Thursday, November 6, 2014

Viscount of Vice by Shana Galen




This sparkling novella introduces award-winning author Shana Galen's brand new series, Covent Garden Cubs. Galen mixes London's glittering ballrooms with the gritty underworld in her exciting new Regency romance series.

Whispers and secrets are no match for love...
Henry Flynn, the new Lord Chesham, still blames himself for the disappearance of his younger brother when they were children. That incident destroyed his family, and now he's on a path of self-destruction that no one can interrupt...

Lady Emma Talbot can't stand watching the man she secretly loves destroy himself little by little. She's determined to show him that no one holds him culpable, before it's too late. But Emma doesn't know what really happened to Flynn on that fateful day long ago, so what chance does she have of saving him from himself?

Published & Release Date: Source Books, January 6, 2015

Time and setting: Regency England

Genre: Historical Romance

Heat Level: 1.5

Reviewer rating: 4.5 Gold Crowns

Reviewed by Vikki

I received an ARC from Net Galley for an honest review. Since I have been a fan of Shana Galen’s for several years, I looked forward to reading Viscount of Vice with great anticipation. Again, as always, Ms. Galen did not disappoint me. I thoroughly enjoyed this delightful tale of attraction, amidst mayhem and chaos. This great story has a bit of everything as this author’s books tend to have, laughter, high adventure and plenty of passion.

As a reader, I greatly appreciate the fact that I can always count on Shana Galen to deliver a book consistent with her usual style. Now I do not mean her stories are predictable in the least, just that I know what type of book it will be, in the sense that it will involve intrigue and danger with a fulfilling ending.

Flynn, as all his friends call him, even though he has recently become Viscount Chesham, is a swashbuckling kind of hero with a bit of the bad boy thrown in. He is fun-loving, yet at times a bit vulnerable. This is the kind of hero, Ms. Galen writes so well. From the first kiss to the culmination of their love, I could feel the passion between the hero and the heroine. Flynn yearns for Lady Emma, but knows he does not deserve her, having lived a life of debauchery and recklessness.

From the first moment he meets her, when she is still a young lady, barely sixteen, he is drawn to her as a moth to a flame, but he stays away. After all, he is nine years older and has no business being attracted to her. When he meets her two years later, he is immediately captivated by her beauty and strong will, which is apparent from their first encounter.

Emma has loved Flynn from the first moment she saw him at her brother’s wedding, judging all men by him and finding them lacking, during her first season. When Flynn flirts with her, but then withdraws, she follows him and accepts his challenge of a kiss. She is lost from that first brush of his lips. Even though she initiated the kiss, he sweeps her up in his arms and takes over, causing her desire to soar. Their embrace is interrupted and thus starts the high adventure of the story. Will the budding flames of attraction grow as they meet the danger that awaits them, or will it flicker out when reality comes crashing down?

As is the norm with Ms. Galen’s books, I was drawn into the story from the first page and remained that way until the last page. I know this is a short story, but I would have liked to see a bit more plot development. Nonetheless, a delightful read with a satisfying HEA at the end. To make it more believable, she includes a glimpse of their life a couple months after their marriage. I do wonder if she will do a spin-off for Flynn’s brother. I think his story would make another excellent book, so much potential is there.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to read this intriguing little gem of a story and look forward to the next adventure Ms. Galen takes me on. If you enjoy stories that are light-hearted with lots of excitement set in the Regency period, then this is one you will not want to miss. Happy reading!    
   


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