In the first book in the Well Pleasured series, Guinevere Mary Fairchild works as a housekeeper for Lady Valery in the Scotland lowlands. Ten years earlier, her father died and her cruel grandfather disowned her and her younger brother, Hadden.
Sebastian Durant, Viscount Whitfield, is Lady Valery’s godson, and he’s helping her track down her stolen diary. In the wrong hands, it could spark revolution in England. His investigation leads to Fairchild Manor, and he grudgingly needs Mary’s help in order to get inside. As they work together and navigate the viper nest of the cruel, greedy Fairchild family, they build a tentative trust. Their dark, painful secrets, however, could destroy their relationship before it really begins.
Mary is a sweet, sometimes naïve woman who wants to think the best of everyone, but life has shown her not everyone can be trusted.
Sebastian is a hard, stubborn man the Fairchild family betrayed him years earlier.
Both the H/h are likable with problems, mistrust, and clashing agendas between them. Despite the mistrust and his need for vengeance, their romance progressed quickly. For Mary, losing her inhibitions helped heal the pain in her past. For Sebastian, his trust in Mary, a dreaded Fairchild, healed his battered soul.
I really enjoyed Hadden, Mary’s 19-year-old brother, and her very sexy but illegitimate second cousin Ian. Both were fun, strong characters and were determined to protect Mary from the danger that stalked her. Lady Valery is a wonderfully strong and empowered woman. She’s in her seventies and still has men dropping at their feet to please her. It’s inspiring!
I’ve read quite a few reviews that bashed this book, and even on the author’s website, it’s listed as “politically incorrect.” I don’t understand the big hoopla. Was it because Ian tried to seduce Mary, or the forced seduction scene with Mary and Sebastian (it wasn’t rape, in my opinion)? In either case, I’ve read romance books with H/h cousins and full-on rape scenes waaaaay worse than in this book. To be honest, I was a little disappointed the story didn’t live up to the hype.
I enjoyed this book, but I didn’t like Mary’s decision in regards to her family at the end. It showed both strength and weakness on her part, but cruel people should never be rewarded. On that note, I side with Sebastian and understand his reasons for feeling betrayed.
Other than stray POV shifts, I don’t believe I found any typos. I look forward to reading all about Ian in the next installment.
4 Stars
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Mary has been hiding as housekeeper, she returns to help Sebastion recover a stolen diary from her family. Bodice ripper type. When she returns to her family to help Sebastion there's drama and intrigue as her wicked family try manipulate her and get her into a compromising position. While she and those around her are all trying to keep their own secrets. Was ok read.
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What a great story! I laughed and cried many times! Such wonderful writing and really engaging characters!! I love this authors work!!

I am currently on a Regency kick and this one was terrific!! ( )

I liked this book for the first part. Then I hated it. Who in God's name ever thought that rape was sexy??? Because that's exactly what it was. Mary was flat-out raped, and the fact that we're supposed to like the guy who did this almost made me vomit. I lost any sympathy for the hero at that point. He claims to love her - and I don't believe a bit of it. He's cruel, selfish, and a rapist to boot. And his attempt at an "apology" later is pathetic. Disgusting ( )

I have enjoyed reading several of Christina Dodd's book and found this one lacking.

Lady Guinevere Mary Fairchild and her brother ran away from their home after having something to do with a man's death. Mary ended up working as head housekeeper for Lady Valery who is notorious for having clandestine liaisons with members of the parliament. Unfortunately, the details of her liasions were added to her diary which has been stolen by someone in the Fairchild family and she asks for her godson's (Lord Sebastian Durant's) help to get it back.

Her plot is to have Sebastian announce his engagement to Mary and return to the Fairchild estate to find the diary.

After the beginning, the story seemed to lag and I didn't feel the love between the two main characters. To me it seemed all about the sex and getting revenge. I think it could have had stronger characters and a better plot throughout the whole book.

This was a disappointment to me since I've enjoyed so many of Ms. Dodd's other books. ( )