SOMETHING RECKLESS - Jess Michaels
Avon Red
ISBN: 978-0-06-128397-0
June 2008
Erotic Historical Romance

1819

Jeremy Vaughn, Duke of Kilgrath, is a member of  the Upper Ten Thousand, an elite group that everyone in the ton refers to as “The Nevers.” They are men with voracious appetites for sex and they enjoy it.  When Lady Penelope Norman begins to cause quite a stir, speaking against their ways, the men decide to draw straws to see who will seduce the Lady and blackmail her into keeping quiet. Jeremy is the one who draws the short stick and decides that tonight would be the perfect time to begin his conquest. His plan…to convince her he is on her side, and if that doesn’t work…seduction. What Jeremy doesn’t count on is liking Penelope or the strong desire he has for her.  What will happen when he puts his plan into action and finds himself competing for her attentions with an anonymous suitor?

Lady Penelope Norman never meant to start a crusade against the Upper Ten Thousand, but a few heated words spoken in front of certain company and she finds herself the spokeswoman for these women. Great! Just great! That means no dabbling of any kind unless it’s by her own hand. She is suspicious and disbelieving when the Duke of Kilgrath approaches her claiming that he is on her side. He’s decided he’s weary of his overindulgence and wants to help her. Yeah right! Like she would ever believe a man of his excessiveness is truly on the up and up. One thing is for sure, she will accept the offer of friendship, but that’s as far as it can go. No matter that he is handsome and stirs the long dormant desires in her body, Penelope will not give in. Then…she begins receiving hot, explicit letters from a secret admirer. Who is this man and why do his words arouse her and leave her picturing Jeremy’s face?

SOMETHING RECKLESS takes place during the time of masked balls, men with mistress’s to tend to their sexual appetites and wives to marry and get an heir upon, dark desires and secrets. A widow, Penelope never really received the pleasures a marriage bed has to offer. Her husband was too selfish and saw to his own needs leaving her out in the cold. Jeremy is a man who is never without female companionship and enjoys sex. Friendship with a woman without the benefits of sex is a new thing for him. Throw into the mix the fact that Penelope arouses his desires to a fever pitch whenever he’s around her. What begins as deception, soon turns into something more and Jeremy finds himself in quite a pickle. He knows once Penelope uncovers his secret and his lies, he’s done for. Penelope wants Jeremy badly but his friendship means more to her than she could ever explain. The added allure of the mystery man into her life, his heated words, and his nightly visits, confuses Penelope all the more. What’s a woman to do? Secondary characters include Penelope’s mother and sisters who are briefly mentioned, providing back story, and a few of Jeremy’s buddies who are surface characters. The story is all about Penelope and Jeremy and their relationship.

Intriguing characters, steamy sex, and an interesting storyline are included in Jess Michaels’ SOMETHING RECKLESS.

Sinclair Reid