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.
Ooooh, this looks interesting. I’ve never seen “Ivo” as a hero’s name, either. (Yes, I am commenting to try to get the books. No, I have no shame.)
Randi, which book did you buy? Some start off easier than others. Heyer’s voice is a bit slower than a modern romance. It WILL feel more like you’re reading Austen or Bronte than me or Candice Hern or Julia Ross.
If you can find it, try starting with DEVIL’S CUB. I defy anyone to not love that book (make yourself keep reading until Vidal kidnaps Mary, I promise you’ll be HOOKED!!!).
Haven’t heard of these books before, but I am thoroughly intrigued.
Your comments software is hating on me!!!!/wail
Me, want. I have Lord Sin already but seriously, who can have too many copies? Not I, ‘cause then I can spread the love and
infect
… erm,
push the crack
erm… give Lord Sin to my romance reading neighbor 😀
*muttering* I hope this works
Sign me up!
Hey, how can something that’s clearly a contraction of Ivanhoe not be sexy… some people have no imagination! 🙂
Kalen, I’ve thought about getting the biography, but the reason I like her daughter Haryo’s story so much is because of its HEA. Georgiana’s life, while definitely interesting, is just too sad (or should that read ‘real’?) for me.
Okay, now I’m totally picturing George from all the Nancy Drew books. Only now she’s seduced Ned and Carson, ditched Bess and Nancy, and gotten a makeover with nails that could cut a bitch. Awesome.
Well, if we are recommending Heyers, here are my top5:
These Old Shades
Venetia
A Convenient Marriage
Devil’s Cub
A Civil Contract
I’m also curious which one Randi bought!
Oooh! Sounds awesome. I’m in!
Romances that turn convention on its head have saved the genre for me. Just when I think the HEA gets a bit dull, I run into a book that makes it all worthwhile again. I’m adding these titles to my “get and read” list.
I always love Kalen’s comments here, so I definitely can’t wait to get my hands on these.
Never mind. I can’t wait to see if I won. I am all about immediate gratification. I am ordering on Amazon now.
Wow, well, I can’t wait to read them. I’ve tried to write historical heroines who were not the norm and was usually slammed in contests or by editors as not being accurate. Sigh. Maybe I just don’t have the writing chops like Hughes! 😉
I read “Lord Sin” the other month and really liked it. The idea of one man/one night works for me.
Count me in for the draw!
I hope it doesn’t matter what country you live in?
Read “Lord Sin” the other month. Enjoyed every page.
These sound like fun reads!
It has been ages since I’ve been to the library or bought a new book. As a brand new mom of a month, I think these books would be a fantastic reason to head over to the library and see if they have them. Been a long time since a Historical caught my attention. Thanks!
I really like your review of these books, thanks!!!!
Put my name in please!
(First post, but I did just spend 2 months reading ALL of the archives. I’m actually disappointed that I’m caught up!)
There once was a widow named George
who surrounded herself with hot boys
this sporting set scandal
had Ivo flying off his handle:
he wanted his one night, then five more.
Pretty please?
Shadowedge
The review says ‘Georgian’, but everyone is now speaking of ‘Regency’. Which? When are the stories set? It makes quite a difference.
😉
Free books? I’m in!
uh, that makes two of us. in high school i was known to my friends’ mothers as ‘it’snotagirlit’skari’. in fact, i think one of them used that as my name for a while.
also, i just wrote both of these books down in my planner with the books that i look for ever time i go to a bookstore. thus far, no luck at the local place, but now maybe i can win them. w00t! (i’ll keep looking at the store, though, just in case.)
Sign me up for the giveaway please!
I LOVE it when authors play with conventions. Just finished “Kushiel’s Dart” and yes, the author had more leeway b/c it’s fantasy, but I still loved the switching of the Virgin/Experienced Lover roles.
Leslie: I got slammed a lot too. Believe me. The LORD SIN manuscript got 2s and 3s in the Golden Heart (and one 8). People either love it or hate it. I get very few “meh” responses, and that’s FINE with me! But it also got great comments in a few (my favorite—from an unnamed published author—was “Georgette Heyer meets Stephanie Laurensâ€).
I think it’s about finding the “right†judges and crit partners and looking closely at the reasons why the heroine is getting slammed. Sometimes the out-of-the-box heroine can come across a bit like Hermie the Elf (“I just want to be a dentist!â€). The motivation is missing (or at least it’s missing from the page). Are the judges not buying WHY she’s the way she is? Or are they just disliking her on a more visceral level (the “I don’t like bitches/sluts†reaction)? These are very different problems and have to be approached in very different ways.
I think there’s more and more room for unconventional heroines in the genre. Recently writers like Victoria Dahl, Candice Hern and Julia Ross have had some great anti-heroines.
Oooh, free books! The premise of Lord Scandal sounds very intriguing.
Free books, you say? Count me in.
Randi, which book didn’t you like? I’ve recently been unable to finish Venetia, and I love the others of ehrs I’ve read.
I’d rec: Cotillion, The Convenient Marriage, and The Grand Sophy (warning for some quite horrifying anti-semitism, just skip the scene where Sophy goes to the moneylender entirely) because they’re the funniest ones I’ve read so far.
Devil’s Cub and These Old Shades are more romantic, but you may want to read The Black Moth for background (I don’t think anyone likes that one).
Good lord there are a lot of comments already!
…well, here’s another. 😉
(My spam word is ‘tell39’—I suppose I could, but that would surely just make my odds worse!)
Ooh, sounds fascinating. Sign me up!
DO WANT
I’m throwing my hat in the ring! A big, fabulous, English wedding hat sort of hat (for which I actually do have to shop this weekend). Here’s hoping I’ll have some books to go with it!
Wow, sounds like my kind of historical(s).
And it was good for me.
They’re Georgian. Set in 1788-1789. But the world is not that far removed from the extended Regency period. It’s not going to feel alien to someone who reads “Regencies”, though the cast of movers and shakers is going to be different which might be confusing to those who are looking for Beau Brummell and Lady Jersey and Byron. I’m working on a “Who’s Who†page for my website. I’m hoping to have it up this weekend. *fingers crossed*
Partly the confusion comes from how someone dates “The Regencyâ€. Purists limit it to the ACTUAL dates of the Regency (1811-1820). Most readers, writers and publishers fudge the dates out to the first few decades of the 19th century (1800-1830), covering most of the period in which Empire-style gowns were worn, the conflict with Napoleon was taking place, and the Prince of Wales was either prominent, acting as regent, or king. Historically, an argument can be made to stretch back to 1788 (when George III has his first bout of madness and the first Regency crisis takes place).
Reading the review made me want to pick these up—maybe I’ll get lucky and save myself the $$$!
Love the site!
ooooo—I’m in! I wanna read about a nonvirginal Georgian heroine! Definitely will look these up if I don’t win them. *fingers crossed*
(HA! and my keyword is ‘want33’! Yes. Yes I do want.)
I like the idea of these stories, especially the concept of the girl more at ease with men than with other women applied to a historical. I don’t think I’ve seen it before. And I love those girls who have loads of male friends, probably because I’d like to be like that too :-p. Count me in!
I love THE BLACK MOTH, but I don’t think you have to read it before you read THESE OLD SHADES (though you’ll love Avon even more if you do!). What kills me (turns me flaming green with envy!) is that Heyer was 16 when she wrote THE BLACK MOTH. 16!!!
I think the only Heyer books I don’t like enough to reread them are A CIVIL CONTRACT and BEAUVALLET. My all time fav is VENETIA.
Desperate to read these books!
Oooh, me! me! Pick me!