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rcrops's review against another edition
4.0
After getting over the ridiculous name "Lord Sin" the book is actually really good. I think when I read this book I was going through a period of reading period books. If you like period books then I'm sure that you will enjoy this book.
lucy_qhuay's review against another edition
2.0
It's no secret I have a hard time with romances where I don't feel both parties in a couple aren't equals and this book is just one more example of that.
When I talk about equality, I'm not expecting both of them to have the same socioeconomic status. I mean I want them to be equals in intelligence, pride and respect.
Vanessa, the heroine, was humiliated and disrespected in every important way by Damien, the 'hero, and she didn't have the strength or pride to say enough is enough, leave him and find someone who valued and treasured her.
We're talking about a man who supposedly loved his woman, yet was training her to be a whore. It was painful to read it.
I admit the sex scenes were well done hence why I'm giving this book 2 stars, but does it really matter when everything else is a disgrace?
hspindlew's review against another edition
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
2.75
This book was pretty mediocre imo and if I were extremely ungenerous, it could even be read as aa proponent to accept abusive/manipulative partners back into your life.
Taken at face value, it is just fine.
Taken at face value, it is just fine.
lpineo's review against another edition
4.0
*I read this back when it came out in 2004 and rated it 4 stars then.
I re-read this first novel in Nicole Jordan's 'Notorious' series again 17 years later and stand by my 4 star rating. I love this author but one thing I noticed between books that have come out recently and this one is the ones from the past few years have characters that have flaws, facials features that aren't godlike, weird quirks, etc. I don't know if that's just a difference in authors and not a change in writing of characters, but it's a difference I saw from this book with it's perfect, chiselled male specimen and it's beautiful, curvaceous, big boobed goddess. Other than that annoyance the rest of the book (plot, side characters, pace, etc) were all great.
I re-read this first novel in Nicole Jordan's 'Notorious' series again 17 years later and stand by my 4 star rating. I love this author but one thing I noticed between books that have come out recently and this one is the ones from the past few years have characters that have flaws, facials features that aren't godlike, weird quirks, etc. I don't know if that's just a difference in authors and not a change in writing of characters, but it's a difference I saw from this book with it's perfect, chiselled male specimen and it's beautiful, curvaceous, big boobed goddess. Other than that annoyance the rest of the book (plot, side characters, pace, etc) were all great.
jacqueline1989's review against another edition
4.0
(Rake Hero/Widowed Lady Turned Mistress Heroine)
First impressions are so important, and as such, were very interesting to the characters within this book. Both Damien and Vanessa share a common quirk- loyalty, family loyalty. While Damien is a charming rake, his boldness is only outshone by his love for his sister, Olivia, who was paralyzed by an accident that lay on Vanessa's brother Audrey's head. No doubt Vanessa is a woman to admire, coming to aid her mother and younger two sisters in rescuing them from loosing their family home which Audrey had gambled away- to Damien. While Vanessa may be willing to do anything to save her family, Damien is just as willing to do anything to ruin it. Both character's stubbornness is answered by breaking the impasse by the shocking proposal set by Damien for Vanessa to act as his mistress, thereby ruining Audrey's family and allowing them to keep their home.
Overall, the plot was fairly simple, centering around the actions of Audrey and Olivia. Despite how simple the story seemed, the basis of it's makeup lay at the emotional interplay between the two characters, focusing on the fact that Damien fought tooth and nail against the idea of falling in love with Vanessa.
Truly, I have nothing bad to say about this book. The pacing was very good, and I mostly admire how Jordan never once had "needless" scenes- every action within the story went towards progressing the plot. I also adored how the author constructed the hero. Unlike many other romances in which the hero in labeled a rake and often they truly don't act as such, with this story, Damien was a rake without question. His actions, both past and present, were very self-involved.
Often times, his disregard for Vanessa, after the start of their physical relationship, was absolutely retched. And yet, the heroine was written fabulously. Vanessa's character was absolutely one of my favorites from Jordan- despite being selfless and caring for her family, she endured whatever she had to from Damien in order to survive. She was not weak by any means, yet she did not sulk in her situation.
I also was very impressed with the idea that Jordan wrote the story in such a way that it was believable. Vanessa having been a widow, I could legitimately see her becoming a mistress to save her family. Along these same lines, I admired the fact that Damien did not rush headlong into the sexual aspects of his relationship with Vanessa at the beginning. I feel that if Damien had disregarded Vanessa's fear and uncertainty- rather than waiting for her to become accustom to the idea of her new role- I would've probably not enjoyed this character at all!
However, despite all my admoration for this novel, I can't quite bring myself to note it at a five star, simply because towards the end I really felt Jordan drug the story on a bit longer than necessary, especially the last several pages of the final chapter and epilogue. Still, not a waste of time at all! Another good read, no doubt!
First impressions are so important, and as such, were very interesting to the characters within this book. Both Damien and Vanessa share a common quirk- loyalty, family loyalty. While Damien is a charming rake, his boldness is only outshone by his love for his sister, Olivia, who was paralyzed by an accident that lay on Vanessa's brother Audrey's head. No doubt Vanessa is a woman to admire, coming to aid her mother and younger two sisters in rescuing them from loosing their family home which Audrey had gambled away- to Damien. While Vanessa may be willing to do anything to save her family, Damien is just as willing to do anything to ruin it. Both character's stubbornness is answered by breaking the impasse by the shocking proposal set by Damien for Vanessa to act as his mistress, thereby ruining Audrey's family and allowing them to keep their home.
Overall, the plot was fairly simple, centering around the actions of Audrey and Olivia. Despite how simple the story seemed, the basis of it's makeup lay at the emotional interplay between the two characters, focusing on the fact that Damien fought tooth and nail against the idea of falling in love with Vanessa.
Truly, I have nothing bad to say about this book. The pacing was very good, and I mostly admire how Jordan never once had "needless" scenes- every action within the story went towards progressing the plot. I also adored how the author constructed the hero. Unlike many other romances in which the hero in labeled a rake and often they truly don't act as such, with this story, Damien was a rake without question. His actions, both past and present, were very self-involved.
Often times, his disregard for Vanessa, after the start of their physical relationship, was absolutely retched. And yet, the heroine was written fabulously. Vanessa's character was absolutely one of my favorites from Jordan- despite being selfless and caring for her family, she endured whatever she had to from Damien in order to survive. She was not weak by any means, yet she did not sulk in her situation.
I also was very impressed with the idea that Jordan wrote the story in such a way that it was believable. Vanessa having been a widow, I could legitimately see her becoming a mistress to save her family. Along these same lines, I admired the fact that Damien did not rush headlong into the sexual aspects of his relationship with Vanessa at the beginning. I feel that if Damien had disregarded Vanessa's fear and uncertainty- rather than waiting for her to become accustom to the idea of her new role- I would've probably not enjoyed this character at all!
However, despite all my admoration for this novel, I can't quite bring myself to note it at a five star, simply because towards the end I really felt Jordan drug the story on a bit longer than necessary, especially the last several pages of the final chapter and epilogue. Still, not a waste of time at all! Another good read, no doubt!
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