Games of Pleasure

This book is the second in the Wyldshay series by Julia Ross. Ryder finally meets his match and is humbled by Miracle. Strange name, but it seems to fit her perfectly. She is able to teach him about himself both mentally and physically, while fleeing for her life. The transformation that Ryder goes through is remarkable. All in all, a very exciting, sensual tale that you won't be able to put down.

Julia Ross writes some of the most beautiful romances in the genre - she has the kind of talent that would be remarkable no matter what sort of book you're reading. I think Julia Ross books are like precious jewels, rare and wonderful. But her books are like jewels in another way: I think that the beauty of her writing, the elegance of the scenes, the wit of the conversations she constructs can overwhelm the story and overshadow the real beating heart of the romance. "Games of Pleasure" is so rich, so full of allusion, that it seems abstract - like a fairy tale. All the characters are vivid, but they seem sort of inhuman to me. Oversaturated, larger than life. The book is amazing. The hero and heroine, Ryder and Miracle, are amazingly well drawn, amazingly sympathetic. You fall in love with the both of them, you wish each one happiness individually, you rejoice when they finally overcome the obstacles keeping them apart. And the book is immensely suspensful; up until the very end, I was very seriously wondering if Ross was going to dash my hopes and write a tragedy. And there is a section at the end of the book - when the Duchess of Ryderbourne delivers her opinion on the wisdom of marrying a courtesan - that positively made me crow with joy. So it's great. All I'll say is - Ross is in a category of her own. This isn't my favorite of hers because I thought that it was ultimately too stylized.

This was the first Julia Ross book I have read. I enjoyed it so much, I have ordered all her earlier books. If they live up to this one, I will be one happy reader for weeks to come! This woman can WRITE! There are times I enjoy the story in a book I'm reading but the writing is only average. This book had both a great story, great characters, and great writing - the perfect comnbination. The plot was somewhat different because the heroine is a courtesan and much more sexually experienced than the hero, a duke's heir who seems to have been spending most of his time taking care of estates and his family. His affairs have been few and far between and brief with no emotions involved. He saves the heroine's life and they take off cross-country in the first real adventure of his life. Both characters learn a lot about themselves and each other, defeat the villain and of course live happily ever after! This book was a real treat.

Riding through the drizzle and nursing a raw heart after having his proposal of marriage turned down, Lord Ryderbourne, eldest son to the aging Duke of Blackdown saw an oarless dinghy floundering towards the rocks. Throwing caution aside, he plunged into the sea and rescued a partially clad, battered and bruised, sensual beauty. Miracle Heather, a celebrated courtesan, recognized her rescuer. With a cynical view of men she was astounded by Ryder's innate kindness. Knowing `who' she was and `what' she'd done, Miracle gave a false name for in Ryder's privileged life he would never comprehend that he couldn't save her. After a mind-blowing night of passion that rocked both their worlds, Miracle reluctantly fled, knowing that she couldn't involve him in the dangers that followed her. Feeling responsible for the life he'd saved, even after discovering who she was, Ryder felt compelled to follow. Both logically knew that there could be no possible future between them yet their hearts weren't convinced of such logic as they raced across the country staying one step ahead of the men who sought to see her hang. --- Ross is unsurpassed at creating intelligent, and atmospheric reads that evoke sensuality with both sizzle and heartfelt emotion. This action packed love story between Miracle and Ryder is one that you soon won't forget and Ryder has certainly landed a top spot as one of my all-time favorite heroes. GAMES OF PLEASURE was surely a pleasure for this reader and it lands a permanent spot on my keeper shelf! Marilyn, for www.historicalromancewriters.com

Julia Ross does it again. Her books always deliver not only a gripping story, with characters that you can root for, but a lush world to escape into. Her voice just grabs me every time. I could barely stand to put the book aside to eat! Ryder is fantastic, a reformed prig, rather than a reformed rake. What a wonderful change from the norm. And Miracle is a perfect heroine, IMHO. She's a woman of the world who LIKES sex. Not some namby-pamby miss who has to make excuses for her choices or desires. A keeper.