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Her Wicked Lord #4

The Viscount's Obsession

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A ball. A mysterious stranger who can’t take his eyes off her…when he finally gets her alone, she just can’t say no.

At her wit’s end, widowed and penniless, Lady Emily needs to make a swift match. But, in the aftermath of a scorchingly hot, anonymous tryst, she can’t shake the need to see him again. When Emily’s enigmatic gentleman arrives unexpectedly at her door, offering a marriage of convenience, she knows she should accept…so why does she say no?

Reclusive Viscount Jeremy Locke has a secret, he’s been watching the pretty young widow for weeks. Ever since he first laid eyes on Lady Emily, his world narrowed to a single focus. If only he could bring himself to speak to her… When a surprising encounter at a ball leads to illicit, hurried passion, all his hard-earned control shatters.

His fascination with her might be doomed from the start. Locke is terrible with people, unable to form any real connection. But, like a moth circling a flame, he can’t resist the temptation to reach for something good.

All he requires is her surrender… but, he never expected her to be his redemption.

85 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 10, 2023

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Viola Grey

25 books81 followers

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5 stars
109 (43%)
4 stars
85 (34%)
3 stars
52 (20%)
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1 (<1%)
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3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
Profile Image for emtee .
210 reviews101 followers
July 26, 2024
You know it’s going to be a red hot read when you’re only 16 pages in and you’re thinking, “oh f*ck yes!”

Don’t mind me, I’ve just been on a huge historical erotica binge lately.

This novella (75 pages) was a smokin hot and totally worthwhile addition to my binge pile.

I never realized that a quiet, introverted, socially awkward, intense, possessive and utterly obsessed (borderline stalker-ish) viscount was my thing, but there you have it.

Emily felt the weight of the gaze on her long before she spied him. It was as if a finger trailed itself down her spine, goosebumps rising in the wake of her sudden awareness of being watched.

***

Her fixation circled her, his gloved fingers running lightly across the bare skin of her back, trailing along the edge of the low-cut evening gown. “You are frightened,” he observed, as her breath hitched and her hands trembled where they clutched her skirts.

He was so very hard to read. So removed from everything, as if he existed on another plane altogether. No. She was more afraid of herself, and what being there with him meant about her. “A little,” she admitted, her voice finally breaking free of its restraints. He sucked in a breath, the sound filling the air as he paused. “Do you want me to be scared?” she asked, curious, tilting her head as he came to stand before her. “A little.”

He caught her wrist, then pinched the tip of her white evening glove, working each finger free and drawing the length down and off her hand, tucking it carefully into the inner pocket of his coat. “What are you doing that for?” she asked, confused. “I want to feel your hand on my cock,” he answered in a hoarse whisper, taking her bare palm and pressing it to the front of his breeches. He was hard. Huge and long and hard.
For her. Emily couldn’t tear her eyes from his, beyond shocked, her chest heaving for air.

I absolutely loved Jeremy and I have a feeling I will be re-reading this often.
Profile Image for Merry .
796 reviews245 followers
July 25, 2023
I have read this author's short stories before and have enjoyed them. This is another that is steamy rather erotic story about a neurodivergent lord and a widow that has a hea. Little character development due to short length of book. 3.75*
Profile Image for Amanda books_ergo_sum.
503 reviews60 followers
July 25, 2023
It is a truth universally acknowledged…that entomologists are the weirdest biologists.

So of course the hero who studied bugs was an unhinged stalker, so obsessed with the heroine he could barely function.

Who doesn’t love a stalker hero?? And this was a particularly excellent one for two reasons:
💖 it had scenes that were so stalker-y that I personally would have Nope/stranger-dangered myself out of them. Yet the heroine was into it and I loved that for her
💖 there was a mild primal kink vibe to these two characters’ sexuality and even after the HEA was in our sights, they still set up stalker-y scenarios to turn each other on? Good for them!

I devoured this novella and think you should too.
Profile Image for RLbooks (in and out).
861 reviews344 followers
March 20, 2023
3.5 stars rounded up

This was a fast burn and very steamy historical. The h is a widow who has one season to re-marry and the H is a neurodivergent viscount who takes one look at the h and is obsessed. However, he’s not the best with words and struggles in social situations so flounders quite a bit when he tries to present his suit to the h. But he doesn’t flounder with his body lol. Written in third person, dual POV. No ow drama, touch of om drama from a suitor the h doesn’t want. Neither is a virgin and minimal info given for both.

I really liked that each character had some development and background despite this being erotica (sometimes those details can be skimped on). The story is primarily their interactions at social events, in public, and then in private. Their interactions don’t go the smoothest and I do wish there was more time with them connecting on page not in the spicy variety. The transition from one chapter to the next was sometimes really abrupt, which I thought made their interactions feel even more abrupt.

The h had a friend who I think may have had her own book since their time together also highlighted updates on the friend. I liked the friendship but it may have worked better for me if the h discussed her thoughts about the H with the friend. That might have also strengthened the romance side of the story since that was kind of weak given their communication and their time mostly spent pressed up against things. This story had an epilogue (yay!) and it was a cute one where I felt they had a nicely established HEA in addition to fitting in a bit more steam. Overall I had a good time escaping into this read rather than adulting this morning.
Profile Image for Tenley.
336 reviews51 followers
August 18, 2024
Viola Grey does a great job writing short historical romances. The level of sexy times in her books varies -- it ranges from a lot of sex talk to practically only sex talk. I find her books great to read in between longer novels because you aren't required to think much while reading, but the writing is done well, so you don't walk away feeling like you just read smut. **Not that there's anything wrong with smut -- I'm a smutty reading fan, but Grey's novels don't feel smutty, if that makes sense.**
367 reviews10 followers
June 28, 2023
A novella where the Hero has a major crush on the heroine? Yes! 

Really fast-paced and steamy! I mean, really steamy, Emily is always quite satisfied 😆
Profile Image for Kate V.
1,632 reviews262 followers
July 12, 2023
4.5 stars!

The Viscount's Obsession had major Pride and Prejudice vibes and I loved it. Emily is a widow and still very young and must remarry. Her previous marriage was a loveless arranged marriage and this time around she wishes for something more. At a ball, she notices an intense and brooding man that makes goosebumps break out on her body and her heart race.

"Currently, the gentleman who had drawn her attention was not looking at her, but at the Earl of Suffolk, with whom he appeared to be deep in conversation. However, Emily noted with interest the way his hand flexed into a fist at his side as she turned her attention towards him."


Pride and Prejuduce, am I right? It was such a sexy scene to read.

description

Viscount Locke or Jeremy has never been good with words...or people. He sees the world differently and likes to keep to himself. Today, you'd call him neurodivergent. He has never been infatuated or intrigued by any woman until Emily. Now he finds himself following and watching her from afar. When Emily and Jeremy have a deliciously sexy encounter, he decides he has to make her his.

"But a man in my position doesn't make it this far in life without knowing how to fight, how to keep what's his safe, protected. Through whatever means necessary."


Emily is baffled by the Viscount but also yearns to be a part of his life. He comes into her life and completely obliterates what she thinks lust and love can be. Can the two of them build something beautiful?

"He hadn't kissed her. Hadn't even touched her really. But he had devastated her in every way."


I don't know how Viola does it but she makes her short stories feel like a full length novel. This was so well written and the characters incredibly well developed and layered. The sexual tension between Jeremy and Emily was palpable and their interactions heartwarming and beautiful. Seriously, this was such a lovely story about two souls finding their other half. The steam in here was top notch passion and I just adored their journey.

222 reviews6 followers
June 1, 2024
The Viscount’s Obsession was great. I agree with other reviews that this steamy historical is a quick read, a little smutty and highly entertaining. A good alternative to plot heavy epic reads. 🔥🔥❤️‍🔥 balanced enough to remain very readable 🙂
Profile Image for Bonnie.
903 reviews15 followers
December 31, 2023
Thanks to BookSprout for a copy of this novella; this is my freely given opinion.

This is definitely a sexy and intense short little story by Viola Grey about one man's intense obsession with a young widow.

Jeremy Locke is a socially awkward hermit who is very focused on his studies and intellectual pursuits and has no interest in engaging in the social whirl of high society. However, he notices a young widow sketching one day at the museum he is visiting. When she looks up and smiles at him in passing, he is entranced, and obsessed. It sounds almost stalker like, how he enacts his obsession, but it does sound like he is stepping outside his comfort zone of normal behaviour and does not know how to engage her in the context of socially expected norms.

Lady Emily is a young widow who is forced back into the marriage mart as she is a poor widowed wife of an elderly peer, whose heir has no interest in providing for her. She is unaware of the regard of Jeremy, until one night at an event he catches her eye and her curiosity. When they engage, it leads to an intense and erotic interlude in the library... and she doesn't even know his name.

Jeremy goes about things in quite a backwards manner, and overwhelms Emily with his intensity. She seems quite disquieted by it, but then sees beyond his awkward approaches and realizes how he feels about her, when he seems unable to properly speak about his feelings and also seems to fall into his intensity as well. This was short, oddly sweet, very sexual and highly engaging. Initially Jeremy was very off-putting and overwhelming with his dark brooding intensity. But then, like Emily, he wins you over.

4.75 stars out of 5
Profile Image for Rose.
84 reviews6 followers
August 28, 2024
Perf palate cleanser after a bunch of dnfs
Profile Image for M. &#9788;.
467 reviews5 followers
January 14, 2023
Ignore my TBR for a new Viola Grey?

You better believe it.

This may not have been the hottest of her works (I’m looking at you ‘His Hellion Ward’) but Jeremy may have been one of my favorite heroes.

Brooding, aloof, dark hair, “am I afraid of him or attracted to him?” and he may or may not watch me when I don’t realize it?

Let’s not pretend we weren’t all obsessed with Edward Cullen so you know why this worked for me.

These are just everything I want from a novella. Spicy, of course, but infused with just enough sweetness and plot to get me invested in the characters.

Also he’s a lepidopterist and for some reason I’m obsessed with that.
Profile Image for romancelibrary.
1,251 reviews576 followers
June 14, 2023
3.5 stars

This is one of the rare instances where insta-love works. The hero sees the heroine and falls in love at first sight. He's a nerdy and antisocial scientist. But he's also lowkey a stalker as he follows the heroine around 😂 I know this sounds weird, but it works. I enjoyed this novella because it has a lot of the tropes that I like. Short, steamy, and mostly satisfying.
Profile Image for M.M. Wakeford.
Author 17 books24 followers
October 22, 2023
Regency novella high on spice but low on romance

This is a spicy regency romance novella featuring a young, beautiful but penniless widow and a reclusive, socially awkward viscount. Their first encounter at a society ball is very steamy.

There was an interesting kernel of a story here, in which the main male character is neurodiverse at a time when such things were not well understood. I would have liked to have seen this part of the story developed a little further, as I think there was scope to build the romance by having the viscount finally meet someone who can understand and value him despite his differences. Instead, the focus of the writing was on squeezing in as many salacious encounters as possible into the short length of the story. Unfortunately, after the first two of these occur, the rest get a little boring.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
19.3k reviews331 followers
January 13, 2023
The Viscount's Proposal . . .

Lady Emily Hatfield is a widow and her deceased husband’s heir will do nothing for her. She needs to remarry but has not found the right man yet. At a ball, she feels someone watching her and notices a handsome stranger. Jeremiah Locke is a socially awkward Viscount who has been watching Emily for some time but doesn’t know how to express his feelings. So Jeremy proposes they enter a “marriage of convenience” which will resolve Emily’s financial problems. Will she accept his offer? Will she show him how to express his love for her?
Profile Image for Natasha.
12 reviews
October 25, 2024
I read this novella as a palate cleanser for a book I had read where I felt the MMC did not atone for his sins against the FMC, so I needed a story where the MMC gives it his all, diving head first, and I was quite happy with this one.

The FMC is widowed and doesn't want another loveless marriage like her last one so she is reluctant to marry at all. The MMC has anxiety disorder (though not explicitly said, they talk about how easily he can get overwhelmed and therefore, shy's away from society) The FMC and MMC give in to their lust for one another very quickly, and it's not until later you learn that the MMC isn't actually as aloof as he comes off, he just does not know how to interreact with people very well. Later the MMC admits that he saw her for the first time months ago and had an instant crush on her and his only reason for re-entering society and start attending balls was specifically to see her. They get their HEA and the epilogue was perfect! Highly recommend this short read.

Just so you know before you start reading...
Stalking of the FMC from the MMC
An attempted SA of the FMC that the MMC saves her from before the villain could take her to the hidden location.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Martis.
263 reviews
October 5, 2023
I like that these books are very short with a good amount of smut. I mean, I finished the one with the blacksmith and immediately wanted more of this short novellas.

With this book however, I didnt feel much chemistry between the two leads. It was just carnal desire. I have nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to feel more desired from maybe the female. The story is very short so I understand that things cannot be fleshed out more.

I do plan on reading more of these steamy short novellas. This author is new to me, well my second book, and I do like how fast the story comes to be and there is little drama. The steam is also good. I liked that. lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Theletter12.
620 reviews3 followers
March 3, 2023
Jeremy and Emily.

Pretty perfect novella…

Ohhh loved his awkwardness - so sweet - he basically fell in lust/love at 1st sight and for months has been getting the nerve to talk to her.

He knows what he wants… and she wants passion. Swoon scenes of utter devotion…

Epilogue- they try for a baby he has a confession that he’s never come inside
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Susan D.
129 reviews1 follower
July 26, 2023
WHEW!

Certainly steamy, short and wicked. Another highly gratifying story by Viola Grey that fills the time if you only have a spare hour to devote to reading. I thoroughly enjoy her novellas and look forward to my next.
Profile Image for Linnea March.
Author 8 books68 followers
April 4, 2023
fun romp

Short and sexy historical. I enjoyed the story and how it got right to the fun parts. Quick read for those who like the genre
Profile Image for J.T. Kingsley.
323 reviews5 followers
August 11, 2023
Wonderful as always!

I love that I can pick up any of Viola’s stories and have a blast. She writes interesting characters and lovely settings in just a few pages.
March 29, 2024
It was more like a 3.5-4 for me, sweet despite the slightly darker undertone but I felt like I was missing something. Otherwise the plot and pacing were really good for a novella!
Profile Image for Mafe.
44 reviews
December 17, 2024
Muy entretenida está historia, me gustó bastante. 🔥🤭👌🏻
Profile Image for Catheryn.
1,037 reviews23 followers
July 6, 2023
So sweet and so fun! Also...spicy.

I love how the MMC was obsessed with her from the beginning. I thought he was a bit rude to her in the beginning, but he came around and was great. He was very shy and didn't know how he should be with her.

Overall, another great novella from Viola Grey.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews

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