Deep in the heart of London there are many gentlemen's clubs with their own charter. One special and of course secret club is The League of Second Sons. By signing the charter each member must assist fellow members in all they do. Part of being in a club together is the camaraderie that includes drinking to excess and gambling, which would explain why Roland Devere is waking up with a wager pinned to his chest. It seems Roland bet his friends he would bed the lovely Lady Olivia Carlow.
Lady Olivia Carlow hates scandal especially her own. Right now her life is in a precarious position. Olivia was recently widowed but she isn't a widow. With her husband's death a first wife was uncovered who it turns out never was divorced meaning Olivia's marriage wasn't valid. If Olivia was a widow she would be given the respect from the women of the Ton and discretely be propositioned to enter an affair. As an innocent Olivia would be treated with respect and no man would approach her without the promise of making her an honest woman.
As a woman who is somewhere in between everyone knows she has been bedded without the sanctity of marriage vows. It isn't Olivia's fault the marriage isn't valid but she will be the one to suffer the consequences of a fallen woman. Lady Olivia is sitting down for tea when the post arrives and her heart catches and she holds her breath for a moment. It has begun, she opens the letter which is a crude proposition from Roland where he offers to be a "sacrificial lamb" and marry her. Olivia decides the best way to handle this is head on. Roland then receives his own shock when he arrives home to find Olivia ensconced in conversation with his mother.
RIPE FOR SEDUCTION is an amusing love affair. I admire Lady Olivia's determination to hold her future in her own hands and face the Ton on her terms. I love the scene where Roland realizes she has his back against the wall and he is at her mercy. The scenes between Roland and Olivia range from witty and hilarious to scorching hot. Isobel Carr's RIPE FOR SEDUCTION is brilliant and I found Carr's writing similar to that of Maya Banks historical novels. I recommend this novel to those who enjoy historical romance with steamy love scenes.
A secret society of younger sons, sworn to aid and abet each
other, no matter the scandal or cost . . .
After the scandalous demise of her marriage, Lady Olivia
Carlow knows the rakes of the ton will think her fair game.
So when a letter arrives bearing an indecent offer from the
incorrigible Roland Devere, she seizes the opportunity.
Turning the tables on the notorious rogue, she blackmails
him into playing her betrothed for the season. But no matter
how broad his shoulders or chiseled his features, she will
never fall prey to his suave charm.
When Roland boasted he'd be the first into Lady Olivia's
bed, he couldn't have imagined that behind those brilliant
blue eyes lurked a vixen with a scheme of her own. Still,
Roland is not about to abandon his original wager. If
anything, learning that the lovely Olivia is as bold as she
is beautiful makes him more determined to seduce her into
never saying "never" again.
No excerpt available.
© 2003-2026