Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the First BOTM of March 2021. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Happy Reading!


Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase


Tough-minded Jessica Trent's sole intention is to free her nitwit brother from the destructive influence of Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain. She never expects to desire the arrogant, amoral cad. And when Dain's reciprocal passion places them in a scandalously compromising, and public, position, Jessica is left with no choice but to seek satisfaction...

LORD OF SCOUNDRELS

Damn the minx for tempting him, kissing him... and then forcing him to salvage her reputation! Lord Dain can't wait to put the infuriating bluestocking in her place—and in some amorous position. And if that means marriage, so be it!—though Sebastian is less than certain he can continue to remain aloof... and steel his heart to the sensuous, headstrong lady's considerable charms.

Can this be read as a stand-alone? I see it has a higher average rating than books 1 and 2 in the series.

Yes, absolutely, it is the only one I have read of the series.

I think it is just a series of connected characters rather than plot driven.

I am very excited for the push to reread this. It’s probably been 10 years since I did.

Great. Thanks! I'm putting this on hold to hopefully be able to pick up in a month.

I own the audiobook and I listen to my favorite scenes before bed on some nights. :)

I recently bought this in paperback and was disappointed I couldn't find a copy with the pictured cover art.

Chels wrote: "I recently bought this in paperback and was disappointed I couldn't find a copy with the pictured cover art."

Haha - that's looks to be the original.

I can't believe it's March.

I'm reading this for the first time, probably out of order depending when everyone else starts

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I can't believe it's March.

I'm reading this for the first time, probably out of order depending when everyone else starts"

It's the only one that I've read in the series, keep meaning the fix that, BUT it's fine to read as a standalone. I THINK the grouping as a series came later so it's just shared characters and not storylines.

I believe I will be listening to it this time.

I think I’ll read the ebook this time since I usually listen to the audiobook.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "I can't believe it's March.

I'm reading this for the first time, probably out of order depending when everyone else starts"

It's the only one that I've read in the series..."

This sounds like what I've heard! They are both on hoopla, so I have them both available, just a matter of the when (I'd prob prefer to just start this one to be honest!)

I read this back in 2019 I believe. I thought I really liked it, but then I just checked my rating and it was a 3 star. So... I think I might try it again because it is rated so well. Sometimes certain stories just hit a certain mood, you know. I'll be doing the audio.

Chels! I love the old cover art! Wouldn't it be awesome if they'd do a rerelease of old favorites with the old art?

I am on the fence about rereading this as I listened to it a year ago and loved it. (Somehow I changed the date to Feb of this year in my reading list) it was back when audiobooks had the Romance reads before they did away with it. I can't get either of this months reads from my library and have a boat load of books that I do own. So I will decide a bit later what I will do.

I am definitely planning to join in, but I am going to start with the other BOTM as it is due back at the library soon.

Shannon wrote: "I love the old cover art! Wouldn't it be awesome if they'd do a rerelease of old favorites with the old art? "

I'm sure I used to have an old paperback copy with this cover LOL. I probably got rid of it in one of my periodic bookshelf 'weeding' fits. I've got it on kindle now.

But yeah, I have to agree, some of those old school covers were great.

Jan wrote: "Shannon wrote: "I love the old cover art! Wouldn't it be awesome if they'd do a rerelease of old favorites with the old art? "

I'm sure I used to have an old paperback copy with this cover LOL. I ..."
You know what's funny is that when I first started reading romance (many many moons ago) I was embarrassed of these covers. They stuck out, and romance was generally looked upon poorly. But now, I sure miss them! I think they are an era gone by. I'm sure I've thrown away boxes and boxes of collector covers. A lot of Fabio in there LOL.

Johanna Lyndsey had some awesome ones. Gentle Rogue is one of my favorite covers.

Have read this earlier. A good one

I am through chapter 4.

I love Beauty and the Beast stories, and I was really looking forward to this one. However, this far I am disappointed. I can say for sure I will not consider this Loretta Chase's best work.

The writing is witty and slightly humorous. I really like Jessica, but my idea of a hero is not (view spoiler)[ one who loses his virginity to a whore at age 13 and pays for hundreds more over the next 20 years. (hide spoiler)] I understand both his father and mother were unforgivable parents, but this is a man with absolutely no character. I can't imagine how he will be redeemed.

Prologue

I've always skipped the prologue when I listen to the audiobook because I feel so sad for young Sebastian.

2 quotes from the prologue: (view spoiler)["Once, when she was going to Dartmouth, she’d asked what he’d like her to bring back. He’d asked for a little brother to play with. She had started crying, and then she’d grown angry and screamed bad words in Italian."

and then when he was sent to Eton,

"Sebastian gazed at the faces sneering down at him. Phelps, the groom, had said he would find friends at school. Sebastian, who’d never had anyone to play with, had clung to that hope through the long, lonely journey.

HE JUST WANTS HIS PARENTS' LOVE AND FRIENDS TO PLAY WITH! Why is he denied these things at a young age?! *sobs* (hide spoiler)]

Ch.1 - I like that Jessica is the older sibling. Her brother is two years younger than her. I, for one, would like to read more HRs where the hero has an older sister or the heroine has a younger brother, by 2 or 3 years, just to see the different dynamics of such a sibling relationship. There are too many books with HR heroes with younger sisters and heroines with older brothers.

The prologue is indeed heartbreaking, and it explains so much about the grown-up Dain. The sequel to LOS, The Last Hellion, also contains a wonderful, deeply moving prologue, which nicely sets up why our hellion is a hellion.

Mariana wrote: "I am through chapter 4.

I love Beauty and the Beast stories, and I was really looking forward to this one. However, this far I am disappointed. I can say for sure I will not consider this Loretta..."

Please do keep reading.

I have started listening. It’s a reread for me, but it’s been years since I read it. I particularly am enjoying the tension/ battle of wills between Dane and Jessica, but I can see how the brutishness could be unappealing.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I have started listening. It’s a reread for me, but it’s been years since I read it. I particularly am enjoying the tension/ battle of wills between Dane and Jessica, but I can see how the brutishn..."

I like her confidence, it's almost like she's so self-assured she's unflappable and it makes him seem OTT. So I like how ruthless he seems. I also get the impression he's not reliable in how he sees himself in a sense.

I'm in ch4 somewhere, reading so slowly.

Oh my goodness - once I read poor Sebastian's story, I was ready to forgive him anything. I sometimes think 'less is more' because I was just hammered so repeatedly with traumatic events, I began to think the poor lad would never be redeemed or rescued.

I think that Jessica is amazing and I loved her strength and decisiveness but sometimes she was so over the top that I struggled to engage with her. Nonetheless, I have persevered and I am now totally engaged with this story and these characters. Can't wait to finish it.

Lady Wesley wrote: "Mariana wrote: "I am through chapter 4.

I love Beauty and the Beast stories, and I was really looking forward to this one. However, this far I am disappointed. I can say for sure I will not consi..."

I continued and finished. I did like the last half more than the first. I really liked Jessica. She had more patience and forgiveness than I do, but also crazy bold in her actions.

She's one of my favorite heroines!

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I have started listening. It’s a reread for me, but it’s been years since I read it. I particularly am enjoying the tension/ battle of wills between Dane and Jessica, b..."

I rather like the OTT-ness of the story. Jessica is awesome.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Oh my goodness - once I read poor Sebastian's story, I was ready to forgive him anything. I sometimes think 'less is more' because I was just hammered so repeatedly with traumatic events, I began t..."

Yes, Sebastian’s story is sad. Jessica is is almost unbelievable knowing and perceptive that she is not the easiest heroine to relate to. I enjoy her character though, when that would normally be a turnoff for me.

Darbella wrote: "Prologue:
Dominick: (Sebastian's father): Age 42 when the story starts. He is something else.
Typhus: [spoilers removed]
Lucia: (Sebastian's mom) Age 17 when the story starts. [spoilers removed]
..."

Yes, Sebastian being the “diva” is great, lol.

Sorry I haven't engaged much, I just had a ton of fun reading this.

This completely reminds me of Tessa Dare's style ! I haven't read(finished) s Chase before.

Sam (AMNReader) wrote: "Sorry I haven't engaged much, I just had a ton of fun reading this.

This completely reminds me of Tessa Dare's style ! I haven't read(finished) s Chase before."

Yea! I can see it definitely. I think you can see her influence on several popular authors of today. Sarah Maclean also comes to mind too.

I really enjoy Chase...I think I have rarely read one that I didn't enjoy, but there are a couple lackluster ones. I have not read her whole backlist either, including any other book in this series.

Darbella wrote: "Chapter one:
Jessica: [spoilers removed]
Bertie: [spoilers removed]
Jessica: [spoilers removed]
Dain: [spoilers removed]

Chapter two and three: What fun.
[spoilers removed]
Dain: [spoilers remove..."

Bertie really got the short-end of the stick in the gene pool!

I like the Beezlebub references and imagery too!

Darbella, it's fun to see what I have to look forward to on a reread.

I really loved their dynamic

This is my first time reading the ebook, and so I was able to Google the French words used in chapter 2. I was never curious enough to Google them when I listened to the audiobook.

Ch.6: @Darbella, I just read the chapter where Dain (view spoiler)[kept Jessica's bonnet and umbrella and I thought it was endearing, too. I like how he unconsciously ended up waiting outside the house party for a glimpse of Jessica and how he ended up on the street where they kissed. (hide spoiler)]

Ch.14: @Darbella, there was a quote from the prologue that makes me think I know why Dain (view spoiler)[coveted the icon so much.

"After she had gone, Sebastian sat up and took from his bedstand the small picture of the Blessed Virgin and the Baby Jesus his mother had given him. Hugging it to his chest, he prayed."

Maybe the icon reminded him of his mother? (hide spoiler)]

Well this was my first Loretta Chase and I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I agree with Sam that there is a touch of the Tessa Dare here and I really liked that witty, light touch in amongst some pretty angst-ridden events.

Both Sebastian and Jessica are a little hard to believe in, but I just suspended disbelief and went with the flow. Well written, entertaining and emotionally satisfying with some good steamy scenes as well.