The Wicked Lover

Rating:
Summary: 4.5 Stars
Review: I didn't enjoy this one as much as I did the Seduction. I found something lacking between the two lead characters. But it was still a good read and Julia Ross is one of my favorite authors and a gem found in a genre that can get a little repetitive.

Rating:
Summary: Elegant and exquisitely sensual
Review: I loved Julia Ross's last book, THE SEDUCTION, and THE WICKED LOVER is just as good a read. As usual, the author does a phenomenal job bringing the Georgian era to life, and then peeling away the layers of lace and cynicism to reveal very human, very loving characters. Sylvie and Dove are both fascinating, exquisitely tortured. The complex interplay between them was completely engrossing. And very, very sexy! It was so good I could not bear to be interrupted while reading it. This is a book I hid like a secret box of chocolates and indulged in when I knew I had time for myself. Treat yourself to THE WICKED LOVER!

Rating:
Summary: Elegant and exquisitely sensual
Review: I sit here wondering what to tell you about Julia Ross's The Wicked Lover. Shall I mention that it's probably the best romance novel that I've read in the past year? possibly ever? It is. But I doubt that it would appeal to everyone.

The plot [in 25 words or less]: Sylvie, a lady with a checkered past, is hired by an enemy of Robert Dovenby to uncover his well-guarded past. She does this by posing as his male secretary. [granted, that was 28 words]

This is possibly the most erotic, sensual book that I have ever read. It is set in the eighteenth century and the characters remain consistent with their time period. They are jaded, cynical, secretive and fascinating as layer by layer we learn who they are. Dove and Sylvie are strongly attracted to each other from first sight and the first two hundred pages of the book becomes an elaborate exercise in foreplay. Every aspect of their lives takes on a sensual aspect. Remember those first weeks of falling in love? The mixture of lust and sensuality? Ross captures that. Everything from the clothes that touch their bodies and to the foods they eat carries a sensual note.

It is also a well-written, sometimes lyric, story with a strong plot and interesting supporting characters.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Romance I've Read in the Past Year
Review: I sit here wondering what to tell you about Julia Ross's The Wicked Lover. Shall I mention that it's probably the best romance novel that I've read in the past year? possibly ever? It is. But I doubt that it would appeal to everyone.

The plot [in 25 words or less]: Sylvie, a lady with a checkered past, is hired by an enemy of Robert Dovenby to uncover his well-guarded past. She does this by posing as his male secretary. [granted, that was 28 words]

This is possibly the most erotic, sensual book that I have ever read. It is set in the eighteenth century and the characters remain consistent with their time period. They are jaded, cynical, secretive and fascinating as layer by layer we learn who they are. Dove and Sylvie are strongly attracted to each other from first sight and the first two hundred pages of the book becomes an elaborate exercise in foreplay. Every aspect of their lives takes on a sensual aspect. Remember those first weeks of falling in love? The mixture of lust and sensuality? Ross captures that. Everything from the clothes that touch their bodies and to the foods they eat carries a sensual note.

It is also a well-written, sometimes lyric, story with a strong plot and interesting supporting characters.

Rating:
Summary: A must read - a keeper
Review: Julia Ross' writing puts her at the top of the heap - she has such a fantastic voice, creates so many beautifully turned phrases...her plots are original, her dialogue witty and her characters alive - I was unseated by her first book, and now consider her the queen of romance (actually she shared the throne with Loretta Chase).

Rating:
Summary: An enticing tale
Review: Robert "Dove" Dovenby finds his lover Lady Grenham burning up his wardrobe in a bonfire that will make them the talk of the town. She angrily accuses him of cheating on her with some strumpet. Dove deals with her actions with an aplomb considering he knows this will be a cold winter without his bedmate or his coat.

Disasters come in three with the third inside his townhouse. There a lady and a young man are tied up. The gentleman explains that they are in Dove's bedroom to steal an item of clothing in order to win a wager, but were caught and tied up by Lady Grenham. Dove realizes the gentleman, who claims to be George White, is actually a lady.

Countess Sylvie Georgiana barely stays alive by destroying men. Her current assignment is to obtain Dove's secrets so that treason can be proven and he will subsequently be hung. However, he is not a peaceful dove idly letting her take her best shot. All changes when love shakes up both participants.

THE WICKED LOVER is an exhilarating Georgian romance that starts off wildly when Dove returns home to the fiery ire of his mistress. The story line never slacks off until the final vows of love as the duo duel in a fabulous cat and dove game in which his enemies want him dead. Though Dove's cool rivals that of Fonzie, he realizes that he has loved Sylvie ever since she was a "young lad" while she struggles with caring for someone when her life has been that of the ultimate survivor player. Julia Ross provides an enticing tale that fans will cherish.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: An enticing tale
Review: Robert "Dove" Dovenby finds his lover Lady Grenham burning up his wardrobe in a bonfire that will make them the talk of the town. She angrily accuses him of cheating on her with some strumpet. Dove deals with her actions with an aplomb considering he knows this will be a cold winter without his bedmate or his coat.

Disasters come in three with the third inside his townhouse. There a lady and a young man are tied up. The gentleman explains that they are in Dove's bedroom to steal an item of clothing in order to win a wager, but were caught and tied up by Lady Grenham. Dove realizes the gentleman, who claims to be George White, is actually a lady.

Countess Sylvie Georgiana barely stays alive by destroying men. Her current assignment is to obtain Dove's secrets so that treason can be proven and he will subsequently be hung. However, he is not a peaceful dove idly letting her take her best shot. All changes when love shakes up both participants.

THE WICKED LOVER is an exhilarating Georgian romance that starts off wildly when Dove returns home to the fiery ire of his mistress. The story line never slacks off until the final vows of love as the duo duel in a fabulous cat and dove game in which his enemies want him dead. Though Dove's cool rivals that of Fonzie, he realizes that he has loved Sylvie ever since she was a "young lad" while she struggles with caring for someone when her life has been that of the ultimate survivor player. Julia Ross provides an enticing tale that fans will cherish.

Harriet Klausner

Rating:
Summary: Wickedly Good Read
Review: Robert Sinclair "Dove" Dovenby arrives home to a public street bonfire in front of his townhouse as it was being fed with articles of his wardrobe. Adding to the fire with great relish is his infuriated mistress, Lady Margaret, Countess of Grenham - or should I say FORMER infuriated mistress. Along with some stunningly brilliant repartees and laughingly adding to the fire himself `the Dove' discovers from Lady Margaret just why she is so incensed.

Entering his abode, he finds not only a young maid, but a young gentleman, tied spread-eagled to his bed. The explanations from the `young man' were that he and the maid were attempting to win a wager by stealing an article of clothing from the famous but elusive Dove when they were caught and bound up by his mistress. Dove recognized that the `young man' was in disguise and not a young man at all and after losing his mistress would play along with the game in order to discover just what these two had really come to his establishment to find.

The `young man' was in reality, the Countess Sylvie Georgiana, who had for years worked as a spy for the Duke of Yveshires. The duke being the Dove's nemesis - sworn to destroy him for the ruination and death of his younger brother, Lord Edward Vane (from THE SEDUCTION). Of course at the time, the Dove did not know whom she worked for but recognized at once that the story was a cover for her real purpose, otherwise, why the disguise? He also thought that the bravery exhibited by the `young man' was admirable and while he was intrigued he also felt a stronger pull of desire, that he'd not felt for any woman quite like this before. He decided that since the `young lad' George White had caused him to lose his wardrobe he would make him pay his debt by working as his secretary. And so begins an enticingly passionate game of subterfuge as the spy becomes spied upon and the Dove begins a very dangerous game of seduction with a woman who has sworn an oath to discover enough of his secrets to destroy him. As the game is played, she fights her gut feelings of his innocence as even as she promises the duke that her aim was to destroy him. As the seduction becomes more and more intense, her heart and emotions are engaged as so are the Dove's.

This is a truly enticing Georgian period tale woven with some very erotic and sensual scenes and dialogs. The action is replete with twists and turns that will engage your emotions. A plot where not everyone is as they seem and a colorful supporting cast make this a truly robust and exciting read. The lead protagonists are brilliantly crafted, with Sylvie being a brittle and cold hearted professional, and the Dove - charming, brilliant, compassionate AND a wickedly good lover! The three days spent behind closed doors could most definitely be described as a culinary feast for lovers of sensual delights. This book is highly recommended! --- Submitted by Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: Wickedly Good Read
Review: Robert Sinclair "Dove" Dovenby arrives home to a public street bonfire in front of his townhouse as it was being fed with articles of his wardrobe. Adding to the fire with great relish is his infuriated mistress, Lady Margaret, Countess of Grenham - or should I say FORMER infuriated mistress. Along with some stunningly brilliant repartees and laughingly adding to the fire himself 'the Dove' discovers from Lady Margaret just why she is so incensed.

Entering his abode, he finds not only a young maid, but a young gentleman, tied spread-eagled to his bed. The explanations from the 'young man' were that he and the maid were attempting to win a wager by stealing an article of clothing from the famous but elusive Dove when they were caught and bound up by his mistress. Dove recognized that the 'young man' was in disguise and not a young man at all and after losing his mistress would play along with the game in order to discover just what these two had really come to his establishment to find.

The 'young man' was in reality, the Countess Sylvie Georgiana, who had for years worked as a spy for the Duke of Yveshires. The duke being the Dove's nemesis - sworn to destroy him for the ruination and death of his younger brother, Lord Edward Vane (from THE SEDUCTION). Of course at the time, the Dove did not know whom she worked for but recognized at once that the story was a cover for her real purpose, otherwise, why the disguise? He also thought that the bravery exhibited by the 'young man' was admirable and while he was intrigued he also felt a stronger pull of desire, that he'd not felt for any woman quite like this before. He decided that since the 'young lad' George White had caused him to lose his wardrobe he would make him pay his debt by working as his secretary. And so begins an enticingly passionate game of subterfuge as the spy becomes spied upon and the Dove begins a very dangerous game of seduction with a woman who has sworn an oath to discover enough of his secrets to destroy him. As the game is played, she fights her gut feelings of his innocence as even as she promises the duke that her aim was to destroy him. As the seduction becomes more and more intense, her heart and emotions are engaged as so are the Dove's.

This is a truly enticing Georgian period tale woven with some very erotic and sensual scenes and dialogs. The action is replete with twists and turns that will engage your emotions. A plot where not everyone is as they seem and a colorful supporting cast make this a truly robust and exciting read. The lead protagonists are brilliantly crafted, with Sylvie being a brittle and cold hearted professional, and the Dove - charming, brilliant, compassionate AND a wickedly good lover! The three days spent behind closed doors could most definitely be described as a culinary feast for lovers of sensual delights. This book is highly recommended! --- Submitted by Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

Rating:
Summary: A lush page-turner.
Review: Ross's Georgian romances are never what one expects. They have a vein of eroticism and plots and characters that push the boundaries of the genre making for not to be missed reads. When Robert Sinclair Dovenby "Dove" returns home he discovers his mistress, the powerful Lady Grenham is very publicly dumping him by burning all his belongings in public. The event was precipitated by the arrival of a young woman and her manservant who Lady Grenham has tied to Dove's bed. George White, the manservant, is in actuality Sylvie Georgiana, the Countess of Montevrain, who Dove institutes as his secretary. Sylvie, who is spying on him in an effort to destroy him is unaware that Dove knows she is a woman in disguise. Twists and turns entwine with sensuality and suspense to make this lush romance a page turner.