Title: To Tame a Dangerous Lord Author: Nicole Jordan Genre: Regency Romance Spice Factor: ✩✩ Length: 443 pages Review: 3/5
I started reading this book a few days ago. Admittedly, it took me a day or so to get into it as the start felt a little bit slow. Nevertheless, once it truly begun I simply couldn’t put it down and read the majority of the book within an evening. I’ll outline the things I didn’t like about the book, then end by detailing all the bits I did like. Before this though I'll provide a brief summary of the book.
The book revolves around a love story between Madeline Ellis and Rayne Kenyon, Earl of Haviland. This immediately appealed to me as I'm also most inclined to love stories concerning Dukes, Earls and Viscounts when seeking out a regency book. Shamefully, I do often put a book back onto a book shelf when I realise the book surrounds a second son (awful, I know... but I like what I like!). In this book, Madeline is a gentleman’s daughter, not the child of an aristocrat. In actuality, the book begins with her seeking employment as a governess or aid. Having lost both her parents, it’s within an inn that Miss Ellis first means the love interest, Rayne. After just meeting the two indulge themselves in a kiss to avoid the incessant persistence of the villain of the tale. Nevertheless, Nicole Jordan does quite well at distancing the characters enough that the indulgence of a kiss does not eradicate any sort of tension most enjoyed within forbidden regency romance novels. Without going into too much detail from here the pair inevitably end up in a marriage of convenience (agreeing not to love one another). From here, the book itself is involves Madeline trying become as seductive as possible in the bedroom to make her so desirable, Rayne will love her.
In true regency romance fashion Rayne has sworn himself against love, and Madeline secretly loves Rayne. This develops into a plethora of misunderstandings that eventually accumulate into the usual life threatening moment where the male love interest finally realises he has in fact has fallen in love.
What I didn’t like:
One thing I did not like about the book was the repeated mentions of how plain and ‘not beautiful’ Madeline was. This came from multiple characters within the book. Now this might not deter some, but I must admit, I am a sucker for fairytale, so I'd rather not be repeatedly reminded how plain the heroine is. Especially even by the love interest. This is rectified by the end of the book as he repeatedly states she’s beautiful, for me the damage was done. Another thing I didn’t like, as aforementioned, was the first few chapters. They felt quite dragged out in terms of the content itself. It felt lacking and I wasn’t committed in the story. I would have liked a more interesting background.
I also did not understand why the characters liked each other at the beginning. I didn’t see the interest they had. I would have enjoyed some more development, particularly on the male love interests part, but once again I think that’s due to the initial few chapters feeling lacking.
What I liked:
When the book finally started, it really started. I loved the love scenes, it was graphic in a romantic way that most regency romances are. The scenes involved a bed, bathtub, table and chair. Quite different places each time! Her learning the art of seduction added a brilliant hotness to the book. There were around three to four love making scenes and a number of ones that came quite close. There was ample description and the scenes lasted for many pages. I often hate when a scene begins and it only lasts for a page or so. I also really loved the dialogue shared too during these scenes.
This book gave me what I like to refer to as the ‘heart clencher.’ Very typical of regency romances, the tensions were high. He did not want to love Madeline and ever time his exterior broke, it sent rushes through me. I found myself screaming at the pages begging Madeline to confess her love to him all the time, but in the best of ways. I really do love it when the male love interest refuses to love but eventually gives in for the heroine. This book was exactly that.
I definitely recommend this book, especially for Bridgeton lovers. Give it a go!