos saben del truncado amor de sus tíos, de su reencuentro y su separación; también saben que sus tíos se quieren, así que ambos se las ingeniarán de todas las maneras posibles para que estos vuelvan a coincidir y acaben felizmente juntos.
Si soy sincera, me ha gustado más la historia de los tíos que la de los protas, pero es que ha habido un 50% de división en el libro, Sally Mackenzie nos ha contado dos historias en una, y la de los protas es inexistentes, es un instalove soso que no entiendes, y el de los tíos es una bonita historia de segundas oportunidades, pero ya está. Éste es de esos libros que te engañan por la sinopsis, a pesar de la historia que ha contado por lo menos ha merecido la pena la de los tíos.
La primera parte ha sido bastante tediosa y aburrida, el primer cuarto del libro se desarrolla totalmente en el baile donde se conocen, y no pasa nada de nada. La segunda mitad del libro ha mejorado bastante gracias a la invitación a la casa de campo del vizconde Motton, y las peculiares personas que allí se reúnen.
Continuaré con la serie porque tengo los siguientes libros en papel esperándome en casa, pero éste ha sido una decepción total.
Por desgracia tampoco es lo que promete la sinopsis, que te presenta a los protagonistas. Éste no es el libro de Grace y David, es el libro de sus tíos Kate y Alex, y su segunda oportunidad veintitrés años después.
Sí, Grace y David se conocen en un baile, él está buscando esposa, y ella, a la tardía edad de veinticinco años está pasando su primera temporada en Londres, para que pueda divertirse antes de que su padre la case con su aburrido vecino.
Pero en el baile no están solo ellos, Grace tiene de chaperona a su tía Kate, la viuda Lady Oxbury, y David ha acudido con su tío Alex. Cuando sus miradas se funden a Grace se le derriten las piernas, y David siente un instalove de campeonato. No son los únicos, cuando sus tíos se ven y se reconocen, saltan chispas.
Alex y Kate se conocieron hace veintitrés años y no se han olvidado, el hermano de Kate y padre de Grace, Lord Standen, hizo lo posible por separar a los enamorados. La oscura historia familiar dice que Standen amó a Lady Harriet y no la ha olvidado. Era su prometida, pero ésta le abandonó para casarse con el barón Dawson, hermano mayor de Alex. Debido a esa afrenta, Standen hizo todo lo posible por no acercarse a esos advenedizos. De haber sabido que los Wilton estaban en Londres pasando la temporada, Standen no habría dejado que su hermana y su hija fuesen a la capital.
Kate se casó obligada con el conde de Oxbury, y aunque nunca le amó, llegaron a un entendimiento, pero no tuvieron hijos. A pesar de todo, Kate no olvidó a Alex, hasta que vuelven a verse en el baile del duque de Alvord, y vuelven a tratarse. El trato renovado de ambos tíos ha tenido consecuencias, y Kate teme que el nuevo lord Oxbury, primo de su marido, la eche a la calle.
Ahí es cuando entran en acción Grace y David, se conocen en el mismo baile del duque de Alvord, y en cuanto se ven se desean, pero lo suyo no puede ser posible, el padre de Grace odia a la familia de David y si supiera que se han conocido la llevaría de los pelos a casa y la casaría con su aburrido vecino. A pesar de todo, ambos saben del truncado amor de sus tíos, de su reencuentro y su separación; también saben que sus tíos se quieren, así que ambos se las ingeniarán de todas las maneras posibles para que estos vuelvan a coincidir y acaben felizmente juntos.
Si soy sincera, me ha gustado más la historia de los tíos que la de los protas, pero es que ha habido un 50% de división en el libro, Sally Mackenzie nos ha contado dos historias en una, y la de los protas es inexistentes, es un instalove soso que no entiendes, y el de los tíos es una bonita historia de segundas oportunidades, pero ya está. Éste es de esos libros que te engañan por la sinopsis, a pesar de la historia que ha contado por lo menos ha merecido la pena la de los tíos.
La primera parte ha sido bastante tediosa y aburrida, el primer cuarto del libro se desarrolla totalmente en el baile donde se conocen, y no pasa nada de nada. La segunda mitad del libro ha mejorado bastante gracias a la invitación a la casa de campo del vizconde Motton, y las peculiares personas que allí se reúnen.
Continuaré con la serie porque tengo los siguientes libros en papel esperándome en casa, pero éste ha sido una decepción total.
April 27, 2009
There are FUN books, and then there are 'fun' books. So far, all but one of the books I've read by Sally MacKenzie have been FUN books. There's no angst, no danger, no see-sawing of emotion...there's just fun regency historical romance! Her first book (at least, that I read) was "The Naked Duke". She has since published four more 'Naked Gentlemen' books, going down the peerage ladder; and there was also one short story contained in the recent 'Lords of Desire' anthology. I don't know where she'll head from here, but her latest is "The Naked Baron".
Grace is excited, and apprehensive, about having a season in London. She knows her father is determined to marry her off to a neighbor, and he's not so bad...really. He's just, well, boring. But Grace also knows that her standing would preclude an offer of marriage anyway--her physical standing that is. She's a bit, ummm, large. Not fat! But not a thin, elfin beauty that's all the rage in the ton either. So she's prepared to enjoy a season in London, have a little fun, and then go home to a life of boredom...uh, calm, yes, calm, with her neighbor.
David, Baron Dawson, is in London to look for a wife and he is, quite frankly, bored. They're all so...small, tiny, petite, whatever you want to call it he knows he needs, well...more. And then he sees her, a goddess who makes his heart, and another organ a bit lower, leap. Now to gain an introduction, and hopefully a wife!
But naturally, the course of love never runs so smooth. You see, Grace's father hates, despises, and abhors anything related to a Wilton in any way...and that would be David. Oh, and David's uncle Alex too who once offered for Grace's aunt Kate and was soundly rebuffed. This, then, is the crux of the story. Love lost, love found, love vs duty, and love vs family.
I enjoyed every minute of "The Naked Baron". There were two, count 'em two, romances for the price of one. Both Grace and Kate deal with their men, but in very different ways, and they each struggle with the compromises love requires. There's no stumbling in the plot or pacing and the passion is a hot PG. Just a delightful way to pass a few hours.
Grace is excited, and apprehensive, about having a season in London. She knows her father is determined to marry her off to a neighbor, and he's not so bad...really. He's just, well, boring. But Grace also knows that her standing would preclude an offer of marriage anyway--her physical standing that is. She's a bit, ummm, large. Not fat! But not a thin, elfin beauty that's all the rage in the ton either. So she's prepared to enjoy a season in London, have a little fun, and then go home to a life of boredom...uh, calm, yes, calm, with her neighbor.
David, Baron Dawson, is in London to look for a wife and he is, quite frankly, bored. They're all so...small, tiny, petite, whatever you want to call it he knows he needs, well...more. And then he sees her, a goddess who makes his heart, and another organ a bit lower, leap. Now to gain an introduction, and hopefully a wife!
But naturally, the course of love never runs so smooth. You see, Grace's father hates, despises, and abhors anything related to a Wilton in any way...and that would be David. Oh, and David's uncle Alex too who once offered for Grace's aunt Kate and was soundly rebuffed. This, then, is the crux of the story. Love lost, love found, love vs duty, and love vs family.
I enjoyed every minute of "The Naked Baron". There were two, count 'em two, romances for the price of one. Both Grace and Kate deal with their men, but in very different ways, and they each struggle with the compromises love requires. There's no stumbling in the plot or pacing and the passion is a hot PG. Just a delightful way to pass a few hours.
July 29, 2024
Listen, I love a circus. Give me a bonkers silly fun book with characters you can’t take seriously any day. But this book and these particular clowns were just not my kind of circus.
This was my first time reading a book by this author so I’m not sure if it’s a style or if this was just the batch of characters that needed wrangling or what? So many times when something needed to happen to move the plot along, the characters got so distracted, I found myself wanted to snap at them and be like “focus!”
I can’t say it didn’t have a light fluffy feel if you’re in that mood but as far as a circus book, this show felt it never got past dress rehearsal before opening night.
This was my first time reading a book by this author so I’m not sure if it’s a style or if this was just the batch of characters that needed wrangling or what? So many times when something needed to happen to move the plot along, the characters got so distracted, I found myself wanted to snap at them and be like “focus!”
I can’t say it didn’t have a light fluffy feel if you’re in that mood but as far as a circus book, this show felt it never got past dress rehearsal before opening night.
October 5, 2022
3 stars. I mostly enjoyed this story, but I’m not a fan of long separations, so I bumped this down one star for that.
There are two couples in this book. The first couple is Grace and the Baron. They meet and feel an instant attraction to each other. He pursues her hard, but she resists because she’s already nearly betrothed to some old stick back home. She doesn’t want to upset her father and so she rejects the hero’s marriage offer thinking she will be ok with doing her duty.
The second couple is the heroine’s aunt and the hero’s uncle. They knew each other twenty years ago and wanted to marry, but the heroine’s brother forced her to marry a different old man instead. She spent all those 20 odd years married to him, until his death the year prior. She never loved her husband and was always pining for her lost love. He was also pining for her all of those years and never married because of it. They finally reconcile in this story, after a lot of stupidity.
Safety:
First couple - virgin heroine, hero mentioned being with many women but no details, no OW drama, OM drama caused by heroine’s determination to marry the OM, but he never makes an appearance in this book. No scenes with OM/OW, no cheating.
Second couple: 20 something year separation, heroine married to OM during that time and she mentions him and his “lovemaking” way too many times for comfort, hero was with OW during this time but never anything serious, once they are reunited there is no one else, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
TW: pregnancy
There are two couples in this book. The first couple is Grace and the Baron. They meet and feel an instant attraction to each other. He pursues her hard, but she resists because she’s already nearly betrothed to some old stick back home. She doesn’t want to upset her father and so she rejects the hero’s marriage offer thinking she will be ok with doing her duty.
The second couple is the heroine’s aunt and the hero’s uncle. They knew each other twenty years ago and wanted to marry, but the heroine’s brother forced her to marry a different old man instead. She spent all those 20 odd years married to him, until his death the year prior. She never loved her husband and was always pining for her lost love. He was also pining for her all of those years and never married because of it. They finally reconcile in this story, after a lot of stupidity.
Safety:
First couple - virgin heroine, hero mentioned being with many women but no details, no OW drama, OM drama caused by heroine’s determination to marry the OM, but he never makes an appearance in this book. No scenes with OM/OW, no cheating.
Second couple: 20 something year separation, heroine married to OM during that time and she mentions him and his “lovemaking” way too many times for comfort, hero was with OW during this time but never anything serious, once they are reunited there is no one else, no scenes with om/ow, no cheating.
TW: pregnancy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 27, 2010
This is a sexy, fun romp with two wonderful romances intertwined in the story. I finished the book with a smile on my face!
August 12, 2022
This is my least favorite of the series thus far. What I had read in other people's reviews of the prior books has finally caught up with me. The hero walks around with a hard on way too much! I felt their relationship was purely physical and irresponsibly handled.
August 17, 2015
I shouldn't rate this as high as I did, but I did. Two separate romances in this book: the older couple Alex and Kate in love 23 years ago and the much lustier Baron and Grace.
Alex and Kate are charming. There are a couple of misses on the part of the author where Alex is a mild jerk, but overall the sweetness of the two lovers torn apart by a domineering brother 23 years ago is well done.
The Baron, Alex's nephew, is another kettle of fish. He is one of the most... amorous for lack of a better word heroes out there. There is a more accurate word, but I don't want to use it. The Baron aka David is a big guy and wants a big girl. In his defense, he does not JUST want to seduce Grace he wants to marry her too.
My only real complaint and what dropped a star is MAcKenzie's us of "Eek" and "Gah" and other epithets especially when it is used by dainty heroines.. "Gah" should be banned. And sometimes her humor and madcap-ness is a little bit forced.
Oops, just bumped it up a star anyway. This is the second time I've read it so it has something.
Alex and Kate are charming. There are a couple of misses on the part of the author where Alex is a mild jerk, but overall the sweetness of the two lovers torn apart by a domineering brother 23 years ago is well done.
The Baron, Alex's nephew, is another kettle of fish. He is one of the most... amorous for lack of a better word heroes out there. There is a more accurate word, but I don't want to use it. The Baron aka David is a big guy and wants a big girl. In his defense, he does not JUST want to seduce Grace he wants to marry her too.
My only real complaint and what dropped a star is MAcKenzie's us of "Eek" and "Gah" and other epithets especially when it is used by dainty heroines.. "Gah" should be banned. And sometimes her humor and madcap-ness is a little bit forced.
Oops, just bumped it up a star anyway. This is the second time I've read it so it has something.
September 8, 2009
So, since I liked the Naked Marquis so much, I met the author at a signing and bought this book.
Wwhat happened? It's like a different person wrote this, in under three weeks. The Point of View kept changing, the story wasn't consistent, and the sparkling good humor of the Naked Marquis was completely gone. I hope this was a one-off. I'll give her one more try.
Wwhat happened? It's like a different person wrote this, in under three weeks. The Point of View kept changing, the story wasn't consistent, and the sparkling good humor of the Naked Marquis was completely gone. I hope this was a one-off. I'll give her one more try.
June 5, 2009
Grace Belmont is spending a little bit of time in London before she is to be married to John Parker-Roth. She is a tall woman for the time and is taller than many men. So when she arrives at a ball and sees Baron Dawson (David), the attraction is instant. David is also large and the attraction between the two is mutual. Grace's Aunt Kate is her chaperone and just so happens to have had a history with David's uncle, Alex. So while Kate and Alex are sorting out their differences, David and Grace are falling in love. It just so happens that David's mother was engaged at one point to Grace's father and her father still holds a grudge against all of David's family. In fact, he is the reason that Kate and Alex did not marry years ago.
This book was okay, it just wasn't great. I liked the other books in this series but I was really annoyed by the fact that they are written out of order. The last book to be released was of John Parker-Roth's finding love after Grace and to go back in time was a little confusing. I also didn't like that the book sort of just ended without any resolution of the problem with Grace's father. There were some cute parts and it was enjoyable, but I think I would have liked it better if I had read this one before The Naked Gentleman. I don't like accidentally reading things out of order, but this was not my fault as the author actually wrote them out of order. That's her decision of course, but it was frustrating to me.
This book was okay, it just wasn't great. I liked the other books in this series but I was really annoyed by the fact that they are written out of order. The last book to be released was of John Parker-Roth's finding love after Grace and to go back in time was a little confusing. I also didn't like that the book sort of just ended without any resolution of the problem with Grace's father. There were some cute parts and it was enjoyable, but I think I would have liked it better if I had read this one before The Naked Gentleman. I don't like accidentally reading things out of order, but this was not my fault as the author actually wrote them out of order. That's her decision of course, but it was frustrating to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 11, 2012
Lady Grace Belmont has come to London with her recently widowed Aunt Kate to have one season before her father marries her off to their exceedingly boring neighbour. Her Aunt Kate is encouraging her to look for other eligable gentleman before she settles, but she didn't expect her to immediatly be attracted to Baron Dawson. David, Baron Dawson, has come to London with his Uncle Alex to find a wife but all the London misses hold none of his attention, until ofcourse he sees the ravishing Lady Grace.
This book was very much like the first one in the series; funny and light hearted, with a very likeable main couple. The Naked Baron also had the benefit of having a very strong secondary romance, in fact I hesitate to call is secondary and it had almost the same amount as page time as the main couple Grace and David.
Both romances were cute and very very lusty, I swear the men in this just walked around with constant erections, everytime they so much as looked at the heroine. It was funny in someways, but I felt the romance was dampened a little by the way the David just constantly thought about her boobs! He had a serious obsession, I never got the impression he married her because he loved her, but more because he was dying to see her breasts!
But it was a fun read and although I won't rush out and buy the next one I will probably read it...eventually!
This book was very much like the first one in the series; funny and light hearted, with a very likeable main couple. The Naked Baron also had the benefit of having a very strong secondary romance, in fact I hesitate to call is secondary and it had almost the same amount as page time as the main couple Grace and David.
Both romances were cute and very very lusty, I swear the men in this just walked around with constant erections, everytime they so much as looked at the heroine. It was funny in someways, but I felt the romance was dampened a little by the way the David just constantly thought about her boobs! He had a serious obsession, I never got the impression he married her because he loved her, but more because he was dying to see her breasts!
But it was a fun read and although I won't rush out and buy the next one I will probably read it...eventually!
June 24, 2019
This one was disappointing. The attraction between the main characters was purely physical. He saw her...or rather, saw her bosom, and decided he wanted to marry her. She saw someone who was taller than she was, and decided she liked him back. It wasn't until halfway through the book that we had anything resembling a deeper connection. Even then it was pretty much, "Oh hey, she's got a great personality, too. But I love those b**bs!" She was about as bad, which was weird because otherwise she was so ignorant of sexuality that it it made her seem unintelligent and clueless.
The history between their two families is so convoluted I kept having to stop and remember what had actually happened.
There's another relationship in this story as well that is given just as much page time as that of the main characters, which was surprising to me because the synopsis had nothing about that.
The history between their two families is so convoluted I kept having to stop and remember what had actually happened.
There's another relationship in this story as well that is given just as much page time as that of the main characters, which was surprising to me because the synopsis had nothing about that.
May 7, 2011
I want to make clear to my Goodreads friends that I am rating the "Naked" books against each other, not against other romances in general. So, the Baron was my least favorite naked man. (Sorry, Baron.) However, a naked man is almost always a good thing (-: and so, if you enjoy Regency-era romances with a little heat, read Sally MacKenzie's "Naked" series.
January 12, 2018
Better than the first and this time, some of the characters (Lady Beatrice) had me chuckling. Although heroines who know nothing about the birds and bees is wearing thin, I've always been partial to heroines in spectacles.
Overall, a cute chick-lit like read set in the 19th century.
Overall, a cute chick-lit like read set in the 19th century.
March 14, 2020
3 Stars
January 7, 2016
This was adorable, if [once again!] out of order. I love a big-boned heroine, it's such an easy way to make her relatable without going the whole klutzy genius route.
April 30, 2022
Este ha sido bastante más típico dentro del género...
September 26, 2018
A few smiles but mostly boring. Minor spoilers
I think the author was shooting for a romantic comedy about righting old wrongs and there were a few instances where I did smile at the antics of Grace and David. However, for the most part, I grew weary of the all-too-frequent references to David and his very active male member “growing hard” at the thought or sight of Grace. His first and most frequent thoughts were about having sex with Grace, so that when he finally professed his love it felt a bit hollow and not terribly believable. In fact, the echo of the marriage vows hadn’t stopped before he pulled her into the bedroom to fulfill his fantasies.
The secondary story Kate and Alex, Grace’s and David’s aunt and Uncle and “victims” of one of those early wrongs was sweet but also filled with Alex’s anatomical imaginings. Their story was a bit more interesting and their HEA more satisfying.
The big house party climax was filled with a bit of slapstick peoples with an eccentric hostess and her menagerie, a talking parrot and a mischievous monkey, twin debutants getting n each other’s way as they stalk David, a long lost grandmother and an angry father. This bit felt forced and contrived and Grace’s relationship with her father was left hanging near the end.
Bottom line: I enjoy a little spice in my romances but the sharp focus on David’s imaginings blunted the chemistry between he and Grace and it wasn’t until nearly 80% of the way into the story that I felt some sympathy for the two main characters. I wanted to like this book, I really did. But bottom line, it was mostly boring.
I think the author was shooting for a romantic comedy about righting old wrongs and there were a few instances where I did smile at the antics of Grace and David. However, for the most part, I grew weary of the all-too-frequent references to David and his very active male member “growing hard” at the thought or sight of Grace. His first and most frequent thoughts were about having sex with Grace, so that when he finally professed his love it felt a bit hollow and not terribly believable. In fact, the echo of the marriage vows hadn’t stopped before he pulled her into the bedroom to fulfill his fantasies.
The secondary story Kate and Alex, Grace’s and David’s aunt and Uncle and “victims” of one of those early wrongs was sweet but also filled with Alex’s anatomical imaginings. Their story was a bit more interesting and their HEA more satisfying.
The big house party climax was filled with a bit of slapstick peoples with an eccentric hostess and her menagerie, a talking parrot and a mischievous monkey, twin debutants getting n each other’s way as they stalk David, a long lost grandmother and an angry father. This bit felt forced and contrived and Grace’s relationship with her father was left hanging near the end.
Bottom line: I enjoy a little spice in my romances but the sharp focus on David’s imaginings blunted the chemistry between he and Grace and it wasn’t until nearly 80% of the way into the story that I felt some sympathy for the two main characters. I wanted to like this book, I really did. But bottom line, it was mostly boring.
October 26, 2024
This is a cute set of stories (I didn't even realize it was supposed to be about Grace and David until I read the summary since it seemed to be half about them and half about Alex and Kate, David's uncle and Grace's aunt who had been in love years ago) about four family members who fall in love. They are tied by Grace's father and Kate's brother, who is mad about his own love that jilted him at the altar. Her family is Alex and David's and so every family member has been punished over the years.
Alex and Kate were in love when she was 17, but her brother forced her to marry a nieghbor. She was married for 20 years and faithful to her husband, but never forgot Alex. He never forgot her either. Kate thinks she is barren since she was married for 20 years and never got pregnant, but of course the first time she is with Alex she insults him, and then of course gets pregnant at 40.
The first half is Alex and Kate getting reacquainted and her dragging her heels in telling him about the baby. The second half of the book is Grace and David trying to be together while her father tries to do the same thing to her that he had to her aunt - marrying her off in a rush to a neighbor.
I liked the main characters and there were some crazy side characters that pushed the story along. I don't konw that this was my favorite "Naked" story but it was really up there. I especially loved Alex and Kate getting together after being forced apart years ago.
Alex and Kate were in love when she was 17, but her brother forced her to marry a nieghbor. She was married for 20 years and faithful to her husband, but never forgot Alex. He never forgot her either. Kate thinks she is barren since she was married for 20 years and never got pregnant, but of course the first time she is with Alex she insults him, and then of course gets pregnant at 40.
The first half is Alex and Kate getting reacquainted and her dragging her heels in telling him about the baby. The second half of the book is Grace and David trying to be together while her father tries to do the same thing to her that he had to her aunt - marrying her off in a rush to a neighbor.
I liked the main characters and there were some crazy side characters that pushed the story along. I don't konw that this was my favorite "Naked" story but it was really up there. I especially loved Alex and Kate getting together after being forced apart years ago.
August 9, 2022
3 1/2
This was cute and fun. Was it great, no, but it entertained and I ended up liking the 2ndary couple quite a bit even when the FMC kept pushing him away even the secondary plot and romance kept it moving even though there wasn't that much story, it seems more like two overlapping romances and the main couple wasn't quite as fun as aunt Kate. Grace the main FMC is very tall and curvy and doesn't think attractive. She is having her season before marrying the man that her father has picked for her, yet she really doesn't want him. She is loyal to her father yet... when the nephew of an old flame of her aunt's pursues her, she realizes that she has a very real sexual attraction to him, something she doesn't have with the man her father has picked out. Only problem, her father hates the uncle and family of the Baron. My main issue with this couple was after that, it was quite good and I liked how it ended. I'm still not sure why it is "the Naked Baron" as I don't think he was any more naked than in any other HR book. He wasn't caught in a compromising position like in some of these other books so... It still was a fun read.
This was cute and fun. Was it great, no, but it entertained and I ended up liking the 2ndary couple quite a bit even when the FMC kept pushing him away even the secondary plot and romance kept it moving even though there wasn't that much story, it seems more like two overlapping romances and the main couple wasn't quite as fun as aunt Kate. Grace the main FMC is very tall and curvy and doesn't think attractive. She is having her season before marrying the man that her father has picked for her, yet she really doesn't want him. She is loyal to her father yet... when the nephew of an old flame of her aunt's pursues her, she realizes that she has a very real sexual attraction to him, something she doesn't have with the man her father has picked out. Only problem, her father hates the uncle and family of the Baron. My main issue with this couple was after that, it was quite good and I liked how it ended. I'm still not sure why it is "the Naked Baron" as I don't think he was any more naked than in any other HR book. He wasn't caught in a compromising position like in some of these other books so... It still was a fun read.
September 9, 2019
Before her father marries her off to a neighbor, Lady Grace demands a season in London, even though she is 25, on the shelf mostly, and too tall, too big, too much. She is looking at a dull life and wants a few experiences to remember. At her first ball she sees, and is seen by, Baron Dawson, the son of the woman who jilted Grace’s father. Her chaperone Aunt Kate sees Dawson’s Uncle Alex and has a shocked reaction. Both women’s romantic liaisons are jeopardized by the Grace’s father’s hatred of the Wiltons and the powerless position of women in the 19th century.
After usual conflicts, HEA all around. A pleasant romance with lots of banter and bits of suspense.
Readalikes:
Julia Quinn – To Sir Phillip, With Love; Stephanie Laurens – The Truth About Love; Mary Balogh – The Arrangement; Tessa Dare – The Governess Game; Sabrina Jeffries – Let Sleeping Rogues Lie; Kelly Bowen – A Rogue by Night; Sarah MacLean – A Scot in the Dark; Janna MacGregor – Rogue Most Wanted; Loretta Chase – Don’t Tempt Me.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Good within Genre Stereotypes
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Steamy; playful
Frame: London and the English countryside;
Theme: Together again and Family Feud
After usual conflicts, HEA all around. A pleasant romance with lots of banter and bits of suspense.
Readalikes:
Julia Quinn – To Sir Phillip, With Love; Stephanie Laurens – The Truth About Love; Mary Balogh – The Arrangement; Tessa Dare – The Governess Game; Sabrina Jeffries – Let Sleeping Rogues Lie; Kelly Bowen – A Rogue by Night; Sarah MacLean – A Scot in the Dark; Janna MacGregor – Rogue Most Wanted; Loretta Chase – Don’t Tempt Me.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Good within Genre Stereotypes
Story: Character-driven
Writing style: Engaging
Tone: Steamy; playful
Frame: London and the English countryside;
Theme: Together again and Family Feud
February 26, 2020
Grace has come to London for her first season. Her Aunt Kate is her chaperon. At the very first ball, Aunt Kate sees the man she loved 23 years ago. And Grace sees a man who seems to be a perfect man. David, the perfect man, is the nephew of Alex who is the man Kate loved before she was forced to marry someone else.
There is a house party which includes a parrot and a monkey.
The story has some humor, but not as much as I had hoped.
Grace and David and Kate and Alex have their ups and downs. There are misunderstandings and missed signals. I wanted a story which included people getting to know one another. That aspect seemed to be mostly overlooked. I wanted a little more seeing rather than being told.
Grace’s father is Kate’s brother. He is the villain of the piece. Although he does not appear until the end of the book, he is the shadow over much of the action and emotions.
For me, there were improbable events. At times, I had to ignore my common sense, but it is a fun story with likable characters. That is what saved me from disliking the story.
There is a happily ever after. People find their own true loves. That is what romance is all about.
There is a house party which includes a parrot and a monkey.
The story has some humor, but not as much as I had hoped.
Grace and David and Kate and Alex have their ups and downs. There are misunderstandings and missed signals. I wanted a story which included people getting to know one another. That aspect seemed to be mostly overlooked. I wanted a little more seeing rather than being told.
Grace’s father is Kate’s brother. He is the villain of the piece. Although he does not appear until the end of the book, he is the shadow over much of the action and emotions.
For me, there were improbable events. At times, I had to ignore my common sense, but it is a fun story with likable characters. That is what saved me from disliking the story.
There is a happily ever after. People find their own true loves. That is what romance is all about.
December 19, 2022
Grace & David
Kate & Alex (Aunt to Grace, Uncle to David)
I adored this twice as nice romance.
First, we get to watch Kate & Alex rekindle their 20+ year old romance with "unexpected consequences." Which I actually felt was both sweet and refreshing. So often, authors pretend that there are either no consequences or act as if withdrawal is a foolproof method.
Then we get the oh so sweet and innocent Grace and David. I just loved that David procured a special license before the house party. Yes, it was love at first sight rather than a slow burn, but he pursued Grace with such direct intent that I couldn't help but love these two.
And the house party, I wish I could remember the name of the hostess with the menagerie. The animals added levity, and the hostess caused any number of her own mini dramas, which kept me chuckling.
Yes, it could be argued that it was a bit madcap or silly, but for me, it struck just the right note. Cute, funny, sweet, and hot with sufficient real-world motivation (family dynamics) to pull me in.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Kate & Alex (Aunt to Grace, Uncle to David)
I adored this twice as nice romance.
First, we get to watch Kate & Alex rekindle their 20+ year old romance with "unexpected consequences." Which I actually felt was both sweet and refreshing. So often, authors pretend that there are either no consequences or act as if withdrawal is a foolproof method.
Then we get the oh so sweet and innocent Grace and David. I just loved that David procured a special license before the house party. Yes, it was love at first sight rather than a slow burn, but he pursued Grace with such direct intent that I couldn't help but love these two.
And the house party, I wish I could remember the name of the hostess with the menagerie. The animals added levity, and the hostess caused any number of her own mini dramas, which kept me chuckling.
Yes, it could be argued that it was a bit madcap or silly, but for me, it struck just the right note. Cute, funny, sweet, and hot with sufficient real-world motivation (family dynamics) to pull me in.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
December 30, 2019
3 🌟
percintaan antara keturunan wilton dan standen berakhir tragis. yakni patah hati. dan patah hatinya pun berujung kebencian. keturunan standen tidak boleh menikahi keturunan wilton.
butuh usaha dan tekad kuat (serta keberuntungan) utk mematahkan aturannya ayah grace tersebut.
cerita ini menampilkan banyak tokoh. tapi dua di antaranya lebih menonjol. yakni kate & alex serta grace & david.
bila kate & alex berkisah CLBK. sdgkan grace & david, cinta pada pandangan pertama.
dibilang menarik ya biasa2 ajalah cerita ini. misteri kenapa dua keluarga tsb saling membenci, akhirnya terjelaskan di kisah ini. kesalahpahaman selama 23 thn antara alex & kate juga tertuntaskan. meski dibumbui hal2 hangat.
jadi intinya, setiap orang tu harus belajar memperjuangkan cinta. sebab kesempatan kedua jarang terulang kembali
percintaan antara keturunan wilton dan standen berakhir tragis. yakni patah hati. dan patah hatinya pun berujung kebencian. keturunan standen tidak boleh menikahi keturunan wilton.
butuh usaha dan tekad kuat (serta keberuntungan) utk mematahkan aturannya ayah grace tersebut.
cerita ini menampilkan banyak tokoh. tapi dua di antaranya lebih menonjol. yakni kate & alex serta grace & david.
bila kate & alex berkisah CLBK. sdgkan grace & david, cinta pada pandangan pertama.
dibilang menarik ya biasa2 ajalah cerita ini. misteri kenapa dua keluarga tsb saling membenci, akhirnya terjelaskan di kisah ini. kesalahpahaman selama 23 thn antara alex & kate juga tertuntaskan. meski dibumbui hal2 hangat.
jadi intinya, setiap orang tu harus belajar memperjuangkan cinta. sebab kesempatan kedua jarang terulang kembali
November 24, 2021
This wasn’t my favorite so far in the series. I really liked the first one and I was excited to read this one, but it almost felt like it was written by a different author. I never really connected with the MMC and FMC, they both seemed shallow to me. But I did like Kate and Alex‘s story which runs concurrently with Grace and David’s.
I found the writing to be redundant. I now know every single way to describe the male sex organ. Over and over and over again, we heard about how their organs were behaving. It got silly after a while, as if it was written about 16-year-old boys instead of grown men.
The narrator in the audio version is terrible. It sounds like my grandma reading the steamy parts. Maybe it would be a better story to me with a different narrator. But I am going to continue with the series because I really liked the first one.
I found the writing to be redundant. I now know every single way to describe the male sex organ. Over and over and over again, we heard about how their organs were behaving. It got silly after a while, as if it was written about 16-year-old boys instead of grown men.
The narrator in the audio version is terrible. It sounds like my grandma reading the steamy parts. Maybe it would be a better story to me with a different narrator. But I am going to continue with the series because I really liked the first one.
May 1, 2022
Da série, foi a história mais interessante, com o casal título David e Grace sendo bem diferentes do que normalmente é apresentado.
David, o Barão, decide se casar e rapidamente escolhe Grace como a candidata ideal. O que torna tudo especial é o fato de que Grace também não é a típica mocinha. Ela é, em termos chulos, alta e gorda. E David a adora.
Em vários momentos, ele elogia ou cobiça as "curvas" de Grace e vários outros eufemismos são utilizados para dar a entender que Grace não faz parte do padrão de beleza da época.
O livro também traz outro casal de lambuja: Alex e Kate. Os dois eram apaixonados quando jovens, mas tiveram que se separar. Vinte anos depois, o cortejo de Grace e David traz os dois juntos.
Barão Apaixonado não é o livro mais bem escrito da série e deixa passar várias deixas de comédia. Poderia ser melhor, mas sua proposta é o suficiente para chamar a atenção.
David, o Barão, decide se casar e rapidamente escolhe Grace como a candidata ideal. O que torna tudo especial é o fato de que Grace também não é a típica mocinha. Ela é, em termos chulos, alta e gorda. E David a adora.
Em vários momentos, ele elogia ou cobiça as "curvas" de Grace e vários outros eufemismos são utilizados para dar a entender que Grace não faz parte do padrão de beleza da época.
O livro também traz outro casal de lambuja: Alex e Kate. Os dois eram apaixonados quando jovens, mas tiveram que se separar. Vinte anos depois, o cortejo de Grace e David traz os dois juntos.
Barão Apaixonado não é o livro mais bem escrito da série e deixa passar várias deixas de comédia. Poderia ser melhor, mas sua proposta é o suficiente para chamar a atenção.
January 18, 2020
Rounding up from 3.5 stars. I would’ve given it 3, but I really liked the secondary romance between the hero’s uncle Alex and the heroine’s aunt Kate. (Although I got a little annoyed when people kept talking about how old they were. She’s 40 and he’s 45! Not that much older than the main couple. And not in their dotage quite yet.)
So this has promise, but the execution was a little sloppy. There are four POVs, and no helpful paragraph or chapter breaks between most of them. I kept having to reorient myself to which perspective we were seeing, when things jumped around mid-scene. And the central conflict between the main couple, Grace and David, felt kind of contrived. I will keep reading the series but this won’t be my favorite. Except I loved Alex and Kate!
So this has promise, but the execution was a little sloppy. There are four POVs, and no helpful paragraph or chapter breaks between most of them. I kept having to reorient myself to which perspective we were seeing, when things jumped around mid-scene. And the central conflict between the main couple, Grace and David, felt kind of contrived. I will keep reading the series but this won’t be my favorite. Except I loved Alex and Kate!
October 18, 2020
I had picked this up because there are references in reviews to the heroine being large, but she is just tallish and has boobs, she is NOT a BBW. She’s not anorexic but being 5’9 and 154 lbs is not even remotely close to being “large.” To be honest, I read it out of interest in the secondary romance, hoping for some angst and groveling, especially after , but things all just work out fine with no particular drama. This wasn’t really my thing, it’s instalove that is actually just lust - I lost track of the number of times the word “throbbing” was used - and I just did not understand why Grace was so spineless about being forced into marriage by her father, who is a total ass. I might have forgiven the tepid plot had Grace not been skinny, but the book just didn’t hold up for me with the absence of any favored tropes. (2.5 stars)
July 28, 2020
Do you want a romance that will make you laugh out loud? One where all of the angst is played for laughs? One where all of the characters are in total lust with each other but when they finally have sex, even the sex is cute and funny? Then The Naked Baron is for you. The point of this book is not angst, realistic characters, or historical accuracy. The point is FUN (and the point is well-made).
8-Word Summaries:
Meg: A low-angst romance that doesn’t take itself seriously. {Thumbs Up Emoji}
Laine: Two Families, Three Engagements, and several inappropriate erections.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
8-Word Summaries:
Meg: A low-angst romance that doesn’t take itself seriously. {Thumbs Up Emoji}
Laine: Two Families, Three Engagements, and several inappropriate erections.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
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