"Fine historical erotic tale"

Her dad disowned his oldest daughter Beatrix Lennon when she was caught half-naked with a nude stud at a ball. The Ton winked at the male, but condemned Beatrix as a promiscuous woman. Her godmother Arabella takes Beatrix under her wings as a chip off the old block and the younger woman flourishes though as scandalous as ever.

At small party hosted by Arabella's friend Esme Rawlins, known for her scandals too, Beatrix meets Lord Stephen Fairfax, who has pushed for reform in Parliament for the past decade. Stephen is tired from his failures in politics, but wonders why the blatant Beatrix pushes a married woman at him. Though he wants to reject the licentious female and her shoving of Helen Godwin at him, he finds himself unable to stay away from Beatrix as the upright moralistic aristocrat and the wanton fallen woman find themselves falling in love.

This is not the Regency romance that your mom read, as the story line is more of a historical erotic tale that is fun to read due to the brassy, independent fiery women who openly embrace sex. The story line may turn off some fans due to the promiscuity of the female characters, but is well written and serves as a mechanism to display the gender hypocrisy of the age that still exists today. Not for everyone, James smashes barriers with her enlightened tale of love and sex among the early nineteenth century aristocracy.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 10, 2004

Summary

It is whispered behind the fans of London's dowagers and in the corners of fashionable ballrooms that scandal follows willfully wild Lady Beatrix Lennox wherever she goes. Three years before, the debutante created a sensation by being found in a distinctly compromising position. Now, the ton has branded her as unmarriageable, her family has called her a vixen, and Beatrix sees no reason not to go after what -- and who -- she wishes. And she wants Stephen Fairfax-Lacy, the handsome Earl of Spade. Beatrix, with her brazen suggestions and irresistibly sensuous allure, couldn't be more different from the earl's ideal future bride. Yet Beatrix brings out a wildness in the earl he has tried to deny far too long. Still, he's not about to play love's game by Lady Beatrix's rules. She may be used to being on top in affairs of the heart, but that will soon change.