Lady Be Bad

I have enjoyed the Merry Widows Series, and Candice Hern saves the best for last with Lady Be Bad! Okay, so maybe this story is a bit predictable, but how can one go wrong with the "Reformed Rake" storyline combined with a "Bet" storyline. Grace Marlowe is a repressed woman with a capital R! She is the widow of the late Bishop and has been brainwashed into believing that passion is synonymous with sin! John Grayston is a jaded rake who has sworn off women for any other purpose besides pleasure. He has a horrible reputation in contrast to Grace's impeccable reputation. John accepts a bet (over a horse!) to seduce Grace which is the premise of this book. This unlikely couple is made believable by the skilled writing of Hern. She develops this relationship slowly and carefully....first developing a friendship before developing their romance. I appreciate this tactic. We are allowed to "get to know" both of these characters in a way that highlights their similarities rather than their outward differences. I love a reformed rake, and John Grayston may rank up there as one of my all time favorites! This is a sweet and convincing romance that will have you smiling, sighing, and wanting to read it again!

I liked all the books is this series..I read all the time and I really would recommend this author if you like historial romance.

When John Grayston, Viscount Rochdale, is challenged to a wager, he finds it hard to refuse. The inveterate gambler has never declined a bet, especially when it is a sure thing. In fact, he stakes his most cherished possession, he is so sure he will win. All he has to do is seduce the very prim, very proper, bishop's widow, Grace Marlowe. When London's most disreputable rake shows interest in her, Grace Marlowe is horrified. Grace is ashamed that she is secretly attracted to Rochdale and flattered by his attention. Rochdale's pursuit of Grace crumbles her defenses and unleashes her passionate nature. If the truth behind Rochdale's seduction becomes known, what promises to be more than an affair could be lost forever. Lady Be Bad is smart, witty and full of passion. Candice Hern's Lady Be Bad is so very elegant and yet is so very ardent. A story of awakening for both hero and heroine, Lady Be Bad is irresistible. At book's end, I was delighted by this gracefully written romance. Annmarie reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

In 1813 an intoxicated Viscount John Grayston bets his friend Lord Sheane that he can seduce any aristocratic woman in London. He assumes every female wants either the "Great Lover" or the "Notorious Libertine"; he can play either role. He has three months to make it with the Bishop's widow, Grace Marlowe. Grace is a member of the Merry Widows, but could never do what her friends do; instead she is a listener to their tales of boudoir conquests (see IN THE THRILL OF THE NIGHT and JUST ONE OF THOSE FLINGS). However, when John maneuvers Grace to be alone with him, she understands biblical Eve much more intimately as she knows temptation is this handsome rake, John assumes the Great Lover is what he needs to be in order to lure her into his bed so he slowly and gently seduces her. To his shock, she seems innocuous to his caresses, but is aroused by his caring of people and his horses, and that he seems genuinely interested in her charity efforts to help the less fortunate. They begin to respect one another, they fall in love, but the wager stands between them especially when Grace raises the ante. The latest Merry Widows Regency romance is a fine tale starring a disreputable libertine and a reputable widow. The support cast, mostly the other widows and other gamblers, add depth although with so much side betting going on, Gambler Anonymous is needed in early nineteenth century London. The change in the lead couple's relationship makes for a fun lighthearted historical. Harriet Klausner

Debauched Libertine and prolific gambler John Grayston, Lord Rochdale, knows that there is not a woman in London that he can't seduce. He's known for his prowess in the bedroom and the countless women he's had, even bringing some to ruin. It is simply a fact is that no one can resist the handsome devil's charms. So when a sceptical friend decides to put that theory to a test, Rochdale is more than willing to accept the wager especially when the prize is a racing horse he's had his eye on. It doesn't matter that the object of his seduction is the prim bishop's widow who despises him. Some seductions take more time than others and he is determined to get past this lady's defenses. Taught by her famous bishop husband to repress all wanton urges, widow Grace Marlowe is unnerved when the scoundrel's attentions seemed to be focused on her. Like a predator, Rochdale slowly circles his prey. Bit by bit he breaks down Grace's virtuous walls with a look here and a subtle touch there. But she is not fooled. There has been more than one woman who has been cast aside and ruined by this libertine and Grace is not about to be the next. She simply must remind herself of her late husband's moral teachings. But how long and how much can a lady really resist? And how far will a man go to win a wager and get this lady into his bed? Temptation is a powerful force. And when the Hero/Heroine true nature is finally revealed who exactly is the seducer; the wicked one? Simply one of the best reformed rake books I've ever read. Rochdale is the ultimate no-good deliciously handsome scoundrel that every historical romance reader loves. Thankfully not as dark and cruel as some. He's the proverbial bad boy that doesn't give a damn about anyone but himself. His life revolves around drinking, gambling and women with the world at his finger tips. A seemingly 'happy' man that isn't about to changes his ways for anyone. Enter: the ultra pious bishop's widow. Grace is polar opposite of Rochdale. She's the queen of do-gooders and as priggish as they come. So much so that this reader was surprised she didn't sprout angel wings and a halo. But of course they are the perfect match. He may not be so wicked and she may not be so good. Hern's (authors) characterizations are fabulous. I loved reading about Grace's struggle to suppress her wanton cravings and Rochdale's confusion over his less than bad behavior. There really isn't much going on besides the seduction, but that didn't matter to me. The more I got to read about Rochdale the better.**Major eyebrow wiggling here**;). Highly recommended and sitting firmly on my keeper shelf. A near perfect love story that had this reader sighing at the end. If you love reformed rakes, I also recommend 'Devil in Winter'(my all time fav rake) by Kleypas, 'The Rake' by Mary Jo Putney and 'Lord of Scoundrels' by Loretta Chase.