Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Once upon a time there was this romance author, Johanna Lindsey.
She began publishing in the late 70’s and from the 80’s through mid-90’s she was one of the Avon queens of historical romance. Sure you had Wooodiwss, who published one book every four years, and Rosemary Rogers, whose tawdry bodice ripping plots weren’t for the faint of heart. Then there was Johanna Lindsey. You could always guarantee a virgin heroine, a loyal, overbearing hero and a story that would have you either rolling your eyes at its stupidity or jumping in and enjoying the fun.
Now onto “A Loving Scoundrel.” What an awful disappointment this book was. Long time Lindsey readers know of her long-running Malory series, and that Jeremy is the son of James Malory, hero of “Gentle Rogue” I love James, his arrogance, his dry-wit, his perverse sense of humor and his refined British manners (especially when I imagine him as Sean Bean [sigh]). But that has nothing to do with this atrocity of a book.
Oh...the Malory magic is definitely gone. This is a 2 1/2 star only for James Malory and out of sentimental feelings for Johanna Lindsey. A long time ago she was my favorite romance writer. Malory novels “Gentle Rogue” and “The Magic of You” remain two of my favorite romances. But this book...it wasn't the most awful Lindsey, but it wasn't good by any means.
Jeremy was so interesting, so charming in the previous books; as a Lindsey lover, I anxiously awaited Jeremy's own story. And what a mess it is. Here he is: dull, has no personality, no charm, and all there is between him and Danny, the heroine, is lust (and a rather boring lust at that).
What an immature, needy little boy Jeremy was, always depending on his daddy to bail him out of trouble. Danny had no wit or spunk like Georgina, the heroine of “Gentle Rogue.” And as for that stupid twist at the end…uggh!
Hey JH, I know you looooove James Malory. If you want to write your next three books just about him & George, I'm fine with that. But since “The Magic of You” all of your Malory novels have been major disappointments. No alpha heroes, no witty heroines, just wimpy, omega males and dumb heroines who need rescuing (except for Gabby in “Captive of My Desires” who deserved a much better book than she got).
Ms. Lindsey, it's way past time to end the series. In fact, I hate to say this, but all your books for the past fifteen years have been terrible!
Sad, considering Lindsey's former catch phrase was "America Loves a Lindsey." Yes, her stories were simplistic, short, predictable, but they were fun! You could count on a great alpha hero, and a heroine who fought him when he was being a pig yet could make him reveal his tender side, and that wonderful love story that unfolded. I miss that Lindsey.
2 ½ very generous stars/ D+
She began publishing in the late 70’s and from the 80’s through mid-90’s she was one of the Avon queens of historical romance. Sure you had Wooodiwss, who published one book every four years, and Rosemary Rogers, whose tawdry bodice ripping plots weren’t for the faint of heart. Then there was Johanna Lindsey. You could always guarantee a virgin heroine, a loyal, overbearing hero and a story that would have you either rolling your eyes at its stupidity or jumping in and enjoying the fun.
Now onto “A Loving Scoundrel.” What an awful disappointment this book was. Long time Lindsey readers know of her long-running Malory series, and that Jeremy is the son of James Malory, hero of “Gentle Rogue” I love James, his arrogance, his dry-wit, his perverse sense of humor and his refined British manners (especially when I imagine him as Sean Bean [sigh]). But that has nothing to do with this atrocity of a book.
Oh...the Malory magic is definitely gone. This is a 2 1/2 star only for James Malory and out of sentimental feelings for Johanna Lindsey. A long time ago she was my favorite romance writer. Malory novels “Gentle Rogue” and “The Magic of You” remain two of my favorite romances. But this book...it wasn't the most awful Lindsey, but it wasn't good by any means.
Jeremy was so interesting, so charming in the previous books; as a Lindsey lover, I anxiously awaited Jeremy's own story. And what a mess it is. Here he is: dull, has no personality, no charm, and all there is between him and Danny, the heroine, is lust (and a rather boring lust at that).
What an immature, needy little boy Jeremy was, always depending on his daddy to bail him out of trouble. Danny had no wit or spunk like Georgina, the heroine of “Gentle Rogue.” And as for that stupid twist at the end…uggh!
Hey JH, I know you looooove James Malory. If you want to write your next three books just about him & George, I'm fine with that. But since “The Magic of You” all of your Malory novels have been major disappointments. No alpha heroes, no witty heroines, just wimpy, omega males and dumb heroines who need rescuing (except for Gabby in “Captive of My Desires” who deserved a much better book than she got).
Ms. Lindsey, it's way past time to end the series. In fact, I hate to say this, but all your books for the past fifteen years have been terrible!
Sad, considering Lindsey's former catch phrase was "America Loves a Lindsey." Yes, her stories were simplistic, short, predictable, but they were fun! You could count on a great alpha hero, and a heroine who fought him when he was being a pig yet could make him reveal his tender side, and that wonderful love story that unfolded. I miss that Lindsey.
2 ½ very generous stars/ D+
Μην επαναλαμβάνομαι καθε φορά που διαβάζω βιβλίο των Μάλορι.
Απλά τους αγαπώ ❤
Απλά τους αγαπώ ❤
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder
*SBTB Quarterly Challenge - August 1. Dog Days of Summer: Read a book where a character owns a pet. Heroine has a pet rat.*
Johanna Lindsey frequently skirts the line of acceptable consent in her books (or in the case of [b:A Pirate's Love|724994|A Pirate's Love|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1293624669s/724994.jpg|1353276] and the "I will rape you" hero, backflips over the line), but I just can't quit her!
This book has some very dodgy themes, even for being written in the early noughties. The first time the couple hooks up, she's quite drunk. And this is after multiple times he's tricked her into sexual situations after multiple refusals for becoming his mistress.
The B plot features a girl who spreads false accusations that the hero "seduced" her, in order to force him into marriage. And the scheme to counter this is basically to slut shame her into admitting that she's still a virgin. I'm not even going to try to unpack that.
I did really like the heroine in this book. She had a great personality and gumption. She also knows what she wants. The hero was completely bland; his only characteristic was that he was hot. Oh and sexual assault.
Will all of this stop me from reading more of this series? No, because I'm a glutton for punishment.
Johanna Lindsey frequently skirts the line of acceptable consent in her books (or in the case of [b:A Pirate's Love|724994|A Pirate's Love|Johanna Lindsey|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1293624669s/724994.jpg|1353276] and the "I will rape you" hero, backflips over the line), but I just can't quit her!
This book has some very dodgy themes, even for being written in the early noughties. The first time the couple hooks up, she's quite drunk. And this is after multiple times he's tricked her into sexual situations after multiple refusals for becoming his mistress.
The B plot features a girl who spreads false accusations that the hero "seduced" her, in order to force him into marriage. And the scheme to counter this is basically to slut shame her into admitting that she's still a virgin. I'm not even going to try to unpack that.
I did really like the heroine in this book. She had a great personality and gumption. She also knows what she wants. The hero was completely bland; his only characteristic was that he was hot. Oh and sexual assault.
Will all of this stop me from reading more of this series? No, because I'm a glutton for punishment.
Johanna Lindsey is an author I have read for many years and while her books are not amazing they are a good solid rainy afternoon escape. I think the best part of her books are the characters who are multi-faceted and keep me engaged in the book.
A light, fluffy read. Not much substance. The romance was lacking, the mystery subplot was weak, and the descriptions were almost nonexistent. Aside from naming some of the areas in London and the surrounding countryside, this could have taken place just about anywhere. I know that this was set in the Regency period because I’ve read nearly all of the rest of the Malory series, but even the time period would have seemed vague had I not gone into this book already having that knowledge. Definitely not my favorite in the Malory series.