KarenH's Reviews > Victor

A sexy, light-erotica historical romance served up cougar style...right up KarenH's proverbial alley!

Lily Winthrop is a beautiful 38-year-old widow who has spent the majority of her adult life married to a man whose sexual appetite was sated exclusively by very young men. Lily knows nothing of true passion and sexual pleasures until she catches the eye of Victor Rayborne at a country party she is attending as chaperone to her 2 nieces. Victor, Lord Graston, is the second of three brothers who, together, are being forced into finding wives in order to claim their inheritance. Handsome beyond belief with long black hair, piercing blue eyes, muscular bods and jumbo-sized whowhos, the "Rakehells from Rochester" have more than lived up to their nickname by cutting an impressive swath through the fairer sex of the ton. For Victor, however, life as a rake quickly becomes history never to be repeated when he meets Lily. He is captivated by the prim and proper widow, and is relentless in his pursuit to win her heart.

What can I say? Victor was not only heart-stopping sexy but was a refreshingly upbeat, fun-loving hero (no tortured souls here) as well. Lily was a mature, morally upright woman who, although sexually naive at first, was eager to trade innocence for experience in Victor's arms (and bed, and tub, and...) She also learned by Victor's lead that living for one's self brings far more happiness and contentment than adhering to a strict moral code dictated by general opinion.

Of course, a true rake's road to monogamous bliss & an HEA would be rife with female roadblocks. Fortunately, Julia Templeton is well aware of this and the story is spiced up nicely by former lovers as well as future hopefuls. Being human, Victor does make a few mistakes but they are slight and Lily wisely reacts accordingly. There is a conniving ex-mistress that is ruthless in her pursuit of Victor; but, as in all good romances of this nature, she gets the permanent kick to the curb.

I'm giving this book 5**. Although it wasn't one of the best books I've ever read, it was exactly the type of book I was in the mood to read and I thoroughly enjoyed it from beginning to end!

*My only complaint is that I did not want to envision Victor looking like Nathan Kamp, but even that is a weak protest... Nathan looks damn fine in that cover shot.