Reviewed by: E
A lady in the ballroom…a lover in the bedroom.
The Ladies Book of Pleasures, Book 2
When Lady Jacinda unwraps a scandalous birthday gift, she’s sure the anonymous giver is playing a cruel joke. The Ladies Book of Pleasures may be responsible for one gossiped-about marriage, but for a lady ruined by a rogue and shunned by society, Jacinda is doomed to a lonely, loveless future.
Worse, as she pages through the volume of passionate promises, she is observed by the wicked and dangerous Duke of Carnthorn—and now he is stalking her as a possible willing victim of his shocking preferences.
Jason, Earl of Northfield, is having none of it. Jacinda, keeper of his most painful secret, is a friend he will not abandon to a wolf like Carnthorn. As they embark on a pretend courtship—for her own protection, of course—their proper decorum in public melts into wicked passion in the bedroom.
But even as real feelings begin to develop between them, Carnthorn is watching. He is not convinced. And he is determined to possess Jacinda, no matter whom he has to destroy…
Warning: This book contains friends turning to lovers, a highly erotic secret affair and a wicked villain who will destroy what he cannot have.
This blurb came from Goodreads
So a while back (almost 2 years back) I read the first book in this series A Matter of Sin and really enjoyed it. Three unconventional friends all trapped by society and circumstance; a mysterious scandalous book making the rounds – daring to state that women should enjoy the pleasures of the flesh and I was sold. When I started reading A Moment of Passion even with the time since I read the first installment, I was able to sink right into the story. I will say, this second book took a darker turn. Jacinda really didn’t want to be part of society after the awful results of her initial Season but she was also extremely tired of being the whipping girl for her aunt and father. So when she was approached by Duke of Carnthorn offering to give her a chance at freedom in exchange for becoming his mistress, she gave it some serious thought. At the same time a copy of The Ladies Book of Pleasures found its way into her private belongings stirring up thoughts of longing and desire. Did she really want to trade her imprisoned life for one as a mistress and what would she do when the arrangement was over? Not to mention would Jacinda enjoy what Carnthorn offered and wanted in return?
Jason, Earl of Northfield and one of Jacinda’s oldest friends had been keeping an eye on her from the distance. She was the only member of her family he kept in touch with so when he saw Carnthorn making advances, he was determined to keep Jacinda out of trouble. I liked Jason’s intentions and his basic idea but he subscribed to the thought that men know best way too much! I didn’t like how he disregarded Jacinda’s concerns regarding her father and exactly how much worse he could make her life then the torture it was with her aunt but I did like how physically came to her rescue when needed. He trusted her and valued her advice when it came to his life, yet he wasn’t willing to really trust her with her own life.
Jacinda and Jason’s sexual chemistry and attraction was intense. Jacinda had admired him for years and Jason started allowing himself to think of her as other then his former friend’s younger sister. When their chains of societal propriety fell it was pretty moving. I liked how Jason took things step by step and didn’t go for everything during their first encounter but let the heat build and ensured Jacinda was a willing participant. I also liked how Jason explained why Carnthorn was so wrong – not his interests/desires which other people shared but because he didn’t care about obtaining consent which was wrong. That explanation did a lot to redeem Jason in my eyes for his previous stupid behavior.
Overall, I enjoyed reading A Moment of Passion and watching Jason and Jacinda decide to come into their own away from the chains of the past. I wish Jacinda’s family could have suffered for their part in her painful life but I think being stuck together with all their ugly personalities is punishment enough. I am torn about reading the third installment because while I want to see how the last friend gains relationship happiness, reading will also mean the series is over. Given my enjoyment of the first two stories, I don’t think I will be able to hold out for very long.
I give A Moment of Passion a B-