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loverofromance 's review for:
Shameless
by Anne Stuart
This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππ
Heart & Feels:πππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:ππππ
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Shameless is the fourth installment in the "House of Rohan" series and this one was on the top of my TBR for the Happily Ever After A Thon that was focused on historical romance. I am not sure why I keep forgetting about this author or this series but I have loved it so much here. Shameless was probably the most tame book of the series as a whole though. For those new to this author or this series, the heroes are definitely more edgier and darker in many respects. This author was a epic rake and so delicious but not quite as dark as some of the previous heroes in the series but I am not truly complaining. This book was delicious and entertaining.
First Line
Benedick Francis Alistair Rohan, Sixth Viscount Roha, arrived at his town house with a mission.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Benedick Rohan
The Heroine: Melisande Carstairs
Summary
Benedick Rohan, is a bit different from some of the other members in his family. He has been burned by love and faced tragedy and is wanting someone prim and proper for a wife, so he can indulge his appetites and not get emotionally entangled. Then Lady Melisande Carstairs come storming into his life like a fierce fiery storm intent on bringing down the revived Heavenly Hosts. At first, Benedick doesn't believe the claims, but while posing undercover together, clues start to add up that makes it so the revived Heavenly Hosts are leagues worst than what they once were and innocent girls are at risk of being murdered....will Melisande and Benedick survive this dangerous game....
What I Loved
Shameless had such a sensual ring to the story. I loved the chemistry between Benedick and Melisande. They had such fun banter with each other. There is a level of angst between them though. I loved the dramatic differences between them. Despite Melisande being someone who has a home of women and girls who have lived as sex workers, she is very naive when it comes to the more sexual appetites and Benedick is more than willing to teach her. But through the teaching, something more deeper develops between them. Their dialogue with each other, the sensual moments and the fun feels in their relationship is what really made this book work so well for me.
What I Struggled With
The pacing was a bit off in this book here, it just had some slow parts at times. The ending was very rushed. I didn't quite feel the swoons in this book as I have felt in the other books in the series. While I loved the sensual notes within this story, the feels was a bit lacking in this one here. I just didn't feel the "love" aspects of their relationship and would have liked to have felt the build up of the emotional intimacy more in this story.
Overall View
Shameless was a titilating sensual romance that had deep notes of danger, intrigue and a couple that have such dramatic differences but find such unity when they least expect it.
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Time Era: England-Victorian Era
Character Types: Rake/Rogue, Bluestocking, Widow/Widower
Themes: Delicious Swoons/Kisses, Danger/Suspense, London Underground, Sensual, Working Together Undercover
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Charlotte Featherstone
Elizabeth Hoyt
Anna Campbell
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes but you could read these as standalones if needed.
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.
Book Evaluation:
Plot: ποΈποΈποΈποΈ
World Building:πππππ
Cover:πππππ
Hero: π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»π¦Έπ»
Heroine:π¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈπ¦Έπ»ββοΈ
Intimacy Level: π₯π₯π₯
Relationship Building: πππ
Heart & Feels:πππ
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: ππππ
Page Turner Level:ππππ
Ending:π§§π§§π§§π§§
Overall View: β¨β¨β¨β¨
First Impressions
Shameless is the fourth installment in the "House of Rohan" series and this one was on the top of my TBR for the Happily Ever After A Thon that was focused on historical romance. I am not sure why I keep forgetting about this author or this series but I have loved it so much here. Shameless was probably the most tame book of the series as a whole though. For those new to this author or this series, the heroes are definitely more edgier and darker in many respects. This author was a epic rake and so delicious but not quite as dark as some of the previous heroes in the series but I am not truly complaining. This book was delicious and entertaining.
First Line
Benedick Francis Alistair Rohan, Sixth Viscount Roha, arrived at his town house with a mission.
The Main Protagonists
The Hero: Benedick Rohan
The Heroine: Melisande Carstairs
Summary
Benedick Rohan, is a bit different from some of the other members in his family. He has been burned by love and faced tragedy and is wanting someone prim and proper for a wife, so he can indulge his appetites and not get emotionally entangled. Then Lady Melisande Carstairs come storming into his life like a fierce fiery storm intent on bringing down the revived Heavenly Hosts. At first, Benedick doesn't believe the claims, but while posing undercover together, clues start to add up that makes it so the revived Heavenly Hosts are leagues worst than what they once were and innocent girls are at risk of being murdered....will Melisande and Benedick survive this dangerous game....
What I Loved
Shameless had such a sensual ring to the story. I loved the chemistry between Benedick and Melisande. They had such fun banter with each other. There is a level of angst between them though. I loved the dramatic differences between them. Despite Melisande being someone who has a home of women and girls who have lived as sex workers, she is very naive when it comes to the more sexual appetites and Benedick is more than willing to teach her. But through the teaching, something more deeper develops between them. Their dialogue with each other, the sensual moments and the fun feels in their relationship is what really made this book work so well for me.
What I Struggled With
The pacing was a bit off in this book here, it just had some slow parts at times. The ending was very rushed. I didn't quite feel the swoons in this book as I have felt in the other books in the series. While I loved the sensual notes within this story, the feels was a bit lacking in this one here. I just didn't feel the "love" aspects of their relationship and would have liked to have felt the build up of the emotional intimacy more in this story.
Overall View
Shameless was a titilating sensual romance that had deep notes of danger, intrigue and a couple that have such dramatic differences but find such unity when they least expect it.
Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Historical Romance
Time Era: England-Victorian Era
Character Types: Rake/Rogue, Bluestocking, Widow/Widower
Themes: Delicious Swoons/Kisses, Danger/Suspense, London Underground, Sensual, Working Together Undercover
Tropes: Forced Proximity, Opposites Attract
Book Perspective
3rd POV
Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
Both
If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Charlotte Featherstone
Elizabeth Hoyt
Anna Campbell
Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes but you could read these as standalones if needed.
Steam/Spice Explanations
Simmering cup of tea---soft warm touches and light intimacy
Warmin' by the fire- a medium level of sexual tension, a balance of sexual and emotional intimacy, lighter on the details in the sexual moments.
Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.
Blazing fire to the building-The prime focus is the sex scenes, scorching hot, and could burn one. Less focus on the emotional intimacy to the relationship.