I liked parts of this really well, others not so much. The story mostly concerned the hero and heroine's relationship. There was very little in the way of action in the plot. Most scenes were them talking and/or having sex. I wanted to know a more solid timeline of their past history. How old was he when he was treating her badly when they were young? How many years had it been since then? How many years was she married before her husband died? etc.

I thought there was a little too much sex and not enough conversation. I really didn't like the whole thing with the heroine wandering around London on foot at night alone with only a maid. I just don't think it would have happened. I would have accepted it better in the country but ladies living in London at the time would have been more aware of the dangers they lived with than that.

I liked hero's angstiness. I loved how he kept offering the heroine his heart and everything he had. I didn't like how she was so wrapped up in her dead husband. She never really stopped to think of what she was feeling now.

I thought the hero's rationale for treating the heroine poorly years ago was weak. He was trying to convince his best friend not to marry her because she wasn't high enough class or good enough for either of them. Which just rang false when he was in love with her himself. I would have found it more plausible if he was doing it so that the friend would give up and leave the field clear for himself. As it was it just didn't make sense for me. I also wondered why it took him 4 years after her husband died to make a move on her.

I really enjoyed the hero most of all and he saved the book for me.

I like this author on the whole and enjoy her books. ( )

Very sexy read. It took me a couple chapters to get into it but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I may need to read more from this author. ( )

Not Proper Enough is the tale of Lady Eugenia Bryant and the Marquess of Fenris.. or "Fox" as he instructs Lady Eugenia to call him. These two characters are briefly introduced in Jewel's previous novel, Not Wicked Enough.

I have been trying to pinpoint exactly why I think these books are very appealing and a fast read as well. There is a decided lack of inner monologues that I find immensely appealing. That is not to say that there isn't any introspection, there certainly is; it's just that the novel isn't bogged down with the inner musings of the titled characters in every single chapter. Jewel does a fine job at pacing the story and using the scenes and conversations between the two main characters to reflect the thoughts and actions of said characters.

In general, I am very fond of the trope of finding yourself attracted to someone you that have no business of having feelings for, or even someone that you don't honestly like. I like the inner turmoil and how they eventually reconcile themselves to having feelings that are not in line with what they had felt before.

There is one scene in which Fox is relating to a friend his past history with Lady Eugenia and I have to say it blew me away. It made my gut clench and I had to stop and the put the book for a bit (ie: a couple of days actually). It's rare, for me, to have a book evoke a memory that strong that it takes me out of the story for a bit. I'm used to smiling or laughing if I come to a good bit..but recalling something that's happened previously because the author does an incredible job of making a certain scene nuanced and poignant.. well that's a gift. And Bravo, Ms. Jewel.

If I had any qualms about the novel in particular, it'd be the character of Hester (Lady Eugenia's charge to watch over) and Fenris's father, the Duke. But that's mainly my issue. When the subject of botany comes up in anyway shape or form, I get visions of my mom (who's a plant & gardening fiend) telling me what is Platanus occidentalis (ie: Sycamore tree) and what isn't. The subplot with Hester and the duke isn't particularly subtle.. and it's easy to see the direction that it's going .. so really, I suppose, that's my chief complaint with the entire novel.

If you haven't read Not Wicked Enough, I'd say you should definitely check it out..it just adds an edge of layering to the story around Not Proper Enough.

Oh.. and I won a copy of the ARC through a blog contest on the author's website. ( )

As much as I love Carolyn Jewel, this romance had an odd relationship between the heroine and hero that was built on contradictions. Ultimately, I found it more annoying than endearing. She kept saying she hated him, yet she begins an affair with him. All the while she is pushing him away and acting like nothing was going on between them, they were having this secret affair! I liked him though, but it was just sort of weird, though some parts were very hot and sexy. I liked a lot about this book, but the push me pull you courtship took it's toll on me, to say the least. Plus the book felt rushed at the end. ( )