B-
Title: Lord Sin & Lord Scandal
Author: Kalen Hughes
Publication Info: Kensington 2008
ISBN: 0821781502
Genre: Historical: European
A two-book review from the “And Now For Something A Little Different” department.
You know those women who are friends with scads of men but not so many women? What if one of those women was in a historical romance? What if she were a widow, free of those pesky expectations of innocence and demureness? What if she were bawdy, outrageous, and friends with absolute piles of handsome, rakish men who adored her and considered her one of their own? Who would reign her in? Other women, gossip, scandal, and the expectations of society at the time? What if she didn’t give a rat’s ass about gossip, scandal, or the expectations of society? Who needs other women, anyway?
So, couple all that setup with a depth of historical knowledge that will literally make your corset spin around on top of your head, some sharp dialogue, and settings that are original, fascinating, and located in the same historical period with which you may be familiar, but at often unexplored locations within that period, and you have Hughes’ two books.
That trifecta of historical research, clever setting, and wholly memorable characters, held competently by Hughes’ writing, is some powerful juju.
The first, Lord Sin, is the story of George, aka Georgianna Exley, who is what tomboys grow up to be when they’re wealthy, whip smart, sexy, and aware of their female allure, but also wicked good at things like pool, shooting, horseracing, and generally making a gleeful sport of life. Ivo Dauntry left England in disgrace six years prior for fighting a duel over George. He’s returned to find that she’s a widow, she’s surrounded by men at all hours of the day, her home is an unofficial gentleman’s club, and despite his best intentions he has absolutely no power to resist her. He’s wildly jealous of all the other men, and is completely unimpressed with George’s mandate that, should she take a man to her bed, he gets one night and one night only. Ivo wants six nights, one for each year he was in exile.
So let me warn you: this is not your average historical romance novel. For one thing: the person struggling with moral and personal virtue vs. fiery burn-your-hairs-off sexual attraction? That’d be the hero. The one who has more potential partners than a stick could be shaken at? That’d be the heroine. If you’re up for having your expectations of the heroine’s virginity and relative innocent inexperience stood on their heads, and you’re up for meeting a heroine who will stick with you awhile, head directly to this book and jump in. Ivo is cranky, George at times treats him in ways that made me cringe, but I still rooted for them. The two of them knock heads before they knock boots in ways that toss a grenade on the idea of “conflict” and kick that conflict up in its own teeth. George and Ivo do not have it easy, but when they earn it, they earn it hot and good.
Which is why I was pleased and yet somewhat bummed out to find her in the next book in Hughes’ series featured George and Ivo, but most specifically George. She’s fascinating. She’s marvelous. She’s larger than life.
She damn near chews the scenery to the point where if you put the book down you might pick it up to find little bites taken out of the pages, and no cat in sight to blame for the nibble.
Lord Scandal follows Gabriel, a mere mister of some fortune and even more some reputation, and Imogen, the “Portrait Divorcee.” Divorced on grounds of her alleged infidelity after she sat for a rather scandalous portrait (Think Madame X only more alluring, I think) and the resulting gossip humiliated her politically-ambitious husband, Imogen is an outcast in a society she once managed marvelously as a political hostess. George takes Imogen under her wing, and quietly goes about restoring Imogen to society, albeit a more racy, outrageous, and frankly fun, if you’re asking me, section of society.
One element that Hughes exploits to great advantage is the idea of cliques within the ton, as George and her cronies are of “the sporting set,” which defines them apart from other groups, though they all might end up at the same ball or gathering together. Plus, Hughes’ understanding of what sorts of activities those sporting folks might get on with makes for some witty dialogue and refreshingly different scenes. Almack’s my ass: we have horseracing, hunting parties, country parties with fox hunting and shooting – places men would only be welcome except for the iconoclast George and her companion Imogen. And before the book gets top heavy with the manly manhood, there are scenes with the women spending an afternoon reading fashion catalogs, for example, and discussing dresses and styles, which revealed what some women of status and fortune actually did with themselves during the day.
And therein lie my problems with this book: George is all about installing Imogen among her set of manly man friends, and as a divorcee, Imogen’s social options are rather limited. What better group to ignore her alleged dalliance than a crew of dudes? Dudes, obviously, won’t give a flying crap cake. Gabriel, a fixture in the rakish sporting posse, is barely allowed entrance to most social events, and the more outrageous he is, the better he was to read about, and the more fun he is to see within his social circle. But the actual conduct that made Imogen a pariah is never fully explained, nor is the impact of Gabriel’s intimate knowledge of that portrait revealed. I had to wonder what would happen when Imogen learned the extent of Gabriel’s knowledge of her – and since it wasn’t revealed in front my readerly eyes, I’m not sure I can believe it was for the best.
Imogen’s coming back from a place of deep humiliation, so of course she fears the consequences of a shocking and gossipy fling with Gabriel – and she has real reason to fear those consequences, as Hughes makes a point of underscoring just how vulnerable Imogen really is, despite Ivo and George’s protection as her friends. George, rakish social pirate that she is, comes to Imogen’s defense again and again with her own considerable power in society, but essentially, Imogen is very, very vulnerable. And thus, Imogen herself pales, unfortunately, in comparison to George. George is full-strength oils applied with a trowel. Imogen is watercolors. Lots of them, skillfully done, breathtakingly moving, but water colors. George is a canvas you can smell drying from across the street.
Even despite the more frustrating aspects of the writing – scenes that are absurdly short, for example, and ended way too soon for my tastes, and a secondary character, as I’ve noted, who is so larger than life she can easily overshadows the sequel protagonists – the strength and clever originality of the setting, coupled with a whole posse of memorable characters and a deeper knowledge of the time period than I’ve grown accustomed to from most historical romance authors, combined to create a very diverting read. Even if at times I was looking for George or Gabriel more than I was looking for Imogen, I came to appreciate and enjoy the whole set of characters that I was happy to spend more time in Hughes’ Georgian world.
But soft! What awesome from yonder website breaks? It is the giveaways, and I have five! To be specific: I have five sets of both books, Lord Sin and Lord Scandal, if you are interested in taking a gallop around Georgian England.
You want to enter? Leave a comment. Say anything, but say it in the next 24 hours. I’ll select five random winners from the total number of comments, and announce them once time is up.
So, as I quietly admit, I’ve never read a Kalen Hughes book. Where should I start?
spamword: lay96. Ok, seriously, why does the spam blocker keep reminding me of my college boyfriend? The one I didn’t marry? Cause this is like the fourth time.
What a cool line: “George is a canvas you can smell drying from across the street.”
I just finished my first Heyer last week (The Grand Sophy). I don’t know what took me so long—I’m 24 and have been reading romance since my early teens. I have a very enjoyable summer ahead, I think, but would love these books to add to the pile.
I loved Lord Sin and can’t wait to read Lord Scandal! Yay!
Wow, these really sound good. Sign me up, even if I don’t win free copies!
Wow, what a great review.
I don’t read historicals (except early Garwood and McNaught) and managed to resist the urge to pick up Bourne’s Spymaster’s Lady despite the glowing reviews here and at DA.
But, I have to say that I will be running to Border’s tonight to pick up Lord Sin and Lord Scandal to read tomorrow. So kudos to SB Sarah and Kalen for titillating my interest with both a wonderful review and a great storyline.
OK…just found out that none of my local Borders have Lord Sin in stock so I had to order it . And that Lord Scandal is a June release. Bummer…I was so looking forward to reading them tomorrow.
I ordered both of these books on paperbackswap.com last week after reading some comments here. “Lord Sin” arrived yesterday; “Lord Scandal” is on its way. Woo-hoo!
I’m halfway through Book #2 of the “Outlander” series, so I think I will take a break from Jamie & Claire and move these books to the top of the TBR pile!
Gimme! I want! Pleeeeeeease! Pretty please?
*Grabbing control from the greedy inner child* Sounds great, I would love to read them.
Chance at free books? Count me in!
These books sound so much fun! I love historicals.
LORD SIN is getting hard to find. It was a May 07 release and right now I think ordering it (online or at your local bookstore) is the only way to get a copy. It’s the way of the world . . . you should hear my mom complain about it. LOL!
Ruth: These are my only two books (so far) so getting started is easy. If you meant you’d never read Heyer and don’t know where to start, I hear you. Try: DEVIL’S CUB, VENETIA, ARABELLA, or THE GRAND SOPHY. All of those are great introductions to Heyer.
I’m not usually one for historicals. However these definitely sound interesting so sign me up for the contest!
Beauvallet was the first Heyer that I read (at … 13 maybe) and I loved it. I must admit when I went back many years later and re-read it, it had lost some charm, but I still enjoy it. I think the only Heyer’s I couldn’t finish were the non-fictiony ones. I even enjoy her murder mysteries
*saying anything*
😀
Diane – you really should read Spymaster’s Lady!
I’d love to win free books, but I have no room to keep them, so I’d pass them on to the next person…after I read them!
I just hated the heroine in BEAUVALLET. I spent the whole book being annoyed that the hero liked her and that I knew he was going to end up with her. *shrug* It happens.
I can get them free at the library where I work…but it’s not the same as owning! Then I can have the spines cracked at my favorite scenes.
Favorite = most sexy
Word: seems48…seems as though more than 48 people are intrigued by these books!
Those books sound absolutely delightful – I do often get tired when it’s always the heroine who is virginal and the hero who is confidence and experienced. Have it the other way around! Some authors (Jane Feather) for example have tried having the sexually sporting heroine, but I was so completely bored by “Almost a Lady” that I couldn’t even finish it.
Ohh, I’d like one, please. From the list of comments above, though, I’m not holding out much hope, but I’m throwing my hat in anyway!
my spamword is giving me hope, too!! thirty43, indeed!
Thank you so much, Kalen! A wonderful period. I am a lot more attracted to the society of the late 18th century than that of the early 19th, which is already showing the signs of the rather smothering atmosphere of the Victorian period, and I am sure you have evoked it with real panache and with that firm foundation of knowledge that will make it ring true. I am going to look out for these books, and really look forward to reading them!
Wow, I just read the excerpts at Amazon and if I don’t win, I’ll definitely order them from Bamm.com (Amazon is good for that, but not for buying any longer, he he). Btw, even if we can’t all win, the prices are really reasonable for books ($3.99 and $4.99), but they are also shorter than I’m used to (301 and 285 respectively).
Kalen, was that just the way the stories went or was that a publisher imposed limit?
Spam word: question82, well, if I think long enough I can probably come up with 82 questions… 🙂
Wonderful review, the books sound great!
From the number of comments, I gather I’m not the only one who is eager to read these. I hope I’m lucky, but one way or another I’ll need to get my library to buy them too.
I don’t normally read this sub-genre—but your review is making me say, “Where’s my copy??”
Yes, you had that effect48. 🙂
These books sound great, especially George. I love heroines that are secure in themselves, and not afraid of being who they are.
I’ve had a streak of bad luck with romance novels lately with a high “asshat to doormat” ratio, so I’ll definitely look for these two the next time I go book shopping.
Do indeed want, since the first book just sounds fascinating and the second sounds—well, if I like the first book, I’ll be glad to see the characters in the second book. !
It’s about the way the publisher laid them out (type size and # of lines per page, aka “leading”). The manuscripts are actually standard length (and LORD SCANDAL is longer in manuscript form than LORD SIN, but shorter in book form; go figure).
I forget the name, as it is at home and I am at work; but I think it’s a newer release…?It’s about two male twins, and one twin is MIA but is supposed to marry a lady, so the second twin steps in to pretend he’s the first twin. Does that make sense? hahahaha.
Randi, that’s False Colors. If your local library carries Heyer you might want to check out some and see if any of them appeal more. I hate it when I can’t hook romance readers on Heyer! 🙂
Me too!
Wow, great review. I want to read them—and get them as a prize? Yes!
Must have. Glad I’m not the only one reduced to LOL speak when confronted with a giveaway for books I must have. Must Have.
Help a poor bitch out please? Pretty please? Please please? I am completely surrounded by nothing to read.
Count me in on the drawing and I LOVE Heyer. Still a classic in the romance field though definitely not modern. I don’t think people who haven’t read Heyer know any of the background of the “regency romance”. They don’t know about who invented some of the literary types that we take for granted in historical romances and some of the conventions of the field. Too sad! It would be like a mystery fan who had never read Sherlock Holmes!
Anything! Anything for free books!
You know, I don’t even read romance, but y’all are so entertaining I read your blog anyway. These books sound like they’d be a fun way to try out a genre I don’t usually read. Sign me up?
(Full disclosure: I read one romance, once.* This Raging Flower, by Lynn Erickson. IT SCARRED ME. It sounds like, from the stuff you review, that some of the tropes that grossed me out in that book have phased out of the genre. These books don’t sound like that at all, thank gawd.)
*I definitely enjoy stuff with romantic elements, but I’ve never shopped in the Romance section of the store.
Me too please! (But with a name like George—I kept seeing Nancy Drew’s best friend as satirized in Confessions of a Teen Sleuth.
And why yes, I am over16. And in a week—more than double!
Rene, welcome to the shiny pink side. *grin*
There I was at Borders, taking full advantage of their “Buy 4 romances, get 1 free,” and I was thanking my lucky stars that I’d found the Smart Bitches; your excellent taste has kept me in good reading material all year. Then I get home, and find out there are more free books to be had. Even better! As a girl from the boy’s club, these sound right up my alley.
I only ever win contests where being bizarre or tasteless is a plus, not random drawings. I expect I’m going to have to buy these, but why not try?
Oh mah gosh. Reading this review has me chomping at the big. …Reading the comments has me snorting with laughter. You guys are great.
Please add me to the list! …And, please, please pick me! 😉