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WORK TITLE: A Season of Ruin
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S):
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: http://www.annabradley.net/
CITY: Portland
STATE: OR
COUNTRY:
NATIONALITY:
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: two.
EDUCATION:Wheaton College, bachelor’s degree; University of Maine, master’s degree.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Chawton House Library, Alton, Hampshire, England, former staff member; became professor of literature and creative writing.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Anna Bradley was raised in New England, where she developed her fondness for reading and romance. After earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English literature, she landed a job at the Chawton House Library. The British library, located in a 400-year-old house on a historical estate north of London, is home to nearly 10,000 rare books and manuscripts by women writers from 1600 to 1830. For nearly eight years, according to her home page, Bradley was “required” to read these books, write about them, and even purchase rare books to add to the collection. Years later she would write romances of her own in the Regency style of authors like Jane Austen, whose works are part of the Chawton House collection. Bradley’s fiction leans away from the traditional Regency genre toward a subgenre that she describes as “sassy, steamy Regency historical romance,” adding that “history is sexier than you think.”
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
In A Wicked Way to Win an Earl, the first volume about the scandalous Sutherlands, Bradley explains that, once upon a time in the late 1700s, Hart Sutherland, Earl of Carlisle, was jilted by his betrothed, Millicent Chase, who ran off to marry a commoner, Henry Somerset. The Somersets raised a happy family of five daughters before losing their lives in a tragic accident. Despite the parental family scandal, the Somerset daughters Delia and Lily have become friends of the Sutherland daughters Charlotte and Eleanor, and have been invited to a house-party hosted by their brother Alec Sutherland, the current Earl of Carlisle. Thus, one scandal inadvertently begets another.
The source of the party invitation is actually the dashing Robyn Sutherland, who intends to pursue Delia’s affection. Older brother Alec, who is just beginning to reestablish the family reputation and fortune, sees any Somerset connection as a reminder of the original scandal. He decides to detail any possible romance by seducing Delia himself and besmirching her reputation, thus rendering her unsuitable for Robyn or anyone else. Delia is aware of the ruse from the start, but she is also intrigued by hints of something quite alluring behind his stern facade. Caz Owens wrote at All about Romance: “Looks, touches and near-kisses … lead to some nicely heated moments … , and the sex scenes are passionate and well-written.”
Other reviews were similarly favorable. John Charles reported in Booklist that Bradley offers an “intoxicating blend of wit, simmering sexual tension, satisfying sensuality, and superb characterization.” “Bradley’s quick wit and humor keep the story flowing smoothly,” observed a Publishers Weekly contributor. A commentator at the Historical Novel Society site described A Wicked Way to Win an Earl as “a light, amusing Regency romance with fizz and sparkle.” Charlotte Wightwick summarized at the Novelicious Web site: “A frothy and fun historical romance–you know exactly where it was going, but the trip is fun.”
A Season of Ruin
A Season of Ruin is another story of a ruse gone wrong. Delia Somerset’s sister Lily has gone to London during the aristocracy’s wintertime social season, hoping to find a suitor with a title who can offer her a stable and comfortable marriage. At one social event, however, she is accosted in a darkened room by an amorous young man. It is none other than Robyn Sutherland, who has mistaken Lily for his married lover. Gossip travels fast in high society, and Lily is humiliated. Robyn has so far revealed only the devil-may-care side of his character, but behind the facade is a decent young man. His plan to restore Lily’s damaged honor by posing as her authentic suitor for the remainder of the season succeeds beyond his expectations. The unlikely mates begin to care for one another. Lily gradually emerges from her shell to reveal a wild side that she didn’t know she had, and Robyn reveals himself as a genuine man of honor. In fact, wrote a contributor to the Smexy Books Web site, “Robyn is the star of the story.”
Once again, readers were enchanted by the story of an alpha male with a heart of gold. An exception was Caz Owen, who praised Bradley’s debut at All about Romance, but reported that “A Season of Ruin felt like a colour-by-numbers romance novel” with little to recommend it. On the other hand, noted Gwyn Plum at Happy Ever After, “the characters are well-developed and Robyn’s charm is unmistakable. It was fun to witness Lily evolve.” According to the Smexy Books review, “there is a lighthearted sensuality to the novel. … The heat factor is mitigated with how gosh darn sweet and fun the vibe of the story maintains.” The reviewer added: “There is something to be said for a nice, purely romantic read.”
Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor and Lady Charlotte's First Love
The scandalous Sutherlands continued to fuel Bradley’s imagination. Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor explores a difficult challenge: capture the heart of the elusive Eleanor Sutherland. Camden West is the seventh suitor to seek her hand in marriage, and Eleanor is convinced that he, like the others, is just interested in her fortune. Eventually, Cam bribes her with a secret that could ruin her sister Charlotte if it were revealed, and Eleanor is faced with a life-changing decision to make.
The secret is explored in Lady Charlotte’s First Love. Before Charlotte Sutherland married Lord Hadley, she had indulged in a passionate romance that she abandoned for a more suitable mate, and since Lord Hadley’s death she seems to have adopted an even wilder lifestyle. In order to save her sister from ultimate ruin, Eleanor seeks the aid of Julian West, who has risen to the status of military hero since his earlier tempestuous encounters with young Charlotte. Will their second connection be more successful than the first one?
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Booklist, October 1, 2015, John Charles, review of A Wicked Way to Win an Earl, p. 34.
Publishers Weekly, October 5, 2015, review of A Wicked Way to Win an Earl, p. 44.
ONLINE
All about Romance, http://allaboutromance.com/ (February 23, 2017), Caz Owens, reviews of A Wicked Way to Win an Earl and A Season of Ruin.
Anna Bradley Home Page, http://www.annabradley.net (March 10, 2017).
Badass Book Reviews, http://badassbookreviews.com/ (August 2, 2016), author interview.
Happy Ever After Romance Book Reviews, http://gwynplum.com/ (August 7, 2016), Gwyn Plum, review of A Season of Ruin.
Historical Novel Society, https://historicalnovelsociety.org/ (March 10, 2017), Charlotte Wightwick, review of A Wicked Way to Win an Earl.
Novelicious.com, http://www.novelicious.com/ (February 3, 2016), review of A Wicked Way to Win an Earl.
Open Book Society, http://openbooksociety.com/ (August 4, 2016), review of A Season of Ruin.
Smexy Books, http://smexybooks.com/ (August 10, 2016), review of A Season of Ruin.*
Series
Sutherland Scandals
1. A Wicked Way to Win an Earl (2015)
2. A Season of Ruin (2016)
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Sutherlands
1. Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor (2017)
2. Lady Charlotte's First Love (2017)
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Novellas
Twelfth Night with the Earl (2017)
LC control no.: no2015152596
Descriptive conventions:
rda
Personal name heading:
Bradley, Anna (Romance fiction writer)
Located: Portland (Or.)
Field of activity: Romance fiction Historical fiction College teaching
Profession or occupation:
Novelists College teachers
Found in: Bradley, Anna. A wicked way to win an earl, 2015: title
page (Anna Bradley)
Annabradley.net, November 9, 2015: (Anna Bradley, writer of
historical romance; also is a writing and literature
professor; lives in Portland, Oregon)
Associated language:
eng
================================================================================
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AUTHORITIES
Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave., SE
Washington, DC 20540
Questions? Contact: ils@loc.gov
Once upon a time, on a dark and stormy night, Anna Bradley sat with quill in hand to write a book about two people who meet, fall in love and live happily ever after.
OK, so that’s not quite true. It wasn’t a dark and stormy night, and there was no quill; only a computer. But Anna did sit down, her fingers at the keys, her head full of stories about love and happily-ever-afters.
And so a writer was born.
Anna is from Maine, and attended college on the east coast. Being a practical girl, Anna chose to major in English literature at Wheaton College, then went on to get a Master’s degree at the University of Maine in, yes, you guessed it—English literature.
Anna’s wily, career-savvy choice of major paid off. She landed a job with Chawton House Library, a rare books library featuring works by British women writers from the 1600s through the Regency period. This job required that she read books, and write about books, and buy rare books from cool places like Sotheby’s. At night, after the library closed, Anna sometimes fondled the smooth leather covers of these books and dreamed of becoming a writer.
Anna’s reading, writing and fondling led to an enduring passion for stories about love, life, and romance. Anna writes sassy, steamy Regency historical romance, often with garters, cleavage-baring gowns and riding crops. History is sexier than you think, Gentle Reader.
Anna lives near Portland, OR, where people are delightful and weird and love to read. She teaches writing and lives with her husband, two children, a variety of spoiled pets, and shelves full of books.
Anna Bradley is the author of the Sutherland Scandals novels, including A Season of Ruin and A Wicked Way to Win an Earl. She lives with her husband and two children in Portland, Oregon.
Interview, Review, + Giveaway: A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley
August 2, 2016Angie
It’s Release Day for Anna Bradley’s A Season of Ruin! As huge fans of Anna’s, Badass Book Reviews is happy to celebrate by picking her brain and getting answers to some of the questions that have been plaguing us since we first read about the Sutherlands and Somersets. Her alpha heroes are swoon-worthy, and we want to share the love. Don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post for your chance to win the first two books in the Sutherland Scandals series!
ASOR
BBR: Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our questions today, Anna! Can you start off by telling us about your debut series, the Sutherland Scandals and what inspired it?
AB: Thank you so much for having me! I’d been thinking about the Alec character for quite a while before I envisioned the rest of the series, so I think I’d have to say Alec inspired it. I really wanted to write a hero with a strong alpha personality who had to learn to manage himself in order to get his HEA. I’m a little bit hooked on the idea of alpha heroes learning valuable lessons! I also should give credit to some of my favorite historical romance writers—Lorraine Heath, Julie Anne Long and Loretta Chase, among others—because their work also inspired me to become a writer.
BBR: Which part of the series came to you first? The Somerset sisters and Sutherland men, or the Millicent and Lord Carlisle scandal?
AB: I’m all about the men. Just kidding! Well, mostly kidding. The Alec character came to me first, but right on Alec’s heels was the Millicent Chase and Lord Carlisle scandal, and then Delia came into the picture. I wanted to have two characters from different social classes who hadn’t met, but already had a conflict between them. Delia would have had very little power in this situation, so the set-up gave me a chance to really prove her strength.
BBR: Robyn didn’t seem to take much seriously while Lily was more solemn and reserved. It made for some exciting banter between the two. Was there a particular scene that you enjoyed writing most?
AB: Robyn is pretty awful at the start, though of course in the most charming way imaginable! I loved writing his character in general, but I have a special fondness for the scene in the stillroom where Lily is trying to put salve on his eye, and he keeps teasing her. Lily is serious and reserved, but she knows exactly who Robyn is, and I think we see that in this scene. It’s also pretty sexy but with no sex (not even a kiss!) and I love scenes like that.
BBR: I love the way your heroes are alpha until the very end. That part of them isn’t tamed by the heroine, they just tend to focus all of that roguishness on the one they’ve come to love. Who are some of your favorite untamed alpha heroes?
AB: I love strong alpha heroes, both reading them and writing them. I have lots of favorites so it’s tough to choose just a few, but no list of alpha heroes is complete without Lord Dane from Loretta Chase’s “Lord of Scoundrels.” He’s the alpha gold standard, and I love that he gets a heroine who’s his match in every way. I also really love Lisa Kleypas’s Sebastian, Viscount St. Vincent from “Devil in Winter.” He’s a lusty alpha, which is the best kind! Julie Garwood also writes great Scottish alphas – I love her books.
BBR: Out of the two books released so far in the Sutherland Scandals series, which character was the easiest to write? The hardest?
AB: I’d have to say Robyn was the easiest to write, but I couldn’t really tell you why that is. I do love a flirtatious rake, so maybe that’s part of it, but both his dialogue and his storyline came more easily to me than with some other characters. The same is true of Lady Anne Chase, Lily’s grandmother, whose backstory and lines popped into my head right away. I found Lady Catherine (Lady Sutherland—Robyn and Alec’s mother) a bit more difficult to write, because I wanted to make sure she came across as a believable member of the ton, and yet at the same time kind and sincere. That’s not always the easiest mix to write!
BBR:And whose story are you most looking forward to writing?
AB: I have a strong hero and plot line in my head for Iris Somerset, so I’m really looking forward to writing her story. I won’t give it away, but I’ll say this much: Iris is the eternal ideal optimist, and she’s going to be paired with a cynical, dark hero. We’ll see how they do together!
BBR: What drew you to writing historical romance vs. contemporary?
AB: I wouldn’t rule out writing a contemporary, but my literary background is in historical literature. I have a Master’s degree in English literature with a focus on 19th century lit, and I spent about 8 years working for a rare books library focusing on historical works, so the historical part of the writing feels very natural to me. Like many readers, I also fell in love with Mr. Darcy, and wanted to create my own heroes in that era!
BBR:What’s the most interesting piece of information you’ve come across while researching your stories?
AB: I learned a lot about duels for “A Season of Ruin,” and that research was so interesting. I had to figure out whether to do swords or pistols (pistols were more common by the Regency), and then study the etiquette involved in issuing a challenge, accepting one, and assigning seconds. I got sidetracked looking up images and information on Regency-era pistols, and then side-tracked again reading about famous (or ‘infamous’) Regency duels and locations in London where duels took place. Wimbledon Common, a large open space in southwest London where Robyn and Lord Atherton face off, was a notorious location for dueling even before the Regency.
BBR: ‘Sutherland Scandals’ seems to indicate all of the Sutherland siblings will get a story. (My fingers are crossed!) But with Delia and Lily’s sisters on their way to London, it seems they might be on their way to finding love, too. Are there plans for all of the Sutherlands and Somersets to get stories?
AB: I hope to bring readers all of the Sutherland Scandals! I’ve fallen in love with those characters, and all their stories have been wandering around in my head for several years now. I’m not sure I’d get any peace ever again if I didn’t write their stories!
BBR: We love your books and can’t wait to read what you have in store for us! Can you tell us a bit about what you’re working on now?
AB: Thank you so much, Angie! I’m very grateful for the readers who are willing to take a chance on a new author. I’ve heard from so many of you who love the Sutherlands and Somersets as much as I do, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I’m working on the Somerset sisters at the moment, and I have plans for a new historical series in the works. I can’t divulge much about that series yet, but I’ll say this: the heroes are still very much alphas, and readers who love the irresistible spinster heroine won’t be disappointed!
BBR: We’re looking forward to it! Thank you so much for visiting Badass, Anna!
Lady Eleanor's Seventh Suitor
Two sought-after sisters, a slew of suitors—and a vow to hold out for true love. How many proposals will it take to get to “I do”—especially when the stakes are high . . .
There have been six suitors so far, all vying for the attention—and generous dowry—of the beautiful, elusive Eleanor Sutherland. What does this woman really want? Who has what it takes to melt the heart of the so-called Lady Ice? These are the questions Camden West keeps asking himself. But rather than wait for answers, Cam takes matters into his own hands . . . for he has a secret weapon.
Cam knows that Ellie’s sister, Charlotte, harbors a scandalous secret—one that could bring ruin to the Sutherland name. If Ellie marries him, Cam promises to keep mum. But is she willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister’s reputation?
To Ellie’s surprise, it becomes clear that Cam doesn’t need her money, nor is he interested in her status. Soon, what begins as a sham engagement transforms into something deeper, and more passionate, than Ellie could have imagined. Is it possible that all Cam truly wanted was her? And is that reason enough to say yes—or is handsome Cam hiding something else? Even for a lady in love, only the truth will do . . .
Lady Charlotte's First Love
From spirited young woman to reckless widow, the beautiful Marchioness of Hadley remains a force to be reckoned with. But beneath her antics lies a broken heart . . .
Since her husband’s tragic death, Lady Charlotte Hadley has embarked on a path of careless behavior and dangerous hijinks from which no one can divert her . . . until suddenly, her first—and only—true love reenters her world. Their fiery romance was so scandalous Charlotte had no choice but to marry another, more suitable man. Surely now they are both free to pick up where they left off . . .
Julian West has returned to London a hero after making a name for himself in battle at Waterloo. Every woman is vying for his attention—except the one who stole his heart. No matter, Julian has other obligations. But when Charlotte’s sister, Eleanor, charges him with protecting the widow from ruin, what ensues is another kind of battle—one that leads a chase from London’s bars and brothels to the finest country estate as Julian and Charlotte untangle a host of secrets, regrets, and misunderstandings. For could it be that the love they’ve forced themselves to forget is exactly what they need to remember? . . .
Twelfth Night with the Earl (but not until November, 2017, and evidently not about the Sutherlands)
When a headstrong beauty clashes with the man she once loved, she’s determined that the spirit of Christmas will open his mind, heal his heart, and perhaps give them a reason to celebrate—for many seasons
to come . . .
As far as Ethan Fortescue is concerned, his family’s seat in Cornwall is only a source of torment, one that he’s managed to avoid for two years. Now that he’s the Earl of Devon however, he can close the door on his haunted past by locking up the cursed place for good. But upon arriving at Cleves Court, he is shocked to find the house aglow with Christmas celebrations, filled with music and laughter. And right at the center of the holiday madness is the infuriating—and eternally tempting—Theodosia Sheridan . . .
Thea has always loved the town of Cleves, especially at the holidays. As a girl, she also loved Ethan with all her heart. It’s painful to see how his brother’s tragic death has embittered him. Still, she will do anything to make sure the town thrives—even if it means going to battle with Ethan to save Cleves Court. Now she has only until Twelfth Night to make a Christmas miracle happen—by proving that his childhood home can be a source of love and wonder. But before long, she finds herself wondering if she’s trying to save the house—or its handsome master…
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
262.40 (Oct. 5, 2015): p44.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC
http://www.publishersweekly.com/
* A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
Anna Bradley. Berkley Sensation, $7.99 mass market (304p) ISBN 978-0-425-28263-2
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Regency-era romance feels new and bright in Bradley's delightful debut. Delia Somerset is en route to a house party in Kent when her carriage is damaged. She sets off through the mud in search of assistance, only to find a gentleman and a village maid getting ready to enjoy some quality time against a convenient tree. Inevitably, he's her soon-to-be host, Alexander Sutherland, Lord Carlisle. After they enjoy a lively tete-a-tete on fornication against trees, Alec successfully delivers Delia and her sister to his home to visit with his sisters. The two families have a complicated history, as Delia's upper-class mother jilted Alec's father in favor of running away (and enjoying a lovely life) with a country squire. Despite the old scandal that now hovers over Delia's generation, Alec and Delia's attraction soon overcomes any reservations they might have had about being together. <
Readers will devour this passionate romance as eagerly as Alec and Delia devour each other when their flirtations lead at last to the bedroom. Alec's siblings and Delia's sisters will surely make the Sutherland Scandals series a pleasure to follow. Agent: Marlene Stringer, Stringer Literary Agency. (Nov.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"A Wicked Way to Win an Earl." Publishers Weekly, 5 Oct. 2015, p. 44. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA431617357&it=r&asid=63d85bd451bc305b318f751e37a346e3. Accessed 23 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A431617357
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
John Charles
112.3 (Oct. 1, 2015): p34.
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2015 American Library Association
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/publishing/booklist_publications/booklist/booklist.cfm
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl. By Anna Bradley. Nov. 2015.296p. Berkley Sensation, paper, $7.99 (9780425282632).
When Alec Sutherland, the Earl of Carlisle, discovers that his younger brother, Robyn, has invited Delia Somerset to attend their family's house party with the intention of wooing her, Alec knows he must nip this potential romance in the bud. After all, Delias mother already dragged the Carlisle name through the mud years ago when she jilted the brothers father in order to marry Delia's father. As far as Alec is concerned, there can be no better way to even the score between their families than by using his legendary charm to seduce Delia away from Robyn and ruin her reputation. However, what starts out as a diabolical plan of family payback turns into something much more complicated when Alec begins spending time with Delia and discovers he is no longer certain exactly who is seducing whom. Bradley's flawlessly written debut, the first in her Sutherland Scandals series, will immediately win readers over with its <
Charles, John
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Charles, John. "A Wicked Way to Win an Earl." Booklist, 1 Oct. 2015, p. 34. General OneFile, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=ITOF&sw=w&u=schlager&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CA432173560&it=r&asid=64594e4ca36ee49305c2cc4bc0a262e1. Accessed 23 Feb. 2017.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A432173560
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
By Anna Bradley
Find & buy on
Review
Appeared in
HNR Issue 75 (February 2016)
Reviewed by
Charlotte Wightwick
Delia Somerset only wants her sister Lily to be happy when she agrees to attend a house party – that is until she comes across her host, the dashing Alec, Earl of Carlisle, in rather compromising circumstances. Her opinion of him as a rake and a scoundrel is fixed, although so is her interest. Alec in turn believes Delia is trying to entrap his brother into marriage and, angered by her connection to an old family scandal decides that the answer is to seduce her himself. The ensuing ballroom banter, misunderstandings and heated encounters in moonlit gardens are all that one would expect from the genre. A Wicked Way to Win an Earl is an entertaining debut from author Anna Bradley; <> I look forward to her next.
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl
Anna Bradley
Buy This Book
Even though there are a couple of things about the motivations of the two protagonists that bothered me, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl is a well-written and enjoyable début from Anna Bradley. The storyline isn’t an especially original one, but the writing is solid, the heroine is spirited without being overly outrageous, the hero is darkly brooding and there is plenty of heat between the couple, all of which contribute to its being an entertaining read overall.
As this is the first book in a series about the Sutherland family, the prologue sets the stage for the conflict between the Sutherlands and the Somersets, caused when Millicent Chase ran away from her arranged marriage to Hart Sutherland, the Earl of Carlisle, and eloped with the man she loved, Henry Somerset.
A massive scandal ensued, and the Somersets never returned to society, but they were happy living quietly, with each other and eventually their family of five daughters. But some months before this book opens, the Somersets were tragically killed in an accident, turning the lives of their children upside down. The eldest two daughters, Delia (short for Delphinium!) and Lily (and yes, they all have flowery names) have been befriended by Charlotte and Eleanor Sutherland, whose eldest brother, Alexander, came into the title following the death of their harsh autocratic father three years previously.
The Sutherland sisters have invited Delia and Lily to the house-party being held at Bellwood, the country seat of the Earls of Carlisle. On the way, their carriage axle breaks and the coachman is injured, leaving the ladies with no choice but for Delia to attempt to find help. Following the directions she has been given, she is making for the nearest inn when she comes across a man and a woman beneath the trees who are clearly about to do something completely improper with each other. Alerted to Delia’s presence, the woman quickly runs off, leaving the man – a large, imposing and angry specimen – to confront the unwelcome intruder. With dismay, Delia realises that the half-undressed, dishevelled and undeniably fascinating man is none other than her host, the Earl of Carlisle, who promptly takes charge of the situation, escorting her to the inn and making arrangements to retrieve her sister and the coachman and take them to Bellwood.
Alec Sutherland hasn’t found life to be terribly easy since the death of his father. The family finances had been badly mismanaged and he has had to work hard in order to turn things around. In doing so, he is worried he is becoming more and more like his father, a cold, stern man who had little time for his family. Alec acutely feels the distance that has sprung up between him and his younger brother in the past year and is at a loss as to what to do to heal the rift between them. Robyn Sutherland is rather wild; a young man on the town enjoying all its dissolute pleasures, much as Alec did before he was encumbered by title and responsibilities. To make matters worse, Alec learns that Robyn is smitten with Delia, and that it was at his behest that Charlotte and Eleanor extended the invitation to the house-party. Not only is he worried about Robyn’s intentions toward a gently bred young lady, but is also concerned that any close association between their two families will only dig up all the old scandal when he has worked hard to restore the family name along with its fortune.
[As an aside, I found the use of the name Robyn for a man to be a distraction. Robyn with a Y is a girl’s name – well, it is in the UK – so I had to keep reminding myself that this particular Robyn was a bloke, which was annoying and disrupted my reading.]
Back to the story. Alec decides that the best thing to do is to keep his brother and Miss Somerset apart, and comes up with a fool-proof – and underhand – way to send her packing back to Surrey. If he appears to be pursuing her and spending time alone with her, she will become the subject of gossip, which can only be amplified as people recall the old scandal. At the same time, Delia makes the assumption – and this is one of the quibbles I mentioned at the beginning of this review – that Alec is going to try to seduce her simply because he’s bored and because it will “put the Somerset family in their place once and for all.” While Alec has unquestionably been flirting with her and is – he tells himself – trying to be rid of her, Delia has no way of knowing anything for certain with the result that she appears to be jumping to conclusions with no real foundation for them. The author also makes use of the cliché of the rich-bitch fiancée who is so clearly wrong for Alec that she is never any real threat to the burgeoning romance between him and Delia.
Apart from that, however, the story is well-executed, and the central romance is well-developed. Alec and Delia strike sparks off each other from the outset and are obviously deeply attracted to each other, but Ms Bradley takes the time to allow them to talk to each other and get to know each other so that the reader is left in no doubt that they are in love and not simply in the grips of infatuation or lust. She has the knack for creating and building sexual and romantic tension by means of <
In spite of the criticisms I have expressed, I enjoyed reading A Wicked Way to Win an Earl and will certainly be on the lookout for more by Anna Bradley. (The next book is about Lily and Robyn, I think, and as there are three more sisters, there is plenty of sequel fodder!) Her writing is deft and intelligent with a nice touch of humour, and she has taken a well-used plotline and made good use of it by peopling it with distinctive characters and strongly-written relationships. It’s a strong start and she’s definitely an author to watch for fans of historical romance.
Book Details
Reviewer : Caz Owens
Grade : B
Sensuality : Warm
Book Type : Historical Romance
Wednesday, 03 February 2016
Review – A Wicked Way to Win an Earl by Anna Bradley
A Wicked Way to Win an Earl by Anna Bradley
Delia Somerset is dragged to the Sutherland house party by her sister. Lily wants to be part of high society, but Delia despises it because of the scandal surrounding their parents’ marriage. Alec Sutherland is less than pleased to see them – their mother eloped rather than marry his father and he’s determined to stop his younger brother from getting entangled with Delia. He’s decided the best way to do this is to ruin her reputation, she decides to play along and we all know where this is going…
I love a good regency romance – Georgette Heyer got me through A-level exam stress back in the day (and was a gateway to an expensive habit), so I was excited when this dropped through my door. Add to that the fact that enemies-to-lovers and house parties are two of my favourite tropes this had all the ingredients to be right up my street.
Delia is an engaging heroine – she is sometimes a bit modern and is a touch foolhardy – but never quite gets as far as too stupid to live! I found Alec a little too mean at times and lacking in empathy, but he mostly managed to win me around. Some of the secondary characters didn’t quite feel as well rounded as I would have liked – this is the first in a series and I’m not desperate to read the next.
But that said, I did enjoy reading this. I’ve read a lot of historical romances – good, bad and everything in between – and this has much more good than the bad. It is not quite up there with the best of the genre, but it is a promising debut. <>
7/10
Review: A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley
August 10, 2016 By Sheena Leave a Comment
A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley
Series: Sutherland Scandals, #2
Paranormal Romance
August 2, 2016
Berkley
Reviewed by Sheena
Lily Somerset’s plan for the London season is simple: courtship, marriage to a respectable gentleman, then the comfortable existence of a proper Lady. That is, until one tiny misstep leaves Lily on the edge of social ruin, forcing her to depend on a wicked rogue to save her reputation.
Robyn Sutherland doesn’t save reputations—he sullies them. He’d rather be drawn and quartered than find himself spending the season as Lily’s escort. But he has no choice but to stay until her tattered standing is mended.
What begins as a ruse to deceive London soon flames into an uncontrollable passion. Robyn calls to the wild spirit that lurks beneath Lily’s prim exterior, and Lily awakens the hero’s heart within Robyn. But can these unlikely lovers trust themselves enough to let desire overrule reason?
If you wanted me to slap your face, Robyn, I would have been delighted to oblige, even without the kiss.
The epitome tale of opposites attracting. A wild man without a care, living his life from bed sheet to bed sheet, leaving many a starry-eyed girl in his wake. Lily is a young maiden content to follow the plan of every other society girl, gaining the attention and favor of an eligible and respectable titled man and engaging to marry. Unfortunately, best laid plans are good and ruined when fate tumbles Robyn (quite literally) into Lily’s bed.
He’d better stop at once, as kissing and fondling an innocent had transformed more than one merry bachelor into a far less merry husband.
She pushed against his chest again, harder this time.
Bloody, bloody, bloody hell!
His innocent temptress was determined to escape him. She writhed, and flailed and tried to twist off his lap.
Robyn tightened his arms around her. He had to know who she was.
A stolen moment of mistaken identity is the catalyst to Lily’s reputation hurling to the precipice of destruction…whats a rake to do?
Fall in love of course!
But the journey to HEA for this haphazard couple is no easy road. The deck is stacked against them. One reason after the other why they wouldn’t nd shouldn’t work. Lily is straitlaced and demure to Robyn’s exuberant, devil-may-care approach to life. He’s also had a minor flirtation with her sister and perhaps the most damning water under the bridge, more like high tide, Lily herself is the product of a scandalous love match. Her own mother having run off with a commoner. Robyn’s accidental tryst in what Lily mistook as the Ladies restroom, though wickedly pleasurable, set them in one another’s path, the merry bachelor now responsible for the salvaging of the innocent maiden’s season. Right away I knew I was in for a battle of the sexes- and neither disappointed!
Though a rake through and through, the man’s got a thread of honor. He can’t just get his jollies, steal his kisses, rub upon her bottom, and leave Lily to the wolves of the ton to rip her apart and leave her marriage prospects in tattered shreds. Obviously, the only course of action is to embark on a farce. Weave the illusion that he is courting young Lily and spend even more time with her to legitimize their affections. Very heroic. Very noble. Very much bullshit. Robyn is adorable in his protesting and reasoning for why he is driven to help Lily. He’s found his pleasure in actresses, mistresses, and other experienced, sultry women, none of which held a candle to the flame that Lily’s gentle, unsure touch ignited within him.
A Season of Ruin is exciting and fast paced for what I’ve come to expect from more traditional historical romances novels. From start to finish the simple uncomplicated plot unfolds and I was happy to be along for the ride. I really enjoy trans-formative stories where the H/h grow into the people they didn’t even know they could dare aspire to be. Lily was on the fast track to a dull and predictable life as a married Lady, a season away from taking her place as the typical cog in the formidable wheel of the ton. Robyn was going nowhere fast, and quite satisfied with his conquests and bachelor status. Their connection and forced time together was a recipe for success. They changed one another in a concrete way and this kind of character development is a treat to experience.
<
There are no boring overly descriptive passages to blur your eyes or bore you silly. This novel reads like a tennis match, the alternative POV is always a favorite, must be something about having a birds eye sight into the uncertainty, excitement and anguish of both Robyn and Lily that thrills! Along with the simple, fun troupe of “fake it till we make it,” <
If you are looking to have your carnal little socks knocked off, this may not do it for you, however, sweet and funny does a good romantic story make and I recommend this to anyone in the market for such. It was a fresh change of pace as I’ve been on a complete smut bender where the cock and balls and weeping slit word count is astronomical. <
Grade: B-
Book Review: A Season of Ruin by Anna Bradley
Aug
7
aseasonofruin
ISBN-10: 0425282643
ISBN-13: 978-0425282649
Publisher: Berkley (August 2, 2016)
Blurb:
Lily Somerset’s plan for the London season is simple: courtship, marriage to a respectable gentleman, then the comfortable existence of a proper Lady. That is, until one tiny misstep leaves Lily on the edge of social ruin, forcing her to depend on a wicked rogue to save her reputation.
Robyn Sutherland doesn’t save reputations—he sullies them. He’d rather be drawn and quartered than find himself spending the season as Lily’s escort. But he has no choice but to stay until her tattered standing is mended.
What begins as a ruse to deceive London soon flames into an uncontrollable passion. Robyn calls to the wild spirit that lurks beneath Lily’s prim exterior, and Lily awakens the hero’s heart within Robyn. But can these unlikely lovers trust themselves enough to let desire overrule reason?
Review:
Lily Somerset is quiet, demure, and likes everything in order. There are rules to follow, and no matter how boring, unnecessary, or irrational – she follows them.
Robyn is quite the opposite. He believes in having fun, and he doesn’t bend to raised eyebrows and not-so-subtle whispers. He does what he wants, and he’s more than willing to suffer the consequences as long as it doesn’t involve marriage. That would just put a not-so-welcome kink in his kinky plans.
When Robyn and Lily are caught in a compromising position after he mistakes her for his married lover, he’s forced to put his selfish ways aside and protect her reputation. She’s his sister-in-law and his brother will have his hide if he doesn’t do what right by his wife’s sister. However, Robyn is not as selfish as he leads people to believe. Bad parenting has him believing he doesn’t deserve true happiness, and he feeds the societal beliefs instead of proving everyone wrong.
Robyn soon learns that Lily is a lot more passionate than she’s willing to openly admit. She is struggling with her parent’s death, and she feels that if she keeps everything in order and does’t bend the rules she’ll never suffer another heartbreak as devastating as her parent’s deaths. However, always following the rules is difficult when she’s with Robyn. He awakens her passion and makes her face who she truly is and what she really wants. They’re not as opposite as they think, and he finds his greatest pleasure in teasing her out of her shell. What starts out as an attempt to correct a mistake turns into a strong connection neither of them is able to break.
Lily and Robyn are introduced in the first book, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl. It’s not obvious in the first book that they will wind up together, as Robyn was preoccupied with Delia, Lily’s sister who married his brother Alec. Lily and her sisters have a scandal attached to them. Their titled mother ran away with their non-titled father (five daughters were born to the union including Lily and Delia), and was disowned by her parents. Their mother was betrothed to Robyn’s and Alec’s father, and when she abandoned him it left him greatly humiliated and the main topic of gossip.
Lily’s and Robyn’s story is a great continuation of the series. <
Rating system: Cups of Coffee (the less the better)
0: You won’t need any coffee to stay up for this one. It’s intriguing enough all on its own.
1: You’ll stay up late, but not all night. Brew one cup.
2: You’ll read as long as you’re not tired. If you are, two cups should do the trick.
3: I hope you got plenty of rest; you’ll need it, or at least 3 cups.
4: If the cable goes out, read the book. It’s better than nothing, I guess. Oh, don’t forget your brew!
5: Find anything else to do- it doesn’t matter what it is. Don’t waste your coffee. Too much caffeine is bad for you.
My rating: 1/2 cup of coffee
A SEASON OF RUIN (SUTHERLAND SCANDALS, BOOK #2) BY ANNA BRADLEY: BOOK REVIEW
by hmhibbit, August 4, 2016
historical
4 star
A Season of Ruin
Sutherland Scandals, Book #2
By Anna Bradley
IBSN$ 9780425282649
Author’s Website: http://www.annabradley.net/
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Una
Description:
a-season-of-ruin-sutherland-scandals-anna-bradleyLily Somerset’s plan for the London season is simple: courtship, marriage to a respectable gentleman, then the comfortable existence of a proper Lady. That is, until one tiny misstep leaves Lily on the edge of social ruin, forcing her to depend on a wicked rogue to save her reputation.
Robyn Sutherland doesn’t save reputations—he sullies them. He’d rather be drawn and quartered than find himself spending the season as Lily’s escort. But he has no choice but to stay until her tattered standing is mended.
What begins as a ruse to deceive London soon flames into an uncontrollable passion. Robyn calls to the wild spirit that lurks beneath Lily’s prim exterior, and Lily awakens the hero’s heart within Robyn. But can these unlikely lovers trust themselves enough to let desire overrule reason?
Review:
I must say when I started reading this book I was a little disappointed. The story between Robyn and Lily got a bit wordy and lengthy and tended to burden me with too much detail, however as I read on I must say I got enamored by Lily and Robyn’s love story. At times I wanted to shake them both. Robyn for being a bull in a china shop in the romance department- It certainly took me a while to see that underneath he was really a nice lad and Lily for continuing to put her foot in her mouth either by words and or actions.
The story had some cute side characters and I must say at times they kept me reading on. I loved the grandmother who gave insight to the perils of being wed to a strong minded man and showed how as a married woman the husband ruled the household even to the extent of banishing family members. She pegged Robyn for what he was from the first time she met him however was also the first to realize his real feelings for Lily. She saw the importance of Lily following her heart rather than doing her duty.
All in all it was a good read for what turned out to be a grey afternoon. Not my favorite book but one that I would still recommend for those who like historical fiction.
A Season of Ruin
Anna Bradley
Buy This Book
I enjoyed Anna Bradley’s début, A Wicked Way to Win an Earl last year, and in my review said:
“Her writing is deft and intelligent with a nice touch of humour, and she has taken a well-used plotline and made good use of it by peopling it with distinctive characters and strongly-written relationships.”
As a result, I was really looking forward to her follow up book, which was to pair off the hero’s roguish brother and the heroine’s rather uptight sister. Unfortunately, however, the good things I pointed out in my earlier review are largely absent here, making A Season of Ruin a big disappointment. Perhaps it’s my own fault for having expectations that were too high, or maybe it’s “second book syndrome”; but whatever the case, while Ms. Bradley’s writing is still strong, the plot is bland and predictable, the central characters are barely two-dimensional and rather dull, and the romance is not at all well-developed.
Robyn Sutherland (I kept having to remind myself he’s a bloke because Robyn is a girls’ name; his name is Robert – why not just use that?) is a rake of the first order and has no intention of being otherwise. He’s an unabashed hedonist, he’s unreliable and not one to keep his promises. Nobody expects much from him, and consequently, he doesn’t expect much from himself, and that suits him just fine. Or it did, until the evening he mistakenly kissed the hell out of his sister-in-law, Lily Somerset, in a scene which would undoubtedly win the award for the most uses of the word “tongue” in the history of romance novels.
Lily is determined that her life should be orderly and free from any emotional excesses like love or passion. After all, love only brings hurt, so it’s much safer to live life without it. She has set her sights on securing a marriage proposal from a handsome, rather dull gentleman, but her hopes are dashed after the gossip rags gleefully tout the tale of her secret assignation with a notorious rake. Lily is horrified. It’s true that Robyn kissed her, but it wasn’t her fault; he mistook her for his current lady-love in the dark and kissed her stupid before he realised who she was.
Robyn doesn’t see what all the fuss is about, but his sisters insist there is only one way to deal with the scandal he has created for Lily, which is to squire her about to all the scheduled events of the Season and brazen it out until the next scandal breaks and everyone turns their attention to that instead. Lily doesn’t want anything more to do with Robyn, but reluctantly agrees to the plan. Unfortunately, however, Robyn doesn’t agree to it, and doesn’t turn up to escort her anywhere. Lily is furious at him for causing her such problems and then for leaving her to face them alone and asks one of his friends to be her escort instead. When Robyn discovers this, in a fit of jealousy, he deliberately makes things worse by baiting some of the young ladies who are busily enjoying Lily’s discomfiture and then waltzing with her before she has been given permission. Yep, he’s a real prince among men.
Fortunately for Lily, however, the Deus ex machina is at hand in the form of her formidable grandmother who makes all the scandal go away, so the rest of the story can concentrate on Robyn’s inner fight between his desperation to get inside Lily’s knickers and his knowledge that he is so unworthy of her that the right thing to do would be to leave her alone.
For over the first half of the book, Robyn continues to do just as he wants without a care for anyone else. We’re supposed to believe that this is because he was such a big disappointment to his father that he decided he might as well just disappoint everyone, but that is really just mentioned in passing and never fully addressed. Much later in the book, Robyn and Alec (his older brother and hero of book one) discuss it briefly, but it’s still a woefully underdeveloped plot-point and provides no real explanation or justification for Robyn’s irresponsible behaviour.
Lily is just as under-developed as a character. I could understand her emotional issues as they related to the recent death of her parents in an accident, but there was also something thrown in about her getting lost in a maze when she was five, which was supposed to account for her desire for an unexciting, emotionless life. I know getting lost can be a traumatic experience for a child, but I didn’t see the correlation.
The romance is so unmemorable that I have little to say about it. There’s quite a lot of illicit touching and kissing going on, but romance? Not really; so much so that when the pair realises they are in love I thought I’d missed something. Whenever they are together they argue and there is no development of any mutual understanding or an actual relationship. Robyn goes from having hardly noticed Lily to having an almost constant hard-on for her within a very short space of time, but other than physical attraction, I didn’t see why they would be interested in each other given their diametrically opposed personalities. I couldn’t believe that there was anything more between them than lust on his side and infatuation on hers.
Which brings me to one of my Pet Peeves. Authors often – for some reason – choose to have their protagonists finally consummate their luuurve after one of them has been injured, and that’s what happens here. Robyn has been in a fight and has sustained a nasty gash to his forehead and several bruised, possibly broken ribs. Yet he is still well up for the rumpy-pumpy on offer from the suddenly no longer proper Lily, and able to shag divinely in spite of the fact of his injuries. Seriously? I bruised my ribs a couple of years ago (not in a brawl, I hasten to add) and could hardly move for a few days after. I get that whole sex and death (or near death) thing, I really do, but people doing the deed whilst seriously injured is not romantic or sexy, and every time I read it in a book I find myself thinking they need a bandage and bed rest, not all that thrusting, pumping and bouncing around!
You know those romance colouring books for adults? Well, <> 1 = hero is a rake (I give the author props here for showing that Robyn really IS one!). 2 = heroine must maintain control by being very proper. 3 = hero has Daddy issues. 4 = heroine has abandonment issues. 5 = older lady battle-axe who is nothing of the kind… and so on.
If that’s your thing, then all well and good. But otherwise, I think you might enjoy a romance colouring book more than this. I’m hoping that Ms. Bradley’s next effort will see a return to the form she displayed in her début novel.
Reviewer : Caz Owens
Grade : C-
Sensuality : Warm