Rating: 
Summary: A classic! The utlimate reformed rake!
Review: It's a rare book that can sustain an average 5 star rating over 56 reviews (at least as of this writing)! This is one of those books that I'd heard about for years and seen in lots of favourites and Desert Island Keepers lists. It had been on my TBR shelf for several months and now I'm wondering what took me so long to read it - I loved it! This really is the ultimate rake reformed story. Though I did not enjoy reading about Sebastian's unhappy childhood and torturous years at Eton, it had to be endured for the reader to understand the man he became. Seemingly without conscience, a man who uses people, considers women either bothersome (ladies) or sex objects (prostitutes), drinker, gambler and uncaring bad influence on younger, impressionable and less wealthy hangers-on. And one such hanger-on is Jessica Trent's idiot of a younger brother Bertie who is quickly going through the family's money in an effort to fit in and keep up with the infamous Marquess of Dain. Jessica and her grandmother have traveled to Paris determined to reclaim Bertie from Dain's destructive influence. But when Jessica actually meets Dain, she is frustrated and annoyed to discover that she is extremely attracted to the devil. What a bother! But she is still determined to extricate Bertie and forces a confrontation that he cannot ignore! Upon meeting the delectable Miss Trent, Dain is no less attracted to Jessica and no more pleased about it. He's avoided society ladies for most of his adult life (ever since one tried to lure him into marriage for his money) and the only women he spends time with are prostitutes. But Jessica has quickly gotten under his skin and when they have several very public encounters that can only be described as scandalously inappropriate he is determined not to be brought to the altar. But he underestimates Jessica's need for justice and eventually gives in. If it's marriage to Lord Beelzebub she wants, so be it! Of course neither expects much from this marriage, but both are pleasantly surprised. Jessica seems unflappable handling everything Dain throws her way with calm efficiency and confidence. Dain can't help but be impressed. And Dain slowly reveals himself to be quite human after all. So how can Jessica help but fall for him? But does this mean smooth sailing for this couple? Not likely! I really enjoyed reading this book. I did not care for Dain at the start, but by the end I really liked him a lot. Especially in his dealings with his illegitimate son. Conversely I really like Jessica throughout. She's tough as nails, determined, witty and nothing gets her down. Actually, as others have pointed out, she may border on too perfect! A highly recommended read!
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent characters, excellent romance, excellent humor
Review: It was very difficult to put this book down once I got started. The characters were fleshed out quite nicely and I really liked Dain and Jessica. I've also read The Last Hellion and it too was good, but this one is superior, because the love and physical attraction between Dain and Jess was more intense. Chase writes really well and the humor is wonderful. The first book in the series is Captives of the Night (at least I think it's the first book) and I cannot believe she was the writer. It was very boring. I actually didn't even get half way through it. I wonder why it takes so long for her books to come out? I have high expectations for her next book. I wish she were more prolific.
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: As a lover of romance books, I can easily say that this is the one book that I consider the "paragon" for the genre. You won't find more memorable characters, sizzling tension or such witty dialogue anywhere else. A must read for any lover of romance.
Rating:
Summary: Fun Read
Review: I enjoyed this book. I loved that fact that a regency miss actually looked forward to her wedding night and admitted lust for her husband. She actually seduces him! Jessica Trent was not only pretty but smart and determined to make her marriage to Lord Dain work. The author does a great job of letting the reader find out why Lord Dain goes out of his way to live on the outskirts of society. The "villians" were not terribly interesting nor noteworthy or important to the story. That was a nice change of pace, too. The story really focued on Dain and Jess meeting, marrying, and developing their marriage. What I did not like - and this is a complaint of many regency books - is there is no epilogue. This story needed one. The story ends with Dain and Jess taking in Dain's bastard son to live with them (the boy as ugly as Dain was when he was a child) and with Jess also being pregnant. It is an unusual thing to take in one's bastard, though not unheard of. So how did it all play? Was the new baby with Jess as ugly as Dain was (and Dominic)? Did they enter mainstream London society? Was Dominic excepted and happier than Dain as a child? I don't know about most readers, but I do like when a story is totally finished.
Rating:
Summary: I SHOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY.......................THIS BOOK
Review: This is probably one of the best Romances I have ever read. Usually, I am quite picky and critical. I rarely gush over a book. LOS certainly deserves its place among the most popular Romances ever written. Ms Chases writing style is awesome, although sometimes I had to reread certain parts to catch the "point". Don't get me wrong, my command of the English language is fairly good and I NEVER have to do that; I even needed *gasp* my dictionary once or twice. Jess and Dain are great. Their romance sizzles and sparkles right from the page. I was entranced. Both personalities are extremely well developed. I agree that Jess is the perfect heroine (almost too good to be true). I adored her from the moment she walked into her brother's apartment and put her feet on his table; I wish I could manage my brother the same way she does hers ;-). She was sooo cool (for lack of better words). All the way I was expecting that she would forget about everything (especially that she has a brain and common sense) and succumb to Dain because of his kisses, overwhelming emotions etc. ....well you get the point; It happens more often than not in romances. But what a surprise, she didn't, never. She always made her point clear and didn't waver. There are no words to describe the repartee accurately (my definition of the word "witty" had to be revised). Yet, even when they were bickering (which they do a lot), called each other names and exercised sarcasm to no end one could always feel the affection they had for each other. Well done Ms Chase. One fair warning: LOS spoilt me severely for any Romances I have read and will read subsequently (Some of which I am sure I would have enjoyed thoroughly before). Nothing seems to measure up. I will definitely reread LOS several times and am sure I will enjoy it just as much. Please forgive me for gushing after all but I couldn't help it, it's well deserved indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Just Made the Top of My Keeper List...
Review: I can't remember the last time I stayed up past 2 a.m. to finish a book, much less the last time I actually read an entire book within the span of 24 hours. To find a novel that inspires me to forgo daytime activities and sleep is really a treat, despite having to deal with the exhaustion and guilt the day after. In a nutshell, Jessica Trent arrives in Paris to retrieve her recalcitrant brother, who has taken to spending time in the company of Sebastian Ballister, Marquess of Dain, a man who's sole occupation seems to be living a life of debauchery. Upon their very first encounter, sparks fly between the two, and when they are caught indulging in the passion that neither can deny, Jessica is forced to seek satisfaction from the man who has vowed to put her in her place. Completely baffled by his reaction to Jessica, and perhaps even more baffled by her apparent attraction to him, Dain wrestles with his growing feelings for her even as he tries in vain to hold her at arms length. The main thing that made The Lord of Scoundrels jump to the very top of my favorite romance novels list was the amazing, three-dimensional characters that fit the bill of hero and heroine without resorting to stereotypes. Sebastian Ballister, Marquess of Dain is downright lovable. We are given enough insight into his past to fully appreciate why he is the way he is, so despite the fact that I should have viewed him as a despicable cad, from the very beginning his every word and action was forgiven. Too, it was so refreshing to have a hero who didn't actually think of himself as God's gift to women. Dain is actually insecure about his looks and is honestly amazed to learn that Jessica actually finds him attractive and desirable. In Jessica Trent, we finally see a fiery, intelligent heroine who is actually that - intelligent. She has confidence and beauty to spare, and most refreshing of all, she knows it. Not in a femme fatale manipulative way, but more in a pragmatic, honest sense. She knows her own worth, and better still, she knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get it. After meeting Dain, she is honest with herself and admits freely that she feels an almost animalistic attraction to the man. Nor is she a pouty woman who takes Dain's pointed slights as a reflection of her own lack of appeal. Jessica - delightfully - doesn't sulk. When Dain fails to consummate their marriage in a timely manner, Jessica takes matters into her own hands with nary a pout or virginal blink. This story avoids the entire "Giant Misunderstanding" simply because Jessica won't allow such a thing. The story itself is delightfully free of uber-villains and complex A-plots of intrigue and evil-doers. Indeed, the first three-quarters of the book focuses entirely on the relationship between Dain and Jessica. Honestly, it is only when the story of the priceless Russian icon moves to the forefront that I found my interest in the story waning slightly. Dain and Jessica provided enough of their own internal obstacles to overcome that I didn't need any external hurdles put in their path. Add to all of this witty dialogue that literally had me in tears of laughter and the sensuous love scenes, this book should be used as the text to teach all writers the art of "show don't tell". Also, it should be a screaming shout out to all publishers that there are readers out there who very much appreciate a romance novel that deviates from formula. Bravo, Ms Chase. This one is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: This is THE ONE...
Review: I have read hundreds of romance novels. I have my share of favorite authors and have seldom ventured on the untried ones. I have never done any review of any single book because I have yet to find one I can call as THE ONE, which is worth the time and the effort to give praise to an author for a romance book that's superbly done. It takes a real good book to write a review. The Lord of Scoundrels in THE ONE. I bought this book, my first of Loretta Chase, on the strength of the reviews in the amazon.com site and I am very happy I did. It is lush, witty, entertaining and very sensual- the elements romance readers look for in a book worth to be in a keeper's shelf. No complicated plot but with very good, characterizations, witty dialogues and unforgettable scenes that make the book worth keeping. Dialogue sparkles and sparks fly between the two main characters: Lord Dain, the dark, tortured reprobate, who had very little opinion of himself but who was hopelessly besotted with the "needle-tongued, conceited, provoking ape leader of a lady" and Jessica, the beautiful, strong-minded, sensuous spinster who in her words declared "I've been in lust with you from the moment I met you". The sizzling verbal fights are very captivating. The "animal lust" and the deep desire for conquest and possession just leap off the pages to keep the reader enthralled. Lord Dain's use of the endearments in Italian during their very intimate moments makes the story even more romantic and titillating. But wait, please let me include the notorious punchline, "I should like to see you try". When I finished the book, I read it again and again and then again most especially some of the very poignant, even hilarious and totally comical scenes, i.e. the preconceived notions of Lord Belzeebub about the "carnage he thought his overwroght imagination had pictured" in bedding his virgin wife. You will find yourself smiling and later laughing out so loud. And of course their romantic and passionate encounters are original and unforgetable they are so totally hot, hot, hot!!! Scenes like the unbutonning of the gloves, the lamppost incident, Lady Wallingdon's party, the Hyde Park with Jessica on Lord Dain's lap, the brawl with Ainswood, they are so vivid and well played out that you will in turn even fantasize some more scenes of your own of Lord Dain and Jessica! There are two scorchingly sensual and highly erotic highlights in the book that romance reader will remember:
1. The showdown between Lord Dain and Jessica barely three days wed
2. The boxing bout they attended that culminated in Jessica's declaration of her love for Sebastian again and again while against the pillar in a burial ground attached to a tiny crumbling church. But of course, who will ever forget the way Jessica sought satisfaction for the very scandalously compromising and public position he put her in: "her bodice undone and sagging to the waist, his tongue down her throat, his filthy hand up her skirt?" I totally agree with Lord Dain's rumination while leisurely taking his bath after successfully "tumbling" his wife,"Since the Almighty had not done him a single act of kindness in at least twenty-five years, Dain thought it was about bloody time...." Yes, the Lord of Scoundrels, the dark and tortured Sebastian Ballister, the notorious Marquess of Dain deserves the beautiful, virginal and passionate Jessica Trent. To Ms. Loretta Chase, your Lord of Scoundrels is absolutely WONDERFUL! It is an absolute MUST for romance readers.
Rating:
Summary: Lord Beelzebub...the ultimate scoundrel.
Review: This was an excellent book. It was sexy, sensual, fun to read, and the characters were incredible. The only flaw I have with this book is that Jessica remains a rather 2 dimensional character. We know very little about her except her brother is a nitwit and her parents were killed in a carriage accident. She demonstrates alot of her personality through her words and actions with Dain, but I wanted to know more about what made her tick. The sex scenes were vivid and sensual enough to keep your attention, but definitely not the most exciting I've ever read (read Nicole Jordan if you're looking for sizzle). I really enjoyed this book. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: The Best!
Review: As a lover of romance books, I can easily say that this is the one book that I consider the "paragon" for the genre. You won't find more memorable characters, sizzling tension or such witty dialogue anywhere else. A must read for any lover of romance.
Rating: 
Summary: What was the author thinking?
Review: Alright, I admit that the story and writing style were original and witty. I loved the heroine, but I hated the hero. That is the only reason I gave this book 2 stars; and when a romance reader hates the hero or heroine of the novel, the whole story is ruined-at least it was ruined for me.
I tend to admire and respect a hero with confidence and a high self-esteem no matter what the odds are against him. Little or major insecurities add a flair of realism and poignancy towards a male hero. Unfortunately, Chase went EXTREMELY over-board with this hero 's insecurities about his physical appearance. Frankly, it was ridiculous that he still thought of himself as some gargoyle monster no matter how awful his childhood traumas were. He was clearly attractive and I got so disgusted with his self-depricating dialogue that I could not wait to get this story over and done with. Little did I know that his insecurities would soon turn ugly and condemn, reject and insult an innocent child that had inherited his genes-simply awful!
In short, please shy away from this novel if you have an aversion to childish, pathetically insecure heroes who take out their issues on their own flesh and blood.
| 
