Something Reckless: A Proper Lady By Day, a Seductive Mistress By Night Book

Ooooo this was goo-oo-oo-d ! Not only does it have my favourite love/hate theme happening but the emotional involvement between the h/h coupled with the steam factor of an 120° in the shade(!) all came together beautifully making for a fantastic read that just whipped right by. Jess Michaels certainly knows how to develop a story without making it too long, bogging it down with filler and diving right into the romance from the first few pages.

This is historical erotica without the ick, with a strong story line and vivid characters. The sexual tension just builds and builds until it explodes into firecracker central. The h/h dislike each other immensely at the start and there's a whole underhanded plot set up by the hero to take down the heroine. Penelope wasn't the most likeable character when she appeared in the previous story "Everything Forbidden" but she just shone in this one. Jeremy Vaughn, the Duke of Kilgrath, plays the roll of the sob rake beautifully. He slowly sucks her in to his web of deceit (so hard not to give spoilers here) but also loses himself in the process. This book has THE best as well as most deserved slap across the face scene I've ever read --big time ouch there, but at the same time it was emotionally draining for both the hero and the heroine. You could just feel the betrayal right through to your bones and you're sitting there saying "you bastard, you deserve it and then some dammit!" -geeze what a good read! :D

There's just the right combination of sex and story to keep you turning those pages well into the night -or perhaps during the day at work (lol!). It's also a comfortable book to read because you don't have to crack it open with a jackhammer to see what's written close to the spine and the print is a decent size too. It didn't make the favourite shelf for me because I thought an additional love scene was needed but all the rest made for an excellent story --fabulous ending too. It's got the love/hate-rakish hero/prim & proper heroine-protector-tables-turned story all rolled into one. If you liked Michaels' Taboo or Everything Forbidden I can't see how you wouldn't love this one :D