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The Rakehell Regency #16
Madness
Freedom and love, or death…
Gabrielle Howell enters the hellish asylum of Bedlam in London when her sister Lucinda is committed as insane by her husband the Earl of Oxnard.
During a riot at the asylum, Gabrielle is rescued by a handsome inmate known only as Simon, who seems to make an awful lot of sense for someone supposedly deranged.
Drugged and suffering from a mysterious malady, Simon cannot remember his past. All his records seem to indicate he is a deadly killer incarcerated by his prominent family.
But the more Gabrielle gets to know the fiercely intelligent and gentle man, the more she has her doubts that this could ever be true. Simon is principled, kind, and certainly no murderer, and transforms from loyal ally to the most magnificent lover. The passion that sparks between them is like nothing she has ever known, heady and addictive.
Simon isn't sure if the gorgeous woman he has held in his arms is real, or a figment of his opium-addled brain. All he knows is, it's true love, a gift from the gods he will never give up, except in death.
Simon refuses to be kept a prisoner any longer by the puppetmasters who have been pulling his strings ever since the war with Napoleon started.
Trusting in his new-found love Gabrielle, Simon is willing to risk everything to defeat his captors, and the opium addiction they have caused by drugging him to keep him cooperative. Simon dares all to escape from Bedlam and come out of the shadows to live a normal life once more.
Gabrielle begins to believe the impossible: that she can save Simon before it's too late and they can have a blissful future together. In a bold and daring move, she risks everything to heal Simon and rescue him from the living death he has been consigned to.
Even as their love deepens, the danger closes in all around them, as Simon's employer tries to use him as a pawn one more time. Will allowing themselves to love one other prove to be Gabrielle and Simon's salvation, or sheer madness?
Gabrielle Howell enters the hellish asylum of Bedlam in London when her sister Lucinda is committed as insane by her husband the Earl of Oxnard.
During a riot at the asylum, Gabrielle is rescued by a handsome inmate known only as Simon, who seems to make an awful lot of sense for someone supposedly deranged.
Drugged and suffering from a mysterious malady, Simon cannot remember his past. All his records seem to indicate he is a deadly killer incarcerated by his prominent family.
But the more Gabrielle gets to know the fiercely intelligent and gentle man, the more she has her doubts that this could ever be true. Simon is principled, kind, and certainly no murderer, and transforms from loyal ally to the most magnificent lover. The passion that sparks between them is like nothing she has ever known, heady and addictive.
Simon isn't sure if the gorgeous woman he has held in his arms is real, or a figment of his opium-addled brain. All he knows is, it's true love, a gift from the gods he will never give up, except in death.
Simon refuses to be kept a prisoner any longer by the puppetmasters who have been pulling his strings ever since the war with Napoleon started.
Trusting in his new-found love Gabrielle, Simon is willing to risk everything to defeat his captors, and the opium addiction they have caused by drugging him to keep him cooperative. Simon dares all to escape from Bedlam and come out of the shadows to live a normal life once more.
Gabrielle begins to believe the impossible: that she can save Simon before it's too late and they can have a blissful future together. In a bold and daring move, she risks everything to heal Simon and rescue him from the living death he has been consigned to.
Even as their love deepens, the danger closes in all around them, as Simon's employer tries to use him as a pawn one more time. Will allowing themselves to love one other prove to be Gabrielle and Simon's salvation, or sheer madness?
416 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 3, 2009
14 people are currently reading
217 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 12, 2015
Today's #RomanceWeek15 pick is Madness. I'm a huge historical romance fan (in case you haven't noticed!) and am glad there's plenty of great books to choose from. That said, I've enjoyed the Regency Rakehell series by Sorcha MacMurrough immensely and recommend them to those of you who like your historical romances on the dark and angsty side.
September 26, 2012
Let me start off by getting the bad news out of the way, telling you what issues I had with Madness, by Sorcha MacMurrough:
Sweet Lord, the spelling errors! I am more than willing to forgive an error or two in a good book. It can even be fun to spot them, it makes you feel clever and perceptive. Not so in Madness, there were so many, many errors that it became more of a challenge to try to ignore them! I was seriously disappointed by this because it knocked what could have been a great book down to just a good book, if your willing to overlook the mistakes.
Editors, help! There were a few charactors whom could have done with more development, less repetition. Along the same lines, I felt like the book could have lost a few chapters, sped things along and been made better for it. Also, I have to say that I wish addiction and mental illness could be addressed in reality as simply as it is in this book. Not that this aspect was handled badly, just that it contradicts conventional understanding of both topics. Its simplified, I guess I would say. My final complaint is the ending... without giving anything away, I will say that there are some remarkable coincidences and unimaginable good luck. Something more practical may have been better.
Now, all of that being said, I did enjoy this book. I can honestly say that this book is very different from other romance novels I've read. For one thing, the main female character, Gabrielle, is the hero of the story. She literally and figuratively rescues her man, Simon. Gabrielle is a strong, determined, hard working woman who knows her own mind. She is not afraid to do what she has to in order to protect the people she loves. She isn't afraid to go against conventional society norms and make choices and decisions that are right for her, what will make her happy. Gabrielle was resourceful and stubborn in an endearing way. She was the kind of character that you wanted to see happy at the end of the story.
As for the Hero of the book, Simon... What can I say? Simon is the kind of man every girl wants to find and keep forever. Simon is smart, strong, handsome, loyal but with horrors in his past and demons that only his Lady Love can help him overcome. Simon was passionate, sweet, thoughtful, brave and absolutely devoted to his Lady. He has an insatiable love and lust for Gabrielle and he is determined to fight to transform himself into the kind of man who is worthy of her love. One thing that I really appreciated about this story is the fact that Simon's intelligence was celebrated instead of down played or perceived as a weakness. He's a hot hunk of man, but with a brain and a huge heart.
While the physical relationship between Gabrielle and Simon doesn't begin immediately, once it begins... its on! There was A LOT of sex in this story. Tastefully done but abundant. The plus side to this, perhaps, is that the love that Gabrielle and Simon feel for one another is obvious and sweet, which for me made the banquet of sex less pointless or tedious.
I would recommend this book to friends, with the aforementioned caution on the spelling and grammar errors. If the small issues I mentioned were fixed, I would have given this book 5 stars. The characters and the love they shared was solid gold, the story was interesting and manages to draw you into the dark corners that these characters visit, then usher you back to the light with the love they discover with one another. Madness was worth the read, good enough that I'm not going to include a pun based on the title in my review.
Sweet Lord, the spelling errors! I am more than willing to forgive an error or two in a good book. It can even be fun to spot them, it makes you feel clever and perceptive. Not so in Madness, there were so many, many errors that it became more of a challenge to try to ignore them! I was seriously disappointed by this because it knocked what could have been a great book down to just a good book, if your willing to overlook the mistakes.
Editors, help! There were a few charactors whom could have done with more development, less repetition. Along the same lines, I felt like the book could have lost a few chapters, sped things along and been made better for it. Also, I have to say that I wish addiction and mental illness could be addressed in reality as simply as it is in this book. Not that this aspect was handled badly, just that it contradicts conventional understanding of both topics. Its simplified, I guess I would say. My final complaint is the ending... without giving anything away, I will say that there are some remarkable coincidences and unimaginable good luck. Something more practical may have been better.
Now, all of that being said, I did enjoy this book. I can honestly say that this book is very different from other romance novels I've read. For one thing, the main female character, Gabrielle, is the hero of the story. She literally and figuratively rescues her man, Simon. Gabrielle is a strong, determined, hard working woman who knows her own mind. She is not afraid to do what she has to in order to protect the people she loves. She isn't afraid to go against conventional society norms and make choices and decisions that are right for her, what will make her happy. Gabrielle was resourceful and stubborn in an endearing way. She was the kind of character that you wanted to see happy at the end of the story.
As for the Hero of the book, Simon... What can I say? Simon is the kind of man every girl wants to find and keep forever. Simon is smart, strong, handsome, loyal but with horrors in his past and demons that only his Lady Love can help him overcome. Simon was passionate, sweet, thoughtful, brave and absolutely devoted to his Lady. He has an insatiable love and lust for Gabrielle and he is determined to fight to transform himself into the kind of man who is worthy of her love. One thing that I really appreciated about this story is the fact that Simon's intelligence was celebrated instead of down played or perceived as a weakness. He's a hot hunk of man, but with a brain and a huge heart.
While the physical relationship between Gabrielle and Simon doesn't begin immediately, once it begins... its on! There was A LOT of sex in this story. Tastefully done but abundant. The plus side to this, perhaps, is that the love that Gabrielle and Simon feel for one another is obvious and sweet, which for me made the banquet of sex less pointless or tedious.
I would recommend this book to friends, with the aforementioned caution on the spelling and grammar errors. If the small issues I mentioned were fixed, I would have given this book 5 stars. The characters and the love they shared was solid gold, the story was interesting and manages to draw you into the dark corners that these characters visit, then usher you back to the light with the love they discover with one another. Madness was worth the read, good enough that I'm not going to include a pun based on the title in my review.
Want to read
February 15, 2016438pgs, Freedom and love, or death 26
Gabrielle Howell enters the hellish asylum of Bedlam in London when her sister Lucinda is committed as insane by her husband the Earl of Oxnard.
During a riot at the asylum, Gabrielle is rescued by a handsome inmate known only as Simon, who seems to make an awful lot of sense for someone supposedly deranged.
Drugged and suffering from a mysterious malady, Simon cannot remember his past. All his records seem to indicate he is a deadly killer incarcerated by his prominent family.
But the more Gabrielle gets to know the fiercely intelligent and gentle man, the more she has her doubts that this could ever be true. Simon is principled, kind, heroic and certainly no murderer. As she gets to know him, he transforms from loyal ally to friend, from friend to the most magnificent lover. The passion that sparks between them is like nothing she has ever known, heady and addictive. Gabriele grows more and more determined to save him no matter what her cousin or friends accuse him of.
Simon isn't sure if the gorgeous woman he has held in his arms is real, or a figment of his opium-addled brain. All he knows is, it's true love, a gift from the gods he will never give up, except in death.
Simon refuses to be kept a prisoner any longer by the puppetmasters who have been pulling his strings ever since the war with Napoleon started. Trusting in his new-found love Gabrielle, Simon is willing to risk everything to defeat his captors, and the opium addiction they have caused by drugging him to keep him cooperative.
Simon wages an heroic struggle to defeat his addiction so that he can escape from Bedlam and be worthy of Gabrielle's love. But can he ever manage to come out of the shadows to live a normal life once more?
Gabrielle begins to believe the impossible: that she can save Simon before it's too late. In a bold and daring move, she risks everything to heal Simon and rescue him from the living hell he has been consigned to.
Their love deepens, but the danger soon starts to close in all around them. Simon's employer tries to use him as a pawn one more time as European power politics shift once more. Napoleon still dreams of glory and is determined to return from exile no matter what the price. Will allowing themselves to love one other prove to be Gabrielle and Simon's salvation, or sheer madness?
Gabrielle Howell enters the hellish asylum of Bedlam in London when her sister Lucinda is committed as insane by her husband the Earl of Oxnard.
During a riot at the asylum, Gabrielle is rescued by a handsome inmate known only as Simon, who seems to make an awful lot of sense for someone supposedly deranged.
Drugged and suffering from a mysterious malady, Simon cannot remember his past. All his records seem to indicate he is a deadly killer incarcerated by his prominent family.
But the more Gabrielle gets to know the fiercely intelligent and gentle man, the more she has her doubts that this could ever be true. Simon is principled, kind, heroic and certainly no murderer. As she gets to know him, he transforms from loyal ally to friend, from friend to the most magnificent lover. The passion that sparks between them is like nothing she has ever known, heady and addictive. Gabriele grows more and more determined to save him no matter what her cousin or friends accuse him of.
Simon isn't sure if the gorgeous woman he has held in his arms is real, or a figment of his opium-addled brain. All he knows is, it's true love, a gift from the gods he will never give up, except in death.
Simon refuses to be kept a prisoner any longer by the puppetmasters who have been pulling his strings ever since the war with Napoleon started. Trusting in his new-found love Gabrielle, Simon is willing to risk everything to defeat his captors, and the opium addiction they have caused by drugging him to keep him cooperative.
Simon wages an heroic struggle to defeat his addiction so that he can escape from Bedlam and be worthy of Gabrielle's love. But can he ever manage to come out of the shadows to live a normal life once more?
Gabrielle begins to believe the impossible: that she can save Simon before it's too late. In a bold and daring move, she risks everything to heal Simon and rescue him from the living hell he has been consigned to.
Their love deepens, but the danger soon starts to close in all around them. Simon's employer tries to use him as a pawn one more time as European power politics shift once more. Napoleon still dreams of glory and is determined to return from exile no matter what the price. Will allowing themselves to love one other prove to be Gabrielle and Simon's salvation, or sheer madness?
October 29, 2012
Historical English romance in the famous insane asylum called 'Bedlam' in London where there two people's lives converge with a violent act. Gabrielle Howell visits Bedlam hospital everyday to see and help her sister Lucinda who was committed as insane by her husband the Earl of Oxnard and can not be release until the Earl agrees (but he won't because he is just waiting for her to die there). The story starts hot with a huge riot going on in Bedlam and Gabrielle and Lucinda are being attacked physically and sexual until a handsome inmate known only as Simon happens by on his way to his monthly bath. Simon is thin but strong and is probably interned because of his epileptic episodes. Gabrielle is stuck in the bathroom area for the night with her abused sister, her cousin Antony and Simon. They are in relative calm and the sexy erotic romance (the first of many many sexy scenes with Gabrielle and Simon) begins on the uncomfortable (but safe) floor of the hospital bathrooms.
I did like that there was historical precedence in that fact that the hospital was serviced by paid prostitutes so that it would 'calm' the male inmates (patients).
416 pages (Amazon's number, but it feels more like 300pages) and kindle freebie
I did like that there was historical precedence in that fact that the hospital was serviced by paid prostitutes so that it would 'calm' the male inmates (patients).
416 pages (Amazon's number, but it feels more like 300pages) and kindle freebie
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September 7, 2012can anyone have this much sex? Seemed to have reached safety with another Rakehell. Gabby is preggers. now she's not...confused. And of course the baby Lucinda's is coming early....not quite as much sex....oh I was wrong, they are back at it again.....I really liked the rakehell stories that I read before...the early ones. this was not the best because for me there can be something as too much sex, LOL
September 6, 2012
An hour after she meets him(a patient) in a nuthouse, she is asking him to take her virginity. Because she trusts him and doesn't think that he is crazy. An hour.
Did I mention this is in Bedlam in the 1800's?
What I'm trying to say is that I found the plot to be too ridiculous to be believed.
Also, the main female talks like a hysterical ninny, and acts like a nurse of that time would be expected to act.
Did I mention this is in Bedlam in the 1800's?
What I'm trying to say is that I found the plot to be too ridiculous to be believed.
Also, the main female talks like a hysterical ninny, and acts like a nurse of that time would be expected to act.
September 2, 2012
TERRIBLE book. This author is in desperate need of an editor. There were SO many typos and entire chapters that had no point and did nothing to further the plot. The plot itself was so implausible it was ridiculous. Don't waste your time with this book.
June 17, 2013
A different take on historical romance. Glad I gave this a try.
October 3, 2012
This book has some hot parts in it. How everything happens is strange but I did enjoy it.
January 18, 2013
Another great book from this Author. Strong women and a lot of historical facts
February 17, 2021
I loved re-reading this book. True love it worth fighting for, no matter what the challenges are.
August 22, 2013
I could not get into this novel at all. The writing is decent, however there wasn't enough detail to capture my imagination. I put it down at 2% and don't plan to pick it up again.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews