Ripe for Pleasure

On the battlefield of love, does one have to conquer to win?

Lord Leonidas Vaughn is a beloved but younger, untitled son who along with his friends that hold the same status are in search of a treasure. Leo has inherited property and some wealth upon his grandfather's death but he also inherited a mysterious letter and cryptic treasure map detailing untold treasure if you can follow the clues and figure out where the money is hidden. This grand adventure has led him to a very unlikely place, the home of an infamous Courtesan, Viola Whedon. Viola's reputation only exceeds her beauty and added to that is a touch of danger, which turn out to be traits Leo is excited by and makes him want Viola near him and cannot stay away from her. Viola is also causing a scandal beyond the boundaries of her profession by writing a memoir about the men and their escapades. Several someone's would prefer that not happen and for Leo a plan to get integrated into her life falls into his lap along with the lovely Viola. Leo becomes her protector, lover, and defender of her life in one conversation that convinces Viola that the only man up for the job of taking care of her is him. Leo is determined to find the treasure but as equally determined to do so is his cousin who will stop at nothing short of murder to get his hands on the riches he feels belong to him and his family.

Fighting off demons is what Leo does before he even breaks his fast but with Viola the predators keep coming and the fight becomes as much about both of them staying alive and less about treasure. Viola has had her fair share of loss and rejection from family and fears that the more involved she gets with Leo the more danger they are in not only from the villains but from what could happen should they be discovered as truly in love and not just lovers. But Leo does not care about what the society lot will say or even his family because the more time he spends with Viola the more he knows that she may not be a damsel in distress but she surely needs saving if only from herself. After Leo forms a plan of attack on those coming after them as well as the more important one of tearing down the walls around Viola's heart he is a man obsessed and determined to possess this one captivating woman who has captured every conceivable emotion inside of him including one he never expected, love.

This is a fresh, wonderful take on the status of a younger son and the woman of his dreams who turns out to be nothing less than completely scandalous and mesmerizing. The book took me by surprise not because I expected to like it but because I loved the combination of romance, mystery, and suspense around two people that are just misfit enough to be perfect for each other.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

fans will enjoy this charming late eighteenth contrary tale

In 1783 London some members of the Ton are euphoric that popular courtesan Viola Whedon is writing her memoirs. However, those who will be exposed in her tell all titillating account is appalled by the scandal the bio will cause for them and their family.

In London a mob breaks into her townhouse. Viola assumes they came in search of her manuscript. Lord Leonidas Vaughn offers his protection and she accepts. He conceals from Viola that he knows the reason the thugs assaulted her home; they did not seek her book, but instead work for his odious cousin who believes she has hidden a treasure given to their family by the French king. When a suspicious fire occurs, he takes her to his remote estate where passion ignites and love grows, but he owes her the truth especially as the danger mounts.

The opening act in the League of second Sons is a delightful Georgian romantic suspense due to a strong cast especially the lead couple and their "matchmaking" pup. The treasure hunt is fun to follow as he knows he owes her the truth but struggles to tell her what the hooligans seek. Tense throughout yet fully "Ripe" with humor, sub-genre fans will enjoy this charming late eighteenth contrary tale.

Harriet Klausner

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Excellent story and series !!!

Excellent story and series !!!

I really enjoyed this book. It's very well-written, for one thin

I really enjoyed this book. It's very well-written, for one thing, and there's an excellent level of actual historical detail that really brings the setting to life. I like the focus on second sons, albeit the second son of a duke is still pretty privileged. I love the courtesan heroine; she's unapologetic about her past and pragmatic about her future, and It was great watching her learn to love and hope.

The sexual passion is strong, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. There's also quite a bit of humor, some of it provided by a terrific canine; I appreciate knowing that a couple can laugh together, since in my experience that's essential for lasting romance. The secondary characters are intriguing, so I'm looking forward to more books about them. And I want the hero's mother for my BFF!

Isobel Carr weaves a richly-textured tale, about a second son an

Isobel Carr weaves a richly-textured tale, about a second son and an educated courtesan in this Georgian romance. I was hooked immediately and drawn to the main characters. Ms. Carr has obviously done meticulous research but it doesn't overwhelm the story--it adds to it. If you like Jo Beverley you'll like Isobel Carr's writing. I look forward to reading more of her novels.

Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite Viola Whedon is getti

Reviewed by Alice D. for Readers Favorite

Viola Whedon is getting too old to be a favored courtesan in the London of 1783, but at twenty seven, she still can hear when men enter her home, Number 12 Chapel Street, at nighttime, intent upon finding and then stealing whatever valuable lies within. Viola posses no fortune and knows that writing her memoirs of her courtesan days is the only thing that has saved her from debtor's prison. Now on that night when Viola's home is invaded, who should enter Viola's life but Lord Leo Vaughn, one of the mad Vaughns and a second son at that. When Viola's home is totally trashed by men looking for that missing fortune, Leo takes her and her foundling dog Pen to his country home Dyrham where she will be safe while he combats his cousin Charles. Charles is determined to find lost monies from the long past, of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his claim to the English throne. And he knows that the treasure is somewhere in Viola's London home. But could the long lost fortune be buried in a place that few would think to look?

Author Isobel Carr has created a unique and delightful series in 'The League of Second Sons'. Lord Leonidas Vaughn does engage in sexual liaisons with the lovely widow Viola Whedon but he also chases his obsessed cousin Charles throughout the pages of this book. Leo's parents eloped years before and aren't happy that their son fancies a kept woman, but the characters in this story are well-created and believable. The plot of this romantic story embedded in history runs smoothly to the book's conclusion. Readers of historic romances will love this new series dearly.

Hot Read

A blackmailing heroine locks horns with a lying hero on a mission and the sparks fly. I liked the premise of Ripe for Pleasure very much. It has a grittiness that is different and is a romance with a no excuses, less-than-pure heroine. I found it very refreshing. Viola is intelligent and worldly with a hard exterior just as one would expect from her life experience. Her character seems perfectly crafted to show a woman in her times making due with few choices. Despite being presented as a blackmailer, she's a very likable character and she treats the hero well considering all their differences.

Yes, the hero, Leo, lies to the heroine and those lies place her in danger. However one has to keep in mind, he's a hero to a woman who is blackmailing her former protectors. He's a man trying to catch our heroine in her underhanded tactics. So one has to take things in their relative state. And he feels bad later about having placed her in danger. He's certainly has the other traits of a historical hero, he's charming, sexy and alpha.

Ms. Carr does an excellent job of highlighting the class differences between Viola and Leo's families. She creates a beautiful, lush historical world while her prose and style are intriguing and draw the reader in. The external factors like The League of Second Sons are given little of the spotlight in this story but that is exactly what I would expect. The focus is on the erotic and romantic relationship between hero and heroine, exactly as it should be in a shorter erotic romance.

The sexual part of the plot had one nit. For some reason the initial sexual consummation between Leo and Viola is not shown, only referred to after the fact. I found that a little jarring and felt thereafter like I had just caught a train while it was running and was struggling to gain my bearings in the story. But that sense faded fairly fast, though I still felt sort of cheated at not getting to see the start of their affair. The sexual scenes are more sensual than emotional. It works for this story and these characters. It's easy to see how Viola and Leo are right for each other they just have a cooler emotional effect when they come together than another pair of characters might. The sexual scenes are sexy and written to a spicy level of heat. Those scenes are the heart and soul of Ripe for Pleasure, just as it should be for an erotic romance.

Viola's dog Pen is a charming companion and added a nice, lighthearted touch. Leo's sister Beau is a charming character and one I am looking forward to hearing more about in the next book, Ripe for Scandal. I thought that Leo restrained himself too long in dealing with the villain. I didn't totally buy that he had to because the villain was family. There's a nice clever twist at the end that I liked very much.

Overall this was a fast-paced, sexy read and I recommend it to anyone looking for something different and spicy in a historical romance. I will certainly read Ripe for Scandal.

Originally posted at Whipped Cream Reviews

This is a book you will read again and again!

I didn't think I would like the characters but boy was I wrong! The story line was great and as the book went on it just got better. Don't miss this one!

Very well written sexy historical romance

RIPE FOR PLEASURE by Isobel Carr is the first book in THE LEAGUE OF SECOND SONS series. This is a very different story, for one the heroine is not a virgin, for two the hero is not a Duke or Earl. This is a historical that is very interesting and kept me quickly turning pages. Viola is a strong heroine with flaws and this touch of sweetness that is hard to resist. While Leonidas or Leo, is a hero to die for, but he's got his flaws. There is romance, sensuality, suspense, and a sweetness that is surprising, there are also moments of humor. This is a great first book that will leave you eager to read the next book, the secondary characters, namely the other League members, second sons, will steal your heart. I will say I still prefer my virginal heroines but RIPE FOR PLEASURE is a truly engaging story that may have me rethinking my preferences. Fans of historical romances with a hot romance, strong characters with flaws, and a page-turning storyline with touches of suspense and a villain you'll love to hate will adore RIPE FOR PLEASURE by Isobel Carr.

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